Pacific Business News Oct. 2011 Business Leadership Hawaii awards special section

1. B12 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 OCTOBER 7, 2011
Finalists – Best in Business (More than 41 full-time employees)
Watts expands globally, using federal contracts as its base
BY LYNN NAKAGAWA
PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS Watts Constructors LLC
I n 2005, Denny Watts of Watts Construc-
tors set the goal of becoming the best
federal contractor in the Pacific Rim.
Hawaii-based global contracting company
President: Denny Watts
Address: 737 Bishop St., Suite 2900,
Two years later, Watts, president of the Honolulu, HI 96813
company bearing his name, moved his Phone: (808) 543-5201
corporate office from California to Ha- Website: www.wattsconstructors.com
waii in an effort to take advantage of the
work related to the transfer of thousands
of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. company keeps growth profiles for the
The company is now global, with of- employees to encourage them to better
fices in Singapore as well as Colorado, themselves and their careers.
California, and Washington state. Watts Because of this, many of the employ-
said the next step is expanding to Eastern ees under 50 have more certifications
Europe to solidify the company’s position. than those who have been in business
Last year the company generated more for 30 years, Watts said.
than $300 million in revenue, up from Watts also understands younger em-
$15 million in 2005. To accomplish this TINA YUEN PBN ployees may have different needs.
tremendous growth, several years ago Watts Constructors executives, from left, Roger Lee, project manager; Kelvin “When I was starting out it was normal
Watts Constructors made a strategic de- Osborne, senior vice president; Denny Watts, president; and Fred Thornhill, se- to stay with one company for a lifetime,
cision to pursue federal work instead of nior vice president, check out the job site at Honolulu’s Pier 29, where the com- but now there is no expectation for the
commercial contracts, with an emphasis pany is putting in a container yard, a $30 million state/federal project. younger generation to work at anything
on the multibillion-dollar market for U.S. less than half a dozen companies in their
military work in Guam. people,” Watts said. “And we did it as selves and our stockholders,” Watts said. careers,” he said.
As the former president of Fletcher early as we possibly could.” Watts said the houses for the $80 mil- To retain younger talent, the company
Pacific Construction Co., Watts lived in In 2005 and 2006, Watts sent a small lion project are a template for larger also offers subsidies and flexible sched-
Guam from 1989 to 1995 so he knew the team to Guam to establish an office and federal projects in the area, and he hopes ules for employees pursuing their MBA.
territory The company built hotels and
. warehouse, among other facilities, to this will ensure a continued revenue Watts started in the construction busi-
condominiums, and Watts understood prepare for the military buildup. The stream from similar projects. The com- ness in 1969, after serving in the Vietnam
how important that market was going investment paid off, as Watts Construc- pany now has $300 million worth of War. He was waiting to become a highway
to be as the Japan and U.S. governments tors snagged key contracts, including contracts on Guam and is working on patrolman in Oregon when a construction
agreed to move thousands of Marines and an $80 million project awarded by the the Naval hospital there. job came along. “I took it and never looked
their dependents from Okinawa to Guam. Navy to replace 204 homes damaged by In 2005, Watts Constructors employed back,” he said. He then became a jour-
“[Going to Guam] was all strategic. a typhoon in North Tipalao. only 16 people, and has since grown to neyman and opened his own business,
We planned on being there, getting our “We’ve invested in it, we’ve bet on it and employ 400. Watts believes in retaining working his way up the ladder from there.
feet wet, growing our company and we’ve put infrastructure in place to lever- the right people and allowing employees
establishing a background with our age it in a way to bring good returns to our- to grow in their roles at the company The
. lnakagawa@bizjournals.com | 955-8046
Prudential Locations gives its agents the tools to succeed
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ
PBN CONTRIBUTOR Prudential Locations
P rudential Locations empowers both
its staff and its customers with a dos-
sier of all the necessary details in real
Real estate services
CEO: William Chee
Address: 614 Kapahulu Ave., Suite 300,
estate so the best decisions can be made. Honolulu HI 96815
The focus on technology has helped Phone: (808) 735-4200
make Hawaii’s second-largest residen- Website: www.prudentiallocations.com
tial real estate firm stand out.
