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

The LCI Chicago Student Community of Practice is the mainstay for student organizations at Northwestern University, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois State University, Bradley University, and Purdue University (in partnership with the LCI Central Indiana CoP) interested in the implementation and advancement of Lean in the greater Chicagoland area. The LCI Chicago CoP is focused on providing our Student Community of Practice with valuable learning, event, and networking opportunities to introduce students to Lean design and construction principles and to prepare students to become leaders in the industry.

Scholarship Opportunities

2024 Bob Krier and Tim Vander Molen Scholarship: This year, our Chicago CoP is excited to announce that we will be awarding several scholarships for higher education Design & Construction discipline students enrolled full-time in trade school, community college or university degree programs in Illinois or Indiana. Learn more about scholarship criteria and download the application HERE. Don't delay! The last day to submit your application is October 31st.

Student CoP Partners

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Leader Contact: Antoine Menassa
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Leader Contact: Edwin Fernandez
Illinois Institute of Technology
Leader Contact: Steve Nargang
Illinois Institute of Technology
Leader Contact: Hannah Lux
Illinois State University
Leader Contact: Jason Love
Northwestern University
Leader Contact: Ratna Kunwar
Bradley University
Leader Contact: Ryan Woosley
Purdue University (in partnership with Central Indiana CoP)
Leader Contact: Alex Vermillion

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.

  • 1/23 - Lean Coffee - Skender

  • 2/25 - Intro to Gemba - GSI

  • 2/26 - Lean Coffee - Pepper, Chicago

  • 3/20 - Lean Coffee - Hill

  • 4/24 - Lean Coffee - Virtual

  • April (TBD) - Bob Krier Award Night

  • 5/22 - Lean Coffee - Turner

  • 6/25 - Lean Beer - Valen

  • 6/26 - Lean Golf Outing - White Eagle Golf Club, Naperville

  • 7/23 - Lean Lunch for Designers - Cannon

  • 8/21 - Lean Beer - Pepper, Chicago

  • 9/25 - Lean Coffee for Owners - Advocate

  • 10/30 - Lean Coffee - IFS

  • 11/20 - Lean Beer - HOK

Core Members

Chicago CoP - 2025
  • 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.

Annual Sponsors

The Chicago CoP would like to thank our 2023 sustaining sponsors whose contribution help fund local events and workshops to promote awareness and adoption of Lean. If you are interested in sponsoring the LCI Chicago CoP, learn more about our sponsorship program HERE!

Chicago’s CoP Sustaining Sponsors (2024)

field crew huddle youtube channel cover image
Field Crew Huddle

Explore the Field Crew Huddle website to see how community of practice members are contributing to a platform for sharing methods, improvements and lessons learned on project sites or shops. Want to be featured? Now accepting submissions.

Learn More

Upcoming Local Events

26
Wed
Feb

A Lean Coffee

Chicago Community of Practice
20
Thu
Mar

IN-PERSON Lean Coffee

Chicago Community of Practice

Upcoming National Events

27
Thu
Feb

NEW: LCI Blueprint for Efficiency: Exploring the 8 Wastes

Webinar
28
Fri
Feb

Lean Practitioners Lean Coffee

LCI National
06
Thu
Mar

NEW: Aligning Project Success with Conditions of Satisfaction

Webinar
17
Mon
Mar

LCI Integrating Gemba Walks for Continuous Improvement

Webinar
04
Fri
Apr

LCI Owners Forum Lean Coffee

LCI National
04
Fri
Apr

Lean in the Design Phase

Webinar
18
Fri
Apr

Introduction to the Last Planner System® in Design

Webinar
24
Thu
Apr

LCI Introduction to Lean Project Delivery

Webinar
08
Thu
May

LCI Principles of Target Value Delivery (TVD)

Webinar
05
Fri
Sep

Introduction to the Last Planner System®

Webinar