John M. Agrey Award
2016 Recipient
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High-ResPaul Diederich
Paul Diederich will be awarded the John M. Agrey award in recognition of his long-term involvement and leadership in the transportation and construction industry. Throughout his career he has been an advocate of public policy to advance transportation and infrastructure. Most recently in his role as Associated General Contractors of America president, he testified in Congress several times in support of the current transportation bill enacted in 2015, resulting in long-term funding for transportation in the United States.
Diederich has also been a strong supporter of education for young professionals in the construction industry. He has served as the AGC of North Dakota Education Committee chair for nearly 30 years and serves on the AGC of America Education Foundation. His family and business created two endowed scholarships at the AGC of America and one with the AGC of North Dakota.
Diederich has been involved in the construction field since 1972. He obtained a B.S. degree in construction with honors from Arizona State University in 1980. He is president of Industrial Builders, Inc. a family-owned general contractor that performs bridge, site development, concrete, piling, structural steel, building, millwright, marine, sub-soil dewatering, demolition and rotomilling projects. He is a member of the American Institute of Constructors, the Consulting Constructors Council, the North Dakota State University Construction Industry Advisory Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the AGC of North Dakota and TRIP, a private nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. He has served as president of the AGC of America, the North Dakota State University Construction Industry Advisory Committee, The Fargo Country Club, the AGC of North Dakota, the AGC Education and Research Foundation, and chairman of TRIP. Diederich lives in Fargo with his wife, Ellen Jean, a professional artist. They have two adult daughters, Monica, and Brittany.