Greg H. Theisen (1956-2026)

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Greg Theisen, recently retired President of AGC member Gridor Construction, and son of 1996 AGC Board Chair Harold Theisen.

Services for Greg were held today in Delano. More information can be found here.

AGC extends our heartfelt sympathies to the Theisen family, and all our industry friends at Gridor Construction who are grieving the loss of Greg.

AGC Legislative Committee

The Legislative Committee will meet three times until the end of the year to discuss pre-and post-election analysis and develop policy and legislative agenda for the 2027 legislative session. AGC members are invited to participate. Email Laura Ziegler, Director of Government Affairs, for additional information. The Committee will meet every other week during legislative session. The MN Legislature convenes January 12, 2027. 

October 22 (pre-election)

November 5 (post-election)

December 10 (Final Policy Recommendations)

MnDOT-AGC Joint Technical Committees



Technical committees provide members with a biannual opportunity to communicate with MnDOT staff and fellow contractors on contractor issues, as well as hear project and program updates relevant to the subject area. These committees continue to foster AGC member partnerships with MnDOT and allow participants to network and share information. Each committee meets once in the fall and once in the spring in St. Paul.

Who can join?

Any AGC of Minnesota member can join these committees; however, priority for committee membership will be given to contractors.

How do I sign up?

Email Laura Ziegler and indicate which committee(s) you’d like to join.

What if I can’t join in person?

Call in/Zoom option is available for all committees.

Grading and Base Committee - October 22

Bridge Committee - December 7

Bituminous Committee - December 15

The Alternative Procurement Committee met this summer.
The Concrete Committee met earlier this month.

Construction Inclusion Week

This week is Construction Inclusion Week, an industry-wide initiative focused on expanding opportunity, developing our workforce, and creating workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

In that same spirit, applications are now open for AGC of Minnesota’s 2026 Culture of CARE Impact Awards! These annual awards recognize AGC members making a meaningful impact through inclusive workplace practices, mental wellbeing initiatives, workforce and business diversity, and leadership that helps strengthen the culture of our industry.

Click on the images below to submit an application for any of these awards!

Application deadline: November 20, 2026
Awards will be presented at AGC Honors 2027 on January 13.

Culture of CARE at Mankato State University

Yolanda is on the road again to Minnesota State University-Mankato, presenting her quarterly Culture of CARE Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Overview presentation to 32 construction management students.

One student said: "Yolanda did a great job speaking and really got her point across to me and I am glad that she is giving us the chance to get the Vital Cog certification next week so that we can all actually make a difference. Her talk made me stop and think about how many people might be struggling without anyone knowing. Sometimes, people hide what they are going through, which makes it even more important to check on the people around us."

VitalCog Training for UCWCP at Wilson-McShane

This week, Yolanda certified 10 VitalCog "Gatekeepers" representing member companies of the Union Construction Workers' Compensation Program (UCWCP), administered by Wilson-McShane Corporation. Bill Marshall, Program Director of the UCWCP, had this to say:

Today we had the pleasure of hosting Yolanda McIntosh, Director of Organizational Wellbeing and Culture at the AGC of MN, to conduct VitalCog Suicide Awareness Certification training for our members. In attendance we had industry professionals that included HR people, superintendents, safety people, owners, estimators, and office staff. To say the training was amazing would be an understatement. Yolanda’s presentation of the materials was informational, thought provoking, and absolutely a value to all in attendance. Her passion and personal touch made the training extraordinary. Yolanda not only knows the information, but she has also lived it. I would highly recommend this training to anyone in the industry at any level withing an organization. Thank you for sharing your talents with us Yolanda!

 --Bill Marshall, Program Director, UCWCP

MNOSHA Construction Seminar: November 17
Culture of CARE: Suicide Prevention Awareness

Join Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Compliance in welcoming AGC's Yolanda McIntosh to present "Culture of CARE: Suicide Prevention Awareness" at the next free Construction Seminar, at 7 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Topics to be discussed include why construction workers are at risk for suicide, what some of the warning signs are, and how you can help.

AGC Collective Bargaining Training

AGC General Counsel & Labor Relations Director Mike Schechter presented today at the AGC of America Collective Bargaining Training in Chicago. Incoming CEO Abbey Bryduck also attended, and AGC member Brendan Carter (Mortenson) participated on a panel of experts.

