Our Team
Connecting with people, serving our community and making homes better through craft, integrity and social responsibility.
CHRIS SWASEY PARTNER
Chris grew up in Chittenden County and started his career in the trades here working alongside his mother, a fellow carpenter. He has a great depth of experience in frame-to-finish renovations, new construction, fine woodworking, and building science. Chris is also a Passive House Certified Builder and is passionate about applying high-performance and green building principles pragmatically to improve a home’s comfort, efficiency, and overall environmental impact. He is what our team kindly refers to as a 'geek,' and he is energized by digging into technical details, learning about new materials and technology in the trades, and finding creative solutions to building challenges. Chris loves getting to know new clients and building a partnership around their vision for their home.
Chris enjoys playing his guitar and singing along with the radio too loud. A Vermonter through and through, Chris values quality and longevity and can often be found repairing things in his garage. His favorite destination is Cape Cod and he’s visited China twice. His guilty pleasure is overindulging in coffee and pastries.
NATALIE BECKWITH PARTNER
Natalie is all about passionate, people-focused business. Providing a great place to work for employees and a great service for our community are what keep Natalie inspired. As does wearing many hats! At Lewis Creek, she oversees production management, finance, human resources, marketing, and general business operations. Natalie is passionate about homes and all the ways our team can help people make the most of theirs, whether by maintaining, making practical improvements, or completely transforming them! Natalie is energized by any opportunity to connect people with Lewis Creek’s proven Design-Build approach and top-rate team.
Natalie enjoys cooking, gardening, feeding her chickens (ask her what their names are, she loves talking about her chickens), and other homesteading activities. She loves to travel and her favorite destination is the ocean, more specifically the beaches of Big Sur, Cape Cod, and the Cinque Terra. Natalie’s guilty pleasures are popcorn and binge-watching The Office again.
EMILY MORSE DESIGNER
Emily comes from a long line of builders and tradespeople. She has a degree in architecture and even spent some time as an apprentice carpenter before focusing on the project management/big picture side of things. Emily is compelled in her work by a natural fascination with the build environment and passion for the relationships we build with our clients.
Emily spends her free time ski patrolling and petting her dog, Murray. People are often surprised to discover that Emily can name all of the countries in the world from memory. Emily’s favorite destination is Queenstown, New Zealand. Her guilty pleasure is watching Survivor and she hopes to one day be on the show.
SARYN CAMPBELL PROJECT MANAGER
Saryn was born and raised in Vermont. She ventured out of state for college at Clarkson University, but then returned to Vermont and all the great things our state has to offer. Saryn has over a decade of project management in the construction industry. She is inspired by seeing our client’s ideas take shape in the design phase and then come to life. She is a natural problem-solver and finds fulfillment in doing whatever it takes to get things done. Saryn’s strengths include organization, time management, and precision. When she is in the field, she likes to measure twice and cut twice ;)
Saryn enjoys skiing, biking, and crafting. Her favorite destination is at home with her sweet dog, Riley. Saryn’s guilty pleasure is binge-watching “Friends.” People are surprised to find out that she can juggle!
MEL HURLBUT PROJECT MANAGER
Mel was born and raised in Farnham, England where she was scouted for a full ride field hockey scholarship to UMass, Amherst. She spent a season ski instructing in Breckenridge CO, where she met her husband who is from Saint Albans. Mel excels at what she does through providing clear and transparent communication, and always being detail oriented and well organized. She is thrilled to work alongside clients through each stage of their design and build process, and she is inspired to be a part of the Lewis Creek team, all of whom are committed to do their best work for their clients.
Outside from work, Mel spends her time playing field hockey in an adult league and coaching Varsity at MVU (Missisquoi Valley Union) High School. She also loves to ski and snowboard as well as get out boating on Lake Champlain. Her favorite destination is anywhere hot with a freshwater lake or exploring a new ski mountain. She loves to adventure to a new place and she rarely goes back to the same place twice. People are often surprised to find out that she rides a motorcycle and converted a storage building into her first home. Her guilty pleasure is dark chocolate covered dried mango or raisins.
