4 Cornerstone Winter 2025–2026 agchouston.org F R O M T H E C H A I R M A N Jeremy Stovall Brookstone Construction Chairman, Board of Directors, AGC Houston When I represent you at national events, I do so with tremendous pride and gratitude. Strengthening AGC Houston’s National Voice O UR BELOVED AGC HOUSTON Chapter is one of 87 chapters that comprise the Associated General Contractors of America. While most of our communication and focus has historically centered on local and state affairs, our board has established a priority to renew our engagement with, and support of, the national organization. In this edition of Cornerstone magazine, I’m shining a light on some of the important work taking place in Washington, D.C., and across the country under the AGC of America banner. At our October board meeting, Jeff Shoaf, AGC of America’s CEO, joined us to share updates on their efforts. His presentation covered industry impacts tied to the then-impending government shutdown, the One Big Beautiful Bill, tariffs, regulatory priorities and legisla- tive activity. Shoaf noted that AGC of America’s work shifts depending on the administration and that the pendulum swings between administrations appear to be growing wider, creating new oppor- tunities and challenges for promoting a healthy national construction market. He also spent considerable time discussing the administration’s immigration ini- tiatives and the effects they’re having on our industry. His briefing was both comprehensive and informative, and the board engaged in meaningful discussion around several of the topics he raised. In addition to receiving this update from Shoaf, the AGC Houston board approved increased financial support for advocacy at AGC of America. This commitment mir- rors the long-standing financial support we provide at the state level through the AGC Texas Building Branch. As we strengthen our awareness of AGC of America’s work, we will continue sharing relevant updates with our membership and incorporating this national perspective into our educa- tional programs. Continuing on the national front, earlier this fall I joined AGC Houston’s Vice Chair Tony Gonzalez and President Kyle Holland in Washington, D.C., for AGC of America’s National and Chapter Leadership Conference (NCLC). The conference featured thought-provoking keynote speakers and breakout sessions that included training on enhancing chapter governance, education, mem- bership, sustainability and organiza- tional impact. For me, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was our trip to Capitol Hill, where we met with our local congressional delegation to discuss issues affecting our industry. This year, our priorities included securing the workforce, strengthen- ing vocational and craft training, and addressing major industry impacts such as tariff uncertainty, PFAS (“forever chemicals”) rules and regulations, and the need to streamline the Buy America process. Given the current political pen- dulum swings and the dynamics shaping federal policy, these visits were particu- larly interesting. True to our AGC roots, we stayed focused on advancing policies that support a healthy and prosperous construction industry. Overall, our time at NCLC was valuable for our chap- ter’s leadership and for strengthening our strategic relationships not just in Washington, D.C., but nationwide. We’re all accustomed to recognizing the success of AGC Houston and the Texas Building Branch, but I hope this gives you deeper insight into the breadth of work being done through AGC of America. Your continued financial support of AGC Houston makes this national-level impact possible. If any of the topics I’ve mentioned sparked ques- tions or interest, please reach out to me or to Kyle Holland. We would be happy to share more about Jeff Shoaf’s mes- sage, our financial support to national advocacy, or what we learned and expe- rienced at NCLC. In closing, I want to give a heartfelt shout-out to AGC Houston — our executive leadership, our staff, our pro- grams and, most importantly, you, our members. In my role as your board chair, I have the unique privilege of seeing first- hand how respected and influential AGC Houston is at the national level. When I attend national events representing you, I do so with tremendous pride and gratitude. Let’s keep up the great work for our even greater industry!
