Aqua Engineers has entered into its third decade of service with the appointment of long-time management team member Hugh A. Strom as general manager. To meet growing needs, Strom is now responsible for the management of the company’s administration, accounting,
Aqua Engineers has entered into its third decade of service with the appointment of long-time management team member Hugh A. Strom as general manager.
To meet growing needs, Strom is now responsible for the management of the company’s administration, accounting, operations, engineering, technical services and business development functions.
Before joining Aqua Engineers in 1993, Strom retired from the U.S. Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, where he served as the Air Force advisor and superintendent of the 203 ARF Aircraft Conversion Team.
“I am pleased to have Hugh take the lead at AE,” said Ian Kagimoto, Aqua Engineers president and chief executive officer. “Throughout the years, he has proven to be an effective manager, and instrumental in the continued growth of Aqua Engineers,” Kagimoto said.
Additionally, John N. Oka has been named the company’s operations manager. His responsibilities include the management of the company’s operations and maintenance team in wastewater treatment, water treatment, laboratory, and collection system sections.
Prior to joining Aqua Engineers, Oka was the wastewater operations program superintendent for the County of Maui, where he served in every aspect of wastewater management for more than a decade. In that position he planned, directed and coordinated activities of the Wastewater Reclamation Division’s Operations Section.
In addition, he has been instrumental in the formulation of the industry’s policies and regulations in effect today.
Aqua Engineers was founded in 1981 by Kagimoto, Walter Briant, Seichi Oyama and Frank Kiger. The company specializes in the engineering, construction, operation, maintenance and management of water and wastewater systems throughout the state.
Two decades after the company’s inception, its services have expanded to include engineering, materials testing, collection system maintenance, precast concrete products manufacturing, and construction.
Some of these services are provided by Aqua Engineers’ subsidiaries, Briant Construction and Kaua’i Precast. Aqua Engineers continues to expand its services, and recruit highly qualified staff members to meet its clients’ growing needs, and to stay abreast of the latest technology.
“Throughout the years, AE has evolved as changes in technology and methodology have occurred, yet our ‘island-style’ way of doing business is still imbedded in our company’s philosophy and daily activities,” said Kagimoto.