TINA MANEEN
OFFICE MANAGER, MARKETING COORDINATOR
Tina's experience working in the communications industry, primarily for newspapers and magazines. Her passion for design in the communication world translated easily to the design-build world; we too are given an idea (could be a napkin drawing), raw materials and a deadline. At Lewis Creek, Tina specializes in web content and management, graphic design, data entry, and business administration. Tina’s strengths include her attention to detail and ability to quickly learn whatever skills necessary to get the job done.
Tina enjoys attending the many different sports her three kids participate in. Her favorite destination is New York for an annual family gathering. Her guilty pleasure is chocolate of any kind and also mowing her lawn (sooo satisfying).
JACKIE ESPERTI PROJECT ADVISOR
Jackie grew up in Saratoga NY and was a Rower at Holy Cross in Massachusetts. She moved to Vermont after graduating college because of her love of all the outdoor activities it had to offer, especially the lake. She enjoys completing her own small projects and renovating her first home! Jackie prides herself on her relationships with her team and clients. She is driven by the energy and excitement of clients -- planning projects and, of course, celebrating completed projects.
Jackie enjoys running, rowing, boating, her dog, Rigger, and anything outdoors. Her favorite destination is her family's camp in the Adirondacks. People are surprised to learn that Jackie has been involved with water skiing as a team sport since she was 7 and was once on The Early Show for it! Her guilty pleasure is popcorn, no butter, extra salt (she has a popcorn machine in her renovated basement).
KATHERINE NOPPER BOOKKEEPING AND
HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Katherine grew up in southern Vermont, on the Connecticut River where her parents were sheep farmers. She has undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Spanish and holds a master’s degree in Liberal Studies. She was able to combine her love for the arts, literature and theory with a burgeoning interest in understanding residential design and the built environment while researching her master’s project. Katherine believes the way our environments are designed impact who we are, our local histories, and whether we are able to lead fulfilling lives. Her driving force is people; seeing how teamwork can build something from nothing, witnessing the pride people show for their work, as well as sharing in positive feedback and professional growth.
Katherine spends her free time organizing furniture, beautifying spaces, reading novels, birdwatching, watching British/foreign spy and crime drama, and going to auctions. Her favorite destination is Home (southern Vermont) and she would love to visit Australia again. Her guilty pleasures are reading Harry Bosch detective novels, eating chewy candy or fruit snacks. A fun fact about Katherine: she cuts her own hair.
We are currently hiring!
CHRIS LOWNEY LEAD CARPENTER
Chris has been in the trades since his teens. After high school he spent a few years as a tree climber, building obstacle courses and hanging zip lines. Chris attended The Vermont Woodworking School where he received an Associates Degree in Fine Furniture Construction and Design. Chris has eye for fine detail and loves watching the transformation as a project progresses.
Chris is an adrenaline junkie and enjoys downhill skiing and other outdoor recreation.
EDWARD MAJOR CARPENTER
Ed comes to Vermont from the Boston area, where he spent 10 years as a steeplejack (a craftsman who climbs tall structures such as chimneys and steeples in order to carry out repairs) restoring historic buildings. He specializes in remodeling and has a deep well of experience in all phases of carpentry. Ed is passionate about quality, service, and craftsmanship.
When Ed is not at a job site, you can find him hunting, fishing, using his metal detector, hiking, and climbing. His favorite destination is the beach. If you know Ed, you know that his driving force is providing the best life he can for his amazing daughter.
JOSH SWASEY JOURNEY CARPENTER
Josh was born in Richmond and grew up in Burlington. He lived in Australia and in Austin, Texas for a time before ultimately returning to Vermont. Josh was drawn to carpentry by the desire to work with his hands and the opportunity to be creative. He is compelled in his work by seeing a space transformed into something new and unique.
Josh enjoys music and spending time with his wife and son. He’s also an avid home brewer of beer and other fermented treats. His favorite destination is his bed.
