Building Boston, Wiring Community

When Marquita Kelley looks at the Boston skyline, she doesn’t just see buildings—she sees her work.

“A project we did down in Bartlett Station… to see that go from dirt in an old abandoned building to now see beautiful condos where if you go on the top floor, you look out and you see all of Boston, and to look at that and say, ‘I wired that.’”

As Vice President of NHK Electrical Contractors, a three-generation family business, Marquita understands the power of building—not just structures, but opportunities.

A Family Business, A Community Mission

“This business has been in the family for three generations. Started right after the Vietnam War. It’s a family business, definitely. We have a nephew, an uncle, a brother, and another brother and an Auntie working for the company.”

NHK Electrical Contractors has always been about more than electrical work—it’s about keeping the lights on for their employees and their community. So, when the unexpected happened, Marquita made a promise to her team.

“When COVID hit, we were petrified. We did not know where things were going. So we said to our employees, ‘Don’t fight for unemployment.’

A Partnership That Felt Like a Godsend

Marquita had seen other loan options, but something was missing—trust, transparency, a true partnership.

“I would not touch them because no one took the time to explain to me exactly what I was getting, exactly what I would have to give back.” That changed when she found Ascendus. “I would say working with Ascendus was almost a godsend. I could call at any time, any day, it didn’t matter how many times, and ask questions, and they were answered.”

With that support, NHK didn’t just survive the uncertainty of the pandemic—they kept their team together and their business moving forward.

Continuing to Build for the Future

“NHK will definitely continue to give back to the community and to our area. We will continue to work with community centers and community schools to hire our children.”

For Marquita, success isn’t just about business—it’s about impact. It’s about showing the next generation that they, too, can build something lasting. “It feels great to contribute to the community, especially my community.”

Through resilience, family, and the right support, NHK Electrical Contractors continues to light up Boston—one project, one job, and one opportunity at a time.