About Us
About Us
For nearly a half century, Hawaiian Building Maintenance (HBM) has delivered premium facilities maintenance services to customers, large and small, in the local marketplace. HBM was established in 1957 when Allied United Maintenance began offering professional cleaning services to major commercial clients in Honolulu. Primarily a janitorial company at inception, the first decade brought steady growth to the new company. HBM, mirroring the economic conditions over the next two decades continued to thrive, offering a broader range of services to its established accounts on Oahu. The eventual demand meant offering the same quality services to the neighbor islands, as the 1980s continued to be an era of expansion for the company.
By the mid 90s the company was being positioned to change to deal with the Hawaii recession. In June of 1996, UNICCO Service Company from Boston acquired Ogden Allied on the East Coast, which included the Hawaii Division, or HBM as the largest provider of integrated facilities services for the state of Hawaii. This partnership was forged through the leadership of Mr. Jim Walters in determining the future direction and long-term vision for the company. This combination of talent marked the beginning of a new era coupled with UNICCO’s unparalleled success on the Mainland as the nation’s industry leader. HBM continued to focus on its targeted markets and rapidly growing infrastructure to keep pace with Mr. Walter’s mission to diversify and expand the existing business portfolio. HBM added Mechanical Engineering Services, a Parking division, the expansion of additional high rise and low rise Window Cleaning services, Retail & Route Maintenance, Condominium janitorial & maintenance services, Institutional & Government Services and Special Services to compliment the core janitorial components of the business.
In October of 2006, UNICCO Service Company sold its Hawaii operation (HBM) to Hawaiian Building Maintenance Acquisitions, LLC, whose managing member is ATEL Capital Group in San Francisco. ATEL Chairman, Dean Cash, is a part-time Hawaii resident and is working with HBM’s local management team, headed by Jim Walters, CEO & President. Mr. Walters and his management team became participating members/owners in the new company. This new partnership has given HBM’s leadership the inspiration and strong sense of pride and ownership it needs to continue to deliver the most dedicated and professional services to its prestigious array of long-term customers while providing solid career opportunities to its loyal employee base.
HBM looks forward to the future in Hawaii as it continues to evolve in the business of providing superior customer service delivery in all building service arenas. HBM has a long-standing reputation as the industry leader in providing dependable, quality and cost-efficient solutions for the property management & building services community.
Management
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President & Chief Operating Officer |
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Mr. Walters joined Hawaiian Building Maintenance in 2006 as Director of Retail Operations. Prior to joining the company, he served as district manager for Mobile Instrument Service and Repair, where he was responsible for business development and operations in Hawaii. He is currently responsible for all operational oversight, strategic planning, performance and quality standards, leadership development and P&L management. With a strong focus on the company’s core values and focus, he works with the HBM team to implement positive impact across 300 locations on four Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Walters leads HBM as it further develops its technical expertise while continuing HBM’s strong tradition of janitorial and engineering services. He was also the Board President for Palama Settlement, overseeing operations and fund raising. Mr. Walters served as a Chapter President and Area Director for Toastmasters International, served as Vice President of Men’s Leadership of Hawaii, was on the board for BOMA Hawaii. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the GIFT Foundation, as board member for ABC Hawaii, and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and is a graduate of Hawaii Baptist Academy. |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Mr. Walters joined Ogden Allied Services in 1990 and was responsible for developing the commercial market for facility services in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His success there, led him to be promoted by the company to President of HBM in 1994 and he remained so after UNICCO’s acquisition in 1996. Mr. Walters received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Southwestern State University in Oklahoma in 1971. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to excel in the insurance industry before going out on his own. As the eventual owner of one of Oklahoma’s largest executive search firms, he provided professional executive level services to oil & gas companies, Big 6 accounting firms, law firms & commercial real estate clientele. Always active in the community, Jim particularly enjoys dedicating his time and energy to volunteer work and has served on numerous boards and committees throughout his career. Jim is the Past President of Palama Settlement and has been a board member for the Boy Scouts of America, IFMA and BOMA where he has chaired and sponsored many community events. |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Ms. Kwong joined Hawaiian Building Maintenance in 2007 as the Assistant Controller. She currently maintains a CPA license and is a notary public. After college, she started her career at Ikeda & Wong, CPA, Inc., working on taxes, financial statements, and payroll for clients. She then worked as a Finance Manager at a Healthcare Organization. Ms. Kwong currently is the Chief Financial Officer at Hawaiian Building Maintenance and oversees the accounting department. Her duties include conducting financial analysis and preparing financial reports; budgeting and forecasting; developing and maintaining accounting methods and procedures; and ensuring financial compliance. She is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree. She graduated with dual concentrations in Accounting and Healthcare Management. Ms. Kwong is also a member of the Hawaii Society of CPAs and a graduate of McKinley High School. |
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Vice President of Engineering Operations |
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Mr. Baker joined HBM in 2015 and oversees HBM’s Engineering, Lighting and Contracted Services Departments. Mr. Baker served in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Machinist Mate on board the USS Charlotte (SSN 766) a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine. He was most recently the Chief Engineer for the Ward Village Portfolio in Hawaii. This portfolio consists of over 65 acres of retail, office and warehouse properties. Mr. Baker will now be responsible for technical and operational support for all of HBM’s engineering and maintenance operations while assisting with our Energy Efficient projects. |
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Vice President of Technical Engineering Services |
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Mr. Birchfield joined Hawaiian Building Maintenance in 1998 as a building Chief Engineer and is currently responsible for overseeing and managing various projects as well serving as the Chief Engineer at Pacific Guardian Center, one of downtown Honolulu’s premier office complex. Mr. Birchfield bring more than 30 years of management and engineering experience to our customers as he began his career as an enlisted machinist in the U. S. Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Engineering Department School, and worked on ships as chief engineer overseeing 300 technical specialists; and Officer in Charge of a fleet training team responsible for providing engineering support to the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor. In addition, he served in the Asia Pacific, Middle Pacific, Middle East, and in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf theaters, involved in high-risk military combat and fleet operations. |
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Construction Manager |
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Mr. McDermott joined HBM in 2015 and manages a variety of maintenance and construction projects. Originally from Kauai, he grew up in the construction trade, learning the industry from highly-skilled men. He has grown to be a master painter and finisher, having done the work for almost 40 years. His other skills include concrete work, soundproofing, commercial tenant improvements, complete build-outs and remodeling, among other things. Mr. McDermott is a graduate of Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and was also a strong safety on the college football team. In addition, he earned a degree in Biblical Studies from Global University. |
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Energy Efficient Lighting Manager |
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Mr. Filer joined Hawaiian Building Maintenance (HBM) in 2015 as a lighting specialist. Prior to joining the company he worked for 16 years in the lighting industry as a project manager, designer, and auditor. He earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Engineering Science from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, specializing in Alternate Renewable Energy. |