AGC Summer Convention

Opening Keynote: Preparing for Safety and Savings

Kerry Barnett, President and Chief Executive Officer, SAIF

Kerry Barnett is president and chief executive officer of SAIF, Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company. SAIF, together with its partners, strives to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work.  

Prior to SAIF, Kerry served as executive vice president for corporate services and chief legal officer for Cambia Health Solutions, where he led strategic direction for public policy and government affairs, strategic communications, human resources, compliance, legal, and ethics.  

Prior to joining Cambia, he was senior vice president for medical services with ODS Health Plans, and CEO of HealthFirst Medical Group, PC. He also served as Oregon’s director of Consumer and Business Services and insurance commissioner, as well as the governor’s legal counsel and senior policy advisor.  

Kerry earned a B.A. in English from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Yale Law School. 

Friday Lunch Keynotes: AGC of America Through the AGES

Dirk Elsperman, President, AGC of America, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Tarlton Corporation

With 29 years of experience at Tarlton, Dirk had working in all aspects of the company’s operations, including apprenticing as a carpenter, estimating, project engineering and management, and executive management. Dirk’s AGC involvement at the national and local level includes governmental affairs, labor policy/negotiating committees, apprenticeship and trust fund committees, the Young Constructors Forum, industry relations, project delivery, lean construction, and closely held business issues.

Stephen Sandherr, Chief Executive Officer, Associated General Contractors of America

Steve’s role is to maintain relations with AGC’s 89 chapters nationwide, coordinate government relations activities, and enhance AGC’s involvement with business coalitions. CEO Update, which tracks people in association and non-profit executive careers, listed Steve as a top CEO in 2009, and a Capitol Hill newspaper, The Hill, listed Steve as a top lobbyist, representing the only commercial construction industry association on the Top Lobbyists of 2009 and 2014 lists.

Saturday Morning Keynote: The Next Generation

Katie Hughes, Executive Director, Girls Build

Katie is a carpenter with a social work degree who, after spending 10 years teaching construction to adults and kids, founded Girls Build. She believes that all girls should be curious and confident, and that one route to that is through learning the building trades. She loves listening to eight-year-olds say things like “Hey, Jojo, grab me a battery for my impact driver!” Katie loves teaching construction to girls all over the Pacific Northwest and is excited for the next few years as Girls Build grows.

Closing Keynote: Be The Leader Your Employees Never Want to Leave

Ted Ma, President, Ma Enterprises

Ted Ma is an award-winning keynote speaker that helps organizations develop their next generation of leaders so they can improve employee engagement and retention. Unlike many leadership experts, Ted has 16 years of experience with leading teams and developing leaders. After earning his degree in business, he built a sales team of over 6,000 independent agents. Ted is a member of the National Speakers Association and has been featured in publications such as Kiplinger, Inc.; Success From Home; and the New York Times.