1. WHEN AGC HOUSTON LEADERS con-
vened in Fall 2012 to reflect on our chap-
ter’s current and future positioning, one
thing became clear: it was critical to create
a program to develop, educate and train
future AGC Houston leaders. To answer
this need, Leadership AGC launched in
2014 with 16 participants under the pro-
fessional guidance of Mike Holland, Marek
Brothers Systems, Inc. and Jason Kopke,
Marek Sawing & Drilling, LLC. Planned to
unfold over eight months, the program
engages the group to delve into the chap-
ter’s history, cultivate relationships with
Nurturing the Next Generation of
AGC Houston Leaders
Leadership AGC kicks off a new program to develop and cultivate
tomorrow’s commercial construction industry’s rising stars.
BY JACLYN LEE, AGC HOUSTON
organizations such as the Texas Medical
Center and the Port of Houston, and
develop each participant’s leadership skills.
Because leadership can’t be taught
in a classroom or simply read in a book,
AGC Houston created this eight-module
program to provide an intensive experi-
ence that encompasses a broad scope
of community and industry concerns.
Prior to launching Leadership AGC,
Mike Holland and Jason Kopke—including
members of the Construction Leadership
Council and Charlene Anthony, Senior
Director—Construction Futures, Education,
Events—met for nearly one year to develop
the program. The task force members
focused on providing participants with an
opportunity to connect participants with
leaders in the construction, development,
business, medical, industrial, political and
educational arenas.
When the program was finalized, AGC
Houston invited member companies to
submit up-and-coming young profes-
sionals earmarked within their respective
organizations as future leaders. Sixteen
candidates were selected based on their
qualifications, peer and supervisor recom-
mendations, skillsets, future leadership
potential, industry-related engagement
and character.
Leadership AGC kicked off on
September 18, 2014, when the participants
were given an overview of AGC History by
PatrickJ.Kiley,KileyAdvisors,LLC,whohigh-
lighted the importance of actively being
involved with the AGC chapter and out-
side related organizations. The group also
heard from Angela Cotie, Gilbane Building
Company,andErinKueht,WalterPMoore—
both ACE Mentor Program Houston, Inc.
board members—who spoke about the
organization’s mentorship opportunities
and engaging high school students to pur-
sueacareerinthearchitecture,engineering
and construction industries.
Module 2 featured etiquette special-
ist, Sally Reynolds, MA, who focused on
the importance of “carrying yourself with
poise.” Handshakes, introductions, dining
etiquette, professional dress and corre-
spondence were just some of the topics
she presented to the crowd during the day-
long session on October 16, 2014, held at
Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. The students’
newly learned skills were then put to the
test after the session during a formal busi-
ness dinner.
Leadership AGC kicked off their eight-month
leadership training program on September 8-9, 2014,
where Patrick J. Kiley, Kiley Advisors, LLC, and past
executive director of AGC Houston, introduced them
to the history of AGC Houston and guest speaker
Coy McKinney, The Howard Hughes Corp., reflected
on his experience as a member of AGC Houston and
the Construction Leadership Council.
The Leadership AGC class spent the day touring one of
the busiest ports in the world at the Port of Houston
and meeting with members of the Port of Houston
Authority to learn more about the port’s history,
operations and leadership.
Philip Gallegos, The Brandt Companies, LLC,
stands with his team of ACE Mentor students
and their completed storage bench during
the Annual Build It Forward Event held at
Marek Brothers Systems, Inc.
Coy McKinney, Director of Multi-Family Construction,
Howard Hughes Corporation; Bob Parley, Co-Chairman,
Collier’s International; Hal Sharp, Principal, Gensler; and
Pat Sharkey, Partner, Jackson Walker, LLP, shared their
experiences in construction during the owner panel
discussion on January 14, 2015.
18 Cornerstone

2. In November, the group had an oppor-
tunity to mentor high school students at
the ACE Mentor’s Annual “Build It Forward”
event and for their day of service, building
storage benches as a community project.
Each Leadership AGC member led a group
of ACE Mentor students in the construc-
tion of benches which were donated to
charities throughout Houston and the sur-
rounding areas. “Working alongside the
students for this year’s Build It Forward
event was a great experience,” said AGC
Leadership participant, Philip Gallegos,
The Brandt Companies, LLC. “Not only
were we able to benefit a charitable orga-
nization, but our direct interaction with
the students allowed us to talk about the
exciting and interesting careers available
in the construction, architecture, and engi-
neering trades.”
In December, AGC Leadership took
to the water for Module 5 with a tour
of Houston’s bustling port. The group
embarked on a 90-minute tour through
the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel that
highlighted the history behind the port
and showcased some of the cargo ships,
container ships and dredges that make
the trip through the channels each day.
Additionally, the group heard about the
Port of Houston Authority’s operations
and expansion from Pedro Gonzalez, P.E.,
Small Business Development Manager;
Gilda Ramirez, Managing Director of
the Community Outreach Department;
R.D. Tanner, Managing Director of Real
Estate; and John Mosely, Senior Director
of Trade Development. They led an engag-
ing presentation about the many areas
the port manages and how its operations
have contributed to Houston’s economy
and the construction industry for the past
100 years.
In the most recent part of the Leadership
AGC curriculum, students met with four
owners to hear their experiences in con-
struction and to gain an architect and own-
ers’ perspective. Coy McKinney, Director of
Multi-Family Construction, Howard Hughes
Corporation; Bob Parley, Co-Chairman,
Collier’s International; Hal Sharp, Principal,
Gensler; and Pat Sharkey, Partner,
Jackson Walker, LLP, provided valuable
insight on leadership within the construc-
tion industry and emphasized the impor-
tance of networking and developing
professional relationships in their careers.
Chris Atnip,
Balfour Beatty
Construction
Philip Gallegos,
The Brandt
Companies, LLC
Al Gomez,
McCarthy Building
Companies, Inc.
Kristian Hernandez,
TDIndustries, Inc.
Nick Martien,
Marek Brothers
Systems, Inc.
Dillon Murski,
Durotech, Inc.
James Newman,
Marek Brothers
Systems, Inc.
Luke Palumbo,
TDIndustries, Inc.
Preston Hodges,
McCarthy Building
Companies, Inc.
Kyle Holland,
Gilbane Building Co.
Craig Kutac,
Brookstone, LP
Allston Marble,
Linbeck Group, LLC
Adam Ryan,
Slack & Co.
Contracting, Inc.
Steven Turner,
Brookstone, LP
Blake Vacek,
Marek Brothers
Systems, Inc.
Blake Wehmeyer,
Andrews Myers, PC
AGC Houston Class of 2015
At press time, the group was headed to
the Texas Medical Center to understand
AGC’s relationship and history with the
World’s largest medical center and learn
about future expansions. Plans were also
underway to head to Austin to partake in
the Texas Building Branch’s Legislative Day,
and gear up for their graduation ceremony
on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at The Hess Club.
What’sinstoreforthestudentsaftergrad-
uation? Coach and mentor, Mike Holland,
foresees great things for the students.
“I have enjoyed sharing the Leadership AGC
experience with this fine group of young
professionals.Ibelievetheyhavesucceeded
in creating and experiencing a course that
has broadened their perspective on what
leadership in the industry and community
means. In addition to becoming more
effective in their respective roles for the
firms they represent, they are developing
into prime examples of the kind of leaders
whose pictures adorn the walls of the AGC
Houston board room.” ■
Spring 2015 19