May 30, 2025
The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community has played a huge role in our country, region, and the Port of Seattle. The month of May marks a time to acknowledge this community’s numerous contributions throughout history. One of the many people from the AANHPI community that has contributed to the prosperity of the Port is Huaqi Yi, owner of Lumank Inc. The Diversity in Contracting team had the privilege of learning about her road to entrepreneurship and we are excited to share her story with other women-owned, diverse, and small businesses looking to work with the Port.
Background
Tell us a little about your professional background and what inspired you to start Lumank Inc.
In 1999, I moved from China to the United States to obtain my master’s degree in information studies from Florida State University. After graduating in 2001, I spent 20 years working in the information technology industry. During my career, my husband and I acquired investment properties. As we sought to improve and develop our properties, we considered hiring a general contractor but after investigating further, we felt we could do it ourselves.
So, in 2019, we started Lumank Inc! At first, we did some small remodeling projects on our properties and other residential properties and that was a part-time commitment. However, as the number of projects increased, I saw there were more opportunities for the business if we grew the services we provided so in 2024, I left the IT industry to run the company as my full-time commitment.
Can you tell us more about your company and the services you provide?
We are general contractors specializing in HVAC, insulation/weatherization, and roofing. When we first began our company, we were satisfied just being a general contractor but being in the pacific northwest region, the weather causes a great demand for the specialized services we provide.
Right away we knew roof maintenance would be a great need. Also, with the houses being generally older here, we knew weatherization was going to be a need as well. Those services are necessities and with the high cost of living, we knew we wanted to offer weatherization solutions that were affordable, saved money in the long run, and were energy efficient.
We have the capacity to help people wherever they are at. Whether they’re looking for new HVAC systems in their homes or finding alternative affordable solutions, we can help people find a solution. I’m proud that we are not only meeting the needs of the people we serve but we are also addressing issues that our company and clients care about. I get a lot of satisfaction in this work because we are a company that has been able to achieve much bigger goals than the tangible ones that people see.
Port Opportunities
What projects have you worked on at the Port?
We have been on multiple small works contracts at the Port (projects under $350K). We’ve done some roofing and telecommunications projects and because we’re general contractors we’ve done other projects outside our typical roofing, HVAC, and weatherization specialties. We’ve worked with other government agencies like the City of Seattle, and Sound Transit and have done underground projects as well.
What was your experience being in the Business Accelerator Mentorship Program 2024 cohort? What was it like having a mentor and how has it impacted your business?
Prior to joining the 2024 Business Accelerator cohort, we already won a Port small works project. However, the Accelerator broadened my perspective on our business practices and reinforced confidence in my company’s direction. In the program, my mentor was Jason Jones from Hensel-Phelps and I remember speaking to him about wanting to specialize in HVAC and building our capacity. Although he told us we were probably too small to be subcontractors for the projects Hensel-Phelps were on, he was willing to introduce me to some of HP’s subcontractors so we can get smaller contracts under them.
That was the safest option for us because we didn’t have the manpower to work on a billion-dollar project. We haven’t been introduced to their subs yet because we want to grow our capacity first but I’ve made it a point to connect with Jason periodically to show him my company’s portfolio so we can decide when it will be an opportune time to be introduced to their subs. I’m thankful for the Accelerator because it really helped me build a connections with a prime I’m hoping to contract with and with the other business owners in the program.
What are things you wished you would have known before you began government work?
I wish I would've known more about bonding and its cost. As a general contractor and working on contracts for public agencies, our bonding is higher and eats into our profit on a project. Another costly element of government work is paying prevailing wage. We are happy to do it, but it can be really difficult to do when we invoice for the work completed and it takes a long time to not only hear back but also receive payment. To stay on track with our projects, we have to pay taxes, suppliers, and our workers consistently. To work for the government, you must come with a lot of money upfront because there will be delays in reimbursement.
At the same time, we are thankful to work with public agencies because it offers us good experience that translates to private sector work as well. Government work has created a good avenue of opportunity for us. For all the reasons I listed earlier, some people don’t want to take on government contracts but now that we know how the reimbursement process works, we can assess our supportability of a project during the bidding process. If we can get the contract, we take it.
Advice for Business Owners
What advice do you have for other WMBE/small businesses when it comes to finding opportunities and bidding for Port projects? What advice do you have for businesses who have just secured their first Port project?
In pursuing a contract, you must be bold, persistent, have faith, and do your best. It took us months to get our first contract but thankfully the Port of Seattle bidding process is fair. They don’t give preferences to contractors based on previous relationships and that’s why we were able to win some of our contracts. Us small and WMBE business owners have a chance at a contract with the Port as long as we come prepared. It’s important to be registered on VendorConnect and the Diversity in Contracting Mailing List to be kept aware of new contracting opportunities.
When you get your contract, communication is key! Don’t be intimidated to ask questions, be transparent, and explore different options. It’s important to communicate to all who you’re working with on the project because they want to get the job done just like you. There was a project we were on in the past where we worked closely with our project manager and that was very helpful. He told us the things we needed to be aware of and even avoid. He was very communicative during the span of our contract and the project managers at the Port are very helpful.
What are some unique hurdles you’ve faced and feel other Asian business owners face in running their business?
There was a time I went on a residential site visit to check out a potential client’s HVAC system. When I arrived to meet with the owners of the home, they didn’t think I was going to be the person inspecting their HVAC system although I gave them updates on when I was on my way to their home and my estimated time of arrival. The owner of the home I visited said, “I was expecting to see a man” and we were able to laugh at that because that’s a very common thing she has been used to seeing in construction.
Men dominate this industry, and it makes sense why that woman wasn’t expecting to see an Asian woman behind the door. Asian people are well represented in other business ventures, but when people think about construction, they see white men. I will say though, I don’t think I’ve been overlooked for contracting opportunities because I’ve been able to showcase my company’s capabilities to our clients and I’m very intentional about being timely in my communication so the client can be confident in partnering with us. In my experience I’ve worked with clients that care about the job being done well and not who’s doing the job!
AANHPI Heritage Month
Why is it important to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and what impact does it make on the community and society when AAPI businesses thrive?
This month was our continual reminder of the strength in our identity. My husband and I come from hardworking parents that just wanted to see us thrive and the sacrifices they made for us are what drives us. Many of us who come over here [to the United States] are just encouraged to do better. As an immigrant, I really cherish the freedom I experience in the United States and the American dream. By seeing businesses like mine thrive, people can see the American dream is still alive. Anyone can succeed in this free country.
"As an immigrant, I really cherish the freedom I experience in the United States and the American dream. By seeing businesses like mine thrive, people can see the American dream is still alive. Anyone can succeed in this free country."
Huaqi’s career reminds us that where you start doesn’t always determine where you’re going. She is yet another small business owner that didn’t come from a traditional construction background that has contracted with the Port! We are thankful for Huaqi and all the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people who have contributed to make the Port what it is today. For more information on the history of AANHPI, check out this article from the Federal Asian Pacific American Council and this year’s theme as “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”.
