The month of May is always scattered with warm days spent lounging under the sun whether that be poolside, on a boat, or at the outdoor bar of your favorite local restaurant. While the rainier months leading up to this month may leave us all feeling a bit gloomy, this time of year does make it seem worth the wait, doesn’t it? 

Many local residents would say summers on Lake Washington are some of the best in the Pacific Northwest, and Seaborn Services is here to make sure that remains true. Starting out as a small pile driving company back in the late 40’s, they have developed a unique business model over the years that makes them the top innovator in the marine construction industry. Not only are they constructing your new dock, bulkhead, beach, and boathouse, but they are designing it with you, pushing it all the way through permitting, and making sure you’re taken care of during your time on the lake.

 

We spoke with company president, Dustin Howe, about how Seaborn is looking at new ways of construction on the lake and what it means for the future of the industry. “We’re constantly finding ways to cut down the time onsite and safely increase production, but that’s just the beginning,” he eagerly shared. Seaborn's young and ambitious Leadership Team has been connecting with fellow marine contractors and trade associations around the PNW. Getting involved in legislative action to help change the future of shoreline code is something the Seaborn team has always been passionate about. With a diverse group of engaged permit technicians, they now have the bandwidth to act on it, and that starts with department expansion.

 

The Permit Team at Seaborn, which has been pulling permits for roughly 80 projects a year, is branching out on their own to form ‘One Stop Permit Shop’. Not only are they offering their services for shoreline projects, but to any and all projects that will need permits, because why limit yourself? In an interview with Vice President Kelsey Meyer, she stated, “We’ve seen people spend years trying to get approvals, or just trying to understand permits. So it only makes sense that we share the insight we’ve gained as a team with others who could benefit from it.” Available for coaching appointments and full permit submittals, One Stop Permit Shop is there to make the seemingly impossible possible.

 

Beyond the big picture of regulatory change and code compliance, Zoe Rohaly, who heads the Sales Department at Seaborn, has seen a more specific issue related to those living on the lake. “How often have you tried getting hold of your local handyman to get help cleaning out a clogged gutter, or the concrete company to fix up that ever-growing crack in the driveway? It feels like pulling teeth just to get a consultation, and once that happens, who knows when you can get someone out to do the actual work," she says. "All the while, the ‘white glove’ customer service we used to know and love seems to have gone by the wayside, so what gives?” With overworked employees, a lack of resources, and the rise of automation, good service is no longer something people care about giving their clients, and people don’t have much of a choice – until now.

A majority of clients have commented on how impressed they are with the single fact that Seaborn gets back to them within 24 hours of the initial contact. “We always want to help people and have them enjoy the process as well, not just go through the motions," says Zoe. "Communication is something we emphasize with the whole staff, but there seems to be a massive disconnect in the construction industry that we intend to change.” After multiple in-depth discussions and additional external feedback, the Leadership Team decided it was time to branch out and make an impact where it mattered most.

 

You may have caught a snippet of it in their last Sponsor Spotlight spread back in 2022, but Seaborn has officially welcomed in Seaborn Services©, a division that will focus solely on providing service-based work on Lake Washington, as well as smaller lakes around Western Washington. They’ve had 77 years of experience to learn the ins and outs of marine construction, but they also know how to provide the highest level of customer service to those living on lakefront properties. They want to provide the same level of care whether you’re building a new dock and beach or just getting your dock prepped for the summer boating season. You can expect to see nothing short of first-rate quality service across all departments when working with the team over at Seaborn – and it all starts with your first call.