For every journey, there is a beginning and the route leads the traveler to his destination: to lead or be led by the circumstances shaping the past, present and future. Currently the President and Owner of Group Builders, Inc., Anacleto “Lito” R. Alcantra is married to Carmelita Alcantra and they have 4 children: Anacleto, Jr., Maribel, Anamelita and Jeaneth.

Lito was born on July 13, 1937 to a farming family in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He learned at an early age the value of hard work and persistence, having earned a full scholarship at the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila where he finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in the year 1960. The following year, he passed the Civil Engineering Board Examination. He worked for the Manila Railroad Company for 3 years as Assistant Project Engineer and was awarded the Model Assistant Project Engineer in 1963. For the next 9 years, he was the Dean of the College of Engineering at the Northeastern College of Santiago, Isabela, Philippines. From there, he went to venture as the Self-Employed Owner of the Alcantra Construction Company from 1964 to 1973. The declaration of martial law in his home country had made him decide to move to Hawaii and further embark on facing new challenges to his future.

His first job was at the Acoustic Insulation & Drywall, Inc. from 1973 to 1978 where he worked his way up to reach the position of Executive Vice President. When the company folded in 1979, losing his job was not the end for Lito. With the financial help of Charles I. Cook who is now the CEO of Group Builders, Inc., a new Specialty Contractor company was born. While some would consider the company’s phenomenon as a fortuitous climb to the ladder of success, recognition did not come without the vision and commitment when faced with contingencies and adversities. Through the years, Lito and Group Builders, Inc. have built and gained the reputation for quality service and reliability, later recognized with such prestigious awards as The Outstanding Filipino Business Person of the Year (presented by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in 1989); The Outstanding Engineer of the Year (presented by the Filipino-American League of Engineers and Architects in 1994); The Regional Minority Contractor of the Year (presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency in 1994 where he competed with construction firms from Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. He was the first Filipino to receive this award.); Entrepreneur of the Year Award (presented by The Filipino Chamber of Commerce Hawaii in 1996); Business and Finance Award (presented by the United Filipino Council of Hawaii in 1996); Pamana ng Pilipino Award – Outstanding Filipino Overseas (Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996); the Hawaii Entrepreneur of the Year Award (presented by Ernst and Young, LLP in 1997); Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by the United Filipino Council of Hawaii in February 2006); the Outstanding Union Builder Award (Presented by The Hawaii Carpenters Union Local 745 in February 2006); and the Businessman of the Year Award (Presented by the Kalayaan Centennial Celebration Huwaran 2006 in July 2006).

Group Builders, Inc. first entered The Top 250 Largest Companies in 1998 (presented by Hawaii Business, the First Filipino Company included in the top 250 companies in Hawaii) and Hawaii’s Top 20 General Contractors in 1999 (presented by Hawaii Business, the First Filipino Construction Company included in the top 20). Since then, it has consistently maintained being among the best. Currently, it is number 79 among the top 250 corporations in Hawaii, and number 15 in Building Industry’s Top 25 contractors. Nationwide, the company ranks 186 among the Top 600 Specialty Contractors & awarded one of Hawaii’s Best Places to Work in 2008 & 2009.

Despite the growth and development, rising among the top of the trade, Lito keeps his humble roots to the ground, actively involved in cultural and trade organizations, interactive with Filipino-American community activities, versatile in projects such as extending technology advancement, coordinating business investors and dignitaries visiting Hawaii and the Philippines, chaired the 11^th and 12^th Annual Trade Mission of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, provided labor & construction for the Bayanihan Health Services which provides free Medical treatment to new immigrant families without medical insurance, initiated the establishment of the Filipino Community Center during his term as the president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in 1992-1993. He was also the Director from 1990.

Among his many organizational affiliations: Hawaii Filipino Contractors Association, President 1981-1984; Gypsum Drywall Contractors Association of Hawaii, President 1985-1986, Vice President, 1984-1985, Secretary 1983-1984, Treasurer 1995-Present; Walls & Ceilings Contractors Association of Hawaii, President 1990-1996, Vice President 1989-1990; Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Director 1984-1985; Oahu Filipino Community Council, Director 1989-1990; Isabela Association of Hawaii, Director 1992-1996; San Vicente Association of Hawaii, Director 1990-2006; Filipino Community Center, Director 1993 to Present; Filipino American League of Engineers and Architects, Vice President 1998-1999, President 1999-2000; General Contractors Association of Hawaii, member; Association of Walls & Ceilings International, member; National Association of Home Builders, member; Hawaii State Contractors License Board, member 2000 to present; Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America, was a member of the Board of Director.