2022 Minnesota Construction Summit

Opening Keynote Address: Jack Uldrich

Business as Unusual: How to Future-Proof Your Business in Transformational Times

The pandemic has catapulted the world into a future of deep change. In this engaging, provocative, and insightful keynote session acclaimed global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich will not only discuss how COVID is transforming the world of construction, he explains why it is accelerating many of the trends that were already at work prior to the epidemic.
 

History reminds us that great crises produce great change – as well as great opportunities. To take advantage of these extraordinary opportunities, businesses must position themselves now to operate in a world where “business as unusual” is the new “usual.” This session will help leaders at every level of an organization leverage ten “unconventional” techniques to succeed in today’s–and tomorrow’s–transformational times.

Breakout Sessions:

• MnDOT Duluth/Twin Ports Interchange Project Case Study
  (Harrison King, Andy Reynolds)
• Cultivating a Culture of Respect, Inclusion, and Civility
  (Dr. Jermaine M. Davis)
• MRPC 1.13 and Wage Theft / Worker Misclassification
  (Doug Mork, Jonathan Moler)
  1 hour Ethics CLE approved
• Public Owners Panel: What Keeps Them Up at Night?
  (Jody Jacoby, Scott Everson, Gilbert Odonkor, Tom Ravn, Wayne Waslaski)
• Plan for the Unexpected - Transition and Succession Planning
  (Brandon Maves)

Breakout Sessions:

• Material Delivery Management System (MDMS): Using Technology Through Electronic Ticketing
  (Rebecca Embacher)
• Leading with an Inclusive Lens
  (Dr. Jermaine M. Davis)
• Law & Ethics in the Construction Industry (Hon. David Lillehaug)
  1 hour Ethics CLE approved
• What Contractors Need to Know
  (Nicole Blissenbach, Sean Skibbie)
• Female Executive: Unicorn Living in a Field of Donkeys
  (Shelly Peterson)

Breakout Sessions:

• The Nitty Gritty: Open Discussion on Grading Specifications
  (Terry Beaudry)
• Culture of CARE and AGC Overview
  (Brynn Huneke)
• Ethical Construction Contracts: Negotiations, Terms, and Compliance
  (Adam Handfinger)
  1 hour Ethics CLE approved
• Beyond Low Bid: The Future of Alternate Delivery 
  (Peter Davich, Kevin Hagness, Paul Trombitas)
• Innovation on Elk River
  (Patrick J. Holtz, Peter Muehlbach)

Breakout Sessions:

• Underground Damage Prevention: Local Initiatives to Improve Safety with Utility Locates
  (John Haas, moderator; Allen Gray)
• Sharing Best Practices to Engage MWBE Contractors
  (Kisha Bausby)
• Construction Contracts: Key Differences (Dean Thomson, Rob Smith)
  1 hour standard CLE approved
• How to Leverage Your Industry Passion to Produce Market Opportunities
  (Senator Ann Johnson-Stewart, Laura Ziegler)
• Connected Maintenance: Leveraging Technology and Human Insights to Improve Performance and Increase Operational Reliability
  (Anne Bushman, Sam Johnson, Scott Hislop, Marv Soldner)

Keynote Address: Chris Heeter

Wildly Welcoming: Unleashing the Potential of Your Teams

Breakout Sessions:

• Survival Tactics and resilience Strategies in the Aftermath of Construction Crises
  (Cal Beyer, Rob Dahl)
• Gang Box Talk: Jobsite Culture Focused on Making a Difference
  (Christa Mardaus)
  1 hour Elimination of Bias CLE approved
• A Time to Build: What the Federal Infrastructure Bill Means for MN
  (Serge Phillips, Laura Ziegler)
• Leading Through the Generations
  (Tina Nazier)
• Let's Raise the Bar on RFI and Submittal Process
  (Terri Erickson)

Breakout Sessions:

• Your Project, Your Team: Making the Most of Your Most Valuable Asset - the Mind
  (Jonathan Zentner, Rachel Zentner)
• De"Constructing" Cyber Risk
  (Sharon Scharf)
• Constructing a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion - Where Do We Start?
  (Jalaal Madyun)
  1 hour Elimination of Bias CLE approved

Tuesday, January 11
9:15-10:15

Scott Everson, Jody Jacoby, Gilbert Odonkor, Tom Ravn,  Wayne Waslaski

Public Owners Panel (What Keeps Them up at night?)

Hear from the Department of Administration, MnDOT, Hennepin County, Met Council, and other public facility owners on their future plans, goals, and project delivery.

Tuesday, January 11
11:00-12:00

Nicole Blissenbach, Sean Skibbie

What Contractors Need to Know

Stay up to date on the current status on existing and emerging regulations affecting construction. COVID rules, wage theft, prevailing wage, DBE  more. 

Tuesday, January 11
1:30-2:30

Peter Davich, Kevin Hagness, Paul Trombitas

Beyond Low-Bid: The Future of Alternate Delivery

CM/GC Presentation

Design-Build in Minnesota Presentation

In 2018, FMI indicated that Design-Build methods would represent nearly half of construction spending across markets by 2021. What does the research show? How does MN fit in - or not - with alternative delivery model trends? More specifically, learn how MnDOT plans to use methods like Construction Manager - General Contractor in the the future with recent changes in law.

Tuesday, January 11
2:45-3:45

Senator Ann Johnson Stewart, Laura Ziegler

How to Leverage Your Industry Passion to Produce Market Opportunities 

Working with elected and government officials on industry issues is the key to success for the future of construction. Meet some of construction's biggest champions in MN and hear how to efficiently maximize your interests through a comprehensive advocacy program at the Capitol.

Wednesday, January 12
9:30-10:30

Serge Phillips, Laura Ziegler

A Time to Build: What the Federal Infrastructure Bill Means for Minnesota

We’ve all seen that MN is slated to receive $6.8 billion in funding from the federal infrastructure bill. MnDOT staff will break down what the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) means for construction programs over the next five years.

Tuesday, January 11
9:15-10:15

Brandon Maves

Plan for the Unexpected - Transition and Succession Planning

You have thought of everything. The succession plan is going great. Executive management is going to buy the company. What will you do when the plan doesn’t work because of death, disability, retirement, or termination? No one plan is perfect for every business. The plan developed today won’t be the plan needed for tomorrow. Join us to learn how to plan with the end in mind, stay nimble and evaluate the best succession plan for your business.

Tuesday, January 11
9:15-10:15

Dr. Jermaine M. Davis

Cultivating a Culture of Respect, Inclusion & Civility

In this engaging and interactive presentation, Dr. Jermaine Davis will equip leaders and frontline employees with practical tips on how to work inclusively and respectfully up, down, and across their organization. Individuals will learn how to embrace and value the unique and diverse perspective of their peers and colleagues.

Tuesday, January 11
11:00-12:00

Dr. Jermaine M. Davis

Leading and Working with an Inclusive Lens

Is your organization’s climate inclusive or exclusive? Welcoming or unwelcoming? It is important that leaders, managers, and frontline employees learn how to communicate and work effectively across ALL dimensions of diversity. Leading with an Inclusive Lens prepares leaders and employees at all levels to contribute positively to cultivating an inclusive work environment so EVERYONE can thrive and flourish.

Tuesday, January 11
1:30-2:30

Brynn Huneke

Culture of CARE and AGC Overview

A detailed overview of Culture of CARE, progress of pledges, AGC of America's DEI Steering Committee work, and the new DEI Assessment, along with new developments from AGC of America. 

Tuesday, January 11
2:45-3:45

Kisha Bausby

Sharing Best Practices to Engage MWBE Contractors

This session will cover best practices from a general contractors perspective on how to engage Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) contractors and the pitfalls to avoid.

Wednesday, January 12
9:30-10:30

Christa Mardaus

"Gang Box Talk" Jobsite Culture Focused on Making a Difference

(1.0 Eimination of Bias CLE approved)

Consideration towards change within our construction industry we need to focus on driving a shift on the attitudes, behaviors and values that contribute to an environment that allows harassment to occur. We need an increased focus on culture, not compliance. If we can make training more engaging, relevant it will provide better results that will be more effective.

This course will affect attorneys in‐house and in law firms addressing hiring, retention, creating inclusive workplaces, understanding the culture of care, recognizing how implicit biases affect construction jobsites, contracts, relations, and setting of MBE goals.

Wednesday, January 12
10:45-11:45

Jalaal Madyun

Constructing a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion - Where Do We Start?

(1.0 Elimination of Bias CLE approved)

It is critical to any organization to be cognizant of the demographics of the nation. Advocating for a community that secures equal opportunities and protections for all is a most necessary step. How will your company go about achieving this objective?

Tuesday, January 11
9:15-10:15

Harrison King and Andy Reynolds

MNDOT Duluth Twin Ports Interchange Project Case Study

Hear more about the Twin Ports Interchange Project and the prevailing environmental considerations the crew are focusing on including contaminated soils, contaminated groundwater, environmentally sensitive areas adjacent to St. Louis Bay, and trout streams. You name it, this project has it.

Tuesday, January 11
11:00-12:00

Rebecca Embacher

Material Delivery Management System (MDMS): Using Technology Through Electronic Ticketing

The MDMS will allow the capture of computer generated weigh tickets into a digital format and tracking trucks during transit for recording of truck exchanges.  This is currently being used for bituminous, but will be expanded to other materials including concrete and aggregate. This session will provide construction professionals as rundown of the technology and how it is increasing efficiency in the field.

Tuesday, January 11
1:30-2:30

Terry Beaudry

The Nitty Gritty: Open Discussion on Grading Specifications 

Many times, specification improvements are mentioned in the field on a project. Take this opportunity to hear from MnDOT on specification conversations and provide real-time feedback outside of field operations.

Tuesday, January 11
2:45-3:45

John Haas (moderator), Allen Gray

Underground Damage Prevention: Local Initiatives to Improve Safety with Utility Locates

Come to this session to learn about actions local public owners are taking to increase communication among all the various actors working on their projects. You’ll also discover resources your company can access regarding utility damage prevention and partnerships that AGC of America and AGC of MN has to represent utility contractors.

