Joe Donarumo Wins 2026 LCI Pioneer Award
News related to:Lean Construction Institute · 2 min read
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Joe Donarumo, Senior Vice President, Client Development at Skiles Group and Principal of The Lean Builder, has been named the 2026 LCI Pioneer Award winner by the Lean Construction Institute (LCI). The annual award recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced the design and construction industry by embracing and implementing Lean tools and techniques.
Donarumo's journey with Lean construction began over a decade ago. For more than a decade, he has been an active leader within LCI, championing the practical application of Lean principles to make them approachable and useful for daily construction work.
Donarumo's contributions extend beyond his leadership roles. The book, which translates Lean concepts into practical, recognizable jobsite situations, received the 2020 Shingo Publication Award. More than 35,000 copies of the book have been distributed, reaching professionals in more than 35 countries.
Donarumo's experience spans nearly two decades in construction, where he has served in operational leadership roles ranging from superintendent to vice president of field operations. At Skiles Group, he works with clients and project teams to advance collaborative project delivery and build stronger alignment among owners, designers, builders, and trade partners. His experience includes six Integrated Form of Agreement/Integrated Project Delivery projects, where he has helped teams apply Lean principles through collaborative planning, reliable commitments, visual management, and continuous improvement.
Donarumo has been involved with LCI since 2013 and joined the Dallas-Fort Worth Community of Practice in 2014. He served as secretary in 2015 and chair from 2016 through 2018 before leading the 2019 LCI Congress Planning Team. From 2019 through 2025, he served on LCI's National Board of Directors, including service as a Congress board liaison, and has presented at every LCI Congress since 2017.
Through his field leadership, teaching, and service, Donarumo has helped close one of Lean Construction’s most important gaps: the distance between understanding Lean and practicing it. He will be presented with the 2026 LCI Pioneer Award during the LCI Award Ceremony at the 28th Annual LCI Congress on Thursday, October 15, in Atlanta, Georgia.