The Ward Sense Of Community
By Bobbie Lau
General Manager of Ward Centers
When I joined the Howard Hughes Corporation as the general manager for Ward Centers in late 2011, I stepped into the role of helping increase the success of the properties and destination; helping to build new relationships and foster existing ones with tenants, service providers and customers, and helping to shape the vision for future development in Kaka’ako.
I have been fortunate to gain a deeper understanding of Ward Centers’ rich history, which goes back more than 130 years to the Victoria Ward family. I believe that those I work with are my most valuable resources. Working closely with internal and external team members, our collective strengths have helped to execute many of the exciting changes at Ward.
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It is my joy and responsibility to help identify and encourage the personal strengths of my team. I seek advice from others on best practices for business and incorporate these strategies into Ward Centers’ practices. I believe that Ward Centers is built on relationships, and I enjoy meeting with my tenants. It is equally as important for us to walk our properties daily and look at them from a customer’s perspective. With approximately 120 shops at Ward Centers’ five complexes – Ward Centre, Ward Warehouse, Ward Entertainment Center, Ward Gateway Center and Ward Village Shops – I am constantly encountering both new and familiar faces.
One of the special things about Howard Hughes Corporation and Ward Centers is that we look to the past to make plans for the future. I have gained great respect for our company’s desire to learn and authenticate the history of the land while also moving forward with exciting new development. Ward Centers was the buzz around town when we welcomed T.J. Maxx to Ward Village Shops. Shoppers also were delighted with the recent announcement of the upcoming arrival of Bed Bath & Beyond.
We strive to find a balance between popular large retailers and small shops that sell unique local gifts that can only be found at Ward. Ward Centers has been a part of the Kaka’ako community for many generations, and it will continue to be gathering place for many more.
