Jeff Cleator
LEASE CRUTCHER LEWIS NAMES NEW PRESIDENT OF WASHINGTON OPERATION
For Immediate Release
Date: April 21, 2016
Contact: Carey Smith, Lease Crutcher Lewis, 206-622-0500
Seattle – Lease Crutcher Lewis (Lewis) has promoted Jeff Cleator from vice president of commercial operations to president of the Washington operation. Gary Smith, who has been president since 2012, is assuming an executive role focusing on major pursuits and project execution. He will also have more time for his role as mentor to the next generation of company leaders.
“I am excited about this new role” said Cleator. “I see it as an opportunity to extend leadership deeper into the organization so we can better serve our clients and sustain our growth.”
Jeff Cleator started with Lease Crutcher Lewis as an intern, hired by Chairman Bill Lewis. Since that time, Jeff has been deeply involved in construction sales and operations holding positions of project engineer, project manager, senior project manager, Commercial Division Manager and Vice President. Jeff is a graduate of the College of Built Environments and the Executive Management Program at the University of Washington. Jeff is a member of the Lean Construction Institute and founded the company’s continuous improvement initiative called “Lewis Lean.”
“A key to our success throughout the years has been the depth of our talented people and our ability to provide opportunities for them,” said Bart Ricketts, CEO. “A big part of this critical process is developing thoughtful succession plans throughout our organization. Jeff’s 28 year career and continual advancement is evidence of this.” The Lewis management team continuously seeks out and mentors talented people, keeping new leaders in the pipeline.
Prior to his role as president of the Washington operation Smith served as General Manager and in multiple principal roles for over ten years. He will continue to be a key connector in the community and across the industry with his involvement in the AGC, Seattle Aquarium, SeaTac Coalition and NWCCC.
Lewis is enjoying steady growth in both their Washington and Oregon operations. Recent projects completing or under construction include: Nine Two Nine office tower in Bellevue, Luma Condominiums, Meridian Center for Health, First Hill Medical Pavilion, Troy Block, Third & Battery, and the University Village Gateway Building in the Seattle area. In Oregon, Lewis is busy with LO Block 137 Mixed-use Complex, Stoel Rives Offices at Park Ave. West and the SAIF Office Headquarters.
————————————————————————————————————————————-Lease Crutcher Lewis (Lewis) has been a leading Northwest general contractor since 1886, and has been based in Seattle since 1939. The firm is active in numerous project types, including biotech, healthcare, office, education, mixed-use/multifamily, hospitality, historic renovation, and others. Common threads for its work include an integrated approach to working with customers and design partners, a focus on optimal use of technologies such as BIM, and performing a large percentage of its work with its own craftspeople.
###