Speakers

Dan Absher brings a unique perspective to teambuilding and leadership development, combining over three decades in the  construction with a lifelong passion for The Beatles’ timeless lessons about teamwork and organizational excellence. 

After graduating from Stanford University (1980) and Notre Dame Law School (1983), Dan briefly practiced law before joining the family construction business in 1985. As the third– generation CEO of Absher Construction Company for thirty-two years, he led the company through steady growth, industry transformation, and successful succession planning, ultimately selling to employees through an ESOP in 2022. 

Dan’s commitment to advancing the construction industry runs deep through his extensive involvement with the Associated General Contractors (AGC). He served as Past President of AGC of Washington and maintained active membership at both local and national levels, using these relationships to learn from the industry’s best and brightest leaders.  

Dan is the author of The Fab Four Pillars of Impact: Building Dynamic Teams The Beatles’ Way and founder of The Fab Four Academy, where he helps organizations discover how The Beatles’ journey provides a valuable blueprint for building wildly successful team and enduring excellence. 

Since stepping down as CEO of Absher Construction, Dan has remained busy serving as Professor of Construction Management at a local college, writing his book, and continuing as Board Chair of Absher Construction. 

Through engaging workshops and presentations, Dan demonstrates how four working-class lads from Liverpool created timeless principles for organizational excellence that apply across industries and generations. 

Dan lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife Daria and dog Ringo, where he writes, teaches, and reflects on why the band that broke up over fifty years ago still has so much to teach us about working together. 

Bio coming soon.

With over 20 years of experience in construction safety, James Alexander is a seasoned safety leader holding both the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) credentials. He holds a B.A. in Occupational Safety and Health and is driven by a singular mission: to advance toward an injury-free workplace across the industry. 
 

Bio coming soon.

Brandon Baker is the Director of Risk Management at Koontz Electric Company in Morrilton, Arkansas. He specializes in high-voltage safety and quality management for the construction and maintenance of electrical substations, hydroelectric and nuclear power facilities, solar fields, and heavy industrial facilities. Brandon has had the privilege of working with companies such as Ford, Fed-Ex, Entergy and others that has helped develop his knowledge and leadership skills in the safety community.  

A graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Brandon holds a CHST certification through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He is also a nationally certified EMT and firefighter, as well as the former Director of Emergency Services for Conway County, Arkansas. With 17 years of service in the Conway County Fire Department, including time as volunteer Fire Chief, Brandon brings extensive hands-on experience to his work. 

Brandon lives in Conway County with his wife, Alison, and their two daughters, Riley (6) and Sophia (4) 

Following law school at the University of Colorado, Henry joined the construction practice group at Sherman & Howard, L.L.C. in Denver. For six years, up until opening day of Beltzer Bangert & Gunnell LLP, Henry worked as Legal Counsel – U.S. Operations for PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc. As Legal Counsel for PCL, Henry worked with the most talented construction attorneys and consultants across the US, on both sides of the table. 

Today, Henry counsels clients in contract planning, negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution nationally in the construction and engineering industry. He frequently advises clients in contract and legal risk management through the project life-cycle. He has represented clients in the drafting and negotiation of numerous complex construction contracts priced between $1 million and $2 billion+. Henry has significant experience in government contracting issues and has represented clients nationwide in dispute review boards, mediations, arbitrations, trials, and state and federal court. 

Steven has managed and designed a variety of public works projects ranging from land use master planning that encourages and controls development patterns to physical infrastructure projects supporting community growth and prosperity. He is highly experienced with the collaboration opportunities between contractors and designers made possible through alternative delivery. Steven was the design Project Director for Arkansas DOT’s first design-build project, a $650 million reconstruction and widening of Interstate 30 through downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock,  including replacement of the I-30 bridge over the Arkansas River. Steven is currently assisting the Florida DOT to deliver its first large progressive design-build project, the $1B Tampa’s Westshore Interchange. His insights as an engineer and contractor on working with FDOT will provide local relevance, and, along with his work for ARDOT, valuable perspectives to session attendees on first time use of Progressive Design-Build by state departments of transportation.  

As the manager of Burns & McDonnell’s Arkansas office and a team of engineers who deliver roadway and bridge projects for municipalities, counties, and departments of transportation, Steven’s broad experience helps teams analyze the effects of infrastructure decisions on economic development. He has a proven history of successfully working with multiple levels of government and the permitting with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, DOTs, and state environmental agencies to keep projects on schedule and budget.  

In addition to his professional service, he spends much of his free time serving on various regional business councils aimed at furthering investment into the community’s people and infrastructure.  His team is designing some of the most needed transportation projects in Northwest Arkansas. Steven holds an MBA from John Brown University, and both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from University of Arkansas. He is a licensed professional engineer in AR, FL, MO, and TX. 

Tom Binkowski has more than 40 years’ experience in concrete operations. As Senior Trade Director for Barton Malow Company, Tom is responsible for all concrete operations on the union contractor’s projects. He sits on the ASCC CPC board, is an ASCC Technical Committee member, and is an ACI 302 slab on grade voting member. He oversaw the current world record for steel fiber-reinforced slab, a 250,000-SF pour completed in just 18 hours for General Motors in Arlington, Texas. 

Sonya Bohmann is the Executive Director for the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention a 501 c (3) that was started in 2018. Our mission is to provide and disseminate information and resources for suicide prevention and mental health promotion in construction with the goal of creating a zero-suicide industry. 

Sonya comes from a reconstruction background having spent over a decade in the commercial remodel and refresh and facilities maintenance space. Giving her the unique understanding of how the industry works as well as the mental health challenges faced daily by construction workers. This experience has given her insight into how companies both large and small are tackling this worker crisis and what work still needs to be done. 

Britt joined Vision ESOP Valuation in 2019 and currently serves as manager.