Clancy Welsh named CEO of Garco Construction Inc.

Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. has named Clancy Welsh as its new CEO as one of a series of promotions announced as part of an expansion of its executive leadership team. 

Welsh, previously president of Garco Construction, is taking the helm from his father, Tim Welsh, founder of the 46-year-old company. Tim Welsh is still active with the company and is providing mentorship and support to his sons and employees, Clancy Welsh says. 

“We are excited to continue the growth of the company through bringing in a younger generation," Welsh says. "We would like to keep it a family-run company." 

 Welsh, 52, says he and his brother Jamie Welsh have children that work in the industry, but not with Garco Construction. Even so, they'd like to keep the option open for a third generation of Welshes to step in. Hollis Barnett, who has been with the company since 1990, is considered family, he says, and will continue on with the company. 

Over the last 15 years, Garco Construction has worked to build specific divisions throughout the company and is now cementing them with focused leadership, Welsh says. 

In addition to Welsh, seven professionals are moving into new roles within the company: 

• Hollis Barnett has taken the helm as president of the civil/federal government divisions. Barnett has been with the company for 33 years and was previously vice president. 
• Jamie Welsh has been promoted to president of commercial/industrial divisions. Welsh previously served as vice president and has been with the company for over 20 years. 
• Kevin Schafer is now the company’s business development director. Schafer was previously a senior project manager and has been with Garco for over 17 years. 
• Rob Decker has taken over as vice president of the commercial division. Decker has been with Garco for 16 years and previously served as a senior project manager.  
• Sean LaRue is now vice president of the industrial division and has been with Garco more than 30 years. He was previously a senior project manager. 
• Erik Wick has ascended to vice president of the civil division from senior project manager. He’s been with the company for 10 years. 
• Casey Stulc has stepped into the role of vice president of the federal government division. Stulc previously served as a senior project manager and has been with Garco for five years. 

Garco Construction was founded in 1978 and is headquartered at 4114 E. Broadway, in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood, with one additional office in Tacoma, Washington. It employs about 350 staff, most of them here. According to the Journal of Business's most recent list of leading contractors, Garco Construction reported $300 million in contract revenue in 2023, ranking it fourth among all Spokane-are general contractors. 

Garco Construction has been a part of some of the most notable projects in the region, including the construction of Spokane Veteran’s Memorial Arena, the University District Gateway Bridge, The Pavilion at the Park and Howard Street Promenade, and ONE Spokane Stadium, among others.