You could call it serendipity. But that would only be part of Carolina Pascua’s story. Indeed, Pascua was in the right place at the right time when Ethan Allen ventured into Honduras in early 2011 to explore the possibility of opening a manufacturing plant there.
The company tapped a private development firm for counsel, and Pascua, an investment manager at the time, was assigned to the case. She worked closely with EA executives throughout the process and so impressed them that she was hired as administrative manager when the project came to fruition.
The Honduras native is now plant manager of the facility, which has been manufacturing case goods since it went online in March of 2012. Last year, the plant took on the entire production of chairs from several collections—from rough mill to finishing and shipping; Pascua says she is proud to say the chairs “are completely made in Honduras.”
Nicolette Armchair
“In the beginning, our goal was to see that every item that left the plant was up to Ethan Allen standards,” she says. Now her hardworking team has set its sights higher: “Our objective is to be the best Ethan Allen plant in the world.”
Benham Chairs
Pascua, 45, says she feels completely at home with the company because of its commitment to her operation and the 390-plus employees who work there. “Profitability is very important, of course,” she says, “But the company also cares very much about working conditions and the overall environment.”
“Our best resources are definitely our people,” she says. “And for me, the most beautiful thing is that people at all levels are always thinking of ways to do better.”
A personal objective for the married mother of two is to demonstrate a strong work ethic every chance she gets—especially among the young people employed at the plant. “The average age of our employees is 25, and I want them to know that if you have a plan, there are ways to achieve it,” she says. “I am someone who had to work and study at night as I put myself through university. It was a challenge, but no one can tell me it can’t be done.”