“We put a lot of energy into the collect-
ing, tracking and analyzing of data, and She gave complete information that
then turning that data into a meaningful was right on the money so that I could
story that we can learn from and share decide what was best.”
with our clients,” said William Chee, Bolte also says she enjoyed the profes-
the real estate company’s founder and sionalism and efficiency of the transac-
chief executive officer. tion manager who kept her up to speed
Corinda Wong, a Realtor with Pru- on every step of the process.
dential Locations since 1989, said the PHOTO COURTESY: PRUDENTIAL LOCATIONS Under the company’s unique structure,
company continually finds ways to pro- The Prudential Locations team includes, from left: Brenda Ching, Dan Tabori, several dozen employees and retirees are
vide services for the staff and the clients Tracy Behler, CEO William Chee, Mikio Sato and Scott Higashi. the owners of the company They are
.
using cutting-edge technology . empowered with a mentorship program
“We have a mobile app and customers tools and services in the places where foreclosures, new construction and even and professional training that is avail-
love that they can look at homes that buyers are most likely to be,” Chee notes. for-sale-by-owner” properties,” Chee said. able in person or via video conference.
way she said.
,” “This also gives our seller clients a dis- “So someone looking will have access to The company’s 275 employees were
The company which covers Oahu and
, tinct advantage because we know where all properties for sale, all in one place.” able to generate more than $1 billion in
Maui and has the master franchise for the to market their property for maximum Joan Bolte sold a residential invest- sales as an average of 7.7 homes were
state, also releases a study every two years exposure to potential buyers.” ment property in August with Prudential. sold per agent compared to 4.6 industry
to help customers understand trends and The company’s website, Prudential- “I’d never met Corinda but I’d been average.
what it means for them. The research in- Locations.com, was redesigned in March on her mailing list for 10 years and she When agents aren’t busy helping their
cludes the process that buyers go through to be the hub of all things real estate. kept me informed with market study clients or learning more, they give back
and sources they use to find their home. “We went way beyond including just analysis that was concise and detailed,” to the community with service projects
“It provides us with extremely valu- those properties listed in the [Honolulu Bolte said. “When it was time for me to from their Locations Foundation. Last
able insight on buyer behavior that al- Board of Realtors’ Multiple Listing sell, that information led me to contact year they donated $100,000 and nearly
lows us to best position our agents, our Service] by adding external data, like Corinda. She is the epitome of class. 1,000 volunteer hours to 20 organizations.

2. B16 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 OCTOBER 7, 2011
Finalist – Best in Small Business (Up to 40 full-time employees)
Maui-based tech company pursues frontiers in space
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ
PBN CONTRIBUTOR
Pacific Defense Solutions
P acific Defense Solutions provides
technology and software to process
photographs in space, and its work also
Tech company with an emphasis on mili-
tary projects
President: Wes Freiwald
applies to other industries in projects Address: 1300 N. Holopono St., Suite
done on the Mainland as well as Hawaii. 116, Kihei, HI 96753
President Wes Freiwald Phone: (808) 879-7110
gives the following ex- Website: www.pacificds.com
ample of something his
company launched last
fall as one of the many family, friends, clients and his 33 employ-
things it does. ees with the ability to create technologies
“Under subcontract to to use in the aerospace arena.
Boeing, we developed the Being a part of both global and lo-
Freiwald on-board algorithms and cal communities is one of the keys to
software for a very com- PHOTO COURTESY: PACIFIC DEFENSE SOLUTIONS success for any business, and that is
plex satellite called space-based space Three summer interns update the Pacific Defense Solutions management team something Pacific Defense Solutions
surveillance systems,” said Freiwald, on the projects they worked on and what they learned. does well, according to Maui Economic
an electrical engineer by training. Development Board President and CEO
This satellite takes pictures and cata- into a computer-animated design tool some very good people. When you put Jeanne Unemori Skog.
logues anything — including junk and and spun around. The company also those three things together it has worked “They are active as coaches, teaching at
wrenches — that is out in space so that designed a camera that can produce 3-D out very well for us.” the schools and mentoring students,” Skog
the U.S. Department of Defense knows pictures in darkness. The company started in 2006 with just said. “Wes serves on our board of directors.”
what is out there as well as its location. While the company’s focus has been three people at a time when Freiwald Freiwald admits that one of the chal-
The company continues to support the on the U.S. Department of Defense, it was battling cancer. lenges of running the business has been
project with updates. also has worked on Haleakala at the “I had confidence in the individuals to compete price-wise with Mainland
Another of the projects the Maui- Maui Space Surveillance Site, the Maui I worked with,” he recalled. “When we companies that may be paying only a
based tech firm worked on is called High Performance Computer Center, started growing the company to make tenth as much for office space.
