Tenth Pacific Century Fellows Class Selected

The Pacific Century Fellows (PCF) Program is pleased to announce the selection of its tenth class of Fellows, comprised of 32 men and women, including five from the neighbor islands. The PCF program identifies, encourages and helps to develop and strengthen island leaders.

Modeled after the White House Fellows Program and founded by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Fellows are chosen on the basis of a written application and personal interview conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges. The committee considers educational background; current career responsibilities, noting any special achievements as well as the comments of superiors; involvement in community activities; communication skills; and strength of character in evaluating the candidates. Individuals who are chosen have shown strong intellectual and leadership abilities in the early and mid-stages of their careers, and who have the potential to make significant contributions to the community in the future.

The Pacific Century Fellows Program will provide participants with direct contact with senior community, social, and government leaders. A goal of the program is to nurture relationships among individuals who are committed to exploring creative and constructive solutions to far-reaching challenges facing the state and nation.

Mayor Hannemann, former White House Fellow, said, “With our tenth class of Fellows participating in this unique executive leadership training program, we continue to build a cadre of bright, talented and energetic professionals who will make creative contributions to the betterment of our

State in the years to come. Many of our previous Fellows already have gone on to make a positive impact in our community, and this class will be no different! This year’s class comes from every county in the State and definitely represents a broad cross-section of our community.”

Those selected this year include:

Alan Akina, 38, Founder, President & CEO, 101 Financial Group

Jill Murakami Baldemor, 34, Executive Director, Teach for America

Jennifer Imogene Barrett, 33, School/Community Education Program Coordinator, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (UOH)

Della Au Belatti, 33, State Representative, Hawaii State Legislature; Associate Attorney, Law Office of Eric A. Seitz

Elizabeth Puanani Cambra, 35, Corporate Director of Revenue Optimization, Outrigger Enterprises Group

Heather Mullins Crislip, 34, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, The University of Hawai`i at Manoa

Gregory Scott Dickhens, 37, Executive Vice President & Senior Advisor, Kyo-ya Company, LLC

Liann Yaemi Ebesugawa, 34, Associate Attorney, Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel, LLP

Jason Robert Fujimoto, 26, Director of Corporate Development, HPM Building Supply (Hawaii)

Justin V. Gruenstein, 32, Executive Assistant for Government Relations, County of Maui – Office of the Mayor (Maui)

Jan Malia Harada, 33, Executive Director, Palama Settlement

Amy Melinda Hennessey, 34, Vice President, Public Affairs, McNeil Wilson Communications, Inc.

Sandra Kim, 25, Deputy Public Defender, State Office of the Public Defender

Christopher S. Leonard, 37, Partner/General Manager, New West Broadcasting Corporation (Hawaii)

Darin Robinson Leong, 30, Associate Attorney, Marr Hipp Jones & Wang, LLLP; Self -Employed Musician

Nicole “Nikki” Nani Ishihara Love, 29, Director of Operations, Community Links Hawaii

F. James “Jim” Lyon, 42, President, Lyon Associates, Inc.

Avi Mannis, 32, Senior Director, Transformation, Hawaiian Airlines

Terri Ann Motosue, 36, Partner, Carlsmith Ball LLP

Karen Tooko Nakasone, 37, Deputy Public Defender, State Office of the Public Defender

Liane M.K. Nomura-Siu, 33, Corporate Counsel, The Queen’s Health Systems

William “Billy” C.A. Pieper II, 29, Manager-Hawaii Branch, Beneficial Financial Group

Paul Andrew Pollock, 41, Chief Engineer/Capital Improvements Director, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii

Jerome “Jerry” A. Pupillo, 39, President & General Manager, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park

Sean Talbot Rostron, 30, Business Banking Officer, Bank of Hawaii

Kevin T. Sakamoto, 37, Senior Vice President/Regional Manager, Bank of Hawaii

Timothy Kyle Schools, 37, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, American Savings Bank

Jennifer Lauren Stites, 25, Green Development Manager, Dowling Company, Inc. (Maui)

Dominick Joseph Strada, 38, Commander’s Action Group and Speechwriter, Headquarters, United States Pacific Command

Jennifer Lee Thompson, 40, Director of Client Services, Bates/Lee Advertising

Michael H. Tresler, 39, Vice President, Land Management & Renewable Energy, Grove Farm Company, Inc. (Kauai)

David Travis Washburn, 37, Director, Economic Advancement, YWCA of Oahu

The program will begin with a two-day retreat on January 11-12, 2008, featuring a series of seminars and discussions. Following the retreat, participants will help plan their agenda and schedule for the upcoming year and take part in at least one day-long program each month to investigate critical issues facing Hawaii in such areas as crime, education, environment, quality of life, the military, and the economy.

Please visit the Pacific Century Fellows website for more information.

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