Alberici’s Jose Garcia to Moderate St. Louis Construction Outlook Panel Dec. 3
Date Posted: October 27, 2026
Posted In: Discussion, Ideas, Organizations, What we are thinking about,
Construction Forum will bring together senior executives from some of the St. Louis region’s largest owners and builders, along with labor, on December 3 for a discussion of the construction industry’s outlook, major projects, and challenges ahead.
The program, to be held at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Touhill Performing Arts Center, will be moderated by Jose Garcia, Alberici’s President.
Panelists confirmed to date include:
- Chris Stumpf — Vice President, Engineering Design & Project Management, Ameren
- Stephanie Jeffries — Executive Director, Facilities Planning, Design & Construction, Mercy
- Jake Hummel — President, Missouri AFL-CIO and Missouri Works Initiative
- Ryan Sawall, P.E. — Chief Executive Officer, Central Region, McCarthy Building Companies
An additional panelist is expected to be announced.
The discussion will examine the region’s construction pipeline from the perspectives of organizations responsible for planning, financing, designing, and delivering major capital projects.
Topics will include anticipated construction activity, investment priorities, workforce capacity, technology, project delivery, and the challenges owners and contractors face in an evolving market.
A Look Ahead from Industry Decision-Makers
The panel brings together leaders whose organizations play significant roles in shaping the region’s built environment.
Ameren’s investments in energy infrastructure, Mercy’s ongoing healthcare facility needs, McCarthy’s work across multiple construction markets, and the AFL-CIO’s leadership in organized labor and workforce development offer distinct perspectives on where the industry is headed and its capacity to meet future demand.
Garcia, president of Alberici, brings another perspective from one of the region’s largest construction firms, with operations across major industrial, infrastructure, and commercial markets.
From Conversation to Focused Action
The December 3 program builds on Construction Forum’s ongoing effort to move industry conversations beyond identifying challenges to understanding what organizations are doing to address them.
Last year’s construction outlook program drew more than 300 registrations.
New UMSL Construction Management Program
The event will also feature a brief presentation by UMSL leadership on the university’s new construction management program.