August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Best of Luck to Mattie Gagnon!

The Lean Construction Institute thanks Mattie Gagnon, our Manager of Education & Certification, for her dedication and contributions over the last year. At the end of this month, Mattie will be leaving LCI to pursue her master’s degree and her dream career as a Social Worker. We are excited for her next chapter and wish her the very best in her journey ahead!

If you have any inquiries regarding a current or future certification application, please email certification@leanconstruction.org.

Any additional inquiries about educational resources can be directed to Tammy McConaughy.

New for the 2025 LCI Congress—Innovation Spotlight!

We’re pioneering Lean progress at the 27th LCI conference for Lean design and construction, the 2025 LCI Congress, coming this fall to Arlington, Texas! Don’t miss the new Innovation Spotlight, a series of 45-minute Lean sessions attached to the Exhibit Hall that run alongside the concurrent sessions. The Innovation Spotlight was inspired by interest in more cutting-edge Lean technology features at Congress—and we’re confident these sessions deliver.

Build your Lean knowledge with this exciting new opportunity to learn from trusted industry experts. The impressive list of presenters includes Closeout Pro, LeanSteel (a Degenkolb Company), Field Verified, and Fieldwire by Hilti. They will discuss key Lean tools, leading services, and technological advancements that can help move your Lean journey to the next level.

Don’t miss what else is new and next at Congress! There are only two weeks left to save! Register today before prices go up on September 12.

Need to make the case for Congress to your leadership or team?
Check out our easy-to-use, customizable Make the Case for Congress resource!

Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this year’s Congress? Contact Ilene Goldberg by email or (703) 785-9087 for more information.

Questions about the Congress program? Contact Joan Piccariello for more information.

Featured Golf Tournament Sponsorship Opportunities

As a Golf Hole sponsor, you can network with everyone who comes through to play—and there are hole sponsorships that come with twosomes or foursomes for maximum value. You’ll have a table at your hole, a contest (like the Longest Drive or Closest to the Pin), and you can do a special giveaway. You can offer food and drinks too (note: food and drinks must be bought from the course). And for a fun digital perk, your logo will come up on the golf cart’s GPS as players approach your sponsored hole!

Remaining low-cost, high-value branded Golf Tournament sponsorships include the Taylormade Golf Kit, Golf Safety Kit, and more—and these include hole sponsorships! Since players use these popular items during the tournament and beyond, you’ll make an impact long after Congress.

For even more exposure on and off-site, your company’s name and logo will appear on the LCI website, in Congress emails, and in the LCI Weekly newsletter. In addition, your logo and a 75-word company description will be featured in the Congress App. You’ll also get access to the list of Congress attendees who opted into third-party communications at three key times: one month prior, two weeks prior, and within one week after Congress.

Explore Sponsorship Opportunities

Lock in your first choice of high-impact sponsorship and/or exhibitor packages today! Contact Ilene Goldberg by email or (703) 785-9087 for more information.

Meet a CoP Participant: Brad Nelson (Arizona)

Meet Brad Nelson, General Superintendent at Hensel Phelps and 2025-26 Leader of the Arizona Community of Practice.

With a decade of involvement in LCI’s CoP community, including nine years in the CoP Core Group, Brad brings a collaborative spirit and a people-first mindset to every conversation.

For Brad, Lean isn’t just a system; it’s a culture built on trust, respect, and continuous improvement. He leads with the belief that when you take care of your people, great results follow.

Why he joined his CoP:
“As I learned more about Lean and began implementing the Last Planner System® (LPS®) on my projects, I wanted to gain insight from other GCs and trade partners on how they were applying Lean in the field.”

Favorite CoP Event:
“Years ago, I attended LCI Congress in San Francisco and joined a Gemba Walk for a $2B hospital project. The team was using the Big Room concept with clustered design teams (Engineer, GC, Trade Partner), and I learned a lot from that about how to set up a collaborative team environment.”

How it’s helped his career:
“More than anything, it’s helped me build strong relationships with industry leaders. I’ve learned a lot through events – hearing what others have tried, what worked, and what didn’t. Sharing is such an important part of the Lean community, and LCI’s Communities of Practice play a large role in that.”

Biggest Lean challenge:
“Helping people understand that Lean is more than just the Last Planner System; it’s a mindset and a way of working. For me, Respect for People is the most important Lean tenet. Without that, LPS won’t be as effective, if effective at all.”

Biggest Lean success story:
“Back in 2013, I heard the idea of building bathrooms early to avoid making craft workers use 130-degree porta-johns, an act of the Lean tenet, Respect for People. We built out the 1st and 3rd-floor bathrooms right after placing the decks. We used permanent toilets with temporary sinks and stalls and stocked them with spare supplies for self-restocking. By the time we finished and removed the stalls, there wasn’t a single mark of graffiti. That was a testament to the culture of respect we created. The craft regularly told us this was the first job where they felt truly respected.”

