History

Associated General Contractors of Washington (AGCW) dates back to 1922 -- just four years after the establishment of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA). We are the state's largest and oldest commercial-industry trade association.

AGC of Washington history

AGCW 2023 logo - Wide-TX-CLR

AGC of Washington (AGCW) began as the AGC Seattle chapter. In 1986, the Tacoma AGC chapter, the AGC Mountain Pacific chapter and the Northwest Construction Council eventually merged to form AGC of Washington. Today, AGC of Washington is a leading chapter among the 96 chapters nationally affiliated with AGC of America, which is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. AGCW proudly marked our one-hundredth year of operation in 2022.

AGC of Washington has over 600 member firms across the General Contractor, Specialty Contractor and Associate categories, which include suppliers and other construction-service providers. AGC of Washington is headquartered in Seattle on the southwestern shores of South Lake Union. The AGC-owned property includes an office building, marina and parking facilities. The organization includes district offices in Seattle, Fife, Bellingham and Yakima, as well as separate legislative and Group Retro offices in Olympia.

Key dates in AGCW history

1922
The Seattle Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America is formed for all contractors (later changed to Seattle Northwest Chapter).

1925
Northwest Construction Council is formed for specialty-contractor and associate members.

1927
Heavy/highway contractors break away and form a separate organization not affiliated with AGC of America.

1930
The Mountain Pacific Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America is formed for heavy/highway contractors.

1945
The Tacoma Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America is formed for all contractors in Pierce & Thurston County areas.

1970
The Seattle Northwest and Mountain Pacific chapters purchase land on Lake Union and agree to build.

1973
The Seattle Northwest and Mountain Pacific chapters merge, forming the Seattle Chapter.

1980
The AGC Education Foundation is established.

1981
The Seattle Chapter opens a legislative office in Olympia.

1983
The Northwest Construction Council is dissolved. Seattle Chapter opens to affiliate memberships.

1986
The Seattle and Tacoma chapters consolidate into AGC of Washington. Tacoma facility remains open as a district office.

1990
AGC of Washington establishes the AGC Safety Team® to promote safe work environments that meet and exceed industry standards.

1990
AGC of Washington opens a district office in Bellingham.

1991
AGC Group Retro is established.

1993
AGC of Washington opens a district office in Yakima.

1997
AGC of Washington celebrates its 75th anniversary.

1998
Through Task Force 21, AGC of Washington develops new mission and vision statements.

1999
AGC of Washington adopts a five-year strategic plan.

2004
AGC of Washington adopts a new five-year strategic plan.

2009
AGC of Washington adopts a new five-year strategic plan.

2010
AGC redefines its mission and vision statements; the AGC Education Foundation celebrates its thirty-year anniversary; the AGC of Washington Safety Team celebrates twenty years of safety excellence and the Southern District office relocates from Tacoma to Fife.

2016     
Nancy Munro, of MidMountain Contractors, takes the reins as the first female president of AGC of Washington. Previously, Munro served two years on the AGC of Washington board and two years on the AGC Education Foundation board. 

2016     
AGCW’s Board of Trustees officially adds one Future Leaders Forum (FLF) representative to the Board. AGCW develops a new improved website and online database. The BuildWashington.com website is created to promote construction-industry career awareness, to help connect craft workers and employers, and promote industry training opportunities and programs throughout Washington State. Emphasis during the year is heavily focused on workforce development and diversity.

2017    
AGC of Washington develops its first workforce-development bill, which is approved and signed by the Governor on May 5.  

2017    
The Future Leadership Forum (FLF) rebranded and changed its name to Construction Leadership Council(CLC).

2018    
AGC introduced a special one-year Introductory Membership dues rate to certified DBE/WMBE companies joining AGC of Washington. AGC of America celebrates its 100-year anniversary.

AGC launches the Culture of CARE initiative to promote workplace diversity and inclusion as well as to deliver resources to help companies become more diverse at every level of their operations. 100 member companies and public agencies sign on to pledge their support of the Culture of CARE program.

AGC of Washington files an unfair labor-practice charge against 17 building and construction unions with Region 19 of the National Labor-Relations Board, stemming from a community-workforce agreement (CWA) that unions negotiated with WSDOT as part of the bid specifications for the SR-520 Montlake-to-Lake Washington Interchange and Bridge Replacement project. AGC believes in fair and open competition for contracting and, accordingly, the CWA is flawed because
• a third party has come between employers and their employees
• it is bad for taxpayers
• it harms minority and small contractor, and
• it excludes half of our membership and their workers who do not choose to join a trade union.

Group Retro’s combined refund for AGC Retro members was a record-breaking $63M.

2019   
AGC upgrades its website system and e-newsletter service.

2022   
AGC celebrated its hundredth year of operation — “A Century of Service” — with district and chapter-wide events and celebrations throughout the year.

2023   
AGC introduced a new logo featuring the phrase The Construction Organization, aligning our visual brand with that of AGC of America and most other chapters around the country.

Our Districts

Seattle District

Seattle District Office (and Chapter headquarters)
1200 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 301 Seattle WA 98109
Tel. 206.284.0061
Fax: 206.285.4546
District Manager: Sonja Forster
sforster@agcwa.com
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Northern District - Bellingham

Northern District Office Bellingham
119 North Commercial, Suite 110 Bellingham WA 98225
Tel. 360.961.5323
District Manager: Lance Calloway
lcalloway@agcwa.com
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Southern District - Fife

Southern District Office Fife
3601 20th Street East, Fife WA 98424
Tel. 253.896.0033
Fax: 253.896.0036|
District Manager: Tim Attebery
tattebery@agcwa.com
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Central District - Yakima

Central District Office Yakima
6 South Second Street (The Larson Building), Suite 910 Yakima WA 98901
Tel: 206.549.6442
Fax: 509.452.6503
District Manager/Safety Specialist: Celina Venegas-Sanchez
csanchez@agcwa.com
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