WORK GROUP & COMMITTEE BULLETIN

Information Technology

By Brenda Cooper, Director of Information Technology and Christine Zinkgraf, Senior Project Executive

Lewis Celebrates Innovation!

We are an innovative construction company with a rich history of testing new tools and integrating the useful items into our toolkit. This year, for the first time, Lewis is sponsoring an Innovation Accelerator project (think “Shark Tank”).

The Lewis Universe is excited to see all your innovative ideas, and the Innovation Committee will support you and/or your team in the presentation of these ideas. Finalists will receive a $1,000 prize; semi-finalists will receive a $500 prize, and all participants will get custom swag. All viable ideas will be vetted and supported by the innovation committee.

Lewis seeks to empower our people to improve our communities, turning passion for our craft into buildings that matter. No idea is too small or too outlandish if it makes a component of our business more productive, efficient, or impactful. The ideas that surface through the Innovation Accelerator will help us to maintain our reputation as a forward-thinking builder.

Innovations can be new to the industry or just to Lewis, and they do not need to focus on technology or building. An improvement in accounting or safety is just as valuable as an improvement in our self-perform processes.

How Do I Sign Up?

To submit an innovative idea, use this QR code. The application window will be open until Friday, September 1st.

When and Where is the Event?

There will be one opportunity to present ideas in Seattle and one in Portland; both are scheduled for mid-October. We encourage you to participate and motivate the innovators around you to participate so your talents can be showcased and recognized!

By Teagan Wood, Marketing Specialist

Why is Celebrating Pride Important at Lewis?

At Lewis, we believe in empowering our people to improve our communities. When we say this, we can often mean building buildings that matter, but another way that I interpret this is: Lewis empowers our people to hold a spotlight on the communities and topics that make us who we are and say, ‘this matters to us too’.

As a Queer professional in an industry that is sometimes difficult to find representation in, I’ve found myself taking inspiration from the idea of being a builder, socially and professionally. Building anything takes time along with thousands of people and thousands more small components. Every screw used moves a project closer to its final product. Building a future that I want to see in this industry is no different. While I am sometimes the only person with my identity in the spaces I occupy, to occupy this space at all is a similarly small but essential component in constructing the future I envision; a future where LGBTQ+ professionals occupy more spaces in construction, architecture and engineering to support each other and shape the industry.

Though the construction industry is just beginning to make steps towards visibility and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals—and still has a very long way to go—one crucial aspect of this progress is the celebration of Pride. In June, we can take time to both celebrate and educate on the topics and challenges facing LGBTQ+ people within and beyond our industry. Leading up to Pride month, I took a moment to ask our people at Lewis why celebrating Pride as a company matters for them... To read the rest of this article on our blog, scan the QR code above.

Community outreach

By Ben McLean, Communication Specialist

Ride with Lewis

Calling all riders, runners and walkers! Lewis has again joined Fred Hutch’s Obliteride summer bike ride and 5K to raise funds for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Cancer touches all of us - half of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. will get cancer in their lifetime. These figures are shocking, but we believe we can be part of a change. Every dollar raised through this event will advance cancer prevention, detection, treatment and cures.

Saturday, August 12, is the day of the bike rides and 5K walk/run in Seattle. Show up early, head to the starting line, and feel the thrill as you complete your 25-, 50-, or 100-mile bike ride or 5K walk/run with your fellow participants. Virtual participation options exist for those who can’t make the trip in-person.

Lewis invites you to check out our team page (see QR code to the left) to join our team and/or donate to our fundraising goal. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Melinda Roll at Melinda.Roll@lewisbuilds.com

By Ben McLean, Communication Specialist

Continued Education Through Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute

Prioritizing your continued education is one of the most effective ways to grow your opportunities in the industry. It sends a signal that you take your work and personal development seriously.

“We are always looking for talent and commitment to the craft, and we go out of our way to engage and retain those who invest in themselves and do the extra work to become the best at what they do.” – Josh Aguilar, Superintendent School is out for the summer, but these long days might be the perfect setting for evening coursework. The Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute (PNCI) offers summer courses, including in-person classes you attend with colleagues or online from the comfort of your own home.

