As we ring in the new year, we warmly welcome a group of new faces to the team at Nacht & Lewis. In the coming months, we hope you have an opportunity to meet our newest staff members because we think they are pretty awesome ourselves. Read on to get to know the fantastic five!
Jonathan McKim, AIA, NCARB, CSI, CDT
Senior Project Architect
Jon came to Nacht & Lewis from an engineering and consulting firm in Arizona and was most recently working as a Field Architect in Balad, Iraq.
As a Senior Project Architect at Nacht & Lewis, Jon will oversee the preparation of contract documents through supervision and coordination of the work of the project teams and consultants for some of our firm’s ongoing education and private sector projects.
Name one thing you’ve done that was on your bucket list.
Worked overseas/international – although it was short lived due to changes in the contract. Another bucket list item is living somewhere where I can walk everywhere and not have to drive.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Sloppy construction documents since I view CDs as a fine art and a science.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Hollywood actor (pre eight-years -old) – then at eight I decided that I wanted to be an architect.
Jim Connerley
Project Architect
Jim came to Nacht & Lewis from private practice, following about 12 years working in the architecture field in the Sacramento region. Through the years, Jim has gained substantial expertise in getting various educational projects through the DSA approval process.
At Nacht & Lewis, Jim will be working on a variety of projects for our firm’s clients in the education and justice sectors.
What have you learned about yourself in the past 5 years?
Wow that’s a tough question that provokes thought. One thing I’ve learned to do more is to look forward rather than backward.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Not sure if it’s a “super power”, but … time travel. I’d like to travel back to the past and into the future.
If you could go back in time to any day in history or time period, what would it be and why?
Ca. 1900 so I could spend working hours drawing simple, well-proportioned exterior elevations. However I would want some of my tech gadgets to come back with me!
James Hicks
Design Technology Coordinator
James came to Nacht & Lewis from benefitsCONNECT, where he was managing the company’s IT infrastructure. He also worked closely with the marketing department and spent his last year working as Media Production Manager; managing media, design technologies and brand consistency.
At Nacht & Lewis, James will be working on two different fronts. He will be providing IT support to the staff and driving application, design and workflow technologies. He will also be working as a design technician, aiding in the development of design and construction documents as well as project research.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself as a child?
Curious.
What is your favorite thing about Sacramento?
It’s drive for improvement.
Do your daily/weekly tasks live in a paper notebook, electronically, or in your head? Explain why this works best for you?
Mostly in my head. I’ll send reminders to myself or write something down depending on its importance, but I typically like to try to remember what I can. I’m pretty good at remembering details!
Elizabeth Hawks, Assoc. AIA
Senior Design Technician
Elizabeth came to Nacht & Lewis from Casper, Wyoming where she was an intern architect for a variety of projects in the education and private sectors around Wyoming.
At Nacht & Lewis, Elizabeth will be working on various education projects, specifically helping with 3D modeling.
What brought you to Nacht & Lewis?
I came to Sacramento after my fiancé moved for work in the area. Nacht & Lewis was my first choice in firms I would like to work for with its variety of projects and fun atmosphere.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I moved a lot in my life and have lived in 7 states at least once. This is my second time living in California since 1995 and hopefully my last move for a long while!
What are your hobbies, and what do you do for fun?
I love to make things. When I have the tools and supplies, I love to make anything from clothing to furniture. I also love to go camping and spend a weekend outside exploring!
Yesenia Taylor
Design Technician
Yesenia came to Nacht & Lewis from Woodbury University in San Diego where she was a student learning and pulling a ridiculous amount of all-nighters!
At Nacht & Lewis, Yesenia will be mostly working on construction documents for various sectors in the firm. She will also be working on integrating modern technology into the firm with a number of other colleagues.
What motivates you to work hard?
I like to feel like I’m doing something to better our surrounding community and just in general, I like working and filling my time with productive activities. I have always been taught that hard work always pays off in the end, and I know that it’s true!
What makes you laugh the most?
Sharing my “traumatizing” moments in life and hearing others share their awesome childhood memories!
What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
Soccer is my favorite thing to watch, Ultimate Frisbee is my favorite thing to play.
