Voice of Business Podcast by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

Why Hawaii's Economy May Be Resilient to Recession  Kyle Shelly, is the Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Banking at American Savings Bank (ASB).  He is also a volunteer board member of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, the Young Professional Program of the Chamber, and the Domestic Violence Action Center.Shelly explains that although the unemployment rate is currently low for Hawaii, it is very difficult to hire for many businesses. The pandemic thrust individuals into unemployment and there has been a population decline over the last few years which has created a workforce shortage. Businesses are finding new ways to adapt and do more with less staffing resources. The cost of capital, supply chain issues and inflation are also challenges for business. The federal reserve is striving to balance the challenges to soften economic impacts. Hawaii has some mitigating factors that may ease the impacts of a likely recession. Hawaii may be more resilient than the continental United States because of the expected return of the international visitor industry and a consistent pipeline of construction projects. Hawaii banks are also very well capitalized, in contrast to the 2008 recession environment. Shelly believes the spirit of the entrepreneur is resilient and that businesses will do what it takes to survive, regardless of our economic environment. He sees some signs that inflation is decreasing in shipping container prices and because home values are starting to decline. He suggests businesses ensure they have access to liquidity through their banks to ensure business resiliency.  

Helping People Create their Moment.Hanson Nguyen is Partner and Marketing Director at Hawaii Events Unlimited, a one-stop full-service event production company. He has 12+ years of experience as the owner and operator of Level H Promotions. Hawaii Events Unlimited creates events that include celebrity weddings, high school proms, graduations, and more. In 2019, Nguyen and his team were producing one-of-a-kind prom experiences for Hawaii high schools. Their event production services were in high demand until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring 2020. Nguyen and his team persevered through the pandemic and are thrilled to be planning dynamic events of all sizes again. There is pent up demand for events due to the hiatus and the event industry is booming now that in-person events are back. His team is dedicated to identifying world-wide trends in events to bring the latest and greatest to Hawaii.  They utilize tools like pyrotechnics to enhance an entrance and project mapping to transform blank walls with scenes to set any mood. They encourage clients to share their event dreams and Hawaii Events Unlimited strives to make their dreams come true. They are also always looking for new talent to join the team since the business continues to grow.

On this 50th episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, host Jo McGarry interviews Jason Higa, Chief Executive Officer of FCH Enterprises which includes Zippy's Restaurants, Napoleon's Bakery, Food Solutions International, A Catered Experience and Kahala and Pearl City Sushi. McGarry and Higa discuss Movers & Shakas, an initiative born in the early months of the pandemic to help the business community after the Hawaii tourism shutdown. With locals returning from the mainland and continuing to work remotely throughout the pandemic, Higa and his advisory board saw an opportunity for Hawaii to pair remote workers with local non-profits providing assistance from strategic planning to the creation of apps. With over 90,000 applicants in the first round, they accepted 50 high quality cohorts.Throughout this process and with the tourism market returning, an inculturation program was devised to ensure that remote workers, or those new to Hawaii could work effectively with local non-profits and the Hawaii business community. The talent onboarding program, HITOP became a series of classes, courses and experiences to better understand local culture and how to work effectively in the business community in Hawaii. HITOP focuses on high level executives who are recruited and move to Hawaii.Listen to this podcast and learn more about the Hawaii Talent Onboarding Program.Wednesday, September 28, 202222 minutes

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Ryan Tanaka the Chief Financial Officer of KAI Hawaii, the President of Underground Services where he leads the company's affordable housing developments, along with being the co-owner of Giovanni Pastrami and the Chairman for the Hawaii Restaurant Association on restaurant trends post-COVID and the important role that restaurants play in community building.Tanaka discusses the role that the Hawaii Restaurant Association played throughout the pandemic and as a new restaurant owner assisted with the development of a program to benefit the restaurant industry. With the formation of a state-wide coalition encompassing banks, trade associations and law makers, they were able to better understand the struggles faced by restaurant owners. Tanaka also discusses the future of restaurants and the importance of supporting local for an industry which employs 100,000 people in Hawaii. The Hawaii Restaurant Association has also partnered with the University of Hawai'i Athletics Department to be a pioneer in NIL agreements with student athletes, to better facilitate recruitment and retention across the University of Hawai'i sporting teams.Listen and learn more about the restaurant industry in Hawaii and how they are adapting post pandemic.Wednesday, December 14, 202226 minutes

