Inside AGC — January/February 2007

Chapter Corner: Diverse Executives Represent AGC Chapters

AGC's chapter executives come from all walks of life and bring a unique perspective to their chapters. Their styles are as distinctive as the 98 chapters and members that they represent. The personal connections the chapters bring to the national organization are essential to the work that AGC does. Below are short glimpses into the lives of chief executives from six of our thriving chapters.

Henry Hagood
Executive Vice President, Alabama AGC
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Number of years in current position: 38

Henry Hagood was hired as Alabama AGC's executive vice president at the ripe age of 25. "I think I was the only candidate interviewed that they could afford," says Hagood. "It was a huge gamble on their part to hire an unproven 25-year-old, but I had great support from the chapter."

Hagood has more than proven himself over the years and successfully dealt with many changes during his tenure, including combining the three Alabama chapters into one and shifting from a predominantly union to open-shop industry. During this time, the chapter's membership has grown from 25 to more than 1,000.

Brian Tobin
Executive Director, AGC of New Jersey
Hometown: Metuchen, N.J.
Number of years in current position: 1 (Five years total with the chapter)

Brian Tobin began his career advocating for New Jersey's 7th Legislative District constituents. But his work at AGC of New Jersey led him to his interest in advocating for the construction industry.

What does Tobin like best about his job? "I like knowing that when I wake up in the morning, I represent a decent group of professionals who care about their businesses and the public good," he says.

Vicki Mora
Chief Executive Officer, New Mexico Building Branch
Hometown: Los Lunas, N.M.
Number of years in current position: 10 (30 years total with the chapter)

Vicki Mora has worked for the New Mexico Building Branch of AGC since 1976, when she started out as a secretary and receptionist. Through the years, she has worked her way up the ranks and was hired as chief executive officer 19 years to the day she was hired.

Mora enjoys a good challenge and views her greatest accomplishment as establishing a self-insured workers' compensation program in 2000. "Achieving the workers' comp program required skills from every lesson I learned at AGC," says Mora.

Russ Hanson
Executive Vice President, AGC of North Dakota
Hometown: Larimore, N.D.
Number of years in current position: 1-1/2

Russ Hanson built his executive skills by watching association management professionals while working in the North Dakota legislature in his early twenties. "I learned the way the process worked," says Hanson. "I personally witnessed the Do's and Don'ts firsthand."

Over the years he's built on that experience, increasing the visibility of the chapter and increasing member benefits with a special emphasis on the chapter's safety and training programs.

Toby Crow
Executive Vice President, AGC of South Dakota Inc.
Hometown: Pierre, S.D.
Number of years on the job: Nearly a year

As the son of a contractor, and a registered professional engineer with 10 years of experience at the Department of Transportation, Toby Crow brings a wealth of hands-on expertise to his role as the executive vice president of AGC of South Dakota Inc.
Crow's first move was to challenge his entirely new team to put the chapter goals and objectives into action. In nearly a year, the team has built a strong program aimed at growing the construction industry of South Dakota.

Scott Norvell
President and Chief Executive Officer, Master Builders of Iowa
Hometown: Emmetsburg, Iowa
Number of years in current position: 12 (22 years at the Master Builders of Iowa)

Over his years at the Master Builders of Iowa, President and CEO Scott Norvell has continually drawn upon the resources of national AGC and the other chapter executives. "A lot of what our chapter does with our committees is fashioned after what AGC of America has done," says Norvell. "MBI has been wise to take advantage of the materials AGC produces and repackage it at the chapter level."

AGC of America recognizes the important role that its chapters play. The synergy created by the work of the chapters and national staff creates a more valuable membership than either alone could provide. AGC of America looks forward to working with its chapters to continue creating the best products and services for our members.