By / Jessica Kirby | Photo: Chris Haney
Chris Haney, owner and president of The Lynch Company, is proud of the work his company does and sees great potential in SMACNA’s ability to advance the unionized sheet metal industry.
He joined the company in November 2006 as a project manager and became general manager in 2009. Then in 2016, he purchased the company from the third-generation family owner.
“I really enjoy that we manufacture durable goods to aid in the production of consumer goods that people use every day,” he says. “I also like the fact that I can see our work on display as I drive around the Portland Metro area.”
The Lynch Company was founded in 1919 by James Lynch and was successively owned by family members until Haney purchased it. Over the company’s lifetime, its employees have worked on nearly every type of project, including home furnace manufacturing in its early days to Liberty Ships during WWII and high-tech energy startups and electric vehicle charging in the 2010s.
“As a general steel fabricator, we do more than just sheet metal,” Haney says. “We have a line of catch basin and drain sumps; we manufacture stainless steel wastewater treatment systems; and we perform plant maintenance and upgrades for local manufacturing plants, grain terminals, and aerospace. We also build and install conveyors and air handling systems and much more.”
Two years after taking the helm at The Lynch Company, Haney accepted a board of directors’ position with SMACNA Oregon & Southwest Washington. In 2024, he began a two-year term as president.
“My goals in this position are strengthening the relationship between labor and management, learning more about the inner workings of the organization, and assisting fellow board members with the operations of our chapter,” he says.
SMACNA offers contractors a great deal of professional assistance and support, particularly in facing contemporary challenges in the business landscape. Adopting the latest technology available for the sheet metal industry and remaining competitive and relevant when faced with non-union competition are two areas that leave SMACNA contractors looking for solutions.
“The new technology issue can be addressed through our training center and apprenticeship programs,” Haney says, referring to the Local 16 JATC where apprentices receive world-class training and expertise in all aspects of the sheet metal trade. “Competing with non-union companies will require continuous outreach to educate owners and general contractors of the benefits of a well-trained union workforce.”
Haney also sees some important opportunities on the horizon, such as the massive growth of data centers in the Pacific Northwest and clean air upgrades for educational buildings. “Partnering with our union to aggressively pursue these projects will provide benefits to both labor and management,” he says. “My philosophy is to continue to work with the Local in a collaborative way to reach our mutually beneficial goals of increased market share and membership.” ■
