Blue Ops Issue #2 | 2024 by lewisbuilds

As a superintendent at Lewis, my days are a whirlwind of responsibilities. Beyond project schedules and coordination, my role encompasses safety, risk management and leadership. But above all, safety remains paramount.

There are moments when we all feel buried—when the challenges seem insurmountable. Yet, it’s during these times that I remember the strength of our team. We’re not alone; we’re part of a skilled, experienced collective. The Lewis team’s wealth of knowledge is our lifeline.

Leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about listening. I’ve learned from everyone—from field workers and foremen to project engineers and managers. Our project coordinators play a vital role, too. They keep the gears turning behind the scenes.

Mentorship has shaped my journey. Without those who taught and advised me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s our duty to pay it forward. We can’t thrive unless we share our expertise. Our programs, like the Lewis Discovery learning and development courses, foster growth. But let’s not forget the day-to-day interactions and the time invested in building our team.

Recently-retired superintendent Jim Rose’s words echo in my mind about our company: “The best talent in the business.” Together, we navigate excellence— one project at a time.

Daniel Beell Superintendent

BLUE OPS

Superintendent’s Corner

At Lewis, safety is more than a department—Working Safe for Life relies on the commitment of every Lewis employee. Each quarter, Lewis will recognize Safeguardians for being safety leaders who go beyond keeping themselves and their peers safe.

SAFEGUARDIAN OF THE QUARTER

Austin Sage started with Lewis five years ago as an apprentice carpenter. He has quickly risen to foreman. At the Eugene City Hall project, Austin hit the ground running mid-project, becoming an asset to the team for his reliability and eye for safety. Austin takes ownership of jobsite safety and believes that if our trade partners fail, we have failed them. This attitude has driven him to be a leader from morning stretch and flex to communicating with each person throughout the day. Mindset is everything regarding safety and getting the job done correctly.

Congratulations, Austin Sage, on a safe job well done!

WORK GROUP & COMMITTEE BULLETIN

By Tony Stewart, President, Oregon Division

Portland Office Lease Renewal

We have signed a lease extension at the Culver Building, ensuring our presence in downtown Portland over the next 10 years. We occupy 15,500 square feet across three floors and will expand into the building’s remaining 2,000 square feet on the ground level to accommodate future growth.

Lewis has shaped the urban fabric here for decades, and we are committed to downtown. Portland faces significant challenges, but our company, employees and clients are actively involved in the turnaround efforts.

There’s a lot to look forward to. The first floor will provide a street presence, drawing people in with new street-level event space. The space will be large enough to host industry and community events, internal meetings and ongoing group training, such as CPR/First Aid. It’s a great way to connect with the community and increase our visibility in the market. We also plan to incorporate the talents of our craftspeople through as much self-performed work as possible on this project, and we are using majority MWESB trade partners for the remaining scope.

The renovation reflects who we are today, integrating our brand into the space. This expansion and renovation mark an exciting new chapter for us. We are building a better workspace, strengthening our commitment to the community and preparing for continued growth.

By Seth Bagley, Project Engineer

Celebrating Juneteenth: A Reflection on Family and Freedom

Last year, Project Engineer Seth Bagley gave a toolbox talk about his family’s connection to Juneteenth. The below writeup of his talk provides a great opportunity to learn about the history of the holiday and better understand the significance it holds for each of us.

The Bagley Family Legacy

My Aunt LaVerne Brown was born in 1929 in Portland, Oregon. Her parents moved to West Linn in 1939, acquiring farmland through an independent real estate agent in the era of redlining. In 1947, LaVerne broke barriers as the first Black woman to graduate from West Linn High School. She went on to earn a Master’s in Social Work and became a licensed social worker in California. Through my Aunt, now 95, I have gained insight into a past filled with obstacles and triumphs, making me proud of my heritage and the path paved for me.

Understanding Juneteenth

In our industry, Juneteenth’s history and importance are sometimes overlooked or misunderstood. I want to highlight this holiday to deepen our collective understanding and celebrate the enduring spirit of hope and resilience it represents.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the end of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865, that the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom. This day symbolizes the enduring spirit of hope and the ongoing fight for equality.

Imagine living in a time when not everyone was free and then hearing the life-changing news that freedom had come for all. This is the essence of Juneteenth—a celebration of freedom and fairness for everyone.

The Significance of Juneteenth

Juneteenth stands as a testament to hope, resilience and the continuing struggle for equality. It reminds us of our progress and the work that still lies ahead. Juneteenth is a time to reflect on how we can contribute to a fairer world through acts of kindness or standing up against injustice.

LaVerne Brown

By Jesica Bush, Safety Representative

Ironworker to Safety Rep

From packing rebar to packing a laptop, my journey from union ironworker to safety professional has become a bigger mission than I had imagined. No longer wrestling with heavy rebar, I’m now mastering Bluebeam, Excel and WAC codes.

Transitioning from the field to safety is like learning a new language— challenging but rewarding. In construction, safety isn’t just a priority; it’s crucial for a successful project that everyone goes home safely.