Tuesday, January 11
9:15-10:15

Doug Mork, Jonathan Moler

MRPC 1.13 and Wage Theft/Worker Misclassification

(1.0 Ethics CLE approved)

Wage theft, worker misclassification and tax fraud have become headline items, have prompted legislation expanding criminal liabilities, and have led to new funding and enforcement.  We used to be the industry that built healthy communities, working on improving diversity in racial and ethnic makeup, and diversity in values and work expectations.  Now the government perceives construction as lax and requiring correction.  Doug Mork and Jonathan Moler will speak about the growth and impact of human trafficking in construction, the potential liability to organizations engaging in this trafficking directly or through willful blindness, and the ethical issues under Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.  The session will include industry best practices to rectify concerns or issues about wage theft and worker misclassification making this a significant, must attend event.

Tuesday, January 11
11:00-12:00

Hon. David Lillehaug

Law and Ethics in the Construction Industry

(1.0 Ethics CLE approved)

Construction industry executives and professionals are required to know and understand the boundaries of statutes, regulations, contract forms, and industry standards.  This session will explore those shifting boundaries.  It will also discuss the non-legal boundaries:  ethics, morality, and reputation. 

Tuesday, January 11
1:30-2:30

Adam Handfinger

Ethical Construction Contracts: Negotiations, Terms, and Compliance

(1.0 Ethics CLE approved)

This session explores ethical considerations surrounding construction contracts and will address issues presented during all phases of negotiating and performing a construction contract, with both private and government clients.  It will include considerations that arise during the performance of a project and the parties’ compliance with the terms.  The Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct will also be discussed in the context of construction contracts.

Tuesday, January 11
2:45-3:45

Dean Thomson, Rob Smith

Construction Contracts: Key Differences

(1.0 standard CLE approved)
 

This session will review the differences of the main form contracts and AGC-MN’s form contracts: when do use each, red flags, costs, and other key considerations.  We also will deeper dive into AGC-MN’s new OCA contract and discuss how to handle prefab/modular contracting.  Finally, we will discuss computer software that can analyze contracts, highlight important terms, and create a ‘cheat sheet’ for project managers.

Tuesday, January 11
11:00-12:00

Shelly Peterson

Female Executive: Unicorn Living in a Field of Donkeys

No one ever said leadership was easy.  Leadership can be challenging but leading people can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences.  People look to you for guidance, strength, hope, inspiration and motivation/  Be the unicorn. 

Wednesday, January 12
9:30-10:30

Tina Nazier

Leading Through the Generations

Whether you are an emerging leader or have been leading for a while, this is a must-join session.  Determining what motivates and drives the various generations in the workforce are critical to attracting and retaining the best talent.  It is also key to creating a strong growth and development plan for your people.  In this session, we will explore the opportunities to bring multiple generations together for the greatest impact in the business. 

Wednesday, January 12
9:30-10:30

Cal Beyer, Rob Dahl

Survival Tactics and Resilience Strategies in the Aftermath of Construction Crises

The Human Element of Crisis Management is vital. In the midst of Critical Incident Responses to major or catastrophic workplace incidents, Operations, Safety and Human Resources personnel busily execute “emergency response" checklists. Does this Critical Incident Response address the wellbeing of all employees involved? Organizations and the people within them demonstrate widely disparate outcomes in the aftermath of workplace and jobsite crises. Learn the leadership skills, survival tactics, and the resilience strategies that define those that do it well.

Wednesday, January 12

10:45-11:45

Jonathon Zentner, Rachel Zentner

Your Project, Your Team. Making the Most of Your Most Valuable Asset: The Mind

You won’t want to miss the dynamic brother and sister duo as they discuss the power of the mind as it relates to managing people and managing stress. Listen, learn, and laugh along with Jon and Rachel, siblings who grew up with a variety of personalities. Personalities that have helped them manage projects, teams, and mental health in their careers as a construction law attorney and professional counselor. 

Tuesday, January 11
1:30-2:30

Patrick J Holtz, Peter Muehlbach

Innovation on Elk River!

WSB is designing the roads for MnDOT's "Highway 169 Redefine" project in Elk River. It is believed to be the first firm to deliver a whole set of plans in 3-D digital format to the agency. Peter Muehlbach with WSB will be speaking on the project and Patrick Holtz will explain how digital projects like this are eligible for funding under the new highway bill. 

Tuesday, January 11
2:45-3:45

Adam McMurtrey, CMRP

Connected Maintenance: Leveraging technology and human insights to improve performance and increase operational reliability

The adoption of new technology has become a focus for Construction companies to maintain worker safety, increase productivity, and better manage operating costs.  To achieve these goals, companies need solutions that improve maintenance program performance and increase operational reliability.    However, technology alone won’t solve these challenges - you need human insights to correctly leverage and analyze data and drive improvements in operations and maintenance programs.     This presentation, featuring experts from ExxonMobil’s Connected Maintenance team, will provide a blueprint to help operators build a prescriptive maintenance approach that unlocks the full potential of an integrated construction company.    

Wednesday, January 12
10:45-11:45

Terri Erickson

Let's Raise the Bar on RFI and Submittal Process

RFI (Request-For-Information) and (Shop Drawing / Vendor Info) Submittal Approval Processes are common workflows that almost everyone in our industry participates in construction.  Are we really using best practices for such routine and repeated processes?  Are there better ways available to us?  Is it time for us to RAISE the bar and INNOVATE our processes?

