Session Speakers

Matt Baker is an associate in Watt Tieder’s McLean, Virginia office concentrating his practice in the areas of construction, government contracts, surety, and commercial litigation. Matt is an experienced litigator who has successfully resolved matters for his clients through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, and trial.

Matt represents the full spectrum of stakeholders in the construction industry including owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and sureties. Matt has assisted clients with a variety of matters including breach of contract claims, payment bond claims, mechanic’s liens, professional liability claims, and real property and commercial disputes.

Building on his experience helping clients navigate litigation, Matt also advises clients on the drafting / negotiation of contracts, risk management, handling claims, and investigating accidents / occurrences.

Levi W. Barrett is a partner in Peckar & Abramson’s New York office and chair of the firm’s Contracts, Project Documentation and Risk Management practice. He focuses his practice on construction law and counsels clients on all aspects of public and private construction contracts.

Levi leads a team of 18 lawyers who are responsible for the preparation, negotiation and review of more than 500 construction contracts each year. This team counsels clients across the United States on issues related to risk mitigation planning and risk assessment, in connection with both public infrastructure and private construction projects.

Levi works with general contractors, construction managers, owners and developers to structure and negotiate contract documents for construction projects across. He also has extensive experience representing general contractors and subcontractors in complex disputes involving construction inefficiencies, delays, differing site conditions, constructive changes, extra work, and default claims. He also counsels clients regarding dispute resolution and dispute avoidance strategies.

Levi has written extensively on changes to the AIA documents and conducted presentations across the country on the 2017 changes. He is also a frequent speaker and author on contract negotiations, emerging issues relative to emerging project delivery methods, design-build, and delegated design.

Levi is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from San Francisco State University, and his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

Blaine Beckman received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management from Texas A&M San Antonio with high honors. Blaine began his construction career as a framing carpenter and due to his work ethic and desire to learn, he received promotions through the construction ranks as lead carpenter, foreman, superintendent, project manager, and Vice President. He was recently named President for F.A. Nunnelly General Contractor, a commercial contractor in San Antonio that was established in 1922. Blaine is heavily active in the construction industry as well as in the San Antonio community.  Blaine also prides himself on his involvement with AGC and is active on both the local and national level. Blaine most recently served as President of the AGC Board of Directors for the San Antonio Chapter.  A few notable awards that Blaine has been the recipient of include Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award, San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40, and the AGC Bubba Moeller Award for Outstanding Service.

Greg Begg is a partner in the nationwide law firm of Peckar & Abramson. He is co-chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group with more than 30 years of experience representing management regarding all matters of labor relations, employment and employee benefits. His labor negotiation experience includes negotiation of project labor agreements for large, public and private construction projects throughout the United States.

Greg also practices extensively before State and Federal courts, Fair Employment Practice Agencies, the National Labor Relations Board, State and Federal Departments of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and various other employment-related State and Federal administrative agencies. Greg provides advice regarding compliance with State and Federal labor and employment laws including Fair Labor Standards Act, Davis Bacon, Affirmative Action and Disadvantage Business Enterprise utilization requirements, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and Immigration Law compliance. Greg also provides consultation regarding investigative techniques, anti-substance abuse policies, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements, wage and hour audits, and employment practices audits. He is the author of many law-related publications and regularly presents on current developments in labor and employment law.

In addition, Greg is the most recent chairman of the national AGC Labor and Employment Law Council.

With more than 30 years of experience untangling complex liability-knots on high profile construction projects across the globe, Chris Brasco is uniquely qualified to protect his clients’ bottom line interests by crafting solutions which appreciate the varied perspectives and issues affecting their projects.  He continues to sharpen his knowledge by lecturing nationally to leading industry groups on the risk-shifting trends and claims pricing developments that inspire breakthrough project solving.  In recognition of his work delivering talks to construction industry trade groups on trend-setting issues, Chris Brasco was recently awarded the Paul F. Phelan Memorial Award by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association on November 6, 2019. He is also a frequent lecturer at national events hosted by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACE).  Emblematic of Chris’ difference making skill-set, he was involved with the federal government in negotiating the successful reprocurement of mission-critical projects throughout Afghanistan after the program-wide default of a large government contractor which occurred during the height of U.S. involvement.

Chris Brasco is often engaged by clients to tackle their most challenging problems.  Chris’ experience includes successfully representing owners, contractors and sureties in myriad disputes involving diverse construction projects, from bridges and tunnels to high-rise buildings.  Also a trained mediator, Chris’ experience and personal skills make him an able advocate, ready to quickly grasp the underlying construction and legal issues and offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of the clients he serves.

Chandler Brooks holds an MBA from the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business and a bachelor’s in historic preservation from The Savannah College of Art and Design. With 12 years in the industry, Chandler worked in architecture before moving to general contracting and focused mostly on high-rise adaptive reuse projects in Texas. An avid technologist, he spent his time between projects on operational technology standardization and enablement. At Procore, he spent 4 years managing a team focused on industry engagement through relationship building, connection, and education at the local/regional level in the United States. He now focuses on enhancing the relationships and partnerships he and the Procore brand have built to truly advance the industry through industry partnerships and alliances.

Laura works with construction-related firms of all sizes to evaluate business practices and assist with management challenges. Having worked in the construction industry for almost 25 years, Laura offers a depth of experience working with contractors to improve profitability and succeed in the changing marketplace. She excels at working in dynamic and demanding environments that require relationship building, versatility and challenge.

