HBM Hawaii

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 level and hearing what their needs are, and then working to manage our team in the field accordingly to make sure that we’re dealing with all the varieties of things that go on.” This became even more important during the pandemic, and HBM kept the lines of communication open with customers, while also proactively adopting best practices as the situation evolved. An ad hoc Pandemic Task Force allowed the company to work with vendors, insurance companies, and mainland organizations to identify the changing landscape throughout the pandemic and adjust accordingly. Through a program called the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, HBM became an accredited business and earned the title of “microbial warriors”, another opportunity to ensure they were best meeting the safety needs of customers and employees. Walters asserts, “We were able to focus not only on our business continuity but on how our operation meets or exceeds what they consider to be best practices. During the pandemic, there were a lot of people doing ‘pandemic cleaning’. We actually waited two months before entering that segment, because we really wanted to get smart on it first as opposed to just running out to chase the dollar.” “This meant that HBM was able to secure safety gear, and supplies, as well as train staff on entering and exiting contaminated areas safely. “By doing that, our people felt safe going into places that would be considered at risk, and we were also able to provide our clients that peace of mind that if there was an incident on their premises we would have it returned to work quickly and safely,” he says. Walters admits that previous experience with the H1N1 outbreak was an advantage for the company, although COVID required more significant adjustments. It was also timely that HBM purchased an office and warehouse space in 2019, providing another opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, buying in bulk and avoiding supply chain disruptions, and the resulting service HBM interruptions that many others experienced. “It was very helpful for us,” Walters admits. “We bought 1000s of masks. We were able to buy hundreds of disposable hazmat suits, and then through our administrative support in the office and our safety manager, we were able to develop an inventory control program, so that we never put ourselves at risk of running out of necessary supplies.” As a company with deep roots in Hawaii, HBM takes many opportunities to give back. One example is the company’s support of the Sony Open, a PGA Tour event that is in its 25th year. The company also partners with Friends of Hawaii Charities to support local nonprofits, an initiative HBM is proud to say they have been involved in since they were first established. Other impactful community involvement efforts include “adopt a school day”, where HBM selects a local school to perform extra maintenance and cleaning tasks. “It’s been neat because we’ve opened up some of