We’re proud to shine the spotlight on Jeff Barret, an accomplished leader, advocate for workforce development, and dedicated champion of Colorado’s construction industry. Over the course of his career – from manufacturing to higher education leadership, to statewide industry representation – Jeff has built a legacy rooted in service, mentorship, and commitment to improving the communities we live, work, and play in.
Originally from Missouri, Jeff’s professional journey has taken him across state lines, including time in New Mexico as a Dean at San Juan College. For more than 21 years, he has called Colorado home. His first role in the state, serving as the statewide Career & Technical Education Dean for the Colorado Community College System, laid the foundation for what has become a lifelong passion for workforce development and industry collaboration.
Today, as President & CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Colorado, Jeff leads an organization representing nearly 660 member companies – firms that are building the hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and commercial spaces that shape Colorado’s future. For Jeff, the construction industry’s impact is what inspires him most. He’s continually energized by the passion, dedication, and unwavering focus on safety and mental health shown across job sites statewide. Jeff has continued to create a ton of value for not only our board of directors.
Jeff’s philosophy on leadership is simple and powerful: success means leaving every place better than you found it. It’s a mindset that has guided him through every chapter of his career. He credits much of his personal inspiration to his grandfather, who became an assistant plant manager with only an eight-grade education.
Jeff’s philosophy on leadership is simple and powerful: success means leaving every place better than you found it. It’s a mindset that has guided him through every chapter of his career. He credits much of his personal inspiration to his grandfather, who became an assistant plant manager with only an eighth-grade education. His grandfather’s advice, “put your mind on it and then your hands on it,” remains a guiding principle in Jeff’s life and work.
As a leader of a statewide trade association, Jeff embraces both the challenges and rewards of the role. His advice to future industry leaders is to stay visible, engaged, and deeply connected to the membership they serve – and to listen with intention, especially when working with a Board of Directors.
Beyond his professional life, Jeff’s personal story is defined by deep family connection. Adoption is a meaningful thread across generations in his family – Jeff is adopted, he adopted two of his three children, and his biological son has adopted his daughter. It’s a unique legacy of love and commitment that speaks to the values he brings to every aspect of his life.
When he’s not visiting job sites or attending construction industry events, Jeff can often be found traveling, golfing, or doing both at once. And if you’re looking for a fun fact? His first concert was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band opening for the Little River Band.
AGC of Colorado has been an Aurora EDC member for many years, and Jeff has personally been involved for the past two. He values being “in the know” on the major economic development efforts shaping the Aurora metro area – especially with so many AGC member companies building transformative projects across the region. His favorite part of being an Aurora EDC member: the networking, the collaboration, and hearing insights from impactful speakers like Xcel Energy’s Robert Kenney.
Thank you, Jeff, for your dedication to Colorado’s construction community and your commitment to building a stronger future – one project, one partnership, and one leader at a time.