Liquidated Damages in Minnesota: Who has the burden of proof?

Liquidated damages clauses are commonplace in construction contracts, however, the law surrounding them is hardly settled. Recent Minnesota cases appear to have shifted the burden of proof, reinterpreting longstanding Minnesota case law. Here is what parties to construction contracts in Minnesota should know about how the burden of proof regarding liquidated damages has changed. Click here to read more.

Robert L. Smith and Quinn G. McKush are members of the Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson's Construction Law Department. Rob can be reached at 612.359.7648 or RSmith@fwhtlaw.com

FREE to AGC Members: ARTBA Webinar on Federal Immigration Policy

What do employers need to know about today's immigration policies? What changes might be around the corner? Find out during this Oct. 20 ARTBA webinar featuring one of the nation's top immigration attorneys, Linda Sabatello of the law firm Pryor Cashman in New York. This webinar is free to AGC of Minnesota members. 

Learn more and register

ABA Regional Conference

The American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law takes place in Minneapolis on November 19. Topics include risk transfer, builders and professional liability insurance, CCIPs, indemnity, and bonds. More information can be found here.

It's Awards Season at AGC!

Do you know an industry icon who should be recognized for their achievements and service? Are you proud of your firm's stellar safety record? Has your company made strides in inclusion or mental wellbeing for your employees and workforce?

Click below to submit your nominations or applications for AGC of Minnesota's awards, and plan to join us on January 13 at AGC Honors 2027, where we'll recognize our award recipients! View the photos from last year's Honors event.

Award nominations close on November 20, so don't delay!

Nominate someone for the Skill-Responsibility-Integrity (SRI) Award or the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Apply for a Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Award.

Apply for a Culture of CARE Impact Award.

OSHA 30 for Construction

AGC wants to gauge your interest in participating in an OSHA 30 for Construction Training, January 11–14, 2027. This course would be in person at our office in St. Paul, with various industry subject matter experts presenting. If you or someone on your team would be interested in participating, please “register” them prior to November 15, 2026.

OSHA 30 has become a staple in safety training for the construction industry, designed for construction workers, supervisors, project managers and others with safety responsibilities. This course will be an interactive opportunity for those that want to strengthen their knowledge of jobsite hazards, understand OSHA requirements, and build the skills to recognize and prevent injuries before they happen.

Whether you want to grow professionally, strengthen your safety leadership, or create a safer work environment for your team, this course will provide valuable knowledge that participants will be able to apply to their role regardless of experience level.  

2 Weeks to the CHASE Recognition Event!

Is your team registered to join us at Midland Hills Golf Club on October 29 to recognize the safest group of contractors in the state? The annual CHASE Recognition Event celebrates AGC's CHASE partnership with MNOSHA that continues to produce the highest collective safety records in Minnesota!

Come hear from speaker Jason Kunz on "The Leadership Advantage: Seeing What Others Miss" and learn more about the CHASE program!

Thanks to these Sponsors of the Recognition Event!

Active Threat Preparedness Training

Whether in the office or on a job site, it is critical to know how to react if faced with an active threat/shooter situation.

Rich Webb and Drew Moldenhauer from Blue Ethos will provide participants with practical, real-world strategies to prepare for and respond to an active threat. Through Blue Ethos' Multi-Option Response framework, attendees will learn best practices for improving survivability while making informed decisions under extreme stress.

Register: November 24 | December 15

Stop the STCKY Academy

Back by popular demand: Safety professionals are encouraged to join us on November 19 for an 8-hour Stop the STCKY (S#*! That Can Kill You) Academy, presented by Adam Mack of Sundt. 

Registration includes lunch, and online participation is available. 

REGISTER

First Aid, CPR, and AED Training

On a jobsite, the first few minutes of an emergency belong to whoever is standing there. Not EMS - your crew. This half-day session on January 7 gives you the training and the confidence to act in those minutes, whether it's a cardiac arrest, a serious laceration, or an exposure incident. Cintas instructors lead the class with hands-on practice and a 1:1 student-to-mannequin ratio, so everyone gets real reps and personal coaching - not a video and a quiz. Learn more and Register

Two Important Member Surveys

Constructability Review Request:
TH 13 Reconstruction

MnDOT is asking Contractors to share their expertise by evaluating construction staging/access and risks to delivering this highway reconstruction project. Contractors who participate in constructability review meetings must learn about the project scope and specifics provided and come prepared to discuss the questions provided.

