The story behind Akamai

The name Akamai reflects a standard and the standard comes from Dexter’s background: early construction, the ocean, and building through change in San Juan del Sur.

In Hawai‘i, “akamai” describes someone who is smart, capable, and quick to learn. For Dexter, it also became personal early. At 14, he worked on a fishing ship under a Hawaiian captain who started calling him “Akamai” because he learned fast and worked hard. The nickname stayed with him, and later became the company name because it reflects how Dexter believes projects should be run: capable teams, clear execution, and quality work.

Dexter grew up on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. His father was a pastor who built orphanages and homes for low-income families, and Dexter started working alongside him at eight years old. He learned English by practicing with missionaries and watching American movies—skills that later helped him work with international clients and manage complex operations.

In 1991, Dexter’s family moved to San Juan del Sur, when it was still a small fishing town with dirt roads and only a few hotels. In 1992, a tsunami damaged much of the town. The church community worked together to support families and rebuild, and that period shaped Dexter’s sense of responsibility and what it means to build for a community—not just for a project.

Around that same time, a pastor friend brought surfboards from Oregon. Dexter and four friends were among the first kids in San Juan to take surfing seriously—back when reaching the beaches often meant long hikes through the jungle. Surfing became part of Dexter’s identity, and he later competed professionally, representing Nicaragua and Central America.

Dexter eventually moved to Managua to finish high school, then earned scholarships to study Information Technology, followed by a technical degree in engineering systems. He built a career in leadership at a large organization, eventually overseeing IT across seven companies for ten years. That experience influences Akamai’s operations today: structured planning, accountability, and systems that scale.

Before returning full-time to San Juan, Dexter founded the Nicaraguan National Surfing Federation, supported events, and mentored youth through school and community programs. As San Juan developed into a major tourism and investment market, Dexter returned full-time, managed hotels, and built what became Akamai’s construction operation.

The name Akamai reflects a standard and the standard comes from Dexter’s background: early construction, the ocean, and building through change in San Juan del Sur.

More than construction

Dexter also operates a fishing boat and private touring company. And when time allows, he still surfs just not as often as he’d like.