Martin Ralston, Owner/President

Martin Ralston was born and raised in Southwest Portland and graduated from Wilson High School. He attended The University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, and graduated from University of Oregon in "Business and Construction," a five-year course of Architecture and Business core curriculum. Summer time during high school and college was spent working as a welder/fabricator in the family owned shop of The Lynch Company. Upon graduation from college Martin became a Project Manager for The Lynch Company for eight years.

Martin was married in 1987, and has two children.

In 1990, Martin became the President of the Company. In 2005 Martin formed a new LLC called Lynch Mechanical Construction, which engages in Commercial Industrial Mechanical Contracting Projects. In 2007 the shares of the final stockholder in The Lynch Company were redeemed, making Martin the sole owner of both Companies.

Martin is a licensed pyrotechnician with the State of Oregon Fire Marshall's office, which he uses to provide a display for The Lynch Company, and Lynch Mechanical's July Picnic at his property along the Willamette River.

Martin enjoys playing music in his band named "Mid Life Crisis," water & snow skiing, golf, working with his hands on wood and home construction/renovation projects.

Chris Haney, General Manager

Chris Haney was born and raised in Forest Grove, Oregon. After graduating from Oregon Institute of Technology in 1990 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Chris started his career at Industrial Alloy Fabricators, where he had worked his way through college as a machinist. He spent 9 years with IAF as both a Project Engineer and a Project Manager — designing, drawing, estimating, and managing the manufacture of high alloy pressure vessels and heat exchangers. Chris spent another 4 years working at Northwest Copper Works. At NW Copper, he was the fittings department manager — estimating, selling, and managing the manufacture of stainless and nickel alloy pipe and pipe fittings. From 2003-2007, Chris was the Production Manager for Precision Countertops — overseeing all aspects of production, purchasing, scheduling, and installation of Laminate, Solid Surface, and Granite countertops.

In 2007 he returned to the steel industry to work for the Lynch company as a Project Manager. Chris has 14 years experience in steel fabrication, serving such industries as: Pulp & Paper, Chemical, Refineries, Geothermal Power, Hatcheries, Food Processing, Ethanol Production, Design-Build Contractors, Municipal Projects, and many others.

"I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife and twin daughters — golfing, camping, hiking, cycling, traveling, and four wheeling in our Jeep."

Pat Prentice, Sales and Marketing Manager

Born and raised in Portland Oregon, Pat Prentice began his career in the steel business while a teenager, working in both his fathers' fabrication company, Metal Tech Corp. located in Vancouver Washington and his Tool & Die Company, Western Tool & Die, in Portland Oregon. While working at Metal Tech Corp his duties varied, and grew. With time came more responsibility. From welding and fitting (earning several certifications), to estimating and purchasing, leading eventually to managing the 80+ employee shop.

Pat served as a machinist in the Air Force in the early 1970s and continued machining for several years there after. He sold steel and fabrication for American Steel Inc., in Portland Oregon for 9 years, and then went into the trucking business as a partner in Jeco Transport for 8 years. After selling his part of the trucking company Pat started his own business, Pacific Atlantic Trading Company, selling Real Estate and brokering fabrication and transportation until returning to the steel fabrication business with Ecklund Industries in 1999.

Pat has been employed by The Lynch Company since April of 2007, and is currently the Sales and Marketing Manager. "I have been happily married for 36 years, have 3 children and 3 grandchildren, love travel, golf, music and good wine!"

Robert Brown, Sales/Project Engineers

Robert Brown is a Native Oregonian, Currently living in Oregon City. After completing a Tour of Duty in Biloxi, Mississippi, while attached to the Oregon Air National Guard, he returned to Oregon, Married, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren. Attended School at Clackamas Community College and Portland State, and Community College of the Air Force. Worked in the Hazardous Materials Industry until 1985 as Project Manager and Estimator. Robert made a career change into the steel industry in 1996 as Project Manager. Started with the Lynch Company in 1999 as project manager.

Currently operating as Project Manager, Quality Control Manager, company AWS Certified Welding Inspector, and Safety Director, Robert spends his time off Surfing, Motorcycle riding, playing music with his garage band, and building go-karts and sand rails.

Don Goldthwaite, Sales/Project Engineer

Don Goldthwaite calls Kent, Ohio his home town. He was educated at Kent State University. In 1969 Don was employed at Buckeye Pipeline of Lynden, New Jersey as Pipeline Operator and Petroleum Storage Specialist servicing the underground transport of jet fuels, heating oils and gasoline to the greater New York area, Kennedy Airport, SAC Air Force Base and into the Midwest of America.

"I moved with my wife and two children to Portland, Oregon in 1972 because of our desire to raise our family in the Pacific Northwest." Don worked for Northwest Marine Ironworks for the next twenty years as Ship Superintendent and Machine Shop Superintendent. During this time he was involved in the construction of new vessels and was responsible for major ship repair projects including US Navy and commercial ships both foreign and domestic.

As Superintendent of their Main Machine Shop in Northwest Portland he was project manager for many major machining projects including a three year project for replacing twelve hydroelectric turbines on the High Aswan Dam. During this time he was instrumental in developing machining techniques that were later used to improve silent running submarine props for the US Navy. He was later consulted for these machining methods to help develop milling machines to produce turbines for large dam projects in China and South America. By learning to write machining programs Don was successful in solving lubrication problems on strut bearings for the construction of USCG icebreakers. During this time he developed a machining program, procedure and quality assurance program for the manufacture of eleven nuclear containment caps for storage of submarine reactors and their waste products. Don also served as project manager for major repairs and improvements to area dams including the Bonneville Dam and the John Day Dam. During his final year at NWMIW he also served as the chief designer for their Sawmill Machinery product line by converting and rebuilding older mills to more modern equipment.

