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2025 Speaker Biographies

Keynote Speaker

2025 Keynote Speaker: Justin Forsett

Justin’s personal journey is one of the best stories in the NFL.

Former NFL running back Justin Forsett was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2008 and played for seven teams in nine years, including the 2014 Pro Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Known for his speed and agility on the field, he is now a respected leader and businessman off the field. And as an award-winning speaker, he shares his stories of sacrifice, setbacks, and success.

A Florida native, Justin was determined to play in the NFL. Despite his 5'8" stature, he broke several high school records and earned a college scholarship to Cal where, as a senior, he was named to the First-team All-Pac-10 Conference.

Justin retired from the NFL in 2017 and moved from the backfield to the boardroom. The company he co-founded with college teammates even appeared on ABC's Shark Tank. Although they didn’t get a deal, they used the feedback to rename, rebrand, and relaunch their company.

Now known as Hustle Clean, and with Justin as CEO, this multi-million-dollar wellness company sells all-natural body wipes and personal care products online and at major retailers

Utility Division Speakers

John Chambers

John Chambers is the Utility Infrastructure Division Director for AGC of America, serving in this role since November 2023. While John is relatively new to AGC, he has over ten years of experience working in Washington in various government relations, public affairs, research and communications roles.

In his role as Utility Infrastructure Division Director, John leads AGC of America’s government relations profile on utility construction, including water and wastewater facilities and pipelines, energy generation and transmission, telecommunications infrastructure, and other underground specialty work like excavation, tunneling, boring and site preparation. John frequently collaborates with various federal stakeholders in Congress and at federal agencies, such as EPA, PHMSA and NTIA, where he advocates on behalf of contractors engaged in utility projects across the country. He also coordinates UID participation in various coalition groups and spearheads AGC’s various utility-based meetings and events.

Before joining AGC, John worked at the American Sportfishing Association as Public Affairs Manager. Additionally, John worked as a researcher in various public affairs and campaign consulting firms throughout Washington, DC. John started his career on Capitol Hill in the Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, where he mostly worked on issues relating to energy, the environment, transportation and infrastructure.

Prior to entering the work force, John attended the George Washington University where he studied Political Science. John lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Abby, and dog. Originally from New Hampshire, outside of work you can find John spending time outdoors, experimenting with new recipes on the grill and cheering for the Boston sports teams.

George Luther

George Luther is Vice President–Insurance for the Southeast region of American Global, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he supports the operations of our Atlanta-based office, serving as team leader and senior client contact for our construction-focused property and casualty business. George is responsible for directing and guiding the Southeast insurance team, managing new and renewal account processes and strategies, as well as identifying and recommending coverage and markets in order to provide exceptional service and value for American Global’s clients. George has more than 25 years’ experience in risk management and insurance services, including eight years at Zurich North America where he led the Southeast territory and managed impressive portfolios of large, middle market and project/wrap business. George has proven expertise in specialized risk transfer and management, with a thorough understanding of coverage placement throughout the insurance industry. George is also active in many industry associations including Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), where he served as a board member for four years.

George has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University and holds designations as a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Misty Wise, SC 811 Executive Director

Misty Wise leads with purpose and a passion for progress. As Executive Director of South Carolina 811, she champions safety, damage prevention, and smart modernization — from strengthening utility law to mentoring future leaders and advancing legacy systems. She sees data as a guide, collaboration as a catalyst, and culture as the foundation of meaningful change.

She serves on the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) board of directors, is a governor-appointed member of the NextGen911 Board for South Carolina, and acts as an executive mentor for the College of Charleston MBA program. Equal parts boardroom bold and community-grounded, Misty doesn’t just ask “why”—she brings people together around “how do we get there, together?”

Highway Division Speakers

Troy Brooks, NCDOT State Construction Engineer

Troy Brooks, P.E. serves as the State Construction Engineer for the NCDOT, where he leads the statewide administration of contract construction projects. With over a decade of progressive experience at NCDOT and in the private sector, he brings deep expertise in highway construction disciplines—including bridge and utility construction, asphalt paving, drainage systems, and traffic control implementation. Throughout his career, he has advanced through multiple leadership roles, providing strategic oversight, technical guidance, and uniform project delivery practices across the state. A results-driven engineering leader, Brooks is committed to innovation, collaboration, and improving infrastructure through sound construction management and contract administration.

