Meet David Duong | CEO/Founder of Here We Are (HWA) Construction

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Duong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m David Duong, founder and CEO of Here We Are (HWA) Construction. I was raised in Santa Ana/Garden Grove in Orange County. I grew up building houses with my dad at a very young age. There’s even a photo of me cutting tile at six years old. Funny enough, we were building the house I eventually grew up in, and it was my dad’s first property as an immigrant from Vietnam. It was tough work, and I vowed to not follow his footsteps—but “Here We Are”, proof that life has its own plans.

In high school, I started my own clothing company and it made me $5k-$6k a month, until I eventually sold it. For a kid who grew up with very little, it was life-changing. It taught me that my potential wasn’t limited by my circumstances but by how hard I was willing to work—a lesson that still drives me today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career at 19 as a Real Estate Agent in Orange County, doorknocking neighborhoods, studying sales scripts, and hustling to find someone willing to give me a chance to sell their home. In 2021, I expanded my real estate efforts to Los Angeles and quickly fell in love with the Mar Vista community. After seven years as an agent, I decided to venture into real estate development in 2022. That decision changed everything. After more than a year of construction, I completed my first development project at 3646 Corinth Ave. It was a surreal moment that inspired me to take on more projects, including 2735 Federal Ave. and 4040 Bledsoe Ave. In 2024, I founded Here We Are Construction to focus on building custom homes for both clients and our own developments.
Getting to where I am today has been anything but easy.

Early in my career, I learned that work-life balance is almost nonexistent when you’re building a business from the ground up. The key to overcoming that challenge has been creating systems and processes that don’t rely solely on me. Building a business requires long hours, strategic thinking, and a willingness to embrace failure. I’ve learned that failure isn’t the end—it’s a step toward improvement. The faster you learn from your mistakes and take action, the quicker you can pivot and grow.

At HWA Construction, what truly sets us apart is our commitment to clear communication and transparency. Our Design-Build approach ensures clients are supported through every step of their project—from architectural plans, surveys, and structural designs to finishing touches like landscaping, material sourcing, and 2D renderings. This process gives clients a clear picture of the exact cost for their project, eliminating surprises and building trust. Looking back, I’m proud of the journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I want people to know that success comes from persistence, adaptability, and a great team. Here We Are Construction isn’t just about building homes; it’s about building trust, delivering quality, and creating extraordinary spaces for people to live and thrive.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
HWA Construction wouldn’t be where it is today without the incredible support and efforts of the people around me. Our journey started as a small operation out of my home in West Adams, but it was brought to life by a team I’m lucky to have met through different chapters of my life. I have to give a huge shoutout to Kevin Ha, who I met through KRC (Koreatown Run Club) when I decided to run the LA Marathon without training. He’s been a reliable partner ever since, and his skills as a software engineer and HR expertise have been vital to keeping our operations smooth. Ana Ta deserves so much credit too—we grew up in the same hometown and reconnected when I moved to LA. Previously the Head of Social at OnlyFans, her +6 years of marketing expertise and drive to create something meaningful have been invaluable. My wife also played a big role by introducing me to Christine Arias at a friend’s party. Christine’s creative vision and 10 years of interior design experience has become the backbone of our design process. And then there’s World Bui, my cousin and lifelong partner in hustle, who’s been with me through every venture, from handing out t-shirts in high school to managing our on-site work today. Each of them has played an integral part in building HWA. Their talent, dedication, and belief in what we’re doing have pushed us further than I could have imagined. In just six months, we hit our 18-month goal within four months and have kept growing ever since. Moving into our first office in Koreatown felt like a full-circle moment—a testament to how far we’ve come together. This journey wouldn’t be possible without the support, encouragement, and love of the people in my life, and I’m beyond grateful for every one of them.

Website: https://www.HWAConstruction.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hwaconstruction/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hwaconstruction/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HWAConstruction/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hwa-construction-los-angeles

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hwaconstruction