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Highlights
Student CoP
Core Members
Sponsors
Save the Date
Events

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. This year’s event date will be announced soon. Once registration is open you will be able to view the details and register from the link in the “Upcoming Local Events” section below.

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!

This years event date is still being finalized – stay tuned for more information!

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

2025 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. Recipients will be announced in the coming weeks!

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

Save the Date!

Stay tuned for these (and more!) exciting events being planned for 2026! 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.

1/29 - Lean Coffee - Hill
2/26 - Lean Coffee
3/19 - Lean Beer
4/22 - Lean Coffee
5/28 - Lean Coffee
6/25 - Lean Coffee
June (TBD) - Annual Lean Golf Outing
7/22 - Lean Coffee/Beer (TBD)
8/27 - Lean Beer
9/23 - Lean Coffee
10/29 - Lean Coffee
11/19 - Lean Beer
December (TBD) - Year-End Appreciation Event

Core Members

2026

Leader - Ratna Kunwar, Power Construction
Vice Leader - Ryan Woosley, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Finance / Sponsorship Co-Leader - Ken Bauwens, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Events Leader - Impact Events - Christin Araullo, Vader National Group
Events Vice Leader - Impact Events - Chase Horejs, FH Paschen
Lean Learning Events - Leader - Emerson Dority, Turner Construction Company
Lean Coffee Events - Leader - Brian Garcea, RG Construction
Golf Outing Event - Leader - Sean Hill, GSI
Bob Krier Event - Co-Leader - Ratna Kunwar, Power Construction
Bob Krier Event - Co-Leader - Anthony Camasta, Hill Group
Academics Leader - Claire Rosenstine, The Boldt Company
Leader Emeritus - Anthony Camasta, Hill Group

Annual Sponsors

The Chicago CoP would like to thank our 2026 new and recommitted sustaining sponsors whose contribution help fund local events and workshops to promote awareness and adoption of Lean.

2026 Chicago’s CoP Sustaining Sponsors

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

Chicago Community of Practice

LCI National