Specific experience:

­ – Experienced in leading strategy development and defining initiatives required to meet strategic goals

­ – Strong understanding of industry trends and challenges faced by the construction industry

­- Management consulting for labor organizations, trade associations and private construction contractors with a focus on strategic planning and organizational effectiveness, business development strategy and workforce development

­ – Development and delivery of programs intended to increase business management skills for contractors and prepare individuals for leadership roles

­ – Championed business development initiatives that increased opportunities, grew market position and strengthened relations with industry partners

Ron’s practice is focused on all aspects of the construction industry. He has substantial experience representing general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, prefabricators, modular builders, suppliers, and owners/developers in construction-related matters, including all aspects of construction law, contractual disputes, lien work, bond claims, construction and design defect claims, bid disputes, in litigation and dispute resolution. Ron has litigated cases/issues before all levels of courts in numerous jurisdictions throughout the country, arbitrated disputes nationally, and advocated on behalf of clients using various forms of dispute resolution. He also has broad experience in construction transactional work, drafting and negotiating contract documents for all types of project delivery including, integrated project delivery and other highly collaborative delivery methods, design-bid-build, design build, CM-at-Risk, and other more traditional methods for both public and private projects. Ron routinely counsels his clients on all business aspects of planning, initiating, and completing construction related projects.  Ron is a Member of the AGC of America’s Board of Governors, member of the Building Division Leadership Council, Chair of its Contract Documents Forum, and Chair of its Prefabrication Working Group.

Bill Curtice joined Granger Construction in 2016 and currently serves as a Superintendent. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Ferris State University. Bill enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and most all outdoor activities, in addition to spending time with his family.  

Charlie Dunn tells a good story. From cash rich development on the Las Vegas strip, to oil fueled expansion in Edmonton, Alberta, to energy plant upgrades throughout the Southeast, he thrives in the challenging delivery gap between “as is” conditions and the “to be” designed state. His career highlights include the on-site project management of over 2.5 million square feet of new distribution space across North America with zero recordable injuries, and WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators) recognition for the use of 4D technology in project delivery. He knows that projects succeed because of people—what they believe, strategy—for creativity and innovation, and tools—to deliver value and drive out waste.

Charlie joined DPR Construction in 2016 where he continues to learn about the power of autonomy and the passion to build great things.

Luke has been a Project Engineer with Granger since 2018, working on a variety of renovation projects. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Northern Michigan University. Outside of work, Luke enjoys trail running and taking advantage of Michigan’s Great Lakes. 

Joe Ferrucci is Vice President of F+F Mechanical. His primary role is the planning and supervision of 3D Modeling, BIM, and pre-fabrication strategies of all projects. Joe also oversees the company-wide implementation of technology and lean principles. He is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC and Yale University, School of Architecture. 

Randy Fichera leads Barnhill’s Commercial Services Division which specializes in ground-up core and shell office projects, renovation/adaptive reuse projects and “streamline” delivery of fast-track projects including corporate interiors, large complex upfits, mission-critical renovations and life sciences renovations. The Commercial Services work extends throughout all major metropolitan areas of North Carolina, focused primarily in Charlotte and the Triangle.

Bold and energetic, Randy anchors his team with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. He focuses on delivering projects where being nimble, flexible, and adaptable is essential and has built a team that can hit the ground running, quickly and efficiently. Randy brings wide-ranging experience and has built an impressive portfolio with repeat clients. Randy is an active member of several industry associations including the Carolinas Associated General Contractors, the Carolinas Associated Builders and Contractors, CoreNet and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Randy graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in construction management and joined Barnhill’s Building Group in 2006.

As Regional Growth Leader, Craig’s focus is expanding Palmisano’s business across the Southeast. Having spent the last 18 years building his career in construction, most recently as the President of a successful Virginia-based general contractor where he was responsible for more than tripling its annual revenue and expanding its operations into three new markets, Craig has an extensive knowledge base in growing and scaling companies.

A graduate of Virginia Tech’s Building Construction program, Craig is a lifelong learner. He has participated in a variety of leadership training opportunities, regularly serves as a guest lecturer at Virginia Tech, and is an active member of Young President’s Organization, the Construction Industry Network and Lean Construction Institute.

Jeff Forbes is the Regional Director of The Beck Group’s Dallas office, a construction and design integrated firm. Throughout his 38-year tenure at Beck, his technical knowledge, practical approach, and helpful nature have been refined and now play a key role as he oversees all construction and architectural operations for the Dallas region.  

Jeff has a passion for mentorship, and he serves on various boards and committees for TEXO, the construction association of North and East Texas; Watermark Church; City Lab High School Foundation and AGC of America. He also contributes his time to Bon Ton Farms, Dallas AIA Architecture and Design Foundation, volunteers as a mediator through SMU, serves on the committee for Owner and Specialty Contractor Contract Negotiations, a Leadership Dallas alum, co-chair for the National AIA-AGC Joint Committee, serves on the AGC Climate Change Task Force and National Board of Governors for AGC National. 

An outdoor enthusiast, Jeff enjoys cycling and landscaping. Jeff and his family reside in Dallas, Texas. 

Steve Gantner, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP, AGCMO is a senior specification writer, based in St. Louis, MO. He is an active member of the AGCMO, with more than 25 years’ experience in all phases of construction, including programming and planning, budget review, design, coordination, construction documentation, design team management, construction specifying and contract administration in a wide variety of facility types. His specialty areas include design-build, construction management, integrated project delivery, owner project requirements documentation, project systems and performance descriptions, procurement and construction specifications; and quality assurance reviews. Steve’s passionate about education and collaboration between the specifier and the construction team and is available for classes and presentations.  