During this session we will apply Lean thinking to explore better ways to organize, visualize, and improve. 

Each time that this is presented – ideas from participants are collected and then presented in the next session.  This creates a “crowd-sourcing” effect and will allow Innovative Ideas to “snowball”. 

Additionally, this session provides a “safe” place for Innovative Ideas to be shared between Industry Professionals who are upstream or downstream from each participants work. 

It is rare to find yourself standing in the right place at the right time to introduce innovative processes into your workflow or project, so when an opportunity arises, you need to be ready with clever ideas to innovate and “change the rules” towards a better workflow for tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 12
10:45-11:45

Sharon Scharf

De “Constructing” Cyber Risk

Risk is inherent in everything we do. You can choose to avoid, control, retain, or transfer the risk — all of those are acceptable cyber risk management techniques, but you can’t ignore it. Now you may be saying, “Great, I’m on board, but I have limited resources, so what can I actually do to keep my organization safe?” In this workshop, you’ll learn a few H.E.L.P-ful suggestions that will have a positive impact on protecting your company from a cyber loss while not breaking the bank.

Kisha Bausby

Senior DEI Manager, JE Dunn Construction

Kisha has been a key player on JE Dunn’s team since 1994 in the areas of diversity and inclusion, mentoring/development, small business contracting, project requirements, and satisfying the company’s national compliance reporting obligations. Her work with diverse construction trade-partners provides them access and allows them to be competitive, independent, and successful. Most notably, Kisha was instrumental in the development and implementation of JE Dunn’s award-winning Minority Contractor Development Program (MCD). Since 2005, hundreds of minority and women business owners have been trained and prepared to compete for construction contracts. To date, these businesses have acquired more than $250 million in JE Dunn contracts. She is also responsible for pioneering Professional Women of Color KC, a consortium of professional women who exist to inspire, ignite, and celebrate women of color breaking glass ceilings.

In addition, Kisha is known for leading JE Dunn’s trailblazing and highly-recognized participation in high school internship programs in the Greater Kansas City and Denver Metropolitan Areas. The programs include
the Cristo Rey High School (Kansas City, MO) and Arrupe Jesuit High School (Denver, CO) Corporate Work Study Programs; City of Kansas City’s HIRE KC Youth; and I:GROW (Interns: Gaining Relevant Opportunities While Working), a JE Dunn signature program in partnership with the KCPS and KCKPS Districts. Through these programs, many students are mentored, trained, provided substantive internships, prepared for college, and professional career positions after graduation. Construction Workforce Industry compliments (CWID) was birthed from the desire to elimintae barriers and educate the urban core about career opportunities in construction. Kisha is responsible for bringing Union skilled trade organizations, grassroot workforce organizations, various contractors, and resource groups together under one roof with the goal of recruiting minorities, women, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities during an annual expo resulting in countless connections.

Terry Beaudry

Grading, Base, & Aggregate Engineer, MnDOT Office of Materials & Road Research

Graduate of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis with BS degrees in Geophysics and Geology , and a BCE in Civil Engineering.  For the last 30 years Terry has work in the MRR Office in Research and the Concrete Engineering and has led the Aggregate and Physical Testing units.  The last eleven years Terry has lead the Grading and Base Unit.

Cal Beyer, CWP, SCTPP

VP, Workforce Risk & Worker Wellbeing, CSDZ

Cal Beyer, CWP is vice president of workforce risk and worker wellbeing for CSDZ, a Holmes Murphy company. Cal was instrumental in the launch of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He serves on the Executive Committee for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the Expert Advisory Group for the Center for Workplace Mental Health.  Contact Beyer at cbeyer@CSDZ.com or 651-307-7883.

Nicole Blissenbach

Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Nicole Blissenbach is DLI's Deputy Commissioner. Nicole began work at DLI in June 2019 as DLI’s Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement and Compliance Strategies and Partnerships. Since August 2020, she has also directed the work of the Labor Standards, Minnesota OSHA Compliance, MN OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation, Office of General Counsel, Research and Statistics, and Projects and Planning divisions. She provides leadership and direction for DLI’s enforcement and compliance strategies and works to develop strong partnerships with enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels.

Blissenbach previously worked at Education Minnesota, where she served for nearly 10 years as an attorney. Prior to working for Education Minnesota, she worked as an attorney with the law firm of Miller O’Brien Cummins.

Blissenbach is a Minnesota State Bar Association Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and earned her law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Rob Dahl, CSP, ARM

Risk/Safety Specialist, CSDZ

Rob joined CSDZ in 2019 and brings nearly 30 years of safety and risk management experience.  He started his construction career with a national heavy, civil, and industrial contractor as a project safety engineer and eventually became a regional safety manager.  He has also been a construction laborer, carpenter, and superintendent for a small commercial contractor.  Prior to joining CSDZ, Rob spent 18 years with national insurance carriers in field consultant and regional manager/director roles in construction and commercial business units.  Throughout his career, he has been involved on projects with numerous ENR Top 400 contactors.  

