Employee Spotlight: Lisa Lewter, Purchasing Team Lead
At T.M. Bier & Associates, successful projects start long before equipment reaches the field—and the purchasing team plays a critical role in keeping everything moving. As Purchasing Team Lead, Lisa Lewter brings experience, organization, and a collaborative mindset to one of TMBA’s most fast-paced functions.
Lisa joined TMBA in 2006 after spending 15 years with LSG Sky Chefs, working in purchasing operations across the NY/NJ airport system. During her time there, she supported operations at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, traveling between locations to train purchasing teams on computer systems and inventory processes. That hands-on, multi-site experience laid a strong foundation for her role at TMBA, where efficiency and accuracy are essential.
In her day-to-day role, Lisa oversees purchasing operations that support project managers, technicians, and engineers across the company. Her mornings often begin with dispatching TMBA’s materials delivery team, followed by close coordination with PMs and field teams to resolve daily issues. She works directly with key vendors to help TMBA achieve competitive pricing goals, reconciles invoices and credit card statements, and leads the purchasing department to ensure decisions are made with both project needs and company goals in mind.
One of the biggest ways Lisa’s team supports the broader organization is through a ticketing system that streamlines communication and requests. By coordinating quotes, managing vendor communications, and arranging timely deliveries to job sites, the purchasing team helps ensure technicians have the materials they need—when and where they need them.
Purchasing for building management system projects comes with its own challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining inventory. With parts moving quickly from the warehouse to the field, staying ahead of demand requires constant attention and coordination. When timelines shift or materials become difficult to source, Lisa works closely with project managers and the design team to determine the best path forward for each project.
As a team lead, Lisa takes pride in sharing her knowledge and helping her team make informed decisions. One accomplishment she’s especially proud of is how well the purchasing team has kept up with inventory transfers—a collective effort that has helped the department operate more smoothly and efficiently.
Lisa describes TMBA’s culture as family-conscious, noting that even as the company continues to grow and stay busy, there’s always room to make time for team connection and company fun. She believes strong communication and quick decision-making are the most important traits for success in purchasing—skills she puts into practice every day.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, dining out, following sports, and firing up the grill—she’s an avid BBQ fan. TMBA is proud to spotlight Lisa Lewter and the leadership, experience, and dedication she brings to the purchasing team and the company as a whole.
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