Tim is VP of Industry Strategy at Newmetrix. He has over 20 years of construction industry experience working for regional, national and international general contractors in operational roles ranging from Field Engineer to Project Director. Tim is also credited with the development of a data collection, analysis and prediction system called Construction Analytics and has built predictive models for several ENR 400 companies. He is passionate about using technology as a tool to improve the way construction projects are delivered and is eager to share his story with others in the industry. Gattie graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Arizona and California.

Dakus Gunn has served as a consultant and testifying expert in dispute resolution for the last twenty years.  He provides expert analysis and testimony on delay, quantum and productivity issues, with a focus on the construction industry.

Throughout his career he has been involved with a wide variety of projects including roads & bridges, airports, power plants (coal, nuclear, wind and hydroelectric), commercial & residential high-rises, large-scale land development, hospitals, entertainment & sports arenas, and light rail projects.  These projects have been located throughout the Continental United States, Africa, and Latin America.  He has worked primarily on cases involving critical path analyses, contractor terminations, subcontractor disputes, loss of productivity, differing site conditions, change order disputes, and liquidated damages for owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Described by Dr. Brené Brown as one of her “leadership heroes and a total badass,” U.S. Air Force retired Colonel, DeDe Halfhill is a proven leader and communications executive who draws on her 25-year accomplished military career to provide a transparent, real-world perspective on the power of embracing humanness and vulnerability in leadership.

During her time with the Air Force, DeDe became a trusted advisor to some of our nation’s highest-ranking military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense, as well as the lead military spokesperson responsible for implementing plans supporting the Department of Defense’s global communications strategy. Deployed twice during the Iraq War, DeDe gained first-hand experience leading and advising through the most difficult circumstances, often when lives were at risk, and when there were no easy answers. She understands leadership, not just from studying it, but by actually living it.

DeDe speaks honestly about her experience with traditional military leadership and how it lacked the skills to navigate the area of emotion – such as empathy and shame – which often prevented leaders from having the difficult conversations that promote organizational connection, rather than severing it. Whether wholehearted discussions on mental health, racial injustice, or gender inequality, DeDe delivers a thought-provoking look at how these painful topics can be more effectively addressed with vulnerability to create a purposeful, inclusive culture. Weaving in both humorous and heartwarming stories, she demonstrates the practical strategies for any organization to authentically connect, build trust, and empower others in a meaningful way – and that leading with vulnerability and humanity is the path to true courage and exceptional leadership.

For her candid approach to leadership, DeDe’s story and insights have been featured in widely acclaimed outlets, including in Brené Brown’s New York Times bestseller Dare to Lead and on 60 Minutes. She continues to live by the leadership lessons she preaches, becoming a certified “Dare to Lead” facilitator in 2019 as well as a Senior Executive Coach certified through Georgetown University’s Executive Leadership Coaching Program.

DeDe’s military service began when she graduated in 1996 from the University of Iowa’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Iowa, she has earned a Masters in Arts degree in Management from American Military University and certifications from the Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, Squadron Officer School, and Defense Information School.

26 Years of experience in construction with Top 5 ENR Contractor.

Project Management Professional / USACE CQM Certification.

Led management, field operations and estimating divisions.

Daily oversight of more than $1 billion of construction.

Notable projects include HPCC-Data Storage Facility, Level 3 National Network, Nike Headquarters, Wafertech Manufacturing Facility.

Since purchasing the company in 2005, current Owner and President Jeff Harper, continues the construction family tradition while maintaining the company’s outstanding reputation and uncompromising commitment to quality and safety. Jeff Harper has provided leadership and overall management control as the head of the Harper Team and has been responsible for projects in the both private and public sectors. Jeff is involved in every Harper project and maintains a hands-on involvement and responsibility for all construction operations through project completion. He has 32 years experience with Harper Construction and specializes in design-build projects. The firm’s resume of project and industry awards, outstanding performance evaluations, and list of satisfied customers reflects his longstanding commitment to total customer satisfaction.

Steve Hawkins is currently the Vice President of FDR Safety LLC. He began his employment with FDR in March of 2020. Steve previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Labor of Labor and Workforce Development and as the Assistant Commissioner for Tennessee OSHA for seven years.

In his role as Deputy Commissioner, he managed Tennessee OSHA, the state Unemployment Insurance System, and the Workplace Regulation and Compliance Division.

Prior to joining FDR Safety he began his career with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in 1986 as an Occupational Safety Specialist in TN OSHA. He was promoted to area office Safety Supervisor, Safety Compliance Manager, Assistant Administrator, Assistant Commissioner, and most recently, Deputy Commissioner of the department.

Steve served as the department’s representative to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Response Commission. He is a member of the following councils and committees: Tennessee Blasting Advisory Council, Tennessee Associated Builders and Contractors Safety Advisory Committee, Associated General Contractors Safety Committee, and the Tennessee Road Builders Association Safety Committee.

Steve is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Safety and Health Conference.

Steve graduated from the College of Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in 1986 with a BS in Industrial Technology. In 2016, he was recognized by the university as the Technologist of Distinction and was admitted to the Academy of Renaissance Engineering. He is also a member of the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Advisory board at the university.

Tonya serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for RA-LIN and Associates, Inc. a leading construction management firm in Georgia. Her focus is on expanding relationships and partnerships to help build structures that build communities. She has worked in the construction industry since 2005. Tonya is an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Atlanta Chapter and serves on the board of directors for the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, the Douglas County Education Foundation and University of West Georgia Foundation.

Steve Jones leads the Industry Insights Research team at Dodge that conducts focused studies globally on how emerging economic, practice and technology trends are transforming the global design and construction industry. In addition to hundreds of speaking engagements around the world and numerous articles in industry publications, he is Executive Editor of Dodge Data & Analytics’ Commercial Construction Index, Civil Quarterly and the SmartMarket Reports series on key industry trends, which are distributed worldwide and frequently cited as authoritative references.

