Luke Moerke Starts His Term as Economic Alliance of Lewis County Chairman

Posted

Note: This content was produced by the Economic Alliance of Lewis County as part of the monthly Economic Report supplement published in The Chronicle. To learn more about the Alliance, visit https://lewiscountyalliance.org/.

New Lewis County Economic Alliance Chair Luke Moerke brings his honesty, his straightforward approach and a drive to make his community a better place to his new post.

Moerke replaced outgoing Chair Ben Kostick this month. President and owner of Exodus Engineering in Centralia, his engineering firm focuses on residential and commercial “problem solving,” a trait he aims to bring to the Alliance.

“We are extremely pleased to have Luke as our leader as the Alliance moves forward with building coalitions, promoting job growth and development, and attracting clean-energy industry into Lewis County,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard DeBolt. “Luke is definitely hands-on — he attends our weekly staff meetings — and offers solid advice and input.”

Moerke was born and raised in Lewis County. His grandfather and father both operated successful businesses in Lewis county in logging and well drilling respectively. His business Exodus Engineering provides engineering support for residential and commercial buildings, residential home design and drafting, commercial plan support and drafting and site plans.

Along with his business, he also oversees his family’s 200-acre forestry farm in Adna.



“I like the design part, I like problem-solving,” Moerke said of his professional duties.

Moerke earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Central Washington University followed by obtaining a license in civil engineering. Before that, he worked for the family business — Moerke & Sons Pump & Drilling — which was first started by his grandfather, then directed by his dad and mom. His dad pointed him to mechanical engineering, as there was a need for the family business to produce pumps and water system designs.

After university graduation, Moerke worked for Pacific Northwest Engineering in Tacoma until 2012. He started Exodus Engineering in 2012 to be closer to his Adna roots and the family forestry farm located in the Curtis-Boistfort area.

Moerke’s grandfather worked in logging, and partnered with several homesteaders in the Adna area, purchasing timber tracts along the way. Moerke’s dad managed the timberland. Moerke took over the family duties overseeing the timber. He took forestry stewardship classes and became certified in family forestry planning.

Moerke has six boys, two of whom he adopted as siblings out of Haiti. The family rides dirt bikes and works the land together, as well as put in time hunting.