PETER PALADY CARPENTER
Peter grew up in Vergennes where he started his journey to becoming a polished craftsman with a rich portfolio of work. He has been in the trades for a little over 30 years and specializes in fine finish carpentry. Peter’s passion for the work stems from the satisfaction of knowing he’s done something amazing for our clients and seeing their smiling faces at the end of the project.
In his free time, Peter enjoys building model railroads. People are often surprised to find out that for 6 years, he ran the Enduro200 at Thunder Road in Barre. Peter’s guilty pleasure is enjoying a big, fat, juicy steak
“with all the fixin’s”.
MIKE DAW LEAD CARPENTER
Mike is a recent transplant to Vermont from New York. He is a skilled carpenter specializing in frame to finish renovation. Mike stands out for his attention to detail throughout a project and his passion to do the job right. Mike values quality, efficiency, and beauty and he works hard to serve clients the perfect balance of all three.
Mike enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his wife and two dogs. His favorite destination is Yosemite National Park. Mike’s guilty pleasure is indulging in sugary, sour candy, especially when he’s looking for a pick-me-up on a tough day.
ROB BLOUNT CARPENTER
Rob was a farmer for many years before discovering his passion for building. He has been in the construction industry for 18+ years. Rob enjoys the temporal aspect of construction, working hands-on a project from start to finish and then moving on to the next challenge. Rob’s strengths include his ability to look at a project holistically, anticipate challenges, see what needs to be done, and take action. He is a skilled carpenter and problem solver, and a careful custodian of clients’ vision for their homes.
Rob enjoys cooking and reading non-fiction. People are often surprised to discover that he has degrees in both Business and Mathematics, but just loves working with his hands. Rob’s favorite destination is New Orleans. His guilty pleasure is the generous use of real butter.
SAM SHARFF LEAD CARPENTER
Sam was raised in Arlington, Massachusetts where he started building at a young age (mostly forts and Legos). He lived in Burlington for a time before moving back to Boston where he cut his teeth as a carpenter. Sam specializes in trim work and interior renovations. He is passionate about creating a beautiful finished project and demonstrates immense care in his work.
Sam enjoys skiing, ultimate frisbee, and woodworking projects. People are surprised to find out that he waited tables at an Indian restaurant in college. Sam’s favorite destination is Squam Lake, New Hampshire. His guilty pleasure is chocolate, which seems to be a vice shared by most of the Lewis Creek team.
JUNIOR BINNS CARPENTER’S HELPER
Junior was born in Jamaica and moved to the States at age 12. He lived in Florida for years before eventually finding his way north to the Green Mountain State. Junior says part of what he loves most about Vermont is that the mountains remind him of Jamaica. Junior is compelled in his work by the creative transformation of a space from demolition to the beautiful end result. He views homes as works of art and appreciates all of the details that bring a project together.
In his free time, Junior enjoys biking, hiking, swimming, and reading mystery novels. He loves to travel and his favorite destination is Europe, specifically the Greek Islands and Italy. People are often surprised to find out that Junior can switch quickly in and out of Jamaican dialect.
ANDY HILLS CARPENTER
Andy is a Vermonter, born and raised. He brings more than a decade of experience in the trades, with deep and varied expertise, including work as a previously Certified Chimney Sweep. Andy enjoys many aspects of carpentry, but he finds siding and timber framing to be especially rewarding. His goal is having happy clients at the end of a project and he loves knowing that he’s built it just as they dreamt it.
In his free time, Andy enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors. His hobbies include paddling, fishing, hiking, and snowboarding.
BEN OGDEN CARPENTER
A native New Englander, Ben lived in Montana for over 6 years before realizing how much he missed the North East! Ben is excited to be in Vermont and loves learning about new technologies and materials in our ever-evolving industry. He specializes in interior and exterior trim work. Ben finds the tangible/physical evidence of a hard day’s work fulfilling and rewarding.
In his free time, Ben enjoys skiing, mountain biking, cooking, and playing guitar. People are often surprised to find out that Ben is a cat person - and he admits it’s a borderline unhealthy obsession. His favorite destination is Glacier National Park in Montana and his guilty pleasure is eating too many chocolate chip cookies.