Rob is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a degree in Industrial Technology Management with majors in Industrial Technology Management and Safety Management.  He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Peter Davich, P.E., DBIA

Design-Build Program Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Peter Davich has worked at the Minnesota DOT for the past 20 years.  He spent his earlier years at the DOT working in the Metro Design Office as a Project Manager.  In 2009 he was an overseer for the $50 million Highway 610 Design-Build project.  In 2012 he was the Roadway Manager for the $600 million St Croix River Crossing and he managed the Design-Build portion of the project. 

In 2013 Peter transitioned to his current position as MnDOT’s Design-Build Program Manager.  In this position he develops MnDOT’s programmatic Design-Build policy, he serves as an assistant project manager on each of MnDOT Design-Build projects, and he is generally leads “all things Design-Build”.

Jermaine M. Davis

Founder/CEO, Dr. Jermaine M. Davis Seminars & Workshops, Inc.

Before receiving the prestigious College Instructor of the Year Award, Dr. Jermaine Davis worked in corporate America for IBM, Keebler Cookies, and Frito-Lay. Now, he’s an award-winning Professor of Communication Studies at Century College and Organizational Leadership at St. Kate’s University. Dr. Jermaine has authored10 books. He teaches teams and organizations how to cultivate high-trust cultures and build inclusive work environments utilizing his popular 3 C’s Approach: Communication, Cooperation, and Collaboration.

Rebecca A. Embacher, M.S., P.E.

State Advanced Materials and Technology Engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Rebecca earned her M.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota. She has worked as a research engineer at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of Transportation, a pavement engineer at American Engineering and Testing, Inc., Assistant Grading and Base Engineer at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and during the past 15 years has been the State Advanced Materials and Technology Engineer at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Embacher has chaired and served on various Transportation Research Board committees and is currently the team lead on the Intelligent Construction Technologies team with the National Research Alliance and a technical committee member of the International Society for Intelligent Construction.

Terri Erickson

Managing Principal, Kata Consulting

Terri is from St. Paul.  She is the daughter of a General Foreman – Electrician.  She trained and worked as a Structural Engineer for her first 20 years in her career in the design office.  

Now she is the managing principal of Kata Consulting, a firm that is dedicated to improving the delivery process of construction projects and the teams who deliver them using Lean and continuous improvement thinking.  Her clients include Trade Partners, Construction Managers, and Design Firms.

She has been implementing Lean initiatives and management strategies for over 10 years.  She is persistently seeking better ways for our Industry to work and Improve.

Scott Everson, AIA

Director, Capital Project Management, University of Minnesota

Scott Everson, AIA has over 30 years of private-sector experience as an Architect and Construction Professional with a proven track record of providing organizations, clients and project team’s strategic guidance and operational leadership. As Director of Capital Project Management, Mr. Everson is responsible for day to day operations, management of departmental staff and overall management of the University’s Capital Project Portfolio. CPM's annual construction volume is $250M within a $1.2B portfolio of facility and infrastructure improvements throughout the entire University of Minnesota system.

Allen Gray

Director, Utility Infrastructure Division, Associated General Contractors of America

Allen is the AGC Utility Infrastructure Division (UID) Director and Lobbyist for AGC of America.  He represents the utility construction industry before the federal government, owners and associated industries as well as serves as a policy strategist on matters associated with utility construction.  Allen serves as information and activism conduit for UID members and manages all Division activities. Before joining AGC of America’s staff, Allen worked for the Carolinas AGC for over 20 years as their Utility Division Director and Lobbyist in North & South Carolina.  Allen serves, or has served on various inter-industry boards and committees including: the USDOT’s Common Ground Study of One Call System Best Practices Steering Team; Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Charter Board of Directors; NC811 Board of Directors; Gold Shovel Standard Board of Directors; USDOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Excavation Damage Prevention Initiative; USDOT Excavator Training Advisory Committee and is an inductee in the CGA Hall of Fame. Mr. Gray has also has served his community as a member of the Riverview Community Water System and Riverview Fire Department Board of Commissioners.

Kevin Hagness

CM/GC Program Manager, MnDOT

Kevin Hagness is the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) Program Manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).  Mr. Hagness has worked for MnDOT for 27 years; much of that time in MnDOT’s Metro Construction Office.  Most recently, as MnDOT’s CM/GC Program Manager, he has overseen the development of MnDOT’s CM/GC program and eight CM/GC projects to date.  Mr. Hagness graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Civil Engineering Degree.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer.

Adam Handfinger

Co-Founder and Advisory Board Head, Document Crunch

Adam has been practicing construction law for over 20 years, representing contractors and owners through all phases of a construction project, with a focus on contract negotiation, risk management, project administration, project close-out and post-project litigation of unavoidable disputes.  Adam co-founded Document Crunch to help the construction industry better understand and manage contract risk, avoid disputes and increase profits.

John Hass

Director of Lean Operations, Veit & Company, Inc.