Steve holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA from Johns Hopkins University. He has a track record of active leadership in many industry initiatives and serves as a judge for numerous industry awards.

Before joining Dodge in 2003, Steve was Vice President of Primavera Systems (now part of Oracle), a global leader in project management software. Prior to that, Steve spent 19 years in creative and management roles with top architectural/engineering firms, most recently as a Principal and Board of Directors member with Burt Hill, one of the largest A/E firms in the US (now merged with Stantec).

Bryan Kelley is a Vice President at Balfour Beatty Construction. A construction law attorney, Bryan manages the company’s legal matters in the Pacific Northwest. Bryan graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Classical Studies and attended law school at Pepperdine University. He started his law career at OIes Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP, becoming an equity partner before joining Balfour Beatty in 2016. Bryan is a recipient of the AGC of Washington Associate of the Year Award and a “Rising Star” according to Washington Law & Politics Magazine. He serves on the board of AGC of Washington and Seattle Children’s Theatre and is Vice Chair of AGC of America’s Contract Documents Forum. Bryan lives in Seattle with his wife, April, and their two children.

Kabri Lehrman-Schmid is a Project Superintendent at Hensel Phelps with a 14-year career portfolio showcasing her depth of skill across all project phases on integrated delivery aviation and active campus projects.  In 2019 she was recognized for two industry awards: the Construction Business Owner’s Outstanding Women in Construction and the Washington Women in Trades’ Workplace Leader Award.  She is a mentor for Arcade Wayfinding’s Build the Circle Foreman Basic Training scholarship program, a member of the AGC of Washington’s Culture of Care Committee, and the co-chair of the Seattle Construction Suicide Prevention Task Force. Kabri uses multiple media platforms to educate a growing audience about field management’s role in examining bias and challenging stigma that prevent mental health in construction through the development of psychological safety on the jobsite.  Her perspective is the foundation of her recently published article titled ‘A Superintendent’s Case for a Psychologically Safe Jobsite’.  She is heavily involved with her organization’s corporate inclusion and mental health initiatives, and when not working with many industry organizations in the Pacific NW, she is often found canoeing, cooking, and exploring the mountains and lakes with her wife and two sons.

Until recently, H. R. McMaster was the 26th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

From 2014 to 2017 McMaster designed the future Army as Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center and Deputy Commanding General, Futures, US Army Training and Doctrine Command. As Commanding General, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, he oversaw all training and education for the Army’s infantry, armor, and cavalry force. His extensive experience leading soldiers and organizations in wartime includes Commander, Combined Joint Inter-Agency Task Force Shafafiyat in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012; Commander, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq from 2005 -2006; and Commander, Eagle Troop Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in Operation Desert Storm from 1990-1991. McMaster also served overseas as an advisor to the most senior commanders in the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

H.R. led important strategic assessments including the revision of Iraq strategy during the ‘surge’ of 2007 and efforts to develop security forces and governmental institutions in post-war Iraq. In 2009-2010 he led an assessment and planning effort to develop a comprehensive strategy for the greater Middle East.

McMaster was an assistant professor of history at the United States Military Academy from 1994 to 1996 where he taught undergraduate courses in military history and history of the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well as a graduate course on the history of military leadership for officers enrolled in the Columbia University MBA program.

H.R. has published scores of essays, articles, and book reviews on leadership, history, and the future of warfare in many publications including Foreign Affairs, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He was a contributing editor for Survival magazine from 2010-2017 and is a current Senior Fellow at The Hoover Institution. His award-winning book, Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies that Led to Vietnam, is a New York Times bestseller. His most recent bestseller Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World, is an important book on the state of America’s national security. In 2020, he became a special advisor to Investment Bank Mischler Financial Group, Inc, which is Veteran-owned, and in 2021 joined the Board of Directors for NRx Pharmaceuticals.

H.R. was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984. He holds a Ph.D. in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His military awards include the Silver Star Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart.

Sarah K. Magruder Lyle is President & CEO of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), a stakeholder-run organization dedicated to protecting underground utility assets and the people who dig near them. Magruder Lyle works to build partnerships among CGA’s 1,700 members which share a common goal of eliminating excavation-related damage to nearly 20 million combined miles of underground facilities nationwide. She was appointed by the Secretary of Transportation to the Department’s Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) which provides guidance to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on regulations affecting pipeline safety standards in March of 2019.

Prior to joining CGA, Magruder Lyle was Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a national trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life. She was responsible for developing and executing comprehensive outreach strategies to educate consumers, key stakeholders, and federal, state and local elected officials about the implications of national energy policy decisions on their communities and the important role the downstream sector plays in their economic and national security.

Before joining AFPM, Magruder Lyle was Vice President of External Affairs at America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA). In this role, she engaged policy makers and cultivated partnerships with local, state and national constituencies to promote ANGA’s goal of expanding the use of abundant, clean, American natural gas. In prior positions as a consultant to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy and as a member of the American Petroleum Institute’s Washington, D.C. staff, Magruder Lyle was responsible for developing and executing advocacy strategies on a wide variety of energy and environmental issues, including coal, oil and natural gas policy, the development and use of Canadian oil sands, infrastructure, tax incentives, international energy issues, and climate change.

From 2005 to 2008, Magruder Lyle served at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As White House liaison, she advised the Secretary of Energy and senior staff on political issues as well as the DOE’s policies and operations. She was also senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Policy and International Affairs. In this capacity, Magruder Lyle played a key role in developing strategic initiatives to implement the administration’s domestic and international energy policies.

