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Sakurako Egami That-cher has a diverse professional background that ranges from working as a language translator to experience in accounting, concrete testing, and being a flagger, traffic control supervisor and equipment operator.

She took the advice of her husband, who works in construction, when he suggested she start her own business because of the opportunities for women- and minority-owned contracting companies. Egami Thatcher did just that in 1999, but she also was raising their young children and they were her primary focus at the time.

A decade later, she renamed the business Egami Construction and, after asking for and receiving permission from her father, instituted her Japanese family鈥檚 200-year-old crest as the company鈥檚 logo.

With five full-time employees, Egami Construction specializes in highway and road construction with an emphasis on permanent and temporary traffic control device and sign installation. They work on projects owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Port of Portland, and cities and counties across the state. Egami Thatcher said she appreciates the variety and sense of accomplishment that come with the job.

鈥淚t鈥檚 different every day and I feel really valued at the end of a job when contactors and inspectors tell me, 鈥業t was great working with you and we would like to see you on another job.鈥� That鈥檚 the best feeling,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he contractors and inspectors have all treated me with respect and I really appreciate it.鈥�

Her role as a business owner is not without challenges, however. Like many contractors, Egami Construction has had to contend with theft. In 2015, Egami Thatcher and her crew were working on a job when someone stole the truck that was loaded with all of their tools along with Egami Thatcher鈥檚 wallet, house keys and shop keys.

鈥淚 literally watched them drive away with the truck,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had to call my 16-year-old son, who had just started driving, to come and pick me up in Portland. It was awful.鈥�

The police later found the truck, minus the tools. To make matters worse, the thief had poured liquid into the fuel tank and it needed to be completely overhauled.

Egami Thatcher said she engraves all of her power tools to help ensure they can be returned if lost or stolen. In one instance, an employee left a tool on top of the truck, forgot about it and drove off. Not long after, someone called her to say they had found the tool on the side of the road and wanted to return it.

鈥淭here are some good people out there still,鈥� she said, adding the good Samaritan initially refused her offer of a gift card as a thank-you but ultimately accepted it.

Egami Construction joined NAMC-Oregon in July, and Egami Thatcher said she already has seen benefits from her membership.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more than I expected. NAMC has other companies that we have worked with and others I haven鈥檛 worked with yet, and I thought maybe it would be a good starting point to broaden my horizons,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can see that Nate is very proactive and I鈥檓 really impressed. I鈥檓 looking forward to going to the meeting in September to meet other members as well.鈥