John Hass is a 20+ year industry veteran and is an active member with Local Union 563. John started the first 7 years of his career with Veit as a pipelayer, then moved into the survey department, followed by roles as an earthwork foremen and superintendent. John worked with Mortenson Construction from 2007 to 2016 as a labor foreman, helping to build the Twins and Vikings stadiums along with unique projects at the University of Minnesota and Walker Arts Center. John came back to Veit in 2016 and started to engage with other stakeholders for improvement in subsurface utilities. John strongly believes initiatives should be centered around GPS newly installed facilities, standards for utility installation, and improved sharing of information between all stakeholders.   

Chris Heeter

Wilderness Guide, Leadership Speaker, Poet, The Wild Institute

Featured on the Discovery Channel’s ‘National Geographic Today‘ and recognized with national awards as a speaker, Chris has followed her own Wild path since she was young. A wilderness guide for over 30 years, she’s been a professional speaker for 18 years. Chris leads groups deep into the wilderness by canoe or dogsled. The abundant parallels between these adventures and the workplace make up the core of her presentations. Chris grabs audiences with humorous stories about her dogs and their personalities, then weaves those stories into practical takeaways. Chris is on a mission to wake up the Wild side of organizations; to break through the trappings of ‘how we’ve always done it;’ and to create Wild and vibrant workplaces that blend heart with solid, successful business strategy.

Patrick Holtz

Business Development Executive, Midwest, Trimble

Patrick hails from Northeast Ohio. He is a graduate of George Mason University and received his law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He worked in Washington D.C. From 2000-2015 Patrick worked on transportation issues for clients within each mode as well as every mode of the project life-cycle. In 2016 he left Washington to work in public service for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and began Trimble's transportation practice in 2018.

Brynn Huneke

Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Member Engagement, Associated General Contractors of America

As the director of diversity and inclusion at the Associated General Contractors of America, Brynn Huneke is responsible for promoting effective diversity and inclusion practices within the national association, its 89 chapters and 27,000 member companies. In this role, Brynn works with a passionate group of volunteer members to create a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy for AGC of America. Strategic priorities include diversifying AGC’s existing membership, building a welcoming and engaging association environment, and providing member-companies with tools they need to implement diversity and inclusion programs within their respective companies.

In collaboration with the Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, Brynn has implemented a diversity & inclusion awards program that honors diversity champions within AGC’s membership and recognizes outstanding diverse-owned businesses. She has also co-authored a report on the Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion in the Construction Industry. Most recently she launched Culture of CARE, a national program to help companies create more inclusive workplaces.

Brynn holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a certificate in Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management from Georgetown University.

Senator Ann Johnson-Stewart

Senator, Minnesota State Senate

Senator Ann Johnson Stewart was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2021. She represents Senate District 44, which covers the communities of Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Woodland.

Johnson Stewart grew up in Wausau, WI, and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Minnesota. She is a civil engineer, business owner, and a teacher at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and local technical colleges.

Sen. Johnson Stewart currently serves on the Capital Investment Committee and Transportation Committee.

Jody Jacoby

Director of Procurement, Metropolitan Council

Jody graduated from MN State U at Mankato with a triple major in public administration, speech communications and the legal track of law enforcement. She is also certified through the National Institute of Public Procurement (NIGP) as a certified public procurement officer (CPPO) and certified procurement professional (CPP). Jody is the chair-elect of the NIGP Member Council. Jody has worked at the Metropolitan Council in procurement for more than 15 years. She has over 22 years of experience in the public sector.

Harrison King

Project Manager, Ames Construction Co.

Harrison King has worked 8 years in the Highway Heavy Industry all with Ames Construction.  Harrison is currently serving as the Civil Project Manager for Ames-Kraemer Joint Venture on the Twin Ports Interchange project in Duluth, MN.

Hon. David Lillehaug

Senior Counsel, Frederickson & Byron, P.A.

David Lillehaug, who recently retired from the Minnesota Supreme Court, has rejoined Fredrikson & Byron.

Former Justice Lillehaug, also a former United States Attorney for Minnesota, focuses his practice on corporate and governmental investigations, administrative law, and complex civil litigation. He is available to serve as a special master, arbitrator, mediator and expert witness.

During seven years on the Supreme Court, Justice Lillehaug sat on more than 600 cases and wrote over 140 opinions. Legal scholars have focused on his jurisprudence on the standards for dismissal and summary judgment in civil cases. He acted as the Court’s liaison to the rules of evidence and criminal procedure committees, the ADR Board, tribal courts and the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.

Before serving on the Court, David practiced at Fredrikson for 11 years. His clients included Fortune 100 companies, Minnesota’s governor, three U.S. Senators, the state House of Representatives, the University of Minnesota, the City of Saint Paul, tribal nations and many pro bono litigants. In 2009, as lead local counsel, David tried and won a seven-week U.S. Senate election contest trial before a special three-judge panel.

As part of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice, David dealt frequently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, state regulatory agencies, and county and city attorneys. He has considerable experience litigating False Claims Act cases and in leading internal investigations.

David has a niche in complex construction litigation, having founded and chaired the state bar association’s construction law section. Over the years, he has represented building owners, contractors and design professionals in lawsuits, arbitrations and regulatory proceedings. He is an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers.

Jalaal Madyun

CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow, National Culture Diversity and Inclusion, RSM

Jalaal Madyun is a CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow in RSM’s National Culture Diversity and Inclusion office. His focus is helping companies identify, develop, and promote scalable and sustainable public policies and corporate engagement strategies to address systemic racism, social injustice, and improve societal well-being. As an expert facilitator, Jalaal has developed a personal brand for designing innovative learning solutions that lift audiences nationwide to new insights. 