Unsure where to start or what classes to take? Are you excited about upcoming projects? Do you want to specialize in a type of construction? The Cleanroom Ceiling Systems course is a great way to learn more about a scope prevalent in Data Center construction, for example.

“Best Practices in Healthcare was not mandatory for my apprenticeship, but I took the course because my next job was at a hospital. I wanted to be prepared for this new space and the unique challenges of healthcare construction.” – Elisha Jones, Foreman

An easy first step is to look through the summer course catalog using the QR code above. See if any available courses interest you. If you have any questions about PNCI and how to utilize this resource, please connect with your Lewis Superintendent or Foreman. They understand the value of continued education and know the impact it has on the quality of work. For those outside of SW Washington and Oregon, visit www.nwci.org to get connected to education opportunities through the Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington.

By Teagan Wood, Marketing Specialist and Elizabeth Naai, Copywriter

Van

Lehto:

STEM4 Apprentice

A sense of family is a strong motivator in Van Lehto’s personal and professional life. Already well-versed in the industry, becoming a Carpenter Apprentice was an act of conviction for him. Since 2022, Van has been expanding his knowledge and skillset as an apprentice at the STEM4 project in Bothell.

The jobsite is an endless learning curve; however, Van is eager to soak up every little detail along this journey. He leapt at the opportunity to try his hand at commercial projects. While the commercial aspect pulls him out of his comfort zone, he’s always been a fan of solving puzzles. In fact, it’s tempting to say that the exceptionally challenging moments during a project are what keep him coming back.

Van’s greatest sense of accomplishment on the job has been his contribution to—and the completion of— the final core at STEM4.

This apprenticeship is a night and day experience. During past work, Van often felt that he was just another body or number at the jobsite. In this current role, he feels valued and respected by his colleagues. Completing a challenging project makes him to beam with pride, and that pride is multiplied by the camaraderie he experiences at Lewis.

For Van, it was critical that he feel grounded in his professional life after years as a non-union laborer and carpenter helper. Coming home to play with his children is the highlight of his day, but working alongside the journeymen and foremen at Lewis is a close second. Van knew he’d found a home away from home when he joined his colleagues for the STEM4 topping out party.

“When I’m at home, I belong with my kids. And when I’m at work, I feel like I belong with everyone [at Lewis].” Van has certainly found a place to root.

By Allie Mahan, Creative Specialist

Sun’s Out, (BBQ) Buns Out!

Living in the PNW usually means long winters and cloudy days, so it comes as no surprise that as temperatures climb and the sun emerges from a long hibernation, grilling season is on. Grilling is in Lewis’ DNA. We often mark topping out milestones, subcontractor appreciation events and office employee gatherings with a BBQ. In hopes of inspiring your next BBQ – whether at home with friends and family or out on the jobsite this summer – several Lewis employees have shared their top tips and strategies for big crew cooking.

What’s your best advice for grilling for large groups of people?

Vince Kennedy: Make sure to pull the meat off the grill early - it will continue to cook in the warming trays.

Tina Sealey: Only use grills outside, unless you are using an approved indoor smokeless grill and keep your grill clean. Greases can build up and can cause a fire, so be sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Nate Buddress: Don’t try to time things perfectly. Finish the cook earlier than needed and keep the meat warm in a cooler. It will stay hot for a long time.

Matt Hockett: Keep it low maintenance. Wings and brats are always a good choice.

Daryl Shepard: Get a Blackstone. Very versatile and has a ton of room to cook for multiple people.

What’s your (not so) secret ingredient/grilling hack?

Nate Buddress: Unwaxed butcher paper is a great thing to have to wrap meats in during long cooks. It helps to push through the dreaded “stall” and keeps in moisture without steaming the meat.

Matt Hockett: Add a little root beer to your favorite BBQ Sauce.

Mike Reynolds: Marinating and brining are sure ways to add flavor, moisture, and tenderize whatever you’re grilling.

Tanner Perrine: I recommend buying a set of bearclaws to prepare pulled pork. They really save your arms and TIME when cooking large batches.

Daryl Shepard: If you’re grilling chicken, mix some baking powder with your seasoning and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. You’ll get a good crispy skin on the outside to lock in all the flavor.