AGC Georgia History

The Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Inc. (known as AGC Georgia), one of 88 Chapters of The Associated General Contractors of America, was organized in Atlanta on March 15, 1928. Originally chartered as "Georgia Branch, Associated General Contractors of America, Inc.," the chapter operated under this name until May 2012 when members voted to accept new bylaws, including changing our name to better reflect our presence throughout Georgia.

Chapter members include the top firms comprising the commercial construction industry including general contractors, specialty contractors, and the service and supplier companies who support the industry. Individuals employed at member firms are also considered AGC Georgia members by virtue of their company affiliating with the organization. In addition, firms joining AGC Georgia automatically become members of AGC of America. 

Founding members of our Chapter include the following general contractors:
A. K. Adams Company 
Allan Artley Construction Company
C. A. D. Bayley & Company, Inc.
George A. Clayton Company
Carr Construction Company
Jno. W. Cowper Company
 The Flagler Company
W. P. Francis
Griffin Construction Company
Norwood Griffin Company
A. J. Krebs & Company
J. S. McCauley & Company
 Padgett-Sutton Company
Pittman Construction Company
Shelverton Construction Company
Smith & Williams Company
Southern Ferro Concrete Company
C. H. Van Ormer

We are grateful for the incredible leadership and foresight of individuals at these firms for organizing our association to serve Georgia's construction industry.


AGC of America History   

To understand how the AGC organization got its start, you have to go back to July 15, 1918 when a small group of contractors met in Atlantic City, NJ at the suggestion of President Woodrow Wilson. These contractors decided to do something about the dangers associated with what was seen as a tempest-tossed industry. They resolved to form a national organization of contractors dedicated to the task of improving conditions within the industry and giving general contractors a voice compatible with their position in the industry. T. T. Flagler, Sr., a general contractor from Atlanta and founder of The Flagler Company, spoke these sentiments from the floor of the July 15 meeting, and his suggestion resulted in an industry convention which was held on November 20 - 21, 1918, at the Hotel La Salle in Chicago. 

Ninety-seven of the country’s leading contractors met resulting in the formation of The Associated General Contractors of America, which was to serve the needs of the general contractor. At the same time, President Wilson recognized the construction industry's national importance and desired a partner for the government to discuss and plan for the nation's future. AGC of America continues to fulfill this mission. The objectives and ideals of the new organization were included in the Special Purposes of the bylaws, formulated at that 1918 meeting. Following are the standards set forth by founders which are still embodied in the association:

  • Reliability: To make membership in the association a reasonable assurance to the public of the Skill, Integrity, and Responsibility of its members. 
  • High Standards: To maintain the standards of the contracting business at the level necessitated by its professional character and to establish members of the association in the public mind as contractors who fulfill obligations in good faith. 
  • Honorable Dealings: To provide methods and means whereby members may avail themselves of the greater power of combined effort through the association, acting as an authoritative body, in securing just and honorable dealings from the public whom they serve. 
  • Fair Practices: To seek correction of injurious, discriminatory, or unfair business methods practiced by or against general contractors. 
  • Construction by Contract: To promote the legitimate market for the services of general contractors and to discourage encroachment by governmental agencies or others.
The association’s bylaws further addressed safety, parity of business risks, standard contracts, cost reductions, the protection of individual interest of all the sectors in the industry, and uniformity of action among the individuals forming the association.