Magruder Lyle is a graduate of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., and received her undergraduate degree from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.

Robert (Bob) P. Majerus, is a graduate of Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and has a Law Degree from the University of Notre Dame. He joined Hensel Phelps in 2006 and serves as Vice President and General Counsel. Bob has overall responsibility for contractual and legal matters for the organization. Prior to joining Hensel Phelps, Bob was a trial attorney for a private law firm. He began his career with Hensel Phelps as Associate General Counsel before being appointed Vice President and General Counsel. 

Bob is admitted to the Arizona and Washington bar Associations. He is serving as the Chair of the Building Division of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and is a member of the AGC Board of Directors. 

To meet his strong pledge to give back to the community, Bob is actively involved in supporting local, regional and national organizations with a commitment of his time and personal contributions. 

Chris has worked in the construction industry for 25 years in various marketing, business development and public relations positions.  The first six years of his career was spent working for a general contractor and an engineering firm before shifting to the agency side and working with construction clients to tell stories that range from projects and services to strategy and crisis management. 

Chris founded Atlas Marketing in 2008 and began working with a variety of labor organizations including the Ironworkers, Boilermakers, Carpenters and Steel Workers along with the Keystone Contractors Association and the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania.  Atlas Marketing has developed recruitment campaigns, owner outreach efforts, digital communications, crisis communications programs and internal communications projects with a heavy focus on the construction industry.   

Chris is also the co-host of the Building PA Podcast, a podcast series that details topics specific to the Pennsylvania construction industry.  He is also publisher of the Keystone Contractor Magazine, a digital publication that tells the story of the Keystone Contractors Association. 

Atlas Marketing tells stories for companies who build things in the aerospace, automotive, biotech, construction, food manufacturing, healthcare, industrial and manufacturing industries.  The stories the agency tells are designed to simplify complex ideas that help future customers make decisions. 

Julie Morgenstern is an internationally renowned organizing and time management expert, New York Times best-selling author, consultant and speaker. The author of six best-selling books, a consultant to large corporations and a sought-after speaker, Morgenstern has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, and NPR’s Fresh Air and helped thousands of people transform their homes, businesses, and attitudes about every kind of clutter. Known for her passionate, articulate style and warm sense of humor, she has written columns for O Magazine, Redbook, Forbes, and Thrive Global, helping readers’ solve problems by inspiring order in their lives. The “Inside Out” philosophy that is now synonymous with her name results in customized solutions that are innovative, practical and ensure long-term success. The New York City-based Julie Morgenstern Enterprises has been successfully in business for over 30 years.

Mr. Muilenburg is responsible for global federal strategy and business plans to enhance mission readiness for the United States Department of Defense, Federal Civilian Agencies, and Defense Contractors; while providing business growth for the company. His strategy and plans are infused with forward looking technology to facilitate high-performing solutions across the transportation, water, environmental, power, digital, building, and advanced facilities markets. He also serves as the Federal Solutions and Technology Director for Ports and Maritime.

Prior to joining Jacobs in January 2020, Mr. Muilenburg served 34-years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral. During his Naval career, Rear Admiral Muilenburg served as the Commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and Chief of Civil Engineers where he led 21,000 colleagues executing $14 billion per year in products and services. In this role, he was also the Head, Contracts and Technical Authority for the Navy shore establishment, and functional manager for 13,000 Civil Engineer Corps officers and Seabee enlisted personnel. His previous assignments included Command of all NAVFAC and Seabee operations in the
Indo-Pacific theater, Chief of Naval Operations staff, and Secretary of the Navy staff.

Mr. Muilenburg is a Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia, and a member of both the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management from The George Washington University, a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University, and an Advanced Management Program Certificate from Duke University.

Jack Mumma is Construction Contract Administrator at Michigan State University.  Jack is responsible for procurement, accounting, and budget monitoring for almost all major capital construction projects at MSU.  He was also the project executive for implementation of the university’s project management software, and is part of the team that works to improve the process of delivering design and construction to MSU.  A graduate of DePaul College of Law and St. Mary’s of the Barrens, Jack is adjunct faculty to MSU’s School of Planning, Design, and Construction. He also holds the CM-Lean designation from AGC, one of the first owners to earn this distinction.  Jack is a past president and former Board Member of Construction Owners Association of America (COAA), and continues to serve on a number of committees for the organization, including chairing the COAA Peer Review Committee. While president of that organization, he was part of the negotiation of COAA’s entry into ConsensusDOCS. Jack lead MSU’s efforts to implement an Integrated Project Delivery agreement for a $14m food service project, which was the first IPD project at public university. He is a former contracting officer with the Office of Naval Research. Jack is married to Jean, and they have 2 children.

Mike O’Rourke joined Granger Construction in 2012 and has been involved in numerous projects in the education, justice and commercial market segments since joining the company, cultivating a passion for efficiency and safety. Outside of work,  Mike has a passion for woodworking, hunting and fishing, but most importantly being a husband and father. 

Ashley Phelps is the Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management at Gilbane Building Company. With the use of Lean strategies and tactics, her focus is ensuring project teams have the capacity and capability to streamline the procurement process and enhance relationships with key business partners. Prior to her roll in Supply Chain, Ashley lead Gilbane’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling department. With a background in scheduling, she coached teams on Lean planning and scheduling techniques with an emphasis on continuous improvement.   

In over a decade of construction experience ranging from superintendent work to drafting, Ashley thrives on the complexities of building construction and building relationships with trade workers, owners, and architects.  