Advice to newcomers:
“Get involved today! You’ll always learn something new, meet someone new, or walk away with a fresh idea. And if you really want to grow, ask to join the Core Group – it’s a great way to build your Lean knowledge and expand your network.”

What he’s most excited about:
“Arizona has a strong Lean foundation of owners, companies, and teams that want to learn more and get better. I see only continued growth ahead – and we’re always looking for more volunteers to join the Core Group!”

Favorite Lean Construction Institute events:
“I attend Congress every year. For me, it’s about reconnecting, getting re-energized, and picking up a few new ideas to bring back to my team. First-time attendees will leave with a full idea box. It’s definitely worth coming back year after year.”

Final thoughts:
“Lean is a journey, not a destination. Start small, and work your way toward incorporating as many Lean principles as possible. Not every project needs every Lean tool, but every project can benefit from a Lean mindset.”

Find Your Community

Member Connections: Share Your Lean Story!

LCI corporate members: share your Lean story to inspire others and help pull the design and construction community forward!

As members, there are four member-driven platforms that create space for individuals and teams to showcase their Lean journeys, highlight achievements, and help others learn from their experience. Whether you’re just getting started with Lean or have years of implementation under your belt, there are unique ways you can contribute:

  • “Five Questions With…” – Answer the top questions asked by Lean-curious professionals. This written series offers real-world insights into Lean adoption and helps demystify the journey for those just beginning.
  • Project Highlights – Showcase a specific project where Lean made a difference. Whether it’s reduced waste, improved safety, or on-time delivery, your story can inspire others across the AEC industry.
  • Company Recognition – Recently honored or featured for your Lean achievements? Let us know, and we’ll amplify your recognition across the LCI community. Also, be sure to add membership@leanconstruction.org to your company’s press release distribution list.
  • Lean in Action: A Member Retrospective – A virtual peer to peer learning session where you can highlight your success, share lessons learned and provide guidance on avoiding pitfalls.

Peer-to-peer learning is Lean in action. It engages every voice, sharpens problem-solving and communication, and turns shared experience into better flow and standard work. Teams retain more, build confidence, and improve faster—together.

LCI in the News

The Lean Construction Institute was recently featured in an article on Business Wire, discussing the major findings from the 2025 Dodge Construction Network Analytics Report.

Read more about what Business Wire had to say about the state of Lean implementation in the design and construction industry!

Read Now

2025 LCI Congress Exhibitors

2025 LCI Congress Sponsors

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

Lean Assessments

How strong is your Lean knowledge? Take a Lean assessment to determine your current state so you have a baseline for improvement. Lean assessments are available for individuals, teams, and organizations alike. Whether you’re new to Lean or are an experienced Lean practitioner, Lean assessments are a great way to get started at LCI!

TAKE ASSESSMENT
Get Lean Topics at Your Jobsite

You can enhance your job site with a Lean Construction Institute poster! These helpful visuals explain and guide your team through important Lean concepts. The posters are printer ready and can be scaled to your desired dimensions. Print downloads are available as a member benefit to LCI Corporate Members, otherwise are available for purchase.

Jobsite Posters

Upcoming CoP Events

16
Tue
Sep

Building a Healthier Workforce: A Data-Driven Approach to Employee Well-Being

San Diego Community of Practice
16
Tue
Sep

Building the Future: Leveraging AI in Construction

Colorado Community of Practice
16
Tue
Sep

GEMBA Walk - HCA Healthcare Hendersonville Medical Center Vertical Expansion

Nashville Community of Practice
17
Wed
Sep

Congress Preview Event

Mid-Atlantic Community of Practice
18
Thu
Sep

A Lean Coffee

Chicago Community of Practice

Upcoming National Events

19
Fri
Sep

LCI Owners Forum Lean Coffee September 2025

LCI National
23
Tue
Sep

Intro to Lean: Build Better with Lean

LCI National
25
Thu
Sep

From Sticky Notes to Smart Tech: The Future of Lean Planning

Webinar
26
Fri
Sep

Mental Health First Aid Training

LCI National
02
Thu
Oct

Lean in Action: Member to Member

LCI National
02
Thu
Oct

Lean in Action: Member to Member

LCI National
02
Thu
Oct

Lean in Action: Member to Member

LCI National
06
Mon
Oct

Resistance to Results: Making Tech Adoption Work on Site

Webinar
07
Tue
Oct

Overview of vPlanner V5

Webinar
09
Thu
Oct

NEW: LCI Respect for People: The Four Pillars in Practice

Webinar