Christa Mardaus

ICRA Instructional Coordinator, Carpenters Training Institute

Christa Mardaus has worked in the construction industry for 20 years, gaining experience in large commercial projects, multi-family wood frame, healthcare construction. As a seasoned Instructor she is passionate about improving communications and working with industry professional to improve work standards for all departments specific to healthcare. In addition to training, she is also involved in committees such as Curriculum Development and Women in the Work Force. Outside of the office, Christa enjoys hockey games, horse shows and family time.

Brandon Maves

Partner, National Construction Leader, RSM

Brandon is the firm’s national construction industry leader and the co-leader of the construction and real estate practice based in Minneapolis. He has experience providing business audit and advisory services to all segments of the construction industry, including general, sub- and specialty contractors, real estate owners, investors, real estate developers, commercial brokerage firms and property management firms. Brandon’s industry knowledge has allowed him to serve the municipal, single and multifamily residential, industrial, commercial, hospitality and retail segments of the construction marketplace.

Brandon also performs internal control documentation and analysis, administrative and back-office restructuring projects, strategic planning, benchmarking, merger and acquisition assistance for both business and income-producing real estate, regulatory compliance projects, and litigation support and expert testimony in the construction industry.

Adam McMurtrey, CMRP

MobilServ Technology Development Mgr, CMRP, ExxonMobil

Adam McMurtrey is a Mobil Serv Field Engineer and certified maintenance and reliability professional based in the Midwest where he untangles operational inefficiencies for manufacturers. He is an author, speaker, and engineer passionate about enhancing the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing. It is deeply fulfilling to him to help his clients succeed by improving their process while also using data and dashboards to help sustain improvements (especially personnel safety, energy efficiency, OEE, and improving asset utilization).

Jonathan Moler

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Minnesota Attorney General

Jonathon Moler is an Assistant Attorney General who is the founding attorney of the Minnesota Wage Theft Unit that investigates and litigates civil and, when referred by local jurisdictions, criminal cases against employers who violate Minnesota wage theft laws.

Doug Mork

Executive Director, Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council (BDC)

Rev. Doug Mork has worked at the intersection of faith, labor and community engagement for more than 30 years. He directed the Program in Ethical Reflection at Carleton College, served as Interim Director of Interfaith Worker Justice in Chicago, helped launch the Twin Cities Social Cohesion Initiative and has led a number of congregations around the Twin Cities metro area. He is currently also one of the pastors at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. 

Peter Muehlbach

Director of Transportation Program Management, WSB

Peter is the Principal /Senior Director Transportation Program Manager for WSB. Peter brings over a decade of experience of local Minnesota project experience in the civil engineering field. He has extensive local experience in civil engineering design and planning for several high profile transit and transportation projects in Minnesota. He graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He also has a B.A. in Physics from Bethel University.

Tina Nazier, MBA, CPC

Director, Strategic Alignment, Wipfli

As the leader of Wipfli’s Construction and Real Estate Performance and Strategy team, Tina Nazier focuses her talent in helping clients effectively address their strategic, cultural, people, and operational challenges.  Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in strategy, leadership, professional coaching, organizational and cultural development, succession planning, change management and performance improvement, Tina helps leaders and organizations overcome the major issues that create roadblocks to reaching their full potential.

Shelly Peterson

Founder/CEO, Promoting Me, LLC

With over 27 years in the construction industry, $3.5B worth of completed projects in 14 different states, Shelly Peterson is a 3rd generation construction executive known for creating, planning & implementing the strategic direction of business operations.  She has employed and mentored more than 2500 workers in both a union and non-union environment,  using strong leadership skills, development techniques, and personal branding. 

Serge Phillips

Federal Relations Manager, MN Department of Transportation

Serge Phillips is MnDOT’s federal relations manager since 2010. In this role, Serge works with Minnesota’s congressional delegation and advises the MnDOT Commissioner on federal transportation funding, policy, and legislation. Prior to joining MnDOT, Serge worked in private practice as an attorney. Serge holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and a law degree from Hamline University School of Law. He is married to Kim, with a son, Luke.

Tom Ravn, P.E.

State Construction Engineer/Office Director, MN Department of Transportation, Office of Construction and Innovative Contracting

Tom is a 1985 Civil Engineering graduate of the University of Minnesota. He has been with MnDOT since 1984 as student worker, laborer, project engineer, resident engineer, Director of Innovative Contracting, and has been the State Construction Engineer since 2007. He and his wife Erin have 3 children.

Sharon Scharf

VP, Executive Risk/Team Lead, CSDZ

Sharon has over 20 years of insurance experience both as an underwriter as well as a broker. In her current role,  Sharon works closely with clients to identify and manage business and executive risks that could adversely impact their business and them personally; recommends solutions to manage the risk either through risk mitigation techniques or transferring the risk via insurance.  Prior to her current role at CSDZ, she worked as an underwriter for Chubb Group of Insurance Companies; and as a Senior Client Advisor and Practice leader for a National Brokerage firm. 