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Su Shin the President & General Manager of Hawaiian Telcom.Shin discusses her non-traditional career pathway from journalism to communications to Hawaii Telcom's first female president in the company's 135-year history.Listen to this podcast and learn about the importance of Hawaiian Telcom's strategy towards diversity, equity and inclusion. Shin also discusses the important issue of digital equity and the current digital divide that was evident throughout the pandemic.Wednesday, September 7, 202224 minutes

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Katie Kaahanui, Program Manager of Hawaii is Hiring at the Chamber, on the importance of expanding education and training programs to Hawaii's incarcerated population.Kaahanui discusses her volunteer work through the Women's Community Correctional Center and Halawa Correctional Facility and how she continuously advocates for providing critically needed resources for individuals re-entering the community. As an academic tutor to incarcerated students who are pursuing their Associate Business Degree at Chaminade University, Kaahanui is passionate about breaking the cycles of crime and helping inmates to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.Through her work at the Chamber with the Hawaii is Hiring program, Kaahanui also sits on the Hawaii team for the U.S Chamber's Smart Justice Initiative which comprises of Chambers throughout the nation working towards elevating this important workforce development issue. Listen and learn more about this fascinating topic from a unique workforce development perspective. Wednesday,  September 14, 202219 minutes

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Dr. Diane Paloma the President & CEO of Hawaii Dental Service.Dr. Paloma discusses her philosophy and interest in native Hawaiian culture and through the Hawaii Dental Service she is helping to bring solutions to a community with over 600,000 members. Dr. Paloma has a keen interest for Hawaii Dental Service to make a bigger impact to the community by becoming the local champion who understands their needs through greater relationship building. Listen and learn more about her philosophy and relationship building.Wednesday, August 31, 202219 minutes

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES focused on community building in the healthcare sector, Jo McGarry interviews Dr Jill Hoggard Green PHD & RN, President & CEO of The Queens Healthcare System.Dr. Hoggard Green discusses how the Queens Healthcare System are best serving each person and their ohana, with an understanding that teams and our community can collaborate to improve health and well-being.Throughout the pandemic, the Queens Healthcare System focused on bringing teams together at a rapid pace to implement protocols that would work across the community. Throughout that time, while constantly learning, the protocols established made a tremendous difference to the state of Hawaii. Coming out of the pandemic, Dr. Hoggard Green sees Hawaii as having incredible abilities to truly improve health and well-being of our families and to create new industry and businesses that can thrive. Listen and learn more about The Queens Healthcare System.Wednesday, August 24, 202219 minutes

On this edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco, CA. McGarry and Sarkar discuss Canada and Hawaii's historical relationship that goes back to 1780 when indigenous Hawaiians crewed transpacific ships and settled in Vancouver taking jobs in the furring, mining and timber industries. And, today, a good part of British Columbia's population is of Hawaiian ancestry. This rich friendship between our two countries is so much more than ancestry, today, over 1 million Canadians choose Hawaii as their destination of choice for vacation and spend over $1.6 billion dollars annually in the Hawaiian islands.Listen to this podcast to learn how you can tap into the Canadian demographics of visitors to support your business growth in 2022. If you do business in Hawaii and are Canadian, please contact the Chamber to be added to the Consult of Canada's friend group to learn more about networking opportunities with fellow Canadians who reside in the islands. Bio:Mr. Rana Sarkar was appointed as Consul General of Canada in San Francisco | Silicon Valley in 2017, with accreditation for Northern California and Hawaii. He is also a member of Canada's NAFTA Advisory Council.Mr. Sarkar previously served as National Director for High Growth Markets at KPMG Canada and co-chairman of the advisory board at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. From 2009 - 2013, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada-India Business Council.

