Mr. John Yamamoto—Founder, Chairman, and CEO of PEMCO—and winner of the 2011 Pacific Edge Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, shares with us insight into his commitment to excellence and leadership.
Congratulations on receiving the 2011 Pacific Edge Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. In what ways has the Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Award impacted your business?
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognition prompted me to give an impetus to PEMCO, Ltd. and PEMCO Realty to continue to pursue excellence and integrity. With these strong qualities, our business will continue to be successful and prosper.
Since receiving the award, what are some new initiatives your business is undertaking?
PEMCO is growing rapidly; we have entered into a new area of Asset Management to better serve our clients and diversified our services. We are consistently improving our business to expand our clientele and strengthen our brand.
What do you attribute your success to?
A great management team. PEMCO has an elite management team of executives and managers offering leadership and motivation to a highly trained staff. We are fortunate to have an availability of resources and capital to support our existing business and expansion. PEMCO has a strong foundation and we are able persevere through the ups and downs in business.
What is one piece of advice you would give young professionals and entrepreneurs?
Realize that starting a business is hard work, possibly one of the hardest things you may ever do, so make sure you accumulate all the ingredients necessary for success. You’ll need tolerance to withstand the “salt in the wounds,” grace and poise to handle the “sour faces,” and humbleness to truly enjoy the “sweetness of success” in order to appreciate the “humble pie.” Developing your business’ character and rapport in the local community is crucial.
What is the best part of your job? What drives you to “do what you do”?
My favorite part of my job is interacting with a great team. I have offices in Honolulu, Sacramento, Denver and Atlanta. I make it a point to visit my offices and I am fortunate to have loyal employees dedicated to PEMCO. Therefore, I am driven to motivate the management team to pursue ahead with new ventures. It excites me to watch a business plan unfold with success for PEMCO and its great team.
Who is your business role model and why?
I do not have a particular business role model. I do have an idea of a role model. I believe my role model would be one who can integrate business success with integrity, fairness and ethics. I try my best to model this as the CEO of PEMCO to serve as an example to my staff and for business partners to see the kind of company PEMCO is.