In addition to her role at Gilbane, Ashley is vice chair of AGC’s Lean Forum and sits on the Board of Governors for the Associated General Contractors of America. She is also a board member for AGC’s Education and Research Foundation. Ashley is currently an adjunct professor at New England Institute of Technology where she teaches Construction Delivery Methods and Lean for Construction. She received her BS degree from New England Institute of Technology and her MBA from Nichols College. 

Dr. Rogers founded Paradyne Consulting Works in 2004. She brings 20 years of unique experience traveling throughout North America providing guidance to numerous Fortune 100 and 500 organizations. She specializes in identifying and solving issues affecting efficiency, productivity and profitability. Dr. Rogers’ book Decide to Profit (SelectBooks New York) is based on her over twelve years of consulting. Dr. Rogers approaches her clients strategically, with an eye towards the management team efficacy, productivity and efficiency of operations, and financial streamlining. She is adept at teaming with senior executives at the highest level or rolling up her sleeves and diving into project or field level operations. Dr. Rogers joined the advisory board for Almita Piling in August 2020. In that capacity she provides guidance in strategy, finance, and growth.

Her client base includes the Who’s Who of Fortune 100 organizations, as well as the Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other large government entities. She has led Paradyne in the areas of project turnaround, operational streamlining, strategic business planning, joint venture partnering, government contracting and management and technical training. Executives find her insightful, candid, operationally savvy, and a highly effective leader. She has earned the nickname “The Fixer” and has worked with many of her clients for more than a decade. Prior to founding Paradyne Consulting Works, Dr. Rogers served in senior leadership roles, for both private and publicly traded companies in engineering, advanced technology, and consulting.

Her experience as an entrepreneur, technologist, and executive from the ground up has given her a unique and broad perspective. Dr. Rogers holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate Group in Ecology, Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. She was appointed to the Ambassador’s Club for the Society of Automotive Engineers, and also served on the National Academy of Science Transportation Research Board. She served as part-time faculty at California State University Channel Islands, where she taught Business Operations. Dr. Rogers has been named “Entrepreneur of the Year” and has been nominated to “Women Making a Difference.”

Howard Roth has over 35 years of experience handling federal procurement and contract law matters. He is a knowledgeable advisor in all stages of federal contract law and federal contract litigation, including terminations, procurement disputes, protests, procurement integrity, rights in technical data, internal investigations, and contract cost issues. Howard advises and assists clients with a comprehensive approach to managing cybersecurity and establishing compliant and effective information technology safeguards. He is experienced in high-visibility cases, including complex litigation and more than 100 adversarial proceedings. 

Howard also has vast experience in the maritime industry, handling matters on ship construction and repair projects for the U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, NOAA, and U.S. Army.

Howard has a list of accolades and accomplishments that few in his industry can rival – recipient of the Army Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster for expertise and achievement in Government Accountability Office (GAO) protests and contract appeals, legal advisor on defense of a $41 million construction contract appeal to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), and legal counsel for a nationwide Government Enterprise IT network.

Howard has represented contractors before the GAO, Court of Federal Claims, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeal (ASBCA), and CBCA. Committed to sharing his knowledge of the industry, Howard is a frequent speaker and author on issues relating to contract formation and litigation of contract disputes. He is a Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps USA (Retired). His JAG experience includes Trial Team Chief at the Army Contract Appeals Division litigating GAO bid protests and contract appeals, Commissioner at the ASBCA, and Deputy General Counsel at the Army’s Support Command in California. Er spricht auch Deutsch, wenn auch etwas malerisch.

Mark is a professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the Civil & Architectural Engineering and Construction Management department. He teaches classes in Project Management, Cost Control, Lean Construction and Leadership. Prior to his work at MSOE, he worked as a general contractor for 40 years. His experience in the construction industry ranged from laborer, superintendent, project engineer, estimator, senior project manager, and vice president. Mark teaches PMDP and CSF courses for AGC Wisconsin and was part of the team that revised the AGC Project Management Development Program. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin. He received the Daily Reporter’s Educator of the Year award in 2018 for his work teaching in the construction industry.

Hal’s career includes executive tenures at two large regional firms, at one of the largest global construction firms in the world, and as a member of the executive leadership team of a large national construction company. Hal’s career has been hallmarked by his unique ability to spur revenue and profitability growth wherever his career took him, and in any economic environment. As a result, he has become a noted expert in creating sustained growth strategies in the commercial construction industry.

Over his career, Hal created a unique system that fuels and sustains growth. He founded Equalizer9 to do what he loves everyday – teaching, mentoring, and coaching others on how to take their construction businesses to new heights.

Hal is married to the beautiful and talented Debra. They have 3 children, a new daughter in law, and a very large Newfoundland dog. Hal enjoys golf, duck hunting, and Appalachian trail section hikes. Hal has a degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

John Sebastian joined Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald in 2013 as the managing partner of the firm’s new Chicago office. He focuses his practice primarily in the areas of surety bond, construction and commercial litigation. With an undergraduate degree in Construction Engineering Technology, and a wealth of practice experience in-house and in private practice, he is well equipped to both counsel and protect his construction industry clients in their challenging legal matters.

John has represented sureties, contractors, architects, engineers, design/builders, and trade contractors in payment disputes, design defect claims, delay claims, defective work claims, and contractor, subcontractor and owner bankruptcies. His construction law matters include defective design, delay and disruption, labor productivity analyses, contract interpretation, differing site conditions, and surety bond and mechanics lien claims. John has also handled complex commercial litigation, including fidelity bond claims, common law fraud, breach-of-contract matters and preserving and prosecuting creditors’ claims in bankruptcy.

