Workshop Series Speakers

Brian is President and CEO of Knife River Corporation, a construction materials and contracting services business with operations in 14 states. He was instrumental in the development of the Knife River Training Center and the company’s “Life at Knife” culture that emphasizes training and putting people first. Brian also serves on the Knife River Board of Directors. He is active in several industry trade associations and at his alma mater, Oregon State University, where he is on the board for the school’s Construction Education Foundation. In 2022, Brian received the Oregon Stater Award and was inducted into the school’s Academy of Distinguished Engineers for the impact he has had on the engineering profession.

Katie Page joined Hoopaugh Grading Company as the Director of Team Development in 2019. Over the last four years, Katie has worked alongside the HGC Executive Leadership team to execute the company’s strategic vision to be a teaching company. In 2020, HGC opened the doors to the HGC Academy, a 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility that includes CAT simulators and various hands-on training prompts. More than 44,000 training hours have been provided to teammates using our proactive, innovative, and engaging curriculum.

In the rapidly evolving landscapes of recruitment and technology, Aron Nick stands out as a beacon of innovation and expertise. With a career spanning over 30 years, Aron has not only excelled as a Recruiting Manager, where he's known for his unmatched ability to identify and nurture top talent, but he has also carved a niche as a Leadership, Equipment, and Technology Trainer (L.E.A.T.T.), transforming the way organizations approach technology and leadership development.

Aron's journey began with a passion for technology and people. His unique ability to understand the intricate details of tech, combined with a natural flair for communication and leadership, quickly set him on a path to success. As a Recruiting Manager, Aron has revolutionized hiring practices, introducing innovative strategies that prioritize not just the skills but also the cultural fit of candidates, ensuring long-term success for both the employees and the organizations.

Beyond recruitment, Aron's role as a L.E.A.T.T. has allowed him to impact organizations more deeply. He believes in the power of technology to transform businesses and the importance of equipping leaders with the right tools and mindset to navigate this change. Through his workshops and training sessions, Aron has helped this industry and educators in Georgia embrace change, foster innovation, and build a continuous learning and improvement culture.

Aron's achievements are a testament to his dedication and expertise. However, he measures success not by accolades but by the positive changes he drives in organizations and the personal growth of the individuals he mentors. A firm believer in "leading by example," Aron embodies the principles of continuous learning, adaptability, and visionary leadership.

When he's not shaping the future of technology and leadership, Aron enjoys exploring the great outdoors, staying active, and indulging in his love for the DIRT WORLD by getting out and operating equipment whenever possible.

Aron Nick's story is one of passion, innovation, and impact. As he continues to inspire and lead, his journey reminds us that endless possibilities lie at the intersection of technology and human potential.

Andrea Ribelin joined Hoopaugh Grading Company as the Training and Curriculum Specialist in 2022. Over the last two years, Andrea has worked alongside HGC’s leadership team, field team, and resource group leaders to develop a comprehensive training plan that highlights the company’s core values and mission to Be the Best. Her focus on combining practical knowledge with standard operating procedures, where every teammate understands what winning looks like, continues to drive her passion for excellence in teaching and development.

Prior to joining HGC, Andrea spent most of her career in educational leadership. She led in the public-school sector for 22 years devoted to developing leaders of both children and adults. Under her leadership, the elementary school she served as principal was recognized in the top 5% of elementary schools in South Carolina from the BEST U.S. News and World Report Rankings. She also received the South Carolina Counseling Association’s Principal of the Year in 2017 and was a supporter of Careers and Technology Education. She is a trainer for Stephen Covey’s Leader in Me, which is rooted in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and a trainer for Pat Lencioni’s Working Genius.

Andrea splits her time between the North Carolina mountains and the Piedmont area. She enjoys reading, baking, hiking, and especially spending time with her husband and children. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s in Education and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Winthrop University.

Since 1990, Jeff has been professionally and personally committed to protecting life
preserving the quality of life. In his professional coaching and consulting, he demonstrates a passion for the health and safety of workers and the success of his clients. A relentless advocate for workplace safety and health, Jeff successfully guides clients toward best-in-class thinking and actions by promoting culture over compliance. Jeff is a dynamic speaker and trainer, delivering his message with an energy that stems from a tireless drive for excellence and an evident concern for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of others.

Jeff resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with his wife and Jack Russell. His passion for his community is evident in his service on the township board of supervisors and planning commission and as the vice president of a local historic preservation non-profit organization.

