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After serving more than 18 years as the chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors‘ Oregon-Columbia chapter, Mike Salsgiver is preparing to retire next January. But he has already begun taking on a new challenge.

Common Sense Institute (CSI), a nonpartisan research organization, announced last week that Salsgiver will serve as its executive director, bringing more than four decades of leadership experience in public policy, economic development, and government affairs to the organization.

Salsgiver has led AGC’s Oregon-Columbia chapter since 2008. Prior to taking that role, he worked in government affairs, public affairs, and economic development. He served the Oregon Department of Economic and Community Development, Intel in Oregon, and U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield.

Though Salsgiver announced his retirement from AGC in January 2025, he is under contract through January 2027.

On Monday, the AGC chapter announced the selection of Josh Tompkins as its next CEO. Tompkins is expected to join the organization in May and then work with Salsgiver during a structured transition period through the remainder of the year.

鈥淢y time at AGC has been very gratifying,鈥� Salsgiver said. 鈥淎lmost 20 years is a long time in a role like this, and I feel very good about the association handing off to my successor.鈥�

Brandon Flint, president of the Oregon-Columbia chapter’s board of directors, said the group is sad to see Salsgiver go and that he has always been a steadfast leader for the construction industry in Oregon.

鈥淗e will be dearly missed,鈥� Flint said. 鈥淗e is a hard person to replace.鈥�

Flint added that his longtime friend has clearly impacted the construction industry.

鈥淵ou talk construction in Oregon, Mike’s in there somewhere,鈥� he said.

The AGC chapter’s board believes it has found the right person to fill the executive director role and is looking forward to the next generation of leadership, Flint said.

CSI asked Salsgiver whether he would be interested in doing some work for the organization when he retires from AGC, he said. CSI is dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and prosperity through data-driven analysis. He said that AGC has been supporting CSI for a couple of years.

鈥淲e’re trying to grow their footprint and establish them more firmly in the Pacific Northwest,鈥� he said.

In his new role, Salsgiver will lead CSI’s efforts to expand its impact through rigorous, data-driven research and analysis, helping inform policymakers, business leaders, and the public on the economic issues shaping Oregon’s future. His background in economic strategy, regulatory policy, and industry leadership positions him to further advance CSI’s mission of promoting economic vitality and free enterprise statewide, the CSI press release states.

Salsgiver will contract work with CSI under his new consultant company Forward Strategies.

鈥淢ike brings a rare combination of public policy expertise, private sector leadership, and deep knowledge of Oregon’s economic landscape,鈥� Cinamon Watson, CEO of Common Sense Institute, stated in the press release.聽鈥淗is experience working across industries and at every level of government will strengthen CSI’s ability to deliver high-quality research and expand our impact in Oregon. We are very excited to have him on board.鈥