PPB October 2015

INNOVATE

28 •

PPB

• OCTOBER 2015

What is your philosophy

for successfully managing

people?

Cheng:

Provide open com-

munication and be part of

the team. By performing

team work, not only does

everyone support each other,

but it helps everyone get

involved, including myself. I

enjoy listening to everyone’s

comments and concerns

because this helps me get

involved with my employees

and it helps the employees

to get involved with the com-

pany. When the employees

are mentally invested in

AKWA, they do a more con-

scientious job.

How do you create a

positive culture with your

team and those who report

to you?

Cheng:

In order to encour-

age my employees to strive

for the best, I must also be

open to changes. In doing so,

this helps employees feel

more confident within them-

selves and the company. It

also empowers the employ-

ees to try and improve the

company. AKWA is 100-per-

cent made-in-USA apparel, so

we’re often at a cost disad-

vantage. If the employees can

help improve the company,

we all benefit from any effi-

ciencies or product additions

they suggest.

What advice can you share

with other managers to

improve their people-man-

agement skills?

Cheng:

Always build trust.

Think positively, demonstrate

appreciation, establish mutual

respect and be responsible

for your actions. These things

will all lead to effective peo-

ple management. AKWA’s

work force demonstrates this,

as 75 percent of our employ-

ees have been with the com-

pany for 10 years or more.

AKWA Apparel is known for

high-quality, made-in-the-

USA garments, but the back-

bone of the company is our

high-quality people.

“Ken has successfully navigated AKWA Apparel from a board-

short company to a 100-percent made-in-the-USA corporate

apparel company,” says nominator Steve Pinzon, senior partner

at Brea Marketing Group and a manufacturer’s rep for

AKWA. “I’ve really enjoyed his talent for explaining why the

smallest of details is important to the quality process. He

knows manufacturing like nobody I’ve ever met. He is also

incredibly composed; he never loses his temper, never belittles

a competitor or employee and never creates tension in the

office. He’s been through some difficult times on a personal

level, but he never brings that to work with him. He’s just a

class act every day, every week, all year long.”

Ken Cheng

Owner, AKWA Apparel

(UPIC: AKWA)

City of Industry, California

Number of direct reports:

Cool factor:

He loves wearing “experimental”

apparel designs to work so people can see what

they look like on a real person.

Nominator:

Steve Pinzon

“When the

employees are

mentally invested

in AKWA, they

do a more consci-

entious job.”