John counsels and advises clients on contract preparation, administration and termination, mechanics liens, and surety claims and defenses, as well as contractor, subcontractor and owner bankruptcies. He has extensive experience in claim preparation, prosecution and dispute resolution on federal, state, municipal and private contracts. John has significant litigation experience before both federal and state courts as well as the American Arbitration Association on a wide variety of suretyship, construction law, commercial litigation and bankruptcy issues.

John’s background and experience in the construction industry is a unique asset he brings to this practice. His knowledge and understanding of his clients’ business needs and challenges in the construction arena enable him to handle complex matters efficiently from a business perspective.

Bill Sims, Jr., is President of The Bill Sims Company, Inc. For more than 30 years, Bill has created positive reinforcement systems that have helped large and small firms to inspire better performance from employees and increase bottom line profits. He is a world renowned keynote speaker and recently was selected as one of the top ten speakers by the National Safety Council.

Bill‘s first book,  entitled Green Beans & Ice Cream—The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement, has garnered rave reviews.  He has built more than 1,000 positive reinforcement systems at firms including Dupont, Siemens VDO, Coca-Cola, and Disney, and holds issued patents in the field.  Recently, he formed  GlobalSafetyInstitute.org to capture & share best practice safety leadership & culture around the planet.

Mr. Somers has over 25 years of experience in construction.  He is currently the Contracting Manager of the Western US for Ferrovial Agroman managing a procurement pipeline of Design Build and P3 projects in excess of $4 Billion dollars of construction. His areas of responsibility include Business Development, including building joint ventures, client engagement and interaction, and procuring work. He has previously worked as a Foreman, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Estimator, Estimating Manager, and Director of Special Projects and Business Development for small and large contractors.  Mr. Somers has estimated and built many types of projects including: water and waste water treatment plants, hazardous waste remediation projects, landfills, mining infrastructure, roads and streets, highways, bridges, railroad infrastructure, commercial site work, subdivisions, throughout the Western US for private owners and public agencies.   Mr. Somers holds the PMP designation, has also held a California Contractors “B” Classification license and has worked in various positions including chief estimator and construction manager for commercial, residential and multi-family building construction.  He has served on the State Board of the AGC of California.  He has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a Major in Insurance, Real Estate and Risk Management and an additional Major in Marketing.

David Stutzman, AIA, FCSI, CCS, SCIP, LEED AP is an independent construction specifier and architect. He founded and leads Conspectus, Inc. the largest, expert independent specifications consulting firm in the United States, based in southern New Jersey and with multiple regional offices. David has extensive experience in producing architectural and engineering specifications for federal government masters, commercial masters, office masters, and construction projects. Additionally, through the specification process, David becomes a quality assurance partner by identifying areas of concern to be addressed by the construction documents. He is leading the initiative in delivering integrated Uniformat and MasterFormat specifications that align owner project requirements, design intent, and estimates for critical decision-making required to balance performance, quality, and costs during the design process. David has created and developed an ‘industry-first’ tool to produce written construction documentation that benefits all members of the project team, in particular the owner, estimator and architect/engineer.  

Swartzentruber has had a wide and varied career, serving in positions ranging from Sales Manager to CEO at small business boutiques and multibillion dollar household names. Prior to joining Paradyne Consulting Works, Jon was Vice President of Leadership Development at one of the five largest engineering and construction firms in North America, where for eleven years he led this company’s mission to build an innovative Leadership Development architecture. His efforts resulted in the company being named to Fortune/Aon Hewitt’s Top 25 Companies for Leaders, the only engineering or construction company to be so recognized.

Under Jon’s leadership over this time, while the company more than doubled in size and profitability, he reduced time-to-promote to critical positions by 40% and increased retention of identified High Potentials by 30%.

As a seasoned partnering facilitator, he has led scores of successful client-contractor-engineer partnering programs, including Poseidon Water’s $1B Carlsbad, CA Desalination Plant; multiple DOD projects from Seoul to Corpus Christi; Major League sports stadiums from Miami to Seattle; and the planet’s highest visibility Civil Engineering project of the 21st century – The Oroville Dam Spillways Recovery. His

partnered projects have won prestigious awards including Design Build Institute of America (DBIA)’s Project of the Year and the International Partnering Institute (IPI)’s Diamond Award.

Earlier in his career, Jon founded five successful start-up companies in the construction, residential real estate, e-commerce, and aviation industries.

He has been recognized by the Chief of Staff of the US Army Corps of Engineers as a distinguished speaker, and by IPI as a Senior Partnering Facilitator.

He has built and led highly acclaimed leadership programs for companies as varied as Southern California Edison, Kiewit Construction, and K2 Sports – experiences he brings to Paradyne’s flagship Sixth Factor Academy.

A published playwright, Jon is well known for his comedies chronicling turn of the century life in southeastern Pennsylvania.

He enjoys boating, golfing, and the relentless pursuit of leisure.

Jolsna is Rosendin’s Business Development Manager for Texas and surrounding states. Her responsibilities include establishing and maintaining client relationships, research and analysis of the market place and tracking and maintaining the status of developing opportunities. Jolsna is a University of Texas at Austin Business School and American University Washington College of Law grad and serves as a Board Member of the Rosendin Foundation, the Mayor’s Appointee to the City of Austin Construction Advisory Council, Chair of the City’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission, Secretary/Treasurer of the Austin Convention Enterprises Board and 2019 Luna Business Advocate of the Year and NAWIC Austin 2019 WIC of the Year.

As Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Brian Turmail’s role is to develop and oversee all public, member and chapter communications activities for the 27,000-member construction trade association.  He works directly with national, regional, and local media to generate coverage of the construction industry and AGC’s major policy priorities. He is also helping oversee the implementation of the association’s Centennial “Future Focus” plan designed to position the association to help member firms thrive amid the significant technological, process and labor transformations taking place within the industry. He also plays a lead role in getting local, state, and federal officials to act on the measures outlined in the association’s Workforce Development Plan.  And he is a member of the board of directors of AGC Charities Inc, the association’s charitable arm, where he oversees Operation Opening Doors projects that get volunteer contractors to renovate facilities for worthwhile groups, including veterans and members of the disabled community.  Turmail resides in Washington, D.C. where he serves as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and volunteers with local schools and law enforcement.

Tim VanAntwerp serves as a Vice President for Granger Construction and acquired his professional stripes by leading the successful delivery of countless high-profile, complex projects. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and is a licensed Michigan Professional Engineer. Tim enjoys spending time outdoors and is a devoted husband and father of two. 

Pat Wadors, Chief Talent Officer at Procore, oversees the People team, including Talent Acquisition, and plays a critical role in the company’s focus on employee experience and continued growth. Prior to Procore, Wadors served as Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) at ServiceNow from 2017 to 2020. She was responsible for overseeing global employee resources and talent, helping the company scale from 5,000 to 12,000 employees while building programs to support employees and their families. She previously served as SVP, Global Talent Organization at LinkedIn, where she led a global HR organization. Wadors has also held executive positions at Plantronics, Inc. and Yahoo! She currently serves on the boards of Zenefits, Accolade, Inc., and El Camino Hospital.

As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan and his team helped Imagineering, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and Disney Parks to innovate, creating magical new storylines and experiences for consumers around the globe.

As founder of iD8 & innov8 he now brings his extensive Disney experience to audiences around the world using a very unique approach to Design Thinking, that not only places the end user at the core of the creative thinking process, but also looks in new and usual places to uncover insights for innovation, helping people capture unlikely connections, leading to fresh thinking and disruptive ideas.

Delivering a series of keynotes, workshops and ideation forums, his unique Design Thinking process helps companies embed a culture of innovation into everyone’s DNA.

Duncan is a multiple TEDx speaker and contributor to Fast Company magazine. He teaches Master Classes at Yale, the University of North Carolina, Duke University and the University of Florida. In 2008 he received the American Citizen of Choice Award at the White House. In 2014 he was awarded an Hons. Doctorate from Edinburgh University in Scotland. He also holds the Duke of Edinburgh Award presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Kristen’s practice focuses on the areas of Construction, Real Estate and Business. In her construction practice, Kristen represents general contractors, owners, and trade contractors, with an emphasis on drafting, reviewing and negotiating development and construction contracts, both in the private and public sector. Her real estate and business law experience includes business formation, mergers/acquisitions, commercial real estate transactions, commercial leasing, disadvantaged business enterprises, and succession planning.

Kristen received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her Juris Doctorate from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, and served as the Business Editor for the Journal of International and Comparative Law. During law school, Kristen received the Outstanding Performance in Legal Writing Award and she participated in the Comparative and International Law Program in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to attending law school, Kristen worked in the construction industry in Tucson as a Human Resources Specialist.

Kristen is the immediate past chair of the State Bar of Arizona Real Property Section, and she is a current member of the Arizona Builder’s Alliance and Arizona Transportation Builder’s Alliance. In addition to her law practice, Kristen serves the Tucson community as a Rotarian and as a board member, executive council member and chair-elect of the Children’s Museum of Tucson. When not in the office, Kristen can be found playing soccer or enjoying the beautiful Tucson community with her husband and children.

James Young is the Senior Director of Congressional Relations for Labor, HR, and Safety for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In this role, he works directly with members of the U.S. Congress, AGC members and press on a multitude of issues that directly affect the construction industry. Previously, Mr. Young worked for Direct Impact, a grassroots firm in Washington and Democracy Data and Communications which provides a comprehensive array of grassroots and political action solutions. Mr. Young began his career on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Benjamin Gilman (NY).

James holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.

Nicholas Zembillas has over 42 years in the public and private sector of Transportation and Subsurface Utility Engineering and Consulting industry. Mr. Zembillas spent 15 years with the Florida Department of Transportation, as a project inspector/engineer in Construction and advanced to become District Utility Engineer, providing policy and leadership with the Utility Agency Owners whose facilities occupy public rights of way for the accommodation and use of the utilities. Mr. Zembillas introduced in the to the transportation and utility industry, innovated process called Joint Project Agreement, whereas, Utility Installation was performed by the Highway Contractor, using approved utility subcontractors. This concept reduced construction delays and claims. Other state transportation agencies have developed similar programs.

Zembillas spent 27 years in the private sector where he went on to develop a global business practice of professional Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) under the business name of TBE Group, which in 2008 merged with Cardno Limited. Under Zembillas leadership, this division provided leadership and management for quality assurance and compliance for field operation, project management and project delivery, training and development, fleet management and safety standards for SUE global business units. Mr. Zembillas was the Senior Principal for operational oversight with business units in Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and Australia providing subsurface utility engineering and utility coordination services. In addition, he was actively involved in Cardno’s global SUE business development and leadership, traveling the world, speaking at conferences, and writing articles introducing subsurface utility engineering and the many benefits it provides on engineering projects of all sizes.

Mr. Zembillas is now the CEO/MD of Subsurface Utility Engineering, LLC and SUE LATAM, LLC where he serves on various international standard committees, as an International Subject Matter Expert, advisor on subsurface utility engineering best practices & standard of care, utility damage prevention, utility coordination, utility relocation design methodology, utility claims analysis and geophysical & geospatial technologies reviews for public and private sector clients. Mr. Zembillas’ SUE LATAM is the leading professionally registered provider of subsurface utility engineering in Latin America, serving clients in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Panama.