Justin Azbill – Director National EHS, Milwaukee Tool: Mr. Azbill was appointed Director - National
Health and Safety at Milwaukee Tool in July 2021, and is responsible for directing the design,
implementation, and maintenance of health and safety programs. Mr. Azbill role is strategic and
provides oversight to ensure compliance with all applicable laws to exceed safety regulations.
He has over 28 years of experience in Safety and Risk Management, having held key management
positions with Kiewit Power, Suffolk Construction, Cannistraro, and Callahan Construction.
Throughout his career, Mr. Azbill has created a reputation of success by leveraging a collaborative
leadership style which has helped him achieve consistent industry-leading results and build successful partnerships that continue to impact the construction industry.

Mr. Azbill has led companies to noticeable safety improvements and increased engagement in incident prevention, fostering a positive safety culture. Evident through his reduction of claims,
incidents, and lost time, as well as increased involvement of subcontractor engagement, he has been honored with notable awards including the OSHA VPPP Star award in 2012 (the first time a VPPP Star award was awarded to a construction job in Region 1), MCAA Milwaukee Tool Safety Professional Award, ESGR DOD Patriot Award, Safety Excellence Award by the NSC, and STEP Award by the ABC.

Mr. Azbill holds several accredited safety certifications and licenses and attended Johnson County Community College, the University of Kansas, and Thomas Edison University. Mr. Azbill is a sitting member on numerous safety advisory committee’s and serves as the ISEA Education Committee Chair and a Director at Large for the Construction Industry Alliance of Suicide Prevention.

Daron Earlewine is a passionate, catalytic, influential, captivating dreamer. He serves as an author, speaker, podcast host and entrepreneur. His mission is to help people find passion, purpose and peace. Daron has helped thousands of individuals move from feeling insignificant to understanding their worth and creating their future through his online and live workshops. Daron’s first book The Death of a Dream was published in October 2022. Daron uses his honesty, humor and wit in the book to help resurrect your purpose when life doesn’t go as planned. Daron and his wife Julie have been married twenty-two years and have three teenage sons.

Wally Adamchik is dedicated to making better construction leaders. 

• In his youth, he worked with his father and brother in construction in NYC. 
• His mother was the first woman to referee a basketball game at Madison Square Garden. 
• At the University of Notre Dame, Wally was the mascot—that’s right, he was the Leprechaun. 
• As an Officer of Marines, Wally deployed throughout the world. In tanks and then Cobra attack helicopters, He served in operations and maintenance roles.  
• MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• President of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting. A national construction leadership consulting firm providing speaking, coaching and consulting to those in and around construction.  
• Author of No Yelling: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business. And of Construction Leadership from A to Z; 26 words to lead by
• Certified Speaking Professional, Certified Management Consultant.
• Father of two college athletes and married for 30 years. 

When you add all that up you get an honest expert who understands the multi-national as well as he does the family business and is able to modify his approach to make an impact in both. Since 2003 he has supported some of the most notable firms in the construction industry and is a regular presenter at industry gatherings. Wally delivers usable ideas and insights that you can put to use the minute you get back to work. 

Aaron Witt grew up like many of us, loving bulldozers from birth.

When it came time to choose a career, he naturally opted for construction at 18 years old. He began as a laborer on a pipe crew and went on to work for five different heavy construction companies while earning an engineering degree at Arizona State.

But his perfect plan to become an earthmoving contractor took a turn when he began sharing his experiences as a young construction professional on social media. His storytelling took off shortly after graduation, and he quit his job to do it full-time.

Aaron and BuildWitt focused on storytelling and marketing for the construction and mining industries in the first few years. Step one for attracting the next generation is education.

Today, BuildWitt helps contractors attract, hire, train, and retain great people through many offerings—creative services, a jobs platform, a training platform, and even an industry-leading leadership conference.

Specifically, Aaron is learning how to lead the BuildWitt team while traveling worldwide to learn about the Dirt World firsthand.

Randy Blount entered the construction industry at age 17 working for his family contracting business. He was thrust into a leadership role at age 21 when a cancer diagnosis sidelined his father from the company. Taking lessons from a number of early mistakes, Randy maintained the business until his father’s passing, at which time he purchased the company and took over management of daily operations. Over the next ten years, Randy worked with his team to implement key operational systems which helped successfully grow Blount Contracting from $3.5 million to $40 million in annual revenue. In 2020, he sold the business and remained closely involved as a shareholder, helping to grow annual revenue to $100 million while maintain profitability well above industry averages over the next two years.

Randy now serves as Chief Product Officer of BuildWitt, where he applies his finance education and career-long construction experience to help drive the organization towards its mission of making the Dirt World a better place.