After the sale of Northwest Marine Ironworks, Don served as sales representative and Shop Superintendent for several local machine shops in the Portland area. In 1999 he was recruited by The Lynch Company where he has been very happy to serve as one of the Project Managers for the past eight years

Ray Zuel, Sales/Project Engineer

Ray Zuel was born and raised in Laos, Southeast Asia. He moved his family to the United States in March of 1982 seeking the "American Dream". He became a US citizen in 1992. Ray started his career in the Sheet Metal Workers Union, local 16, in March of 1993 working in three different sheet metal shops as an apprentice, and became a journeyman in 1997.

Ray worked at The Lynch Company in 1994 and, while he was only employed there for a little over a year in the shop, he impressed his supervisors with his work ethic. He returned in 2006 in a different capacity. Ray's personality and drive was recognized by management and he was offered a position as a sales and project manager, which is the position he holds presently.

Ray has been married for 14 years and has two children. He enjoys the great outdoors when he finds the time.

Brian Lambiaso, Project Manager

Brian was born in Southern California and moved to Tigard Oregon in 1989. After graduation from Tigard High School, he attended Oregon State University where he received a Bachelor’s degree in economics.

During the summer months, while attending school, he worked for West Coast Steel Fabricators in Eugene. During that time working as a helper, he learned sand blasting, painting, grinding, drilling, layout, shipping, and reading blue prints. “I enjoyed watching the artistry of the process, the creativity, and being involved in projects from their inception, to seeing the end product. I learned as much as I could about all aspects of steel fabrication.”

After completing his college courses at the end of 1996, Brian went to work for Copeland Lumber in Hillsboro as an assistant manager for a retail lumber yard. After two years in the lumber business he found himself back at West Coast Steel Fabricators in Eugene working full time handling purchasing for the shop and managing projects from 1998 to 2000.

After having established a base knowledge and skills, he accepted an offer of employment with All American Fabricating in Eugene, where he worked as Purchasing Manager and Project Manager from 2000 until 2006. “I gained new skills at All American by working with new operations of fabrication like Laser Cutting, High Definition Plasma Cutting, Rolling, Forming, and fabrication with Aluminum and Stainless Steel”. When the company was purchased by a local steel service center in 2006, Brian moved back to the Portland area and accepted work with Columbia Wire and Iron as a Project Manager. “At CWI I was exposed to the installation side of steel fabrication.”

In October of 2011 he was coaxed to join The Lynch Company. “Having used The Lynch Company as a steel subcontractor on previous projects, I now look forward to contributing my knowledge base and skills to a diverse group of steel professional ready to fabricate almost anything.”

Eric Nufer, Corporate Controller

Eric Nufer enjoys using his experience and skills to assure the financial success and stability of The Lynch Company. For him medium-sized companies such as Lynch provide a continuing variety of interesting challenges.

Raised in central California, Eric came to Oregon to attend Lewis and Clark College — and stayed. After completing his political science degree requirements, he needed employable skills, completed several accounting classes before graduating, and passed the certified public accounting (CPA) exam.

His work at Portland-area CPA firms for 5 years emphasized small business and not-for-profit entities, earning his CPA license.

To participate more closely in business strategy development and key decision making, he moved to private industry. He joined Tektronix, Inc. for 10 years, first as an internal auditor moving to its component manufacturing divisions as a financial analyst and manager. While there, he earned his MBA at Portland State University.

Eric progressed to corporate management, holding titles of Corporate Controller, Director of Finance, or CFO at a multi-state industrial supplier, a high tech contract manufacturer, and a corporate jet charter and servicing company. In November 2009 he became the Corporate Controller of The Lynch Company and related companies.

Eric and his wife live in Beaverton, where they raised two boys. He loves to travel, enjoys good food, and pretends to be a connoisseur of fine wine.

Nicole Ralston, Assistant Financial Controller

Daughter of owner/president Martin Ralston, Nicole was raised in West Linn Oregon, and graduated from West Linn High School. She attended The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and graduated with a bachelor of science in business management with a strong focus in managerial accounting.

During high school she often worked summers at The Lynch Co and enjoyed being involved as much as possible in the family business. Upon graduation from ASU she jumped right into a full time position in the accounting department at The Lynch Company.

In her spare time Nicole participates in the Master’s gymnastics program at The Multnomah Athletic club, and often can be found in the kitchen cooking something exotic she saw on Food Network.

Marvin Van Dyke, General Foreman

Marvin Van Dyke has been an Oregon / Washington County resident since 1959, and a sheet metal union member since 1978.

Marvin has worked in all facets of the fabrication industry including alloy pressure vessels, heat exchangers, food service & handling equipment, structural, ornamental and general steel fabrication used in the petroleum, nuclear, paper, mining, alloy metals manufacturing, aviation, tourism, commercial & residential and food processing industries.

Marvin began his career as a delivery driver / helper but was accepted as an apprentice soon after being hired. He achieved journeyman scale in 1982, worked as lead person / working foreman until 1994 when he was appointed shop foreman.

"Having worked for Industrial Alloy Fabricators, CH Murphy / Clark Ulman, and Helser Industries, I am currently General Foreman with The Lynch Company." Marvin leads by example and get's the job done!

Robin Hyder, 1946 - 2011