John Burns, SCDOT Alternative Delivery Construction Manager

John Burns is the Alternative Delivery Construction Manager at the South Carolina Department of Transportation. John is responsible for the administration and delivery of complex alternative delivery projects from early project procurement to contract execution, and through construction to final completion.

John has 14 years of experience working at SCDOT and has been overseeing the construction of design-build interstate projects since 2013. Prior to serving as the Alternative Delivery Construction Manager, John was the Resident Construction Engineer for Special Projects in the Midlands.

John is a graduate of The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and he is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of South Carolina and DBIA certified. He resides in Columbia with his wife, Heather, and their two daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth. He enjoys traveling with his family and spending time at the lake.

Aaron Earwood, NCDOT State Construction Engineer

Aaron Earwood is a graduate of UNC Charlotte and is a licensed Professional Engineer.  He has worked with NCDOT since 1998 and has worked with the Construction Unit as a Bridge Construction Engineer since 2008. He is currently State Bridge Construction Engineer.

Robbie Isgett, SCDOT Chief Engineer of Alternative Delivery and Construction

Robbie Isgett is the Chief Engineer for Alternative Delivery and Construction. Mr. Isgett has over 24 years of service with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. He began his career at SCDOT in 1999 as an Assistant Regional Construction Engineer in the Lexington Construction “A” Office. He has held the positions of Resident Construction Engineer, Assistant District Construction Engineer, and District Construction Engineer in District One. He served as Director of Construction from 2019 until being named Chief Engineer for Alternative Delivery and Construction in July 2024.

Mr. Isgett also serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina. Originally from Darlington, South Carolina, Mr. Isgett is married with two children.

Wiley Jones, NCDOT Director of Field Support

Wiley Jones is a 1995 graduate of N.C. State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  Wiley has worked for the Department of Transportation for over 26 years where he has served in several engineering positions including State Construction Engineer, Resident Engineer, Construction Claims Engineer, State Pavement Construction Engineer, Area Roadway Construction Engineer, and Assistant State Construction Engineer for the Eastern Region.  Wiley also has worked for a private engineering firm prior to rejoining the Department in 2017. Wiley is a registered Professional Engineer, and he was promoted to the State Construction Engineer position in October 2022.

Rob Perry, SCDOT Deputy Secretary for Engineering

Rob Perry is the Deputy Secretary for Engineering at the South Carolina Department of Transportation. In this role, he is responsible for operating and maintaining the 4th largest road network in the nation with over 4,000 engineering staff, and approximately $1.8 billion annually in construction.

Mr. Perry started his professional career with the South Carolina Department of Transportation in 1999 with their Lowcountry bridge inspection team that is responsible for in-service inspections of roughly 1,000 bridges across six counties. In 2006, Mr. Perry transitioned to SCDOT’s preconstruction division and served as a program manager for the Upstate region.

Mr. Perry served as Director of Traffic Engineering from March 2018 to December 2022. He was promoted to Chief Engineer for Bridges in December 2022 and was named Interim Deputy Secretary for Engineering in January 2024. Secretary Powell appointed Mr. Perry as the Deputy Secretary for Engineering in April 2024.

Mr. Perry holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Citadel and is a professional licensed engineer in the state of South Carolina. He is also a veteran from his deployment with the First Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He is happily married to his wife Kelly, and has three children, Kirk, Teal, and Ella.

Chris Peoples, NCDOT Chief Operating Officer

In October 2023, Chris Peoples became chief operating officer for the N.C. Department of Transportation. As chief operating officer, he directs and manages the Division of Highways, Ferry Division, Aviation Division, Rail Division, the Integrated Mobility Division, Division of Planning & Programming, Human Resources and the Communications Office. 
Peoples is a registered professional engineer and has worked at NCDOT for more than 28 years in several field engineering positions, including state materials engineer and director of field support. He became deputy chief engineer in 2019. In June 2022, he started his previously held role—chief engineer—directing the engineering and program activities of NCDOT’s 14 highway divisions, Transportation Mobility and Safety Division, the Central Units and the Technical Services Division.

