Chicago
LCI Community of Practice
Chicago, IL
Welcome to the LCI Chicago Community of Practice (CoP) website! The LCI Chicago CoP hopes to continue to act as the premier forum where area Lean thought leaders, practitioners and enthusiasts openly share experiences, best practices and lessons learned; thus transforming the design and construction projects that are delivered throughout Chicago and the Midwest. LCI Chicago CoP core members strive to be the force that leads the design and construction industry to a new paradigm of high-performance collaboration. If you are looking for a more active role in the Chicago CoP, have questions or suggestions, please contact us!
CoP Highlights

Bob Krier Award Night
Each year, the Chicago CoP recognizes an Individual, a Company or a Project Team that has moved the design and construction industry forward by advancing Lean as an Operating System at our annual Bob Krier Award Night. The award is based on implementation of Lean design, construction tools and techniques, innovation in implementing Lean tools and its impact on the community. Watch your inbox for the details of this incredible event being planned for April, 2025.

Lean Construction Golf Outing
The LCI Chicago CoP Lean Construction Golf Outing to benefit the Bob Krier and Timothy Vander Molen Scholarship takes place annually. Foursomes include representatives from each of the four disciplines: Owner, Architect/Engineer, General Contractor, and Trade Partner. A special set of Lean Rules and Awards made this golf outing truly unique!
Check back for details about the 2025 event or sign up for our CoP email communications in your MyLCI account to receive the latest updates.

LCI Chicago Student CoP

Scholarship Opportunities
Student CoP Partners
Scholarship Award Announcement
The Chicago CoP is pleased to announce the recipients of the Chicago CoP 2023 Bob Krier & Tim Vander Molen Scholarships. Congratulations!
Kate Benhart – Purdue University

Kate is majoring in Construction Management Technology while minoring in Human Resources Management. She is active with several organizations on campus and holds various leadership positions. Kate is a recipient of the 2023 Bob Krier Scholarship.
Filip Kopec – Northern Illinois University

Filip will graduate in Spring 2024 after earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has a strong passion for efficiency and excellence and plans to utilize those characteristics to help grow the construction industry. Filip is a recipient of the 2023 Bob Krier Scholarship.
German Laiton – Illinois Institute of Technology

German is majoring in Civil Engineering while minoring in Construction Management. He is mogivated by the idea of continuous improvement and looks forward to implementing principles related to Lean in the Field. German is a recipient of the 2023 Tim Vander Molen Scholarship.
Akheel Abbas Sharifali – Illinois Institute of Technology

Akheel is a recent graduate of IIT where he studied Construction Engineering and Management. He looks forward to his continued engagement with Lean Construction Institute throughout his academic and professional endeavors. Akheel is a recipient of the 2023 Bob Krier Scholarship.
Kayla Shen – Northwestern University

Kayla will graduate in Spring 2024 with a degree in Environmental Engineering. She plans to incorporate the key concepts of Lean Design into her passion for sustainability in the built environment. Kayla is a recipient of the 2023 Bob Krier Scholarship.
Save the Date!
Stay tuned for these (and more!) exciting events being planned for 2025! Event invitations will be sent approximately four weeks ahead of the event. Once they are on the calendar you can view them on the Upcoming Local Events section below.
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1/23 - Lean Coffee - Skender
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2/25 - Intro to Gemba - GSI
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2/26 - Lean Coffee - Pepper, Chicago
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3/20 - Lean Coffee - Hill
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4/24 - Lean Coffee - Virtual
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April (TBD) - Bob Krier Award Night
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5/22 - Lean Coffee - Turner
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6/25 - Lean Beer - Valen
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6/26 - Lean Golf Outing - White Eagle Golf Club, Naperville
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7/23 - Lean Lunch for Designers - Cannon
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8/21 - Lean Beer - Pepper, Chicago
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9/25 - Lean Coffee for Owners - Advocate
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10/30 - Lean Coffee - IFS
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11/20 - Lean Beer - HOK

Core Members
- Leader - Anthony Camasta, The Hill Group
- Vice Leader - Ratna Kunwar, Gilbane
- Finance / Sponsorship Co-Leader - Ken Bauwens, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Events Leader - Impact Events - Christin Araullo, Vader National Group
- Lean Learning - Co-Leader - Emerson Dority, Turner Construction Company
- Lean Learning - Co-Leader - Brian Garcea, RG Construction
- Golf Outing Event Leader - Sean Hill, GSI
- Academics Leader - Ryan Woosley, Jamerson & Bauwens Electricrical Contractors, Inc.
- Academics Vice Leader - Brianne Feeney, The Hill Group
- Leader Emeritus - John Zachara, Integrated Facilities Solutions, Inc.