Lenzi Incorporated concrete finishers work on a new La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Santa Cruz, CA.

Cliff Lenzi, Founder and President of Lenzi Incorporated.

The staff of Lenzi Incorporated, located in Lodi, California, prides itself on transparency, efficiency and work ethic. But above all, its mission is to make sure clients are considered an integral part of the team.

The company was founded by Clifford “Cliff” Lenzi in 1974. At the time, Cliff was an architecture student at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and had started building custom homes along California’s coast. The company transitioned into subdivision development and focused on that sector for many years, with Cliff working in the corporate world while keeping the business going.

Today, Lenzi Incorporated performs general construction, specializing in the hospitality, assisted living, retail and commercial markets. In 2010, the company added a solar division, where it serves a range of clients, from agricultural to those in the commercial and industrial markets. Cliff, who serves as President, is joined in the business by his immediate family, and he considers his employees and clients to be like family, too. “We work as a team and try to push forward collectively together,” he says.

That means everyone in the construction process—from the workers in the field, to the architect, the developer and city officials—are considered part of the Lenzi Incorporated team.

From Hotels to Farms

The teamwork approach to business has landed Lenzi Incorporated projects across a range of industries and with many repeat clients. According to Cliff, the business is built on longstanding relationships.

He says the firm has been particularly prolific in the hospitality industry, completing several hotels with more projects currently in the works for brands like Hilton, Wyndham and IHG.

Lenzi Incorporated is currently in the middle of completing a Spanish Revival-style, 60-room La Quinta in Santa Cruz, California. This custom, boutique-style hotel is just two blocks from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Work on another La Quinta, located in San Jose, California, includes construction of a car-stacking system in the underground parking garage, which will be accessed via valet service. Business continues to grow. When the Willows Shopping Center in Concord, California, needed updating, Lenzi Incorporated took on the job. The team enhanced the east facade of the shopping center and also installed new siding, patio canopies, storefront glass, pedestrian pathways, benches and bike racks.

Lenzi Incorporated’s solar division has also flourished over the years, with the firm providing solar power on many agricultural projects, including ranches, orchards and farms. For instance, at Sousa Farms in Stockton, California, Lenzi Incorporated added 1 megawatt of solar power and built an 86,000-square-foot canopy of solar panels to help offset 16 electrical meters.

Focus on Efficiency

One characteristic that Cliff believes makes the company successful is its focus on efficiency. “We try to minimize the steps in the process and make our procedures as efficient as possible,” he explains. “We’ve refined our operations by updating the older, more archaic ways of doing things. This helps reduce steps and paper clutter.”

In refining operations, the team has incorporated project management software and best practices to speed up the flow of information to the client, architect and workers in the field, resulting in better productivity and a greater level of transparency. These processes also help Lenzi Incorporated save time on projects.

A case in point is the 96-room, three-story, extended-stay Candlewood Suites in Lodi that was completed in 12 months. The team overcame major challenges caused by a wet winter in 2018-2019. To continue construction, the team had to bring in large tanks to pump water from the job site. Cliff estimates they pumped 400,000 gallons of water over the course of three to four months, but the team pushed through together.

“We didn’t skip a beat,” he says. “We didn’t have to shut down. We got the job done.”

Successful Outcomes

This drive to get the job done is another characteristic that defines Lenzi Incorporated. Cliff is always ready and willing to pack his tool bag, hop in his truck and drive hours to and from a job site to help out whenever needed to ensure the job is completed when promised. But he isn’t alone—his is a mentality shared by all of the Lenzi Incorporated staff.

“That’s the mentality we have,” he confirms. “We do everything in our power to make sure we don’t fail, and we don’t allow our clients to fail.”

For Cliff, it connects back to the relationship Lenzi Incorporated builds with its clients and project partners. It’s not just about delivering on a project—it’s about following through on a commitment made to a teammate.

“There is a certain level of trust and transparency in everything we do,” he says. “We like to be as transparent as possible—we don’t hide anything in the dark. It’s better to problem-solve and address challenges [by] working through them together.”

He adds, “The building part itself is easy. The important part is how you overcome the challenges and problems so that the end result is beneficial for everyone.”

He attributes the success of the business to the staff’s ability to adapt, learn and listen. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and listen, either to the city, the architect or the developer, to make a good solid assessment on how to proceed in a project,” he adds.

When it comes to assessment and problem-solving, the company values a collective approach from the entire staff. “There’s no right or wrong way to do something—we welcome everyone’s input on how we handle issues and how we get our projects completed,” Cliff says. “That’s one of the strongest aspects of our staff.”

A good word to describe the Lenzi Incorporated staff: multidimensional.

“They can handle any task and rise to the challenge to ensure that our company can best serve the entire team, including our clients,” Cliff says. “Throughout the entire process, we do everything we can to make sure our projects—and our relationships with everyone involved—are successful and positive.”