Peoples is a 1993 graduate of N.C. State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He has served as chair of AASHTO’s National Transportation Product Evaluation Program, or NTPEP.
He lives with his wife, Robin, and their two children in Raleigh.

Justin Powell, SCDOT Secretary of Transportation

Justin Powell is the Secretary of Transportation for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. As Secretary, he is responsible for leading the more than 4,000 employees of SCDOT and managing the day-to-day operations of the agency including its $6 billion construction program and maintenance of the nation’s fourth-largest state highway system.

Secretary Powell joined SCDOT in 2019 as Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration with responsibility for SCDOT’s $2.7 billion budget and oversaw the growth of the construction program from $3 billion to $5 billion. In 2022, he was promoted to Chief of Staff, serving as the senior advisor to the Secretary of Transportation and led numerous strategic initiatives on the Secretary’s behalf. In 2023, he served as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer.

Before working for SCDOT, he served as Assistant County Administrator in Horry County where he provided financial leadership to the County’s $500 million roads sales tax program, managed a project to restore freight rail service to a three-county region and supported the County’s response to numerous disasters and subsequent resiliency efforts. In addition, Secretary Powell has also worked at other local government agencies including the Dorchester County, the City of Greenville, and Fairfax County, VA.

Secretary Powell was raised in Charleston, South Carolina and is a graduate of James Island High School. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wofford College.

Secretary Powell and his wife, Ashley, have 2 children.

Josh Quattlebaum, SCDOT Bridge Construction Engineer

Josh Quattlebaum is the State Bridge Construction Engineer in the Director of Construction Office for SCDOT, and the current co-chair of the Bridge Subcommittee for the South Carolina chapter of the Carolinas AGC. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, receiving his BS and MS in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Prior to joining the department as a geotechnical engineer in 2014, he previously worked in the private sector as a structural designer, materials engineer, and geotechnical engineer with two local consulting firms. Josh is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina and currently resides in Irmo with his wife Leah, also an engineer with SCDOT, and their two children.

Clay Richter, SCDOT Director of Construction State Construction Engineer

Clay Richter is the Director of Construction at the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Mr. Richter began his career at SCDOT in the Beaufort County Construction Office before transferring to Anderson County. He served as the Resident Construction Engineer in Abbeville, McCormick and Anderson Counties before moving to Columbia in 2016 to become the Road Construction Engineer in the Director of Construction’s Office. Mr. Richter was named the State Construction Engineer in 2021 and was promoted to Director of Construction in 2024.

Mr. Richter received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University in 2003 and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina. He is a 2019 LEAD graduate and is currently in the 2026 Certified Public Manager class. Mr. Richter resides in Lexington with his wife, Ruth, and their two children, Katherine and Will.

Boyd Tharrington, NCDOT Deputy Chief Engineer

Boyd Tharrington is a 1999 graduate from NC State with a BS in Civil Engineering. He has 20+ Years of service with the Department of Transportation which covers five years as Assistant Resident Engineer, twelve years as Resident Engineer, and two years as Division Construction Engineer. He is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina. 

Building Division Speakers

George Luther

George Luther is Vice President–Insurance for the Southeast region of American Global, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he supports the operations of our Atlanta-based office, serving as team leader and senior client contact for our construction-focused property and casualty business. George is responsible for directing and guiding the Southeast insurance team, managing new and renewal account processes and strategies, as well as identifying and recommending coverage and markets in order to provide exceptional service and value for American Global’s clients. George has more than 25 years’ experience in risk management and insurance services, including eight years at Zurich North America where he led the Southeast territory and managed impressive portfolios of large, middle market and project/wrap business. George has proven expertise in specialized risk transfer and management, with a thorough understanding of coverage placement throughout the insurance industry. George is also active in many industry associations including Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), where he served as a board member for four years.

George has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Saint Leo University and holds designations as a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Steve Maddox

Steve is a Managing Director in the Construction Technology Services group at Forvis Mazars, based in Charlotte, NC. With more than 35 years of experience, he helps contractors leverage technology to enhance job performance and business efficiency. Previously, Steve co-founded two consulting companies and served as Vice President of Sales at Trimble Construction One (Viewpoint).