SSFM International opened its Guam office in 2005 in response to the Pacific region’s ever-expanding needs for professional expertise in comprehensive planning, management and engineering.
JOE DUENAS is the Manager for SSFM’s Pacific Region activities, located in the firm’s Guam office. We asked Joe about the firm’s position in the region.
A. SSFM was founded as a structural engineering practice in Hawaii over 60 years ago. Today we’re a highly diversified professional firm offering project, program and construction management; civil, and structural engineering as well as environmental and transportation planning. We have offices in Hawaii, Guam, Manila and Japan giving us a prominent position in the Pacific region.
A. Our presence in the Western Pacific dates back several decades. Guam is “America in Asia.” The Island occupies a strategic location in the Western Pacific. We enjoy the benefits of U.S. rule of law and with our close proximity to Asia, can serve clients throughout the region. We’re only 30 minutes from the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI), an hour to the Federated States of Micronesia, 2 hours to Palau, 3.5 hours to Japan and the Philippines, 4.5 hours to Kosrae. and 7 hours to Hawaii.
Guam office projects encompass public and private sector clients, engaging the comprehensive resources of the entire firm.
A. No. With the ongoing geopolitical relations between the U.S., China, and North Korea, we are well positioned to service the unprecedented requirements of the DoD for developing and maintaining their extensive infrastructure needs. While we are heavily engaged in DoD projects, our practice is also anchored by a substantial amount of non-DoD work. We have significant ongoing projects on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. On Guam we continue to do work for the Guam International Airport, the Department of Public Works and the Guam Waterworks Authority, and the private sector. We have worked on large landmark government capital improvement programs like the Guam Museum, the Guam Cultural Repository and Route 3 projects, and we have teams working on three major FSM airport projects.
A. Our Guam professionals are culturally diverse, hailing from the U.S., Guam, the Philippines, Yap, Chuuk, Korea, Fiji, and New Zealand. We reflect the makeup of the Pacific/Asia region, while being integral to our local community. Our CEO, Mike Matsumoto, was very strategic in staffing the Guam office. Our diversity affords us a genuine understanding of the community. Many of our professional have backgrounds in the local government agencies we serve. Combine our local presence and professional network with the resources of our entire firm, we address our client’s needs in the Pacific like no other firm.
SSFM International opened its Guam office in 2005 in response to the Pacific regions ever expanding needs for professional expertise in comprehensive planning, management and engineering.
Guam office projects encompass public and private sector clients, engaging the comprehensive resources of the entire firm.
Q. Are all of your projects for the Department of Defense?
A. No. With the ongoing geopolitical relations between the U.S., China, and North Korea, we are well positioned to service the unprecedented requirements of the DoD for developing and maintaining their extensive infrastructure needs. While we are heavily engaged in DoD projects, our practice is also anchored by a substantial amount of non-DoD work. We have significant ongoing projects on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. On Guam we continue to do work for the Guam International Airport, the Department of Public Works and the Guam Waterworks Authority, and the private sector. We have worked on large landmark government capital improvement programs like the Guam Museum, the Guam Cultural Repository and Route 3 projects, and we have teams working on three major FSM airport projects.
Q. What’s Different about SSFM from the other professional firms on the Island?
A. Our Guam professionals are culturally diverse, hailing from the U.S., Guam, the Philippines, Yap, Chuuk, Korea, Fiji, and New Zealand. We reflect the makeup of the Pacific/Asia region, while being integral to our local community. Our CEO, Mike Matsumoto, was very strategic in staffing the Guam office. Our diversity affords us a genuine understanding of the community. Many of our professional have backgrounds in the local government agencies we serve. Combine our local presence and professional network with the resources of our entire firm, we address our client’s needs in the Pacific like no other firm.
Our professional world is the built and natural environments where land and oceans meet. We are Island Experts.
A. I was a military brat. My father was a Chamorro (Guam native) who served in the Army for 27 years. I grew up in the U.S., Europe and Asia. I moved to Guam when I was 17 and have lived here for over 30 years. I’ve had a diverse career in business and public administration. Early in my career, I’ve managed, started up several health and fitness franchises and a nonprofit organization on Guam I was the Business Manager for Johnson Controls on Guam and I’ve had the privilege of serving in public agency leadership positions as the Director of Public Works, the State Historic Preservation Officer, Port Authority General Manager, and chief of staff to a former Governor and Lt. Governor of Guam. My wife and have leadership roles at the Lutheran Church, where I’m currently the president, and my wife is the Fellowship Committee chair. My faith has contributed to a life philosophy of stewardship and self-mastery; my experience as a military brat exposed me to resilience and a larger world view; and my professional experience has given me a well-rounded view of management and leadership.
Our professional world is the built and natural environments where land and oceans meet. We are Island Experts.
Q. Tell us about your path to leading SSFM’s Guam office.
A. I was a military brat. My father was a Chamorro (Guam native) who served in the Army for 27 years. I grew up in the U.S., Europe and Asia. I moved to Guam when I was 17 and have lived here for over 30 years. I’ve had a diverse career in business and public administration. Early in my career, I’ve managed, started up several health and fitness franchises and a nonprofit organization on Guam I was the Business Manager for Johnson Controls on Guam and I’ve had the privilege of serving in public agency leadership positions as the Director of Public Works, the State Historic Preservation Officer, Port Authority General Manager, and chief of staff to a former Governor and Lt. Governor of Guam. My wife and have leadership roles at the Lutheran Church, where I’m currently the president, and my wife is the Fellowship Committee chair. My faith has contributed to a life philosophy of stewardship and self mastery; my experience as a military brat exposed me to resilience and a larger world view; and my professional experience has given me a well-rounded view of management and leadership.
Q. What’s the future for you and SSFM on Guam?
A. It is my goal to continue growing SSFM’s capacity and quality service in the Western Pacific. Surrounded by a team of top professionals, our opportunities on Guam and in the Pacific region are limited only by how high we aim.