Rob Smith

Shareholder, Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson

Rob has a unique background that allows him to approach projects from a client’s perspective. For the first 12 years of his career, Rob practiced law at one of Minneapolis’s largest law firms where he resolved construction disputes through trials, arbitrations, mediations and negotiated settlements. Rob then spent the next eight years working as an in-house construction lawyer, including seven years as in-house counsel for one of the ten largest general contractors in North America. Having been a client and supervised outside counsel across the country, Rob understands what matters to construction clients and the importance of resolving disputes quickly and efficiently.

Dean Thomson

Shareholder, Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson

Dean Thomson is a shareholder in the firm of Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, P.A., in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he has focused his practice for more than 38 years in construction law.  Dean served for six years on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Associated General Contractors and has consistently been rated as Band One Construction Attorney by Chambers, named as Minneapolis “Attorney of the Year” by Best Lawyers in the areas of Construction Law and Real Estate Litigation, and for the past 17 years been listed as a Top 100 Minnesota “Super Lawyer” across all fields of practice by the Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics

Paul Trombitas

Senior Consultant, FMI Corporation

Paul Trombitas is a senior consultant with FMI’s strategy practice and works with clients across the engineering and construction industry. He is responsible for managing and delivering in-depth market insights focused on the built environment. He is actively involved with clients in developing market strategy, focusing on alternative project delivery methods. Paul has been quoted in multiple publications including ENR regarding the design-build market and maintains key stakeholder relationships that provide unparalleled industry access.

Paul was responsible for developing the U.S. Design-Build Utilization Study in partnership with DBIA. Related publications to Paul’s credit include: “Three Pillars of Consideration for Design-Build Company Success”, “The Growing World of Design-Build”, “Design-Build: Knowing What Your Clients Want”, “How Building Product and Material Manufacturers Can Grab the Design- Build Opportunity by the Horns” and “Leveraging Canada’s Active P3 Market.” Additional publications include: “Managing and Mitigating Risk in Today’s Construction Environment”, “Millennials in Construction: Learning to Engage a New Workforce”, “Prefabrication: The Changing Face of Engineering and Construction.”

Paul received his Bachelor of Science in economics and his Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University.

Jack Uldrich

Global Futurist, Speaker, Author, Jack Uldrich

Jack Uldrich is a well-recognized global futurist, speaker, and the author of thirteen books, including a number of award-winning best sellers. He is a frequent speaker on technology, change management and leadership and has addressed hundreds of corporations, associations and not-for-profit organizations on five continents. He regularly makes television appearances on PBS’s Frontline, the Science Channel, and the Discovery Channel, and is a frequent guest on major media outlets, including CNN, CNBC, Fox and National Public Radio. 

Jack is also an ongoing contributor on emerging technologies and future trends for a number of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Wired Magazine and Inc.

Jack is a former naval intelligence officer and Defense Department official. He served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning under Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. His most recent book is Business as Unusual: A Futurist’s Unorthodox, Unconventional, and Uncomfortable Guide to Doing Business and his forthcoming book is The Rise of Generation RE.

Wayne Waslaski

Senior Director, MN Department of Administration, Real Estate and Construction Services  

Wayne Waslaski is the Senior Director of Real Estate and Constructions for the Mn Department of Administration.  In this role he leads the team responsible for overseeing over 250 active construction projects totaling more than $150M. 

Tim Worke

CEO AGC of Minnesota  

Tim Worke is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, the state’s oldest and largest commercial contracting trade association with over 400 members statewide representing both building and transportation infrastructure market sectors.  Prior to being named CEO, Tim served as AGC’s Director of Highways & Transportation from 2003-2017. 

The first half of Tim’s career was spent with the Minnesota Department of Transportation working in the areas of legislative relations and policy development.  Tim served as the DOT’s Director of Federal Government Relations throughout most of the 1990s and managed the DOT’s Office of Government Relations from 1999-2003 overseeing both state and federal legislative matters for the agency.  Tim is a 1985 graduate of the University of Minnesota with B.A Degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Tim and his wife Karen live in Eagan, MN.  They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.    

Jonathan Zentner

Construction Law Attorney, Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A.  

Jon devotes 100% of his practice advising his construction clients and litigating defect claims, contract disputes, additional-insured litigation, and construction injury claims.  Jon currently serves on Arthur Chapman’s Executive Committee and serves as Board of Director Liaison on the Health & Wellness Committee at the Firm.

Rachel Zentner, MSE, LPC, SAS

Licensed Professional Counselor, Zentner Consulting, LLC

Rachel provides psychotherapy, coaching and workplace consultations and presentations. She specializes in mindfulness-based practices and teaching clients how to master their minds to reach their full potential.

Laura Ziegler

Director of Highway/Heavy & Government Affairs, AGC of Minnesota

Laura Ziegler joined Associated General Contractors of MN in 2018 and serves as the Director of Highway/Heavy & Government Affairs.  Laura's role includes being the principal staff resource for managing and directing AGC's legislative policy and regulatory agenda.  She represents the construction industry at the Minnesota Legislature and with state agencies, as well as the federal government and Congress. She has a passion for the three P’s: policy, politics, and not the Packers.