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2026 Annual Business Meeting

Join Us for a Celebration of Membership as We Welcome Our New Chapter President!

Early-bird registration is available for AGC members until 11/26.

Open to all members, the Annual Business Meeting is a must-attend event packed with valuable content and opportunities for networking. This year’s meeting will feature a comprehensive State of the Chapter report, offering insights into our achievements, challenges, and future goals. Attendees will gain access to relevant industry information, including the latest trends and innovations shaping our field.

A highlight of the event is the presentation of the prestigious ROSE and PRIDE Safety Awards. These awards celebrate excellence in safety practices within our community, recognizing organizations who have made outstanding contributions to improving workplace safety.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with your peers, celebrate achievements, and stay informed on the issues that matter most to our industry.

JAN
23

Hilton Vancouver Washington

301 W. 6th Street,
Vancouver, WA 98660

REGISTER NOW

Friday, January 23, 2026

8:30–9:30 am

OPENING REMARKS

Lean on Me!

Mel Jones, Director of Inclusion, Hoffman Construction Company

Details

9:45–11:45 am

Annual Membership Meeting

12–2 pm

General Session & Safety Awards Luncheon

From The Ground Up: Building Psychological Health and Safety in Construction

Dr. I. David Daniels Ph.D. CSD, VPS, Founder/CEO ID2 Solutions, LLC

Details

2:15–5 pm

Annual Board of Directors Meeting

5–7 pm

Presidents Reception

photo of hotel

Hilton Vancouver Washington

301 W 6th St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Access our room block here.

2026 Safety Award Winners

TBD

2026 Sponsors

SPONSORSHIP Opportunities

Connect with chapter leaders, safety professionals, award recipients, and more.

Click here or contact Kc Pruneda for more information.

  • SAIF Corporation
  • Sundt
  • Miller Nash LLP
  • World Kinect
  • Hoffman, Stewart & Schmidt
  • Schwabe
  • IMA Oregon
  • Propel Insurance
  • CNA Surety
  • Chambers Construction
  • Baker Tilly

2025 Photos

two men and a woman smiling
two smiling men with gavel plaque
three smiling women
speaker at podium in front of crowd
Click here to view all photos

Photo Policy:

  • By attending an AGC Oregon-Columbia chapter event you consent and acknowledge that the event will be photographed and/or recorded for promotional purposes.

Cancellation Policy:

  • Cancellations must be received in writing (email or mail) and received by the deadline date. A full refund less a $50 processing fee will be accepted if written cancellation is received two weeks prior to the event. No refunds will be processed if a written cancellation is received after the two week deadline, however, substitutes will always be accepted.

Questions

Kc Pruneda, Events Manager

kcp@agc-oregon.org | 971-940-6785

Jordan Wicklund, Engagement Specialist

jordanw@agc-oregon.org |503-951-1897

Become a Member

Experience the many benefits of membership with AGC…contact us today!

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Friday, January 23, 2026 | 8:30 –9:30 am

Opening Remarks: Mel Jones

Mel Jones, director of inclusion at Hoffman Construction Company, brings a deep understanding of workforce development, apprenticeship pathways, and industry culture. With extensive experience working alongside apprentices, community partners, and leadership teams, Jones offers a clear view of where the construction industry excels and where critical support systems still need strengthening. 

This session examines the importance of pre-apprenticeship programs as foundational entry points into the trades and addresses how lost or weakened community partnerships can disrupt the talent pipeline. Jones also highlights the essential role of apprentice liaisons and the need for more consistent, intentional support to ensure emerging workers are set up for long-term success rather than left behind early in their careers. 

A key focus of the session is rebuilding pride within the industry. Construction demands intelligence, adaptability, and collaboration, qualities demonstrated daily across jobsites. Jones reflects on how inclusion has long been embedded in the culture of construction, evolving naturally from the way crews work together and rely on one another. 

The discussion also explores the broader community impact of a strong construction workforce, including reducing poverty by providing stable career pathways, strengthening local networks, contributing to cultural identity, and building shared pride that extends from everyday work to industry recognition at events such as the DJC awards and World of Concrete. 

Grounded in practical insight, this session invites attendees to examine both the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today and to consider how investing in people, especially at the earliest stages of their careers, strengthens not only the workforce but the communities construction serves. 

Friday, January 23, 2026 | 12:00–2:00 pm

General Session: Dr. I. David Daniels

Dr. I. David Daniels, a former carpenter and Fire Chief, has become a national advocate for occupational health and safety, delivers a keynote that bridges personal experience with strategic insight. That diverse perspective shaped his understanding of systems, people, and the invisible forces that hold them together. Daniels says, “Carpentry taught me how to build from the ground up. Firefighting showed me how quickly things fall apart. And my work in psychological health has revealed the truth: when we fail to create safe, supportive environments, we risk watching people unravel the same way buildings do under stress.”

Drawing from both lived experience and research, Dr. Daniels introduces psychological health and safety as the structural integrity of the workforce, emphasizing that psychosocial hazards, like chronic stress, isolation, toxic leadership, and lack of recognition, can quietly erode even the strongest teams. In the construction industry, where toughness is often prized over vulnerability, these hazards are especially dangerous.

Daniels argues that psychological health and safety isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for retention, performance, and dignity. He offers practical strategies for building a culture that protects and uplifts, including peer support, inclusive leadership, and policies that prevent abuse. With pride in the trades and a deep respect for those who work in them, he challenges contractors to become champions of psychological safety, because when we fail to invest in our people, we leave them vulnerable to collapse.