\ The Lewis Group

Jun 15, 2021

Q&A: Rick Lewis

The Lewis Group, President & CEO

1. Did you always know you wanted to run the business?

I started in the family business in 1987. My father had always been involved in a variety of business ventures and I was fortunate to learn so much by working with him throughout my early career. I had been around business and running businesses my whole life. The Lewis Group is exciting to me because we maintain interests in a variety of business ventures.

2. What does it mean to carry on the legacy that your father started?

At The Lewis Group we talk a lot about culture and core values. I would argue there is nothing more important. But it is ironic how I never heard those words growing up. My father and many in his generation just did things the right way; they did not need to talk about it with buzz words. I love the fact that we embrace our core values and that our culture is the backbone of our organization.

I learned long ago to do the right thing and treat people the right way and usually good things happen. Treat your employees and your customers right, even if it costs you money and, in the end, it will work out. And if not, maybe that is not a business we should be in any longer. I have a practice of meeting with every new employee of our organization within the first few days of their joining… In a Covid world, that meant more virtual introductions than face-to face, but this is one of the most important responsibilities of my role as CEO. I truly enjoy sharing stories about my father and how he set us on a path for success and it is my responsibility to ensure our team members know what they should expect from the organization. We have an obligation to every employee to provide a rewarding and dynamic work environment.

3. What’s been the most surprising about the journey so far?

In terms of surprises, I guess you could say I am not surprised by anything in business. Lewis Environmental deals with emergent events or “surprises” each and every day. Explosions, pandemics, disasters and more, so in a sense, surprises are a part of everyday life.

In terms of our team, I am reassured every day that I need to set a path and trust my team. Our team surprises me every day with their commitment and dedication to our organization… for doing the right thing and for having tremendous vision to expand and diversify and to remain resilient through the most challenging times. Many organizations are facing unprecedented challenges in recent times between the pandemic, societal movements, labor shortages and economic uncertainty and I am in awe of how our team has responded.

4. How have you seen the company change in the time that since you have worked here?

A lot can happen over 25 years and I have seen our company and our industry adapt. I am most proud of our organization and how we have made a tremendous effort to put our people first. Our people are the product– without our team we have nothing but a yard filled with trucks and equipment. Bringing more employees into the conversation in terms of how we operate; from healthcare and 401k discussions to the type of trucks and boats we purchase. We make a conscious effort not to dictate but to collaborate. We are not perfect but we have learned to acknowledge when we can do better and then we make the necessary adjustments and move forward.

5. How is the industry different from 25 years ago?

Our primary business lines have us focusing in very different areas; environmental services and property management, however these industries share a common thread; the need for quality people.

Both industries have seen a movement toward consolidation, M&A and private equity investment. 25 years ago, these industries were dominated by private, family-owned enterprises. The industry icons, my father included, set the bar for future generations and while many have decided to sell and move away from service industries altogether, The Lewis Group is just getting started and we are excited for the future. Regardless of ownership or management structure, the focus must be on recruiting and developing future generations to lead the way. No service industry can operate successfully without a highly skilled workforce.

6. If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself 25 years ago?

“Enjoy the ride.” I have been so intensely focused on “getting there” that I have often missed the opportunity to celebrate our successes along the way. While I love the quote “Do not allow great ambitions to overshadow small successes”, I don’t often follow this advice. When we had 50 employees, it was about getting to 100, when we had 5 locations it was about getting to 10 and so on. As a lifelong entrepreneur I have always worried about what could go wrong and I have tried to remain one step ahead. But it is important to take time to celebrate with your family and with your team to enjoy the ride along the way!

7. What is one of your favorite things (or most rewarding) about working here and/or favorite projects you have worked on?

There have been many rewarding aspects to working here. First, I work alongside some of my family and friends and other team members who now feel like family. So, it is incredible to experience the highs and lows with the people you care most about. We have been very fortunate along the way to have worked on some very high profile projects such as the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and many disasters all over the country, but each of the nearly 30,000 projects have afforded us the opportunity to learn and grow. I have really enjoyed our diversification into the property management industry. I learn more every day and this is an exciting and complex business between horticulture, irrigation and climate. Never a dull moment. Our brownfields redevelopment division is rewarding because what we do has lasting impacts for generations to come. Our work makes a difference and I know we have had a hand in making things better for the next generation.

8. What’s next for the company?

The Lewis Group has exciting plans for the future. We will continue to diversify the core services as well as expand our footprint.

We try to stay a step or two ahead; looking at new and exciting markets where we can provide opportunity for our highly skilled and committed team and bring value to our customers. Whether that involves redeveloping a section of the Schuylkill River in the suburbs of Philadelphia, starting an arbor division in central Florida or expanding our maritime emergency response capabilities. It is exciting to know we are only limited by our imagination. As I constantly say to our team, exciting times are ahead. I look forward to watching our young leaders shine. It is time to give them their opportunity to take on more responsibility and use their skills and knowledge to continue to strengthen us for years to come. Regardless of what we do and where we go, we will continue to differentiate our organization through our commitment to our core values – that is the Lewis difference.

ABOUT THE LEWIS GROUP

Headquartered in Royersford, Pennsylvania, The Lewis Group is a multidisciplinary business-to-business company offering superior, one-stop solutions to commercial property owners, managers and contractors including sophisticated environmental solutions, property management services and development opportunities from specialized companies including Lewis Environmental, Lewis Property Services and Lewis Development. More information on The Lewis Group's capabilities can be found at www.DiscoverLEWIS.com.