MnDOT is preparing plans for improvements to TH 13 in Savage and Burnsville from 0.3 Miles west of Quentin Ave to 0.23 Miles West of CSAH 5. Major project elements include the following:


• Reconstruction of TH 13 from Quentin Ave to Washburn Ave
• Construction of bridges at Quentin Ave, Proposed On and Off Ramps at Quentin Ave over Credit River, Huntington Ave, and Chowen Ave
• Construction of four roundabouts at Quentin Ave and 123rd St W – half at a time, Huntington Ave and North Frontage Road, Chowen and South Frontage Road, and Washburn and North Frontage Road
• Storm sewer improvements
• Local utility improvements
• Local Access

The constructability review meetings will be scheduled between October 29-30, 2026, and are expected to last approximately 90 minutes.

Click to download a file with more details about the project delivery, preliminary schedule, initial estimates, and questions for contractors.

AGC HR Forum

Participating in AGC Committees & Forums is a member benefit!

Thanks to everyone who attended this week's joint HR Forum / Safety Alliance Forum on the topic of Active Threat Preparedness! The trainers from Blue Ethos provided participants with practical, real-world strategies to prepare for and respond to an active threat.

Don't miss the October meeting, where we'll be hosted by Rachel Contracting and covering how to build effective workplace wellness programs. We'll also hear updates from Bassford Remele on developments at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, as well as best practices for the Minnesota Paid Leave program.

In November, the HR Forum will be held at Knutson Construction, where we'll hear about Knutson's newly-developed mentorship program, BuildUp. Knutson representatives will walk participants through the basic concepts of the program, current successes, and potential growth. We'll also hear about the YWCA's Velocity program, a workforce development and skilled-trades pathways program.

Register for A'26 MN: 
The Minnesota Conference on Architecture

Registration for A’26 MN: The Minnesota Conference on Architecture is now available! AGC members can register at the AIA Minnesota member rate.

Learn more and register

Celebrate the Season and Help Us 
Send Tim Off in Style!

This year’s AGC Holiday Reception on December 1 will be an extra-special event as we celebrate Tim Worke’s retirement and 40 years of service to Minnesota’s construction industry.

Join your AGC friends and industry peers as we celebrate the end of another great year in Minnesota construction, raise a glass to Tim, and send him into retirement with a party worthy of the occasion! We’re adding a few special touches this year - including photo booths, shuttle transportation and more - and we hope to see a great crowd of people who have worked with, learned from, laughed with, and gotten to know Tim over the years.

Come for Tim. Stay for the party. It will be a great evening to reconnect with industry friends, celebrate the season, and recognize someone who has given so much to Minnesota’s construction community.

We’ve also added several special event sponsorship opportunities for member companies that would like to be part of making Tim’s retirement celebration particularly memorable. Sponsorships are available for some of the fun extras we’re bringing to the evening and include recognition at the event - a great way to put your company’s name behind the celebration while helping us give Tim a terrific sendoff.

Register now and join us as we celebrate Tim, the holidays, and another year together in Minnesota construction!

Thanks to these Reception Sponsors!

Construction Summit:
The Map is Filling In. Don't Miss Your Spot.

The expanded Minnesota Construction Summit trade show keeps growing. More space means more equipment on the floor and more exhibitors in front of Minnesota's construction industry. Good spots are still open, but they're going quickly.

View the map and claim your spot.

Thank You to our 2027 Sponsors!

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Whether you're a long-time member or new to AGC, there are many great events on the horizon to keep you connected to your industry peers!

CHASE Recognition Event
October 29


Celebrate safety! Come hear what the CHASE participating contractors have achieved in the past year.

Holiday Reception & Tim Worke Retirement Party
December 1

Toast the end of another great year together in the construction industry and raise a glass to Tim as he retires!

AGC Honors 2027
January 13

Celebrate greatness in the industry as we present individual and company awards!

Don't Miss These Events!

Register now or save the date for these upcoming AGC events:

• CHASE Recognition Event: October 29
• Holiday Reception & Tim Worke Retirement Party: December 1
• AGC Honors 2027: January 13
• 2027 Minnesota Construction Summit: February 17-18

Thank You to our 2026 Annual Partners!

PLATINUM PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS