Class Notes: 2000–2009

Cara Sawai-Mangan, BS ’08

Cara Sawai-Mangan, BS ’08

Cara Sawai-Mangan, BS 08, program manager for the Family Business Center of Hawaii, welcomed baby girl, Kaia to the family on August 20, 2021.

Gavin Masuda, BBA ’05

Gavin Masuda, BBA ’05

Gavin Masuda, BBA ’05, was named to the prestigious 40 Under 40 honor roll list, which is published by The Daily Journal in California. This list celebrates California-based lawyers who are making significant contributions to the field. Masuda works as a partner at Latham & Watkins in San Francisco.

Kylie Matsuda-Lum, BS ‘01

Kylie Matsuda-Lum, BS ‘01, was awarded Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s Agriculture/Clean Tech Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2023 Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards. Lum and her husband, Judah, are co-founders of Kahuku Farms. This award honors their company’s ability to enhance clean technology to help create a greener future through  innovative agricultural practices.  

Katie Mettler, BBA ‘02

Katie Mettler, BBA ‘02

Katie Mettler, BBA ‘02, has been promoted to vice president and senior wealth advisor at First Hawaiian Bank. As a Certified Financial Planner since 2012 and with over 18 years of financial services experience, Mettler guides her private banking clients to achieve their financial wellness objectives by creating a financial plan that will help them reach their long term goals including retirement, investments and estate planning.

Kanani Miyahira, MBA ‘00

Kanani Miyahira

Kanani Miyahira, MBA ‘00, has been promoted to first vice president and wealth advisor at American Savings Investment Services. With over 25 years of expertise, she provides clients with personalized services to meet their financial goals while also offering portfolio management advice. 

Del Mochizuki, BBA ’00

Del Mochizuki, BBA ’00

Del Mochizuki, BBA 00, has been promoted to director of finance and human resources at UHA Health Insurance. In her elevated role, Mochizuki oversees all financial and human resources activities for the organization and works with the executive leadership team to establish objectives and policies. She has been with the company for more than seven years and most recently served as controller.

Ngoc Nguyen, BBA ’05, MBA ’11

Ngoc Nguyen

Ngoc Nguyen, BBA ’05, MBA ’11, has been chosen for the 2022-2023 Patsy T. Mink Leadership Alliance cohort. Nguyen currently serves as director of strategic finance at Hawaiian Telcom.

Pamela Nitta, MBA ’06

Pamela Nitta, MBA ’06

Pacific Business News honored women leaders and news-makers in its 23rd Annual Women Who Mean Business. Congratulations to Pamela Nitta, MBA 06 for being named to the list for demonstrating a commitment to community service and for her leadership skills.

Catherine Orlans, BS ’09

Catherine Orlans, BS ’09

Catherine Orlans, BS 09, has been appointed as the destination manager for the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB). In this new position, which is funded by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Orlans is responsible for the Oahu Destination Management Action Plan and Oahu’s Community Enrichment Program. Prior to joining OVB, she served as a program coordinator with Honeywell.

Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ’07, MHRM ’09

Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ’07, MHRM ’09

Congratulations to Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ’07, MHRM ’09, for being named to Pacific Business News’ 2023 Women Who Mean Business. Leon-Guerrero was recognized for her stellar contributions to their businesses, industries and communities.

Dan Richards, BBA ‘09

Dan Richards, BBA ‘09

Dan Richards, BBA ‘09, has been promoted to vice president of marketing at Coldwell Banker Island Properties. In his elevated role, Richards oversees marketing for the company and its affiliated businesses across Hawaii. He also identifies growth opportunities and develops new business partnerships. 

Monica Salter, MBA ’07

Monica Salter, MBA ’07

Congratulations to Monica Salter, MBA ’07, for being named to Pacific Business News’ 2023 Women Who Mean Business. Salter was recognized for her stellar contributions to their businesses, industries and communities.

Niki Shishido, MBA ’06

Niki Shishido, MBA ’06

Congratulations to Niki Shishido, MBA ’06, for being named to Pacific Business News’ 2023 Women Who Mean Business. Shishido was recognized for her stellar contributions to their businesses, industries and communities.

Rachel Sokugawa, BBA ’09, MBA ’15

Rachel Sokugawa, BBA ’09, MBA ’15

Rachel Sokugawa, BBA ’09, MBA ’15, has been hired as assistant director of development and donor relations for the University of Hawai‘i Foundation. She oversees gift administration and stewardship of donor relations for Shidler College. Sokugawa also works as an operations specialist at Apple. Most recently, she served as an administrative assistant at Pono Pacific, LLC. 


 

Tiffany Tabbal, BBA ‘08

Tiffany Tabbal, BBA ‘08

Tiffany Tabbal, BBA ‘08, has been appointed principal and co-owner of Manageability, LLC. In her role, Tabbal oversees the company’s day-to-day business operations, while managing various projects for clients. She also focuses on assisting with certification as a woman-owned small business. Tabbal previously served as the company’s marketing and administrative manager.

Danielle Ulmann, BBA ‘09

Danielle Ulmann

Danielle Ulmann, BBA ‘09, has been promoted to vice president of surety at Atlas Insurance Agency. In her new role, she collaborates with account executives to grow, build and maintain client and carrier relationships. Ulmann continues to manage the surety client book of business. 
 

Natalie Werts, BBA ’05

Natalie Werts, BBA ’05

Congratulations to Natalie Werts, BBA ‘05 for being selected for the 6th cohort of the Patsy Mink Leadership Alliance in August 2021. The program is designed for emerging women leaders to develop management skills in order to advance their personal growth, professional impact and community change.

Greg Young, MBA ’07

Greg Young, MBA ’07

Greg Young, MBA 07, has been named president and CEO of HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union. In this leadership role, Young leads the company’s effort to make obtaining loans easier and faster for businesses and individualsas well as continuing to stay up to date with digital trends. Young most recently served as their chief lending officer.

Jason Domingo, MHRM ’07

Jason Domingo, MHRM ’07

Jason Domingo, MHRM ’07, was named a recipient of the McDonald’s Presidents’ Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of the top 1% of McDonald’s corporate, segment and market staff globally. Domingo was selected as a high-achieving individual who, by living the McDonald’s values each and every day, also inspires and enables those around him to deliver better results. 

Pokiʻi Balaz, EMBA ’20

Pokiʻi Balaz, EMBA ’20

Congratulations, Dr. Pokiʻi Balaz, EMBA ’20, for being selected for Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40: Class of 2021!

Balaz was named to the annual list through a competitive nomination process based on demonstration of business excellence, contribution to the overall success of her organization and community involvement. 

 

Jennifer Barrett Fajarado, EMBA ’07

Jennifer Barrett Fajarado, EMBA ’07

Congratulations to Jennifer Barrett Fajarado, EMBA ’07, for being named to Pacific Business News’ 2023 Women Who Mean Business. Barrett Fajarado was recognized for her stellar contributions to their businesses, industries and communities.

Kawena Beaupre, BBA ’00

Kawena Beaupre, BBA ’00

Pacific Business News honored women leaders and news-makers in its 23rd Annual Women Who Mean Business. Congratulations to Kawena Beaupre, BBA 00 for being named to the list for demonstrating a commitment to community service and for her leadership skills.

Landon Beers, BBA ‘07

Landon Beers

Landon Beers, BBA ‘07, has been promoted to managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Honolulu audit practice, where he leads audit engagements in  banking, technology, retail and hospitality practices. Beers also serves as treasurer for the Shidler Alumni Association.

Sara Cheuk, MBA ’00

Sara Cheuk, MBA ’00

Sara Cheuk, MBA 00, has been promoted to executive officer at the PolyU Academy for Research Institute of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In this elevated role, Cheuk is responsible for enhancing the visibility and repetition of the university, where she has worked for the past 16 years. Cheuk most recently served as an assistant manager in Alumni Affairs.

Daniel Chun, BS ‘02

Daniel Chun, BS ‘02

Daniel Chun, BS ‘02, was named the Alaska Airlines corporate honoree for the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation’s Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u awards banquet. As a public school graduate, Chun was recognized for his contributions to the business community as well as his dedication to improving education opportunities for future generations.

Kristi Chun, BBA ’06

Kristi Chun, BBA ’06

Kristi Chun, BBA ’06, has been appointed partner and financial advisor at HIPac Financial, LLC. She provides premium financial services to her clients through continued education, up-to-date product knowledge and the development of strategic industry relationships. Chun was named one of Forbes “Top Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals” in 2022. 

Ian Clagstone, BBA ’07

Ian Clagstone, BBA ’07

Ian Clagstone, BBA 07, has been named CEO of SC Capital LLC. In this leadership role, he leads the company’s efforts to acquire multifamily apartment buildings, office, retail and industrial properties in Hawai‘i. Clagstone is also the president and co-founder at Standard Commercial LLC, SC Capital’s sister company.

Warren Altona, BBA ’06

Warren Altona, BBA ’06

Warren Altona, BBA ‘06, has been named product strategy & retail analytics division manager at Hawaii State Federal Credit Union. In this new position, Altona will oversee credit union deposit, loan and payment products, as well as the strategic and retail analytics of the organization. He will also aim to deliver and execute strategies that provide an optimal suite of products and services to the bank’s members. Altona most recently served as senior regional manager.

Nicole Galase, BBA ’09

Nicole Galase, BBA ’09

Congratulations, Nicole Galase, BBA ‘09, for being selected for Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40: Class of 2021! 

Galase was named to the annual list through a competitive nomination process based on demonstration of business excellence, contribution to the overall success of her organization and community involvement. 

AJ Halagao, MBA ’04

 AJ Halagao, MBA ’04

Congratulations to AJ Halagao, MBA ’04, for being named to Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the Next 20. This annual list highlights 20 individuals whose talents, accomplishments and potential set them apart as emerging leaders of Hawaiʻi into the next two decades.

Reid Hinaga, BBA ’06

Reid Hinaga

Congratulations to Reid Hinaga, BBA ’06, for being honored in Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 for his demonstration of business excellence, contributions to his organization and strong community involvement. Hinaga currently is the retail delivery senior regional manager at Hawaii state Federal Credit Union and also serves on the Shidler Alumni Association board.

Bernadette Kaneshiro, BBA ’08

Bernadette Kaneshiro, BBA ’08

Bernadette Kaneshiro, BBA ’08, has been promoted to assistant vice president & private banking mortgage loan officer at First Hawaiian Bank. In her role, she is responsible for generating residential mortgage loan production through various network referral sources, developer projects and bank resources. 

Jeffrey Kao, BBA ’02, MBA ’06

Jeffrey Kao, BBA ’02, MBA ’06

Jeffrey Kao, BBA ’02, MBA ’06, has been appointed partner and financial adviser at HIPac Financial. In his role, he provides innovative financial planning services to assist retirees, pre retirees, young families, state and federal employees, and business owners to grow and protect their wealth. Kao also is the cofounder of Sweet Creams, the first ice cream roll shop in Hawaiʻi.

Grant Kubota, BBA ’99, MBA ’05

Grant Kubota, BBA ’99, MBA ’05

Grant Kubota, BBA ’99, MBA ’05, has been named to Forbes magazine’s 2021 list of America’s Best-in-State Wealth Advisors. Kubota is a vice president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, where he has worked for 15 years. He was recognized with this honor for his superb wealth management services and his commitment to his clients and company.

Su Lazo, BBA ‘06

Su Lazo, BBA ‘06

Su Lazo, BBA ‘06, had been appointed director of career development for the Hiapo program at Purple Mai’a. In her new role, she provides students with career counseling, prepares graduates for their job search and builds a network of local employers committed to hiring locally.

Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ‘07, MHRM ‘09

Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ‘07, MHRM ‘09

Michelle Leon-Guerrero, BS ‘07, MHRM ‘09, has been promoted to chief administrative officer at Hawaiian Host Group (HHG). In this elevated leadership role, Leon-Guerrero will oversee the company’s Talent Management, Operations, Customer Care and Warehouse departments. Leon-Guerrero previously served as VP of talent management.