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Small Town Stories: Ghigau Construction

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:54:52 GMT

Ghigau is the Cherokee honorific meaning "beloved woman" or "war woman." With African America and Native American ancestry, Jenn says, "I am motivated by the women before me who fought to allow African-American women and Native American women to succeed," she says. "They never gave up, and neither will I."

Jenn's PC journey began 20 years ago, moving from Ogden. "It's been an amazing adventure!" she smiles. "The trails, the events, the nightlife, the community, the smell of wood burning in winter. What I love most is the increased diversity, seeing more people of color."

High-energy Jenn is in the field early "and answering 100 calls, 100 emails, and 100 texts." By 7 p.m., though, the electronics are off, and it's time to chill. "I love to be in silence with the trees and walk with my dogs or my boyfriend, listening to the wind." She often remembers her grandfather in quiet times, reflecting on how "his kindness, gratitude, and loving nature" shaped her character. "I named my first son after him." When he died, she says, "I promised him that I will continue to try to change the world and be a better person every day."

Jenn's positive and forthright spirit brightens the Chamber and Park City every day! Find out more about Jenn at ghigauconstruction.com

Building Homes (and Building People Up)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:50:35 GMT

Jenn Lewis of Ghigau Construction is on a mission to love the world

As the owner and operator of Ghigau Construction, Jenn lives up to her company’s name by practicing the highest levels of integrity. “I was raised not to violate the Earth … Don’t pluck the Earth. Don’t take things that are not yours or take things for granted. Be kind, open and honest. That’s how I run my company and my business. I treat all subs and laborers equally.”

Jenn focuses on renovations over new builds and takes pride in providing honest and accurate estimates for clients.

The Park City Area Home Builders Association is another avenue where Jenn finds right living within her occupation.

“The PCAHBA is here to help and protect contractors and subcontractors, to make sure that we still have our rights,” Jenn explains. As the association’s current president, Jenn is determined to spread hope. “If there’s any stance that I can take, it’s about providing community service … There is a community service committee that I run for the PCAHBA. And it is my passion. It is my true love.”

The list of community service projects the association participates in is staggering. The givebacks include coffee for caregivers, truck-or-treat events, community clean-ups, back-to- school supply drives, December shop-with-a-cop events, soup kitchens and book donations.

Because caring for others is so important to Jenn, she launched a charitable foundation called the Jenn-LoVe Project.

“I love my job. I think it’s great. I love the people I work with. I love my clients. But is it soup for my soul? Does it fill my cup? It does not. The community service and the volunteering fills my cup, and that’s where I want to be. With the Jenn-LoVe Project, that’s a legacy I can leave for my kids and my grandkids. It draws me back to my roots, how I was raised by my mother, Carol. Never forget to be kind, compassionate, loving, and to simply be empathetic and gentle. To raise others up and not tear them down.”

Jenn’s enthusiasm is motivation to adopt a way of life where caring for and loving others is paramount.

“You don’t have to spend any money to be kind. You don’t have to spend money to hug somebody or to give a compliment. This is free sh** that’s in you. Pass it out; pass that along. That’s what I’m going to plug. Love!”

Written By: Ashley Brown | Images: Deborah DeKoff

Heritage is the soil from which all of Jenn Lewis’ actions grow. She draws on her roots and her mother, Carol’s, powerful example to cultivate a life that is rich in kindness, service and abundance.

Reaching the place she is now took work — and guts. It began with ending a nearly two-decade-long marriage and revitalizing her career in construction management.

“I needed something to prove to myself that I am the survivor,” Jenn says. “I remember waking up at 3 a.m. and thinking, ‘I need to go back to my roots, how I was raised.’ My great-grandfather and great-grandmother were full Native Americans. My grandma married a man who was half Blackfoot and half Black … I was raised with both African and Native American traditions and beliefs.”

Jenn harnessed the strength of her Native American culture to launch a construction brand that represented her power and values. Enter Ghigau (pronounced “heh-go”) Construction.

“To me, [the word] Ghigau stands for a woman who is out there fighting while teaching the right ways of life,” Jenn explains. “The chief names this woman because she has survived war. And even though she’s been at war, in pain, and at the bottom of a hole, she still comes out with love in her heart and is honest, faithful, loyal.”

The Home Issue 24-25

Ghigau Construction breaks industry barriers in Park City

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:40:48 GMT

Jenn Lewis combines renovation expertise with community service

An African-American woman with Native-American ancestry, Jenn has been working in Park City Construction for more than 20 years. After years spent honing her trade, in 2014, Jenn made the leap into both licensure and entrepreneurship. Today, she operates Ghigau as one of the few, if not the only, women in the biz.

“Ghigau” (pronounced heh-go) is a prestigious Cherokee title recognized for the impact and heroism shown by women in Native American communities on the battlefield and in life. To be bestowed the title of “Ghigau” is a great honor and responsibility, one Jenn has earned as an African-American woman in a predominantly male industry.

“People would come to the job site looking for the guy in charge,” Jenn remembers. “Then I tell them, ‘Well, actually, I’m the woman in charge.’” Jenn says it doesn’t happen as often as it used to, although the same gender-normative stereotypes still exist today. She has proven herself an expert in her field, a “Beloved War-Woman,” a modern Ghigau.

A “one-stop shop” for renovations, Ghigau Construction works from concept to design, from interior finishes and selections to the entire renovation process. Jenn shepherds this journey personally, carefully choosing her subcontractors and working with only the highest-quality professionals.

By: Christian Weber, Neighbors of Park City

Home is more than a place to rest our heads at night. It’s where we spend time with our loved ones, where we feel safe and comfortable, and where we can outwardly express our personality, style, and definition of design. We want our homes to be an extension of ourselves, which can sometimes mean renovating an otherwise outdated or poorly functional floor plan with the help of a great contractor.

A “Beloved Woman” and a “War-Woman” are each translations by which Jenn Lewis, owner and licensed contractor at Ghigau Construction and her company’s namesake, can be defined.

Photo: Take a Hike Photography // Lexie Larson

Gone are the days of non-stop phone calls, limited visibility, and untrackable timelines. Jenn relies on her digital client portal to provide updates and photos to clients for insight and visibility throughout each project. “I do logs every day on my jobs. Whether they live or don’t live here, they still get a daily log; it doesn’t matter. Everyone has multiple pictures. Pictures of the finished flooring, pictures of guys working – anything and everything to help the owner understand what’s happening on their job site.”

But breaking down walls is only a small piece of the barriers Jenn seeks to demolish. A huge advocate for affordable housing, Jenn is President of the Board of Directors for the Park City Area Homeowners Association (PCAHBA), Chair-Leader of the Community Service Committee for the PCAHBA, Board Member for the Utah State HBA, Board Member of the Park City Board of Appeals and an active member of the Twilight Rotary Club. “We still need to be able to make it affordable for everyone to live here. The people that you are expecting to keep the lifts open and roads clear, these are all low-income people that are working for the city. There’s a way; we can figure out a way.”

With decades of experience, Jenn has fought and won battles. She is committed to her craft, confident in her skills, and focused on impact for both clients and the community.