ARC x NHT: The DIY Showcase
The first stop on the 2025 Jamaica Observer Design Week Ja schedule took place on Tuesday, October 7, at ARC Manufacturing, one of Jamaica’s leading manufacturers and distributors of premium-quality building materials.
The event, a collaboration between ARC — which has partenered with #DesignWeekJa for seven of its eight years — and National Housing Trust (NHT) was held in the relatively new retail store, at the company’s 14 Bell Rd property.
ARC Manufacturing Limited Sales Executive Natalie Lawrence guided the proceedings, which started with a prayer by Chief Manufacturing Officer Neville Alexander. Non-stop laughter ensued, shortly after when noted comedian and actor Owen “Blakka” Ellis took to the stage for one of his stand-up comedy routines. There were remarks from Jamaica Observer Design Week Ja conceptualiser Novia McDonald-Whyte, National Housing Trust Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Dwayne Berbick, and ARC Manufacturing Limited CEO Conroy Rose, before Chanté Blackwood, general contractor and chief executive officer at Chantier Construction Limited, led a session dubbed ‘Reimagining DIY’ in which she guided guests through the nuances of DIY projects. While her presentation and the one-on-one conversation between ARC Manufacturing Limited General Manager, Corporate Affairs & Governance Novlet Green and Kingston Woodworks CEO Onari Cowan were the main attractions, activities on the sidelines were equally fruitful, as Berbick and his team led mortgage and financing consultations at the NHT booth.
The NHTxARC Design Week event sparked powerful conversations about the future of building in Jamaica, and closed with a nod to the industry’s future, as young engineer-turned-woodworker Onari Cowan led ‘the Builders’ Workshop’, a hands-on session where he taught participants the proper ways to use power tools, while building a food crate using lumber sourced at ARC.
Photos: Karl Mclarty
Kingston Woodworks CEO Onari Cowan showcased his handiwork: A folding back bench, centre table, and plant stand/end table, all made from cedar sourced at ARC Manufacturing. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Chantier Construction Limited CEO & General Contractor Chanté Blackwood checked herself out in the April 2025 issue of Home & A Way (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
The opening prayer was led by ARC Manufacturing Limited Chief Manufacturing Officer Neville Alexander. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Smart Choice Engineers director Stephen Lue-Yen (left), customer service professional Whitney Ling, and ARC Manufacturing Chief Financial Officer Richard Brown (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Also in attendance were K-Ban Hardware Chairman Kiran Banhan; his wife Maxine (left), K-Ban Hardware director; and daughter Nalini, K-Ban Hardware CEO. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Law Builders Constructing Ja Ltd sibling co-owners Lennon Williams and Janise Lawrence perused the pages of the Jamaica Observer Design Week 2025 supplement. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Kingston Woodworks CEO Onari Cowan had the support of his sister Jizell. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Jamaica Observer Media Group Managing Director Dominic Beaubrun (second left); his wife, HR consultant Angelique (left); and Observer Deputy Managing Director Natalie Chin-Samuda in conversation with NHT Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Dwayne Berbick (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
ARC Manufacturing Limited General Manager, Corporate Affairs & Governance Novlet Green (left) and Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Kathryn Silvera (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
ARC Manufacturing Limited Chief Commercial Officer Andrea Whittick (left), with the help of Booth Levels Jamaica COO Auri Mae Thomas, secured her instant snap before the formalities. Attendees were able to get their pictures taken on-site, providing them with special mementoes. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
![[USE AS INSET]Karl Mclarty](/jamaicaobserver/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/image_11-3.jpg)
(Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Hard at work at the Builders’ Workshop — led by Kingston Woodworks CEO Onari Cowan (left) — were Spectrum Insurance Brokers Administrator Simone Scott-Grant and Smart Choice Engineers director Stephen Lue-Yen. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
Str’Or Décor principal Acqua Russell (left) and MichDelicious Catering principal Michelle Bingham Williams were snapped on arrival at the event. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)
