Salem Keizer Education Foundation

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
LCG PENCE CONSTRUCTION, LLC

For Ricardo Becerril, supporting education is both a professional and personal endeavor. A Senior Project Manager at LCG Pence Construction, LLC, Becerril oversees the company’s K-12 construction division. But he’s also got one child in Salem-Keizer schools and two more who soon will be. On top of that, his wife has taught in the district. “We have a household passion for schools,” he says. This is one reason he’s proud to work for a company that sponsors the Awesome. Becerril says LCG Pence believes in giving back to the communities in which its employees live and work, and in supporting the interests of its employees and their families. With a young and vibrant local work force, many Pence families are deeply invested in Salem-Keizer schools. It’s a great fit for a company that builds schools. In addition to sponsoring the Awesome, the company shows its commitment to education with a unique effort at its business partner school, Hallman Elementary. The school is badly in need of a new soccer field, so Pence stepped up with a $20,000 donation. But instead of an outright gift, the company devised a creative campaign called “Hours for Dollars.” Working with the school, district maintenance, and some of Pence’s subcontractors, the company challenged Hallman to “repay” the “loan” over time. For every book read by Hallman students, Pence considers it $10 paid back toward the debt. The same applies for every hour volunteered at the school by a Hallman parent. Becerril says the response has been overwhelming and the campaign is already halfway to its goal. Phase one of the new soccer field is underway now, and construction will begin in earnest as soon as school is out. This is Pence’s second year sponsoring the Awesome, and the company also will support this fall’s Crystal Apple Awards. With offices in Salem and Portland, LCG Pence is a full service general contractor whose diverse projects include residential, commercial, industrial and educational facilities. Local projects of note include the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Building at Willamette University, the new Leslie Middle School, and the MaPS Credit Union Headquarters.