Working safe for life

Bridging this gap is like tying a bridge mat with side cutters – difficult but doable. I used to joke about safety officers being fresh college graduates in shiny hard hats. Now, I am proud to say I am that person, but instead of being fresh to the jobsite my history as an ironworker has equipped me with the ability to speak the language of construction and streamline the trustbuilding that every effective safety professional needs. Having invested years into my craft, I can approach safety issues from both the perspective of the field and the safety professional. This perspective is essential for generating understanding and corrective action collaboratively and respectfully, leading to a safer jobsite. While I haven’t mastered every regulation, I am excited about the work I am doing to unite the field and office.

Curious about a career in safety? Reach out to Jesica at Jesica.Bush@lewisbuilds.com to learn more about her career pivot. Our industry needs people with craft experience and a heart for the well-being of others to make our jobsites the gold standard of safety.

By Ben McLean, Communication Specialist

New Boots: Q&A with Some of Lewis’ Newest Journeymen

Mario Calderon (MC) is a journeyman laborer, and Garret Killam (GK) is a journeyman carpenter working on the NTT HI2 jobsite in Hillsboro, Oregon. Both Garret and Mario are just starting out in their construction careers and carry an important perspective of being the “new guy” on the jobsite.

What got you interested in construction as a career?

MC: I wanted to make a living doing work I enjoy with my hands. I was lucky to have family in the labor union who showed me the steps to take.

GK: I was working as an excavator operator and would see the guys on the jobsite working together, and it just looked like something I wanted to be a part of. I appreciated the teamwork and camaraderie I saw in construction.

What was it like showing up on your first real jobsite?

MC: I remember the feeling of fear from lack of experience. I didn’t even know how to put a safety harness on. I had to face the huge gap in experience level and accept that I would need help and instruction from others.

GK: My first day was a big concrete pour and I remember feeling lost and in the way. I felt like everyone assumed I knew what to do without there being any real communication.

What would have reduced some of the fear and discomfort in those early days?

MC: Something as simple as the foreman knowing my name would have made me more comfortable and gone a long way toward building trust early. I would have asked more questions if I felt like I had someone on the job who knew me and was invested in my success.

GK: I think having some real responsibilities with clear communication and a little encouragement when you are doing well would go a long way to improving those early days.

What advice do you have for those just stepping onto their first jobsite?

MC: Don’t be afraid to be honest about your abilities and comfort level while performing a task. You are a danger to everyone on the site if you take on more than you can handle.

GK: Focus on maintaining an unquestionable work ethic and ask questions. If you do that, everything else will fall into place over time.

Are you the “new guy/girl” on the jobsite? Looking for some advice on getting through this season? Contact Mario at calderon.mario75@yahoo.com or Garret at garret.killam@yahoo.com to hear more about their experience.

Left to right: Mario Calderon and Garret Killam

By Melissa Riler, Corporate Controller

Changes to Lewis Employee Numbers

Starting on August 19th of this year, your employee number will change. We are growing, and four-digit ID numbers will soon be inadequate.

Reasons for this Change:

• Consistent company-wide employee number formats

• Scalable numbering as the company grows

• Identifiable location and classification information

New Numbering Format:

• Numbers change from 4 digits to 6 digits, and letters will no longer appear before your number for Oregon union employees

• First digit indicates your Division: 1 = Washington, 2 = Oregon

• Next four digits are the current employee number

• Last digit will be 0 for current employees

Examples:

• Oregon employee C1907 becomes 219070 and employee 9284 becomes 298240

• Washington employee 5108 becomes 151080

Areas Affected:

• New number in Procore for time entry

• New login for Doculivery (last name + new employee ID)

We appreciate your patience with this change. Contact Payroll with any questions. Washington: Christine.Greene@lewisbuilds.com | 206-689-0471 Oregon: Nicole.Morro@lewisbuilds.com | 503-937-9157

By Cody Edeline, Yard Manager

Yard Update

Spring may have already sprung but the spring cleaning continues at the Portland yard. Every two to three years, the yard undergoes an extensive cleaning process where yard management takes company wide stock of what equipment and materials they have (Seattle and Portland) and assesses the value and utility of those items. An early step in this process is collaborating with Seattle yard management to determine if any items on the list are in demand for Washington. For example, the Portland yard recently sent a stockpile of Edgeguard panels to Seattle for healthcare construction. If an item does not meet the yard’s value criteria and is not needed in Seattle, the item is auctioned off, and the money is reinvested in new equipment or materials.

This is an exciting season for the yard, as it provides the opportunity to research cutting-edge equipment and explore new solutions. Some of these new ideas are coming straight from the minds of Lewis employees through events like last year’s Innovation Accelerator competition, where folks across Lewis presented their best ideas to the Innovation Committee to be considered for future investment. For example, Superintendent Matt Hockett presented his idea to use all-in-one prebuilt field office trailers that can be easily customized to the needs of the specific jobsite and would allow Lewis to have a fully functional modern office onsite in hours instead of days.

The Portland yard is working hard to offload the old and bring in the new. We are excited to see what employee ideas become a reality as we double down on our commitment to our “plus 1” mentality and continuous improvement and innovation.

Yard update

Old equipment headed to auction

New equipment being looked at for purchase

By Ben McLean, Communication Specialist

Summer Fishing with Lewis

Lewis is serious about our hobbies, but fishing seems to hold a special place for builders. The peace and meditative practice it offers is nicely contrasted with the energy of an active jobsite. With summer here, where is your favorite fishing hole, and what do you most appreciate about the age-old pastime?