Walking through the headquarters of Kwan Wo Iron Works, situated in the industrial part of Hayward, CEO Florence Kong catches the attention of a staff member and points a finger directly at the employee.

A gesture similar to a mother summoning her child, Kong curls her finger in a wave-like fashion signaling the employee to step forward.

She is annoyed and disappointed about the condition of the company break room and the litter found on the company’s badminton court while she toured the factory plant.

“You need to have someone clean it up,” Kong tells her staff member.

When it comes to appearances and organization, Kong is meticulous; a trait that contributes to the success of her company, but her direct and confrontational approach has sometimes earned her the title of “Iron Woman.” Her no nonsense demeanor has often created some harsh criticism from her peers, friends and family.

As head of Kwan Wo Iron Works, Kong generates $10-20 million in revenues annually and employs over 100 people.

The company fabricates and installs steel structures for buildings and construction projects. Some of the more notable buildings include the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the Asian Art Museum, Heritage College, El Cerrito City Hall, Washington Hospital in Fremont and many other large developments throughout the Bay Area.

After 21 years of business in the city of San Francisco, Kong relocated the company headquarters to the city of Hayward on June of 2012.  “We needed more space, and the taxes in San Francisco were beginning to erode heavily into company revenues,” Kong said.

Known to have a knack for politics, Kong is well connected, and according to public records is a major donor to various candidates and elected politicians within California.

Some of her monetary contributions have supported Ed Lee for Mayor of San Francisco, Diane Feinstein for Senate, Judy Chu for Congress, and David Campos for San Francisco Supervisor.

The city of San Francisco appointed Kong in 2011 to the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission and in 2012, Lee officially swore her into the San Francisco Construction Workforce Advisory Committee.

Determined since childhood, Kong grew up in a less than modest environment. She was born in Hong Kong shortly after her parents and older sister escaped from the ensuing Communist regime in China.

Hong Kong, a British governed city at the time was less than developed as illustrated in old Bruce Lee movies with rickshaws on the streets and fishing boats in the harbor.

“We were always running around in the streets until our mom called for us and made us sit for hours, studying,” Kong recalled.

Kong’s mother was an incredible advocate of education and always encouraged Kong to excel in her studies. By the time she graduated high school, Kong was accepted to Hong Kong Polytechnic University, one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized universities in Hong Kong.

There, she fell in love and met her husband, Raymond Shum, an engineering student.  “We always talked about our future and how we would be successful together, I really respected him, and he taught me so much, we had big dreams,” Kong said.

In the late 1980’s, Kong and Shum immigrated to the Unites States and settled in San Francisco. They started building their family and had three children, two boys and a girl.

Their dreams of starting their own business came to life in 1992. With Shum’s engineering background and Kong’s accounting degree they set off to build their small construction operation.

“It started with three of us, I was a co-founder and we just built it up, little by little,” Kong recalled.

Everything seemed to be falling into place, until Raymond’s health began to deteriorate in 1994.  Diagnosed with Hepatitis, doctors gave Raymond months to live.

“Life was very sad at that time,” remembered Kong.

Less than three years after they began to build the business, Raymond passed away.

“It was so difficult. I lost my loved one and I had to face the real world, with people taking advantage of me, and he was not there to protect me,” said Kong.

Left with the unknown future of the company, Kong possessed no engineering background to sustain the steel construction business, three children and a mortgage.

She was not sure how she would survive.

Kong did not seem to have any choice but to forge ahead.

“I just always had a strong feeling that if I can do it, I will do it!” she remembered telling herself.

By 2002, Kong not only sustained the business, but also found love again and remarried.  As a mother who had to devote enormous amounts of time towards the business, she managed to raise her three children whom all graduated from local universities.

“I had to work with my kids and make sure they have a good balance in life. I always showed my love for my kids,” she said.

Today, Kwan Wo Iron Works, has become one of the largest steel companies in the West and certainly in the Bay Area. Despite the recent economic recession and a near halt on big building projects, Kong’s company barely escaped demise.

“I’m really lucky to still be here,” she said.

Kong, a woman and a minority, continues to grow the company and become a fierce competitor in a predominately male dominated industry.

“I faced a lot of challenges. As a woman, people always think, ‘Can you do it?’” she explained. “People have always tried to take advantage of me and during tough times, my competitors have tried to squash me.”

Her attitude is strong and unapologetic.

“I persist and still exist. What it is, that you need, is to have courage.  You just have to do.  So do it.  It does not matter if you are a man or a woman. We all have the same ability as long as you are eager to do it and are not afraid.”