“Advancement for All, Not Just the Few” Brings Construction, Business and Community Leaders Together
ST. LOUIS — The Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGC-MO) will bring together leaders from across the construction industry, public sector, business community and workforce development arena for its 2026 Advancement Summit, September 2 at the Knight Center at Washington University
Under the theme “Advancement for All, Not Just the Few,” the half-day summit is designed to connect industry leaders, public agencies, contractors, developers, elected officials and community stakeholders around the shared goal of creating meaningful opportunities through economic development, workforce investment and regional collaboration.
The event comes at a significant time for the construction industry. Major infrastructure and development projects continue to create opportunities across the St. Louis region, while contractors simultaneously face the challenge of developing a workforce capable of meeting current and future demand. For minority- and
women-owned businesses, the conversation also includes access to contracts, relationships, information and the networks necessary to compete and grow.
The Advancement Summit seeks to bring those conversations together rather than addressing them in isolation.
Stephen P. Westbrooks Featured as Keynote Speaker
Stephen P. Westbrooks, President and CEO of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), will serve as a featured keynote speaker for the 2026 Advancement Summit.
Westbrooks’ participation brings the perspective of St. Louis’ economic development organization directly into a summit centered on business opportunity, workforce development, contracting and regional investment.
His appearance is particularly relevant to the summit’s broader discussion of the convergence of economic development, public policy, construction, workforce preparation and opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. Bringing those interests together provides contractors and community
stakeholders an opportunity to better understand how public and private development can translate into broader economic participation.
Connecting Opportunity With People
A central element of the summit is creating connections among contractors, agencies, developers and individuals seeking opportunities within the industry.
The event will address leadership insights, business opportunities, community connections, workforce development, supplier diversity and collaborative solutions. The emphasis moves beyond simply discussing inclusion to examining how relationships, information and access can translate into sustainable business
and career opportunities.
That mission resonates with Anika Porter, President/CEO of Lifespiration and a partner of AGC-MO, who sees networking as an important tool for expanding economic opportunity.
“I’m committed to supporting this magnificent effort to help empower businesses, contractors, individuals through networking,” Porter said.
Her comments reflect one of the summit’s underlying objectives: bringing people who have opportunities into direct contact with businesses and workers prepared to pursue them.
Changing Dynamics for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
Roslyn Croft, Director of Community Engagement for Tarlton Corp., a woman-owned company where she has served for 17 years, spoke to the importance of the summit in helping address the challenges involved in making opportunities available and empowering individuals and business contractors.
Croft also pointed to the changing dynamics created by the convergence of politics, public policy, development and opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.
As public investment, private development and government policy increasingly intersect, businesses must understand more than their trade. Contractors also need access to decision-makers, information about upcoming projects, an understanding of procurement processes and relationships that position them to
participate when opportunities become available.
The summit creates a setting where those conversations can take place among stakeholders who may otherwise operate in separate circles.
Construction Trades Drawing New Interest
The workforce side of the equation is equally important.
Amber Parker, Workforce Outreach for AGC-MO, spoke about the surge of interest in construction trades as more people consider alternatives to the traditional four-year college pathway.
Part of Parker’s role is getting people excited about careers in construction and helping prospective workers understand the variety of opportunities available throughout the industry.
That message is particularly relevant for young people and adults looking for career paths that can provide skills, advancement and economic stability without necessarily requiring a traditional four-year degree.
The construction industry encompasses far more than jobsites alone. Careers extend across skilled trades, project management, estimating, engineering, safety, technology, administration and business ownership.
Increasing awareness of those possibilities is an important component of developing the next generation of the regional workforce.
The summit’s focus on workforce development complements its emphasis on business opportunity: expanding contracting opportunities means little without a skilled workforce, while workforce development is most effective when workers can see a pathway toward sustainable careers and advancement.
Advancement for All
The 2026 Advancement Summit ultimately seeks to connect those pieces—policy, workforce, contracting, supplier diversity, community relationships and economic development.
The summit will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Knight Center at Washington University. There is no cost to attend. Registration closes August 28.
Summit Schedule
7:00 a.m. — Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m. — Morning Keynote
9:15 a.m. — Policy Panel
10:00 a.m. — Engagement & Business Opportunity Hour
11:30 a.m. — Closing Keynote
12:30 p.m. — Lunch & Networking
1:30 p.m. — Summit Concludes
For questions about the Advancement Summit, contact Amber Parker at aparker@agcmo.org or 314-678-1401.
For registration assistance, contact Iris Albertorio at ialbertorio@agcmo.org or 314-476-0105.
Registration closes August 28.
For contractors looking for their next opportunity, workers considering their next career, and community and business leaders seeking ways to expand economic participation, the summit’s message is straightforward: regional growth is strongest when advancement and opportunity extend beyond a select few.
