Ghigau Construction breaks industry barriers in Park City

Jenn Lewis, owner and licensed contractor at Ghigau Construction. Photo: Take a Hike Photography // Lexie Larson

Jenn Lewis combines renovation expertise with community service

By: Christian Weber, Neighbors of Park City

Home is more than a place to rest our heads at night. It’s where we spend time with our loved ones, where we feel safe and comfortable, and where we can outwardly express our personality, style, and definition of design. We want our homes to be an extension of ourselves, which can sometimes mean renovating an otherwise outdated or poorly functional floor plan with the help of a great contractor. 

A “Beloved Woman” and a “War-Woman” are each translations by which Jenn Lewis, owner and licensed contractor at Ghigau Construction and her company’s namesake, can be defined. 

An African-American woman with Native-American ancestry, Jenn has been working in Park City Construction for more than 20 years. After years spent honing her trade, in 2014, Jenn made the leap into both licensure and entrepreneurship. Today, she operates Ghigau as one of the few, if not the only, women in the biz. 

“Ghigau” (pronounced heh-go) is a prestigious Cherokee title recognized for the impact and heroism shown by women in Native American communities on the battlefield and in life. To be bestowed the title of “Ghigau” is a great honor and responsibility, one Jenn has earned as an African-American woman in a predominantly male industry. 

“People would come to the job site looking for the guy in charge,” Jenn remembers. “Then I tell them, ‘Well, actually, I’m the woman in charge.’” Jenn says it doesn’t happen as often as it used to, although the same gender-normative stereotypes still exist today. She has proven herself an expert in her field,  a “Beloved War-Woman,” a modern Ghigau.

A “one-stop shop” for renovations, Ghigau Construction works from concept to design, from interior finishes and selections to the entire renovation process. Jenn shepherds this journey personally, carefully choosing her subcontractors and working with only the highest-quality professionals. 

Gone are the days of non-stop phone calls, limited visibility, and untrackable timelines. Jenn relies on her digital client portal to provide updates and photos to clients for insight and visibility throughout each project. “I do logs every day on my jobs. Whether they live or don’t live here, they still get a daily log; it doesn’t matter. Everyone has multiple pictures. Pictures of the finished flooring, pictures of guys working – anything and everything to help the owner understand what’s happening on their job site.”

But breaking down walls is only a small piece of the barriers Jenn seeks to demolish. A huge advocate for affordable housing, Jenn is President of the Board of Directors for the Park City Area Homeowners Association (PCAHBA), Chair-Leader of the Community Service Committee for the PCAHBA, Board Member for the Utah State HBA, Board Member of the Park City Board of Appeals and an active member of the Twilight Rotary Club. “We still need to be able to make it affordable for everyone to live here. The people that you are expecting to keep the lifts open and roads clear, these are all low-income people that are working for the city. There’s a way; we can figure out a way.” 

With decades of experience, Jenn has fought and won battles. She is committed to her craft, confident in her skills, and focused on impact for both clients and the community.