Michael Gifford has been the President & CEO of the AGC of Colorado since 2008. As the chief staff member of the organization, Michael leads a non-profit trade association with 650 members, a $3.2 million budget, and a Construction Education Foundation with a $1.2 million budget. AGC focuses on being the voice of the industry, effective economic development work, legislative and political influence, member services (including group health and work comp insurance programs); education programs (including safety and environmental; workforce development, Future Leaders Forum, and CITC apprentice training center) and networking and collaboration opportunities for members. Workforce Development is the main issue for AGC, and 3 new workforce programs have started under the Construction Education Foundation.

Michael serves on the Executive Committees of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. and the Adams County Regional Economic Partnership, and the Board of the Aurora Economic Development Council. He serves as Chair of the Colorado Real Estate Alliance. He is Past-Chair of C3, a state-wide lobbying organization, Past-Chair of the Denver Chamber’s Legislative Policy Committee, and Past-Chair of the AGC America Executive Leadership Council. He also serves on the Executive Committee and/or Board of a dozen+ lobbying and issue committee coalitions.

Before coming to the AGC, Michael served as Executive Director of the Idaho AGC from 1999 to 2007. He was elected as Chairman of the Eagle, Idaho Sewer District from 1998 to 2007. He served as Vice President of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Downtown Boise Association and from 1993-1999. Prior to that Michael worked for the City of Huntington Beach, CA Redevelopment Agency, and Economic Development Department.

Michael has also been an instructor at the University of Phoenix for Political Science (state & local government) courses.

Michael received his BS in Business Administration & Finance from the University of Southern California and his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Boise State University. He is also a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management, a 6-year continuing education course for non-profit association executives operated by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Michael lives with his wife Jenay in Denver, CO and has 3 daughters who graduated at Colorado Universities (CU Boulder, CSU in Ft. Collins, and CMU in Grand Junction) and are all working in their chosen fields.