The Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) has officially entered a new era. As of Jan. 1, David Rible assumed the role of chief executive officer, taking over the leadership of the powerhouse trade association that represents approximately 1,000 member firms in New Jersey’s construction and infrastructure sectors.
Rible succeeds Robert Briant, Jr., who retired at the end of 2025 after a storied 43-year career with the organization.
The transition marks a passing of the torch between two figures deeply embedded in New Jersey’s legislative and industrial history. Briant, Jr., who became CEO in 2006, followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert Briant, Sr. Together, the Briant family spent over half a century building the UTCA into the state’s most influential voice for transportation and water infrastructure funding.
“Filling Bobby Briant’s shoes will not be easy,” Rible said in a statement. “He leaves behind a remarkable legacy. But it is my honor to lead the association in this next phase… We stand ready, willing and able to build a better, stronger New Jersey.”
Rible is no stranger to the challenges facing New Jersey’s roads and rails. Before being named executive drector of the UTCA in 2019, he served for a decade in the New Jersey General Assembly (2008–2017). During his time in Trenton, Rible was a key Republican leader and the prime sponsor of the bipartisan legislation that reauthorized the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF)—the lifeblood of the state’s capital infrastructure projects.
His resume also includes serving as the director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and a career in law enforcement as a Wall Township police officer and detective.
Under Rible’s leadership, the UTCA is expected to double down on several critical fronts:
-
Infrastructure Investment: Pushing for enhanced funding for bridge and road modernization.
-
Water and Utilities: Advocating for the continued remediation of brownfields and the modernization of New Jersey’s aging water systems.
-
Workforce Wellness: Continuing Rible’s signature focus on mental health awareness within the heavy construction industry.
UTCA President Lisa Ballerini praised the transition, noting, “Dave’s steady hand is welcomed in guiding UTCA in the years ahead. It is critical that we see continued and enhanced investment in New Jersey’s infrastructure.”
Headquartered in Wall, the UTCA represents firms active in heavy, highway, utility and marine construction. The association is a frequent collaborator with the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ Transit, playing a central role in the financing and execution of the state’s most vital public works.