“time-resolved photon counting.” Pacific the W Keck Observatory and the Air
.M. payroll, I took a second mortgage on our “We have to be very creative to keep
Defense Solutions created the process Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland condominium. I had no life insurance at costs down to determine a best value,”
that allows each piece of light to be time Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. the time. I bet my entire life on the fact he said. “At the same time, we give our
tagged to a high resolution so it captures “We have been lucky Freiwald said.
,” that it would work.” people the best tools and pay them well
3-D photos. These photos can be placed “We’ve been prepared, and we do have He credits the encouragement of his so they can afford to live in Hawaii.”
Congratulations
GREENPATH TECHNOLOGIES Celebrate Hawaii’s
on being an Innovative Company Finalist for INNOVATIVE COMPANIES
the Business Leadership Hawaii 2011 awards.
We support your vision and contributions in innovative
turnkey solar power solutions, integrating renewable energy
into our construction industry for a more sustainable future 808.748.8418
for our islands, the Pacific Rim & beyond. info@greenpath-tech.com
greenpath-tech.com
We are proud to partner We are humbled and honored to be recognized alongside
alongside you. some of our State’s most progressive companies. We thank
those who have put their trust in us, and together we will
continue on a greenpath towards cleaner energy!
808.748.8431 info@alliedpacificbuilders.com Congratulations to the nominees of
www.alliedpacificbuilders.com the Business Leadership Hawai’i 2011 Awards.

3. OCTOBER 7, 2011 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 pacificbusinessnews.com | PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS B17
Finalist – Best in Small Business
(Up to 40 full-time employees)
Only 11 %
of our clients
think we are
that’s
Good, because
87%
TINA YUEN PBN
Nashimoto and Associates President Masako Nashimoto-Luttrell and Anthony
Gambino look over plans and the itinerary for a trip to Japan.
Boutique agency masters the
art of capturing Asian market think we are
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ
PBN CONTRIBUTOR Nashimoto and Associates
N ashimoto and Associates has long
been one of the premiere public
relations and advertising agencies in
Hawaii when it comes to building rela-
tionships with the Island’s all-important
Public relations and advertising firm
President: Masako Nashimoto-Luttrell
Address: 1833 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 201,
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 955-9361
EXCELLENT
ties to Japan, Korea and China. Website: www.nashimoto.com
An example of the relationship
strengthening that Nashimoto and As-
sociates is known for will be seen in son for Ford Motors, Henry Ford Jr. and
We know this because
the annual “Hawaii’s Modern Masters”
fine arts exhibit Nov. 3 on what kama-
Lee Iacocca to sell their cars in Japan
when she headed up the Japan branch of we ask them.
aina know as “Luxury Row” at 2100 the New York-based J. Walter Thompson
Kalakaua Ave. advertising agency Her experiences
.
“We are bringing award-winning lo- bringing companies such as Kraft, Kel-
cal artists from across the state to dis- logg’s, Lego, Fisher-Price and Rolex to We survey each client after every
play their artwork in each store,” said Japan for the first time were the bases
Masako Nashimoto-Luttrell, president for Nashimoto and Associates. transaction to ensure that we are
of Nashimoto and Associates who is She acknowledges family friends,
,
affectionately called Nashi by friends. clients and staff as she continues to providing them with the best
“Our event has connected high fashion keep Nashimoto and Associates a small
and fine art.” boutique agency . service possible. Their success
Since its inception six years ago, more “I can keep it on a personal hands-on
than 70 local artists have shown their basis,” the watercolor artist says. “I determines our own. Let us show
work at high-end retailers such as Tif- sign off on everything and find ways to
fany & Co., Coach, Yves Saint Laurent, improve it. With a bigger company, there you what we can do for you!
Chanel, Gucci, Tod’s, Bottega Veneta are so many captains, the boat will sink.”
and Hugo Boss. She empowers her staff of five, and
Nashimoto and Associates coordi- they get performance incentives, bo-
nates and markets every aspect of the nuses and raises each year.
event, and last year more than 3,000 “We treat the client as the king,” she
people attended. In 2010, the owners of said. “I believe integrity is the best when
the Luxury Row property donated $5,000 dealing with the client and the family It.
to support the Honolulu Academy of is more than honesty It is moral.”
.
