Turning Grit into Growth with Kaiker Construction
- lklosterman8
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 6

There’s no blueprint for breaking into an industry that wasn’t built for you — but Kai Lewars has never followed the expected path.
He founded Kaiker Development & Construction with a clear goal: to shape communities, not just build structures. From day one, he positioned Kaiker as a prime contractor — taking full responsibility for projects rather than working under larger firms. It wasn’t the easiest route, but for Lewars, there wasn’t another option.
Kaiker takes on multifamily housing developments, restaurant build-outs, and office spaces — projects that shape neighborhoods while staying nimble enough to compete and execute efficiently. “We have to take on enough work to make it sustainable,” Lewars explained. “Without trying to compete with the big firms like doing those large-scale projects.”
He got his start by volunteering on development projects and listening more than talking. “A lot of developers come in with their own vision of what a community should look like. I don’t. I listen first.”
That approach stuck with him. In Lower Price Hill — a neighborhood where he once lived — Kaiker is now leading a historic tax credit renovation that preserves the area’s character while creating new housing opportunities.
“Honestly, when I moved here from out of state, people used to look down when I told them I lived in Lower Price Hill, on the West Side. For me, I never looked at it that way. I saw it as a high-volume residential area close to downtown.”
“I take pride in creating housing stock for those in need,” he said. “I was already doing affordable housing while living in affordable housing directly next door — and providing better quality housing than some of the other landlords in the community. That’s the work I want to keep doing.”
Before launching Kaiker in Cincinnati, Lewars had already built years of experience. He founded the company in 2015 in Portland, Oregon, then paused operations when he relocated to Ohio. Starting over in a new city wasn’t easy. “It felt like who you knew — what high school you went to, what side of town you were from — mattered more than what you could do,” he said.
He spent four years working for another firm before relaunching Kaiker full-time, bringing with him a clear sense of purpose and the lessons he’d learned in the field. From the beginning, he focused on building a team and building trust — not just completing jobs, but doing it with intention and accountability.
Most small construction firms start out doing subcontracting work — smaller jobs under larger companies — to build their reputation. But Lewars came in as a prime contractor from the start, taking full responsibility for each project and its outcomes. That’s rare, especially for a new firm without deep local ties or access to the usual networks of capital, bonding, subcontractors, and clients.
“They’re not used to seeing a company like mine at this level,” he said. “I have to break through that — to show them, hey, we’re more than just talk. Here’s what we’ve built. Here’s our team, our portfolio. This is why you should trust us to execute on your behalf and bring your project to fruition.”

Still early in its development, Kaiker caught the eye of Turner Construction — one of the largest firms in the industry. They brought Lewars in for pre-construction estimating services and later hired Kaiker to manage the renovation of Saks Fifth Avenue downtown for the new headquarters of Paycor offices.
At the same time, he started tackling deals that more established developers might have passed on. One project came with a million-dollar funding gap — the kind of challenge that would have scared him off in the past.
“But we found a way to not only fill the gap, but also provide more affordable housing through different grants and tax credits by being intentional and creative.”
That shift — from independent contractor/ owner operator to leading full-scale development projects — required a different kind of support. ECDI helped Kaiker build financial stability with small business loans and connections to funding programs.
“I had good relationships as an independent contractor, but running a real firm — with benefits, structure, everything — was a different story,” he said. “ECDI told me about different programs, some for now and some for later, and I was able to get a small business loan.”
That foundation helped Kaiker grow its team, take on larger projects, and build stronger relationships within its community. “Now we could pay our guys as employees via a formal payroll. We could pay our vendors on better net payment terms. We could cash flow multi-million dollar deals,” Lewars said.
“So that’s been one of the greatest things — ECDI not only helped us directly — now it’s helping us help others, too as we hire our subcontractors that directly benefit from many of the ECDI resources.”
“Doing good isn’t always the best financially for your bottom line,” he said. “But when people see your work, they remember our ability to execute and lead with value. That’s why having a formal resource like ECDI — helping us connect the dots — made a real difference.”
Lewars isn’t just building projects. He’s building a reputation. “At the end of the day, I know it’s my name on the contract, and I don’t take that lightly. Kaiker Development + Construction is a differentiator in the market, and I hope for it to be a multi- generational, reputable, and respected development and construction management firm leading with creating value in the communities that we live, work, and play in.”