The Associated General Contractors of America announced April 6 that Lester C. Snyder, executive vice president of Las Vegas-based Brightline West, will serve as its new national president for the coming 12 months. The association additionally announced that Thomas L. Brown of Encinitas, California-based Sierra Pacific West will serve as senior vice president; Todd Roberts, president of Jackson, Mississippi-based ERS Inc., will serve as vice president; and Shea De Lutis, director of national contractor Clark Construction Group, will serve as treasurer.

“The Associated General Contractors of America serves as the single forum where construction firms can come together to tackle the challenges the entire industry faces,” Snyder said. “We have the opportunity to educate the broader public about the role our industry plays in supporting economic growth, making our structures more efficient and offering rewarding career opportunities.”

Snyder is currently overseeing construction preparations for Brightline West, America’s first true high-speed rail system. The 218-mile rail system will connect Las Vegas and Southern California with a fully electric, emission-free system that includes stations in Rancho Cucamonga, Hesperia, Apple Valley and Las Vegas. It will bring significant environmental and economic benefits, creating an estimated 35,000 jobs. Brightline is the only private provider of modern, eco-friendly, inter-city passenger rail service in America, currently serving Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach in Florida, with its Orlando station beginning service in 2023.

As president of Associated General Contractors of America, Snyder will lead the board of directors in a national effort to advocate on behalf of the industry, to help recruit the next generation of construction professionals and to find ways to help builders take advantage of evolving market conditions. The officers will serve in these positions until March 2024.

The officers were elected by the association’s membership. Their one-year terms began at the conclusion of AGC’s Annual Convention in April in Las Vegas. Together, they will lead the board of directors in setting association priorities and supervising the top professional staff of the association as they work to support the commercial construction industry. The association represents every aspect of commercial construction and serves as the main advocacy voice for the industry. It also provides a wide range of educational programming for the industry and connects members with outside individuals and organizations to help the construction industry be successful. The association has over 27,000 member firms.