WHEN Karen T. Nakamura walked into the Dillingham headquarters of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii last November, the eight-member search committee was sifting through 55 resumes and conducting interviews for the job of BIA executive director. "Well, it's about time you showed up!" groused one of her construction industry peers good-naturedly. Female contractor is
new leader of BIAThey mistakenly assumed that Nakamura, a highly respected and nationally recognized general contractor, would be taking her seat in the conference room as one of the interviewers. Quickly, Audrey Hidano of Hidano Construction set them straight. "No," she corrected with a smile. "This is our last candidate for the position."
A shocked silence engulfed the group until someone recovered enough to testily quip, "So why have we been wasting our time on this process? Karen would be perfect!"
That's how Nakamura -- co-owner of Wallpaper Hawaii and Remodeling Specialists for 17 years, award-winning general contractor and one of the most successful women in a still male-dominated field -- became the executive director of the 450-member BIA.
Not only did this happen during the local construction industry's worst downturn in two decades, it also meant a cut in pay. Still, it was a definite step up in terms of career challenges.
"I kept seeing the BIA ad in the newspaper and, even though I am not a trained association executive, I said to myself, 'I can do that,' " said the 55-year-old Kaimuki resident. "I think of it as a chance to help my peers in the industry and also to help the consumer."
This weekend, you'll find Karen at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, directing the annual frenzy at the popular BIA Home Building & Remodeling Show sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank. Even after the special event is pau, however, she won't be able to cruise. Karen will be busy:
Representing her members -- who range from large commercial builders and developers to small one- and two-person contracting outfits -- at the Legislature, with unions and other trade organizations, and within the community.
IT will be a different life for Karen, especially after nearly two decades of running her own businesses. Her sister, Audrey Tanaka, will take over and continue the operations of Wallpaper Hawaii, while Eric King of King Builders has purchased Remodeling Specialists.
Isn't this a crummy point in history to take a leadership role in a depressed, suffering industry? Well, as Governor Cayetano said when he was elected during a recession and discovered a major budget shortfall, you can't pick and choose when it's time to call the shots. As Nike says, you "Just Do It."
It is Karen Nakamura's time to lead the Building Industry Association. She's the first woman to manage the organization. There's no doubt she won't be the last.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
DianeChang@aol.com, or by fax at 523-7863.