Arts at-risk youth art program Art To Go. Barbara Gray, vice president of Oils of
Nashimoto-Luttrell started her Aloha, one of the firm’s newest clients,
company in Hawaii in 1982, when her started using Nashimoto and Associates
children were still very young. But her at the start of this year. Gray says she
entrepreneurial DNA manifested itself already sees an increase in business.
much earlier when she was growing up
in Tokyo. The youngest of six children,
“We are redesigning our public rela-
tions efforts and doing special packag-
www.PrudentialLocations.com
she promoted and taught art classes ing of things that the Japanese would
to younger kids when she was still in
middle school so she could buy the art
like,” she said. “What impresses me
about Nashi is her ability to relate to (808) 735-4200
supplies she needed. Her determination our industry and relate to us. I really ap-
to win as a sprinter in the athletic arena preciate her expertise in design and the
fostered her pioneering business spirit, suggestions she makes that help make it
and she served as the official spokesper- more appealing to the Japanese market.”

4. B20 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 OCTOBER 7, 2011
Finalists – Cades Schutte - The Cades Foundation Nonprofit Leadership
Kupu trains next generation of environmental stewards
BY TREENA SHAPIRO
PBN CONTRIBUTOR Kupu
K upu’s dedication to conservation
and renewable energy has led the
nonprofit to focus its attention on young
Nonprofit with an emphasis on
environmental stewardship
Executive Director: John Leong
adults who will be the next generation Address: 4211 Waialae Ave., Suite 1020,
of environmental stewards. Honolulu, HI 96816
The organization runs Phone: (808) 735-1221
seven programs for par- Website: www.kupuhawaii.org
ticipants from age 16 to
24, engaging them in ser-
vice in the green sector service activity Committed funding,
.
through hands-on involve- partnerships and smart fiscal manage-
ment in trail and forest ment allowed Kupu to expand despite
restoration and endan- the recent recession. In 2010, its revenue
gered species protection, was $2.4 million, with 4 percent used to
Leong
loi and fishpond cultiva- support a staff of 20, and 74 percent of
tion, as well as training the funding dedicated to programming.
to provide educational outreach that In addition to Kupu’s own programs,
promotes sustainable practices. the organization helps facilitates intern-
“We need local young adults to be TINA YUEN PBN ship opportunities that provide sup-
sustainable and competent in global job Reviewing a Kupu program are, from left, Matthew Bauer, director of operations; port to conservation-oriented agencies,
careers,” said Kupu Executive Director Katrina Thompson, deputy director of operations; and Hilary Arakaki, coordina- which in several instances have led to
John Leong. “We really hope we can tor of the Youth Energy Assessment Hawaii program. permanent jobs for the interns. Kupu
develop leaders in these industries.” also provides $500,000 in educational
In 2010, Kupu’s 400 volunteers put of their community They need to do it.”
. educational specialist for Kame- funding through its substantial $1.2
in thousands of hours of service and Kupu’s summer program has com- hameha Schools, mentioned some of million AmeriCorps grant.
assisted 80 organizations. While the petitive enrollment – more than 700 those unique learning environments, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz praised Kupu’s
organization’s main office is in Kahala, applicants vied for 150 slots during including nature reserves, native forests, community impact, particularly in cre-
volunteers perform work throughout the last session. Anyone can apply, but prehistoric trails and agricultural field ating job opportunities and providing
the state, often on their own islands. selection is based on interest in the systems. paid internships for organizations that
As participants gain skills that might program and topic area, how applicants “Kupu’s work reaches across most of need the assistance and keeping young
open pathways to educational and ca- planned to use the experience, as well the islands in the archipelago — from adults engaged in productive work at
reer opportunities in the green sector, as individual character and maturity, Kauai to Hawaii island, including Ka- the same time.
they’re also learning the value of civic Leong said. Participants receive a $1,000 hoolawe and Lanai, and helps to preserve “Although young adults tradition-
engagement and service. stipend, travel, training and access to what is uniquely Hawaiian about our ally have the highest unemployment
“They learn to give back to their com- places they might not otherwise be island home,” she said. rate, Kupu is working to reverse that by
munities,” Leong explained. “It’s not exposed to. Kupu’s revenue comes primarily from providing life-impacting experiences to
someone else who’s going to take care Mahealani Matsuzaki, land legacy grants, private donations and fee-for- help shape the next generation,” he said.
MADD gears up to fight drunk driving, underage drinking
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ
PBN CONTRIBUTOR
MADD Hawaii
W ith a new year ahead, MADD Ha-
waii has a lot on its agenda to
strengthen the work it has already done
Nonprofit focused on eliminating drunken
driving
Executive Director: Jennifer Dotson
in its fight against underage drinking, Address: 745 Fort St., Suite 303,
advocating for whatever it takes to save Honolulu, HI 96813
a life, and helping victims. Phone: (808) 532-6232
“We have not lost the heart of what we Website: maddhawaii.ning.com/
do, what we care about,” said Jennifer
Dotson, executive director of MADD One of MADD Hawