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Vela Projects LLC is an owner鈥檚 representation and project management firm founded eight years ago with a mission to enhance the built environment for the benefit of communities. The company is led by principal Ken Kinoshita, who established the firm after overcoming early career challenges related to immigration and visa restrictions, as well as barriers associated with being a non-native English speaker in a highly technical field.

Kinoshita built Vela Projects as a 100 percent minority-owned business, growing it from a sole proprietorship into a small team, reaching three members in 2024. Under his leadership, the firm developed a mission-aligned project pipeline that includes affordable housing initiatives with community-centered organizations and a sustainably built townhome development. That same year, the company received its first industry recognition: NAMC-Oregon鈥檚 Breaking Barriers Award.

In addition to his professional work, Kinoshita served as a board member and two-term president of AREAA Portland and remained active in the National Association of Minority Contractors, contributing educational content in Spanish and English. He also served as a board member for Path Home.

Being a minority business owner means 鈥渆mbracing diversity as a strength鈥� and normalizing leadership that reflects the communities served, Kinoshita stated.