Lee R. Zink : Academy of Distinguished Engineers - 2014

Area Manager, Kiewit Infrastructure West Vancouver, Wash.

Lee Zink remembers a class at Oregon State where the professor had students count nails as part of an estimating exercise to determine material costs.The students balked, skeptical that something so tiny could have any tangible effect on the final estimate. But the professor’s meticulous nature taught Zink that details matter, a valuable lesson that refined his skills as a student.

“Oregon State really helped me grow and develop my personal aptitudes. It was a good fit for my skills and a great place to live,” he said.Following graduation in 1985, Zink began his career with the Kiewit Companies, initially from its divisional office in Vancouver, Wash.

Since then, he has been involved in many heavy construction projects, including the Schuster Parkway interchange with I-5 in Tacoma, the West Seattle swing bridge, and the new locks at Bonneville Dam.His work has taken him to Hawaii, Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Quebec, and the Pacific Northwest.Besides his own engineering work, he’s proud to have helped several young construction engineers start their careers.

“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to build a lot of builders, and they go on to build other builders.”Through his journeys of college and career, Zink and his wife Tonia have been together since beginning college at Oregon State.His journey has included three wonderful children and many rich experiences around the country.