For Brian Perico, the journey to Lewis Services wasn’t a straight path—it was a career shaped by moves across different companies, contracts, and even continents. Each transition taught him valuable lessons, but it was his “two tours” at Lewis that solidified where he truly belonged. Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí.
Extreme conditions: Brian Perico's stops on the way to Lewis
Brian Perico in the Marines
After high school, Brian started in construction, but he had his sights set on college. In 2000, he joined the Marine Reserves as a stepping stone to further his education. Then came 9/11. A year into his service with just one semester of college under his belt, Brian found himself on active duty, serving multiple deployments over six years in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain. "Coming home after that, I couldn't picture myself working in an office," Brian recalls.
Life changed permanently for the better on Day 1 back at Lewis
A friend introduced him to utility vegetation management via the local union, and with that, Brian stepped into a new chapter. “I went to the interview, got hired on the spot, and started that day,” he says. It was February, with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees—a stark contrast to the 110-degree heat of Iraq. “I wasn't ready for it, but I stuck it out because I liked the outside work.”
After three years, the company lost its contract, and Lewis Services took over. As part of the union apprenticeship program, Brian transitioned to Lewis seamlessly. “I really honed my skills and grew a lot in my time with Lewis. I learned from some great foremen and was able to advance in the union as a result,” he reflects.
Brian progressed from being an entry-level groundsperson to a crew leader during those six years with Lewis, but that contract ended and once again he found himself with another company. But it wasn’t the same. The culture, particularly around safety and integrity, didn’t align with the standards Brian held as both a worker and a Marine. Eventually, he reached out to his former General Foreman, now with Lewis in Connecticut. The response was immediate: “I’d be happy to have you on my team again.”
“Life changed permanently for the better on Day 1 back at Lewis,” Brian says. That was six years ago. Today, he’s a newly promoted Supervisor, proud of how far he’s come in 20+ years in the industry and grateful for the environment Lewis fosters.
“Our safety program, opportunities for personal development, and the employee stock ownership program (ESOP) are all great,” Brian notes. But the best thing about Lewis? “Like my manager said when I came back: 'We're in the people business; we just happen to cut trees.' The way you're treated here isn’t just as a worker, but as a person.”
Brian believes that at other companies, workers can feel replaceable. “Here, they really care about you—how you're doing, how your family is doing. They never emphasize production over safety. That shows that the person is more important than the work, and it makes everyone a better worker and affects working habits, motivation, and morale.”
His message to those considering a career in vegetation management is clear: “Lewis is the place to be. It’s not just a job—it’s more like a family. If you want to work in the tree business for a company that really cares about you, trains you the proper way, and treats you with respect, come work for Lewis. Every person counts here.” Check out other #LewisChoice videos here and subscribe to our #LewisChoice channel!
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Lewis is the place to be. It’s not just a job—it’s more like a family