Her name speaks for itself - no formal bio or introduction is needed. On this edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Jo McGarry interviews Meli James, Co-Founder of Mana Up and President of Hawaii Venture Capital Association. McGarry and James discuss Mana Up's origin story, and how her Silicon Valley experience spurred her passion to help Hawaii's businesses stay here and thrive here.  “If you got that hustle, you really can make anything happen.” Listen and learn more about microbrand trends and how effective storytelling can positively impact your bottom line. Help Mana Up's efforts to support local businesses thrive by purchasing products whose headquarters are in Hawaii or serve as an entrepreneur mentor in their Accelerator Program. For more information or to learn how your business can take part in the Accelerator Program, email aloha@manaup.com.  Bio:Meli James is the cofounder of Mana Up, a Hawaii-based product accelerator and venture fund building the state's next generation of consumer brands. She is also the president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association.  Born and raised in Honolulu, Meli lived in Silicon Valley for more than 10 years where she co-founded numerous startups including Nirvino – a #1 ranked wine app and Apple Platform Top 100 App, during its time.  Meli has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of five Women to Watch and as one of eight Women Leaders Who Are Disrupting Entrepreneurship. She serves on the board of UHA Health Insurance, board of regents for Chaminade University and is a 2020 Omidyar Fellow. Meli is a graduate of Punahou School and Cornell University.

On this special edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES focused on Education and Workforce Development, Jo McGarry interviews Kyle Madriaga, Treasury Investment Officer at First Hawaiian Bank, and Lord Ryan Lizardo, Director, Work-Based Learning  (WBL) at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.  Madriaga and Lizardo discuss how providing real world work-based learning experiences for students is an investment in Hawaii's workforce. In this episode, we highlight one valuable form of WBL: mentoring.Business professionals of all ages and career levels can help to mentor Hawaii's high school students to provide practical professional employability skills and opportunities to learn new concepts needed for the industry that may not be taught in the classroom. Through mentorship, leaders in our business community can grow Hawaii's talent pipeline, stop the brain drain and create social capital. Listen and learn how you can get involved with mentoring Hawaii's future and for more information visit https://www.cochawaii.org/education-and-workforce-development/

On this special edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES focused on Education and Workforce Development, Jo McGarry interviews Eddie Ontai, President of DataHouse Consulting, Inc., and Keala Peters, Executive Vice President, Education and Workforce Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Ontai and Peters discuss the exciting IT Sector Partnership collaborative that is bringing employers, community partners, and educators together to build a local, highly skilled IT workforce.  Technology skills are needed in every sector in Hawaii, with the demand for talent outpacing the current supply. Through a Kindergarten to Career IT Pathway Project, IT leaders are focused on offering students a sequence of experiences that increases awareness of IT careers, provides internship and training opportunities, and ensures what is being taught aligns with the skills and competencies employers are seeking. We can keep our top talent in the islands while ensuring local businesses do not have to recruit from the mainland. Listen and learn how you can join over 70 local businesses to build a bridge between the education system and the business community to help Hawaii's youth get ready to thrive in local IT jobs. 

On this special edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES focused on Education and Workforce Development, Jo McGarry interviews Julie Morikawa, President, ClimbHi, and Bernard Nunies, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer with Island Holdings.ClimbHi Bridge is an online platform that empowers Hawaii's youth to find their career paths and at the same time address businesses' workforce shortages. Listen to hear how you, too, can help develop the talent pipeline and shape the future careers of Hawaii's high school students from across the state. 

On this special edition of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES focused on Education and Workforce Development, Jo McGarry interviews Scott Miyaki, Recruiting Manager at American Savings Bank, and Katie Kaahanui, Program Manager at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, to learn more about Hawaii's current workforce climate and recruitment and retention tips for employers.Hawaii is Hiring is an excellent online employment resource that connects kamaaina to Hawaii's jobs, training and education opportunities. Originally launched during the pandemic to support job seekers, it has now pivoted to also supporting employers who need to fill open positions.For more information, visit hawaiiishiring.com.

