Jackie Ishimaru-Gachina never intended to run the landscape company she and her husband, John, founded in 1988. But after John faced his third bout with cancer and died in 2015, she was left with a choice: step up and run the business, or acquiesce to the countless offers to buy it and cash in on the decades of work.
Ishimaru-Gachina had worked as an adviser to the company and sounding board for John – her official title was co-owner – but had not served in any hands-on capacity. And she had big shoes to fill: John was gregarious and a tireless advocate for his employees, often giving them cash to cover car payments or unexpected medical bills, and giving them their jobs back after they were fired or left of their own accord.
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