On this episode of the Voice of Business Podcast presented by ALTRES, Kelly Knox, West Coast Outreach Lead, Community Outreach for Southwest Airlines, shares their secrets to success, and it is not rocket science, which can be replicated at your organization, regardless of your industry. Southwest is the “Company with Heart,” and they take pride in connecting with communities on causes that they care about. If you have a cause that you care about and would like Southwest Airlines' support, contact Kelly at Kelly.Knox@wnco.com.Kelly Knox started her career at Southwest Airlines in 2011 after graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing. In her current role as West Coast Outreach Lead, Kelly champions causes that matter the most to our communities in California, Texas, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada.

Award winning leader, Joy Barua, President & Chief Operating Office at Finance Insurance, Ltd. joins the Voice of Business podcast powered by ALTRES. Don't let his outgoing personality fool you, his heart for the community is his true secret to success. Learn how Joy finds meaning in all that he does and in every role from healthcare and community leadership to finance. His authenticity for caring for the people of Hawaii translates into how he treats his staff, clients and is his motivation for community service. “Service is not something you do after hours or on the side, it is a way of life. It gives me purpose.” Joy was named “2020 Business Leader of the Year” by Pacific Business News, which also recognized him for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts as a 2021 Business of Pride honoree. He was also first from Hawaii to be recognized nationally among “Top 100 under 50 Emerging Leaders” by Diversity MBA magazine. Locally, Hawaii Business magazine named him among “20 for the Next 20 – People to Watch.” He was commended by the State of Hawaii's House of Representatives as recipient of the “Champion Award” from Project Vision Hawaii and was honored with the “Corporate Social Responsibility Award” by Pacific Edge Magazine, which also featured him as an emerging leader in healthcare. He received Healthcare Association of Hawaii's “Advocacy Award” and “Public Health Award,” and the U.S. SBA's “Small Business Advocate of the Year” award. Additionally, he was recognized as “40 Under 40 – Hawaii's Best & Brightest Young Businesspeople” and “CFO of the Year” finalist by Pacific Business News. 

Paul Kosasa has lived through many crises, from 9/11 to the global pandemic, and through it all, he draws his strength from the memory of his parents who were interned in camps during World War II. “Crisis is a learning opportunity. What can we learn from this?”On this episode of the Voice of Business podcast presented by Altres, Kosasa joins us to talk about how he started at the bottom and worked in the trenches, his humble leadership style, and personal values of hope and trust, and advice on how to continue to innovate for continued growth and success. Paul Kosasa is an American businessman, philanthropist and President and CEO of ABC Stores, a chain of resort convenience stores throughout Hawaii, Las Vegas and Guam. ABC Stores was founded by his parents, Sidney and Minnie Kosasa, in 1964 and currently employs over 1,500 people.

At Coastal Windows, you are family. Customers, employees and everyone in between are treated like ohana at Coastal Windows. On this episode of the Voice of Business presented by Altres, Bob Barrett, President and Co-Owner of Coastal Windows, discusses climate change, manufacturing in Hawaii, staffing shortages and secrets to success of his small family-owned business.“We have to do things right, because we live here.”Continuing the legacy of his father who brought vinyl from Europe to the U.S., Bob brought vinyl manufacturing to Hawaii and takes pride in continuing the family legacy. Coastal Windows is Hawaii's only full-service window and door manufacturer, recognized as a product innovator in the design and manufacturer of windows and doors specifically for Hawaii's tropical environment.

Connecting people with aloha is so much more than a tagline, it is their core value. On this episode of the Voice of Business presented by Altres, Peter Ingram, President & CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, shares his professional journey, having to ground airplanes during the early weeks of the pandemic, and how their award-winning corporate culture and values has been able to help the organization take flight, again, and bring back the joy of traveling.“People really do want to be a part of something bigger.”Peter Ingram has been a member of the Hawaiian Airlines leadership team for the past 17 years, the last four as President and CEO. Hawaiian Airline's resilience is a testament to Peter's steady hand during the global pandemic and his commitment to their airline's 6,700 employees.

On this episode, Ben Ancheta, President of Inkinen, and Jo McGarry discuss tips on how businesses of all sizes can help recruit and retain top talent, stop the brain drain, and find people who can make a high impact on their organizations. Tune in to hear how you can apply their strategies to address your workforce shortages. Ben is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Carleton College, and has been recognized both for his leadership as well as his commitment to our community. He was named a Pacific Century Fellow in 2010, an Omidyar Fellow in 2012, and one of Hawaii Business Magazine's 20 for the Next 20 in 2013. 

On this episode, Stacey Katakura, Founder & President of Accumulus, and Jo McGarry discuss cost savings tips and solutions through tax reductions this tax season, managing your gross profit margins and inventory, and transitioning to an outsourced cloud-based accounting services. Stacey Katakura founded Accumulus in 2017. She is a licensed CPA in Hawaii and California and is a graduate of Kaiser High School and University of Southern California.

On this episode, Caroline Carl, Interim Executive Director of Hawai'i Energy, and Jo McGarry discuss how Hawai'i Energy is helping our state meet its clean energy goals before 2045. Despite current circumstances of inflation, rising fuel costs and the coal plant closure, Carl shares that there are many practical tips and solutions to increase cost savings and energy efficiencies for households and businesses. Tune in to hear how you can make smart energy choices and celebrate Earth Day and Earth month, every day and all year long.Caroline Carl has been extensively involved in energy research initiatives in Hawaii for the past 15 years, designing and developing programs, and managing community outreach activities. 

Elisia Flores joins the Voice of Business podcast to share what it is like being a female CEO and Vice Chair of Hawaii's favorite plate lunch restaurant and the daughter to the L&L founder and entrepreneur, Eddie Flores.  As a second-generation business owner, even Elisia was tempted to not return to Hawaii and contribute to the "brain drain" after moving to the mainland for college and to begin her career. Ultimately, family and food brought her home and she is excited to lead the business into the next chapter with new menus, apps and locations. Bio:Elisia Flores currently serves as CEO and Vice Chair of L&L Franchise, Inc. which has 210 restaurants across the country and in Japan. She is responsible for setting the strategic vision of the company and driving new growth initiatives. She has been instrumental in developing key partnerships to expand the L&L brand, strengthening the brand across markets and implementing national revenue generating programs for the franchises.Prior to joining L&L, Ms. Flores worked for over 8 years at General Electric Company (GE) where she began as a corporate auditor responsible for significant audit and process improvements at GE Aviation, GE Corporate and overseas at GE Capital Interbanca (formerly an Italian Financial Services company). Ms. Flores has served on the board of directors of Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE) since December 2021. Since 2018, Ms. Flores has also served on the board of directors of American Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, and she is currently chair of the audit committee. In the community she serves on the board of Hawaii Pacific Health (one of Hawaii's largest healthcare systems), Diamond Head Theatre, and the Hawaiian Humane Society.Ms. Flores holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Southern California, and an Executive MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Senator Glenn Wakai joins the Voice of Business podcast to share how his career in journalism led him to politics.  After spending over 11 years reporting the news, he was inspired to take action and make a significant difference for our great state. In this meet your politician interview, Senator Wakai shares his common sense, bold economic diversity and recovery solutions for a post-pandemic environment, including the Aloha Stadium and innovative tourism ideas. Bio:Glenn Wakai entered the world of public service in 2002 when he was elected to the State House of Representatives. He moved to the Senate in 2010 and is currently the Chairman of the Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism Committee. He is the Vice Chairman of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committees.  Prior to politics, Glenn spent 11 years in television news. His reporting career began in Guam and he later moved to Saipan to build a TV station from scratch. He returned to Hawaii in 1995 to become a reporter for KHON FOX2 and KHNL News 8.   Glenn graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Journalism and Sociology, and also has a minor in Business Administration.  Outside of the Capitol, Glenn runs his own Public Relations firm, High Impact Communications and is also President of Reach out Pacific (REPAC), a non-profit which takes surplus medical and educational supplies to Micronesia.  ​Glenn is on the board of Aloha Medical Mission and the Japanese Cultural Center.  

On this episode, Diane Peters-Nguyen, Regional CEO of American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region, shares that while the pandemic canceled a lot of things, it did not cancel emergencies or disasters and, therefore, it did not cancel the Red Cross. From Hurricane Douglas in the fall of 2020 to the floods of 2021 to the Tonga disaster in 2022, the Red Cross Pacific Islands Region is working hard to support our community when they need support the most. March is Red Cross month, and our local chapter wants to say mahalo to all of its volunteers who supported the organization either virtually or in-person over the last two years, as it is the everyday courageous heroes and volunteers who respond to emergencies. Bio:Diane Peters-Nguyen serves as the Regional Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Islands Region, American Red Cross. This region includes Hawaii, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands (Saipan) and American Samoa.Prior to her appointment with the Red Cross, she served as Chaminade University's Vice President of Advancement for over 12 years, overseeing development, communications, alumni engagement and the Office of Native Hawaiian Partnerships. She played a key role in the development and completion of the most successful campaign in the university's history, “Bridges to the Future,” which raised $118 million. Diane serves on a number of advisory boards including Diamond Head Theatre, Pacific Arts Foundation, and the Friends of the East-West Center. She is on the planning committee for Washington Place's 175th Anniversary and serves as the current president of Hui Hanai. She previously served on the Kamehameha Scholars Advisory Board, the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association board, the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association Board, and the Salary Commission of the City and County of Honolulu. Diane is a 2021 Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business Honoree.  

On this episode, Sherry Menor-McNamara and Jo McGarry discuss how to boost businesses and the economy in 2022. In her tenure as President & CEO of the Chamber, Sherry Menor-McNamara shares with podcast host, Jo McGarry, how these past two years have been the most challenging for business owners due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Tune in to hear how businesses can effect change, rally for recovery and navigate the path forward through the Boost 4Business initiative and by telling their story with policymakers. Bio:Sherry Menor-McNamara was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii on September 1, 2013; becoming the youngest and first female President and CEO of the Chamber in the organization's 170-year history, as well as the first Asian to serve as CEO of a State Chamber. She previously served as the organization's Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. She joined the Chamber as Director of Business Advocacy in 2006 and was promoted to Vice President of Business Advocacy and Government Affairs in 2007. Under her leadership, the Chamber was recognized as the 2018 State Chamber of the Year, a national award presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.Prior to joining the Chamber, she was events manager for ESPN Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. She has lived in several major cities, including Tokyo, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and London, working for a wide variety of companies, such as Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Estee Lauder Company, Elton John Production, as well as for the Hawaii State Legislature, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and the Executive Office of the United States President.  She currently serves on numerous boards including the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JAIMS Foundation, and Move Oahu Forward. Nationally, she serves the board for the U.S. Chamber, Council of State Chambers, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, including its Executive Committee, and the U.S. Chamber Committee of 100. Sherry earned a certificate in expanding impact in advocacy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education. She received her juris doctorate degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and her MBA from the Shidler College of Business – both at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also pursued graduate study in public administration at the University of Southern California and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles. Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Hilo, where she graduated from Waiakea High School, Sherry is married to John McNamara. She is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys golfing, traveling and spending time with her husband and dog, Kuma-chan. 

On this episode, hear from fashion designer and small business owner Allison Izu on her journey of being a small entrepreneur and petite fashion designer in the big fashion industry. Allison is an inspiration to many as she bravely took on the fashion industry to design clothing for the average-sized women. Learn how she pushed through the “no's” and shifted to get the “yeses” for a great reminder that persistence is the key to success.Allison Izu, Owner and Fashion Designer of The Allison Izu Company. Born and raised in Honolulu and a graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy. She studied fashion in New York where her dream to design clothing for petite women was born. Allison Izu was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2010, and her brand was featured in Lucky Magazine, The Denim Blog, Refinery 29 and Style.com.

On this episode learn how the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra pivoted during the pandemic to create a renewed sense of community, doubled their donor base and is bringing more awareness to art education for our youth.Dave Moss, Executive Director for the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, joins the Voice of Business podcast to discuss his passion for music, organizational growth and the community.

On this episode, Susan Furuta shares how her team of 75 inspires hope to thousands of local families by providing guidance, household goods and opportunities for empowerment and connection. Susan Furuta is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Helping Hands Hawaii. Born and raised in the historic Ewa plantation, Susan is a graduate of James Campbell High School and holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

How does one know the signs of Alzheimer's disease in a loved one? With more than three million cases per year in the US, it's important to understand the signs at an early stage.LJ Duena, Executive Director for the Alzheimer's Association, joins us to talk about the signs, treatments that are available, and how Alzheimer's Association can provide necessary resources to help navigate through these difficult challenges. 

During challenging times (like during the COVID-19 pandemic), skillful leadership became even more critical. What are the qualities and habits that a great leader must possess to move a company forward?On today's episode, we sat down with Josh Ellis, Director of Digital Programs for The Initiatives Group, to break down how habits work, and how you as a leader, can develop them to improve your leadership style.For more information on the Initiatives Group and their Leadership Execution Accelerator Program (LEAP), visit https://go.theinitiativesgroup.com/leap. Download General Bill Martin's free guide to motivating your team here. 

Happiness U's mission is to teach that which was not taught in a traditional classroom about how to live a heart-centered life. With the pandemic, Alice's teachings of mindfulness has been even more important and relevant for the mental wellbeing of working individuals. On today's episode, we are joined by nationally award-winning author and life expert, Alice Inoue.  She is Hawaii's thought leader and celebrated expert on creating a meaningful and joyful existence, and has helped thousands of organizations and individuals over the past 20 years.  

Chocolea's mission is "Bringing Peace to our world, one chocolate at a time." In 2021 when Hawaii locked down due to COVID, owner Erin Kanno Uehara felt helpless that she couldn't deliver on her mission. That's when she started writing to, who she now calls her "chocolate friends," and even ended up publishing a book about her experience as a local business owner dealing with the difficulties of COVID-19.On this episode, sit down with this local girl whose dream was to help make this world a better place by connecting with people and investing in relationships. A chance encounter with a long-lost family member taught her to make chocolates, which has led her to her journey today. 

Unite Hawaii is a coordinated care network of health and social service providers working together to address social factors affecting people's well-being and improve health in our communities.Based in Mililani, HI, Carol Hayashida is a Community Engagement Manager at Unite Us with a diverse background in healthcare sales and social service. Her passion lies in connecting partners together to see communities transformed in Hawaii.

Are you currently facing staffing challenges? Have you considered outsourcing positions?Join us for this episode as we  welcome Tim Mobley, who currently serves as the President of Connext Global Solutions.Tim graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY where he studied economics and mechanical engineering. He earned the Distinguished Cadet award during each of his four years there. He then earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, also earning academic honors. 

Darren "Kai" Oshiro is currently a 1LT in the Hawaii Army National Guard and deployed with 1-487FA to Afghanistan in 2019-2020.  Kai bought his first printer, a Prusa MK2, in 2016 and has been a 3D printing enthusiast ever since.  On this episode, learn about Kai's mission with his company, Simply 3D Hawaii, and how various industries have benefited from using the tool. 

In 1987, Don Murphy purchased what was then the Royal Hawaiian Saloon and opened Murphy's Bar and Grill. Since then, Don and Marion Murphy have been giving customers a taste of the Irish homeland.Learn about how Don got his start at Murphy's, how they continue to give back to the community, and some of the signature dishes that you need to try when you make your trip to Murphy's. 

What is sector partnership? And what is its role in providing employer-led workforce solutions? Understand how the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the private sector + education partners are partnering to build Hawaii's future engineering workforce. Today's guests are: Keala Peters, Executive Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, Executive Director of Sector Partnerships, of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Katie Kaahanui, Program Manager of Hawaii is Hiring. 

During today's podcast, understand the importance of work-based learning in developing our future workforce.Featured guests include:Lord Ryan Lizardo,  Program Manager of Work-Based Learning at the Chamber of Commerce HawaiiKim Virtudazo, Freshman Success Academy Lead Teacher at Campbell High SchoolGeraldine Valencia Academy Coordinator at Campbell High School

Collaborations are having more of an impact than ever before when it comes to preparing Hawaii students for next generation jobs. It is definitely not “business as usual.” Dive deeper into some of the ways that the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is working with community partners to create a positive impact on Hawaii's future. On this episode, Join Keala Peters, Executive Vice President, Education & Workforce Development & Executive Director of Sector Partnerships at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Alex Harris, Vice President of Programs at Harold K.L. Castle Foundation as they talk about the different ways that companies can get involved in preparing students for the future workforce. 

Join us as we sit down with Katie Kaahanui, Program Manager of Hawaii is Hiring and Christina Cooper, Division Manager of Executive Solutions at Staffing Solutions of Hawaii, as they talk all about the current job market, what types of skills employers are looking for, and more. 

Peter Hirano is the Executive Vice President of People & Strategic Initiatives at Servco Pacific Inc.  In this role, he oversees the Human Resources function for all of Servco's global business entities, in addition to all projects and new initiatives for Servco Pacific Inc.  

We sat down with Charles Kaneshiro, President/COO at G70 to talk about what makes G70 a great place to work at. They were also selected as one of the best places for women to work at, which we dive more deeper into. In the second half, learn about the incredible ways that G70 has changed the design and architecture landscape in Hawaii.

Research shows a wish can give kids the strength to fight against and even overcome a critical illness. As President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Hawaii, Trini Kaopuiki Clark leads a team of nearly 30 staff and more than 700 Hawaii volunteers to support the organization's mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A University of Hawaii graduate, Clark is an accomplished local professional with nearly 20 years of communication experience in the Hawaii television industry and 10 years of nonprofit leadership. 

This month, we will be highlighting three companies selected as part of Hawaii Business Magazine's annual "Best Places to Work" list. Selected under the "Small Companies" category is Hawaii Energy. We sat down with Mireya Norman, Program Support Services Manager at Hawaii Energy to talk about all the great things that Hawaii Energy does for both their employees and the community. Hear about what makes Hawaii Energy one of the best small companies to work at. 

As the District Manager with Securitas Security Service USA, Inc., Michael Gaul is responsible for all integrated guarding sales and services throughout Hawaii and Guam. Let's dive deeper into understanding the importance role of security in workplaces, and how the innovation of technology plays a role in it.

Have you ever thought of or are in the process of opening a restaurant or business in Hawaii? What are the components needed in creating a successful restaurant?  Sit down with Bill Tobin, Owner of Tiki's Bar and Grill and Jo McGarry, VP of CBRE and the "Voice of Business" Podcast host as they share their top tips for new business owners on what you need to successfully run your business. 

Bill Tobin is the co-owner of Tiki's Grill & Bar, a husband, a father, an author, a consultant, and a blogger. He helps restaurants run better by providing resources for restaurant owners, chefs, managers, and supervisors to become better leaders. Tiki's is the busiest independent restaurant in Waikiki with more than 150 staff on payroll.

An innovative force in the staffing and events management industries, Kathleen Lin-Hurtubise is the founder & president of Gourmet Events Hawaii (GEH), an award-winning full-service production, catering and event management company, Aloha Hospitality Professionals (AlohaHP), the first full-service staffing agency in Hawai'i exclusively dedicated to hospitality gig work, and Kau Kau Box, a meal delivery service that ships directly to customers' door across Hawaii. Kau Kau Box provides a week's worth of incredible, chef-prepared meals and grocery stables from local farmers and fishermen. Join Jo and Kat as they discuss what makes the event industry in Hawaii truly special, and how GEH was able to pivot during the pandemic. 

Unyong Nakata is a member of the executive team at Y. Hata & Co., Ltd, and is specifically charged with the areas of Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Customer Service, and Supply Chain.  

Born and raised in Hilo, Monty Pereira began his career in public accounting, and later became the GM & Director of Sales and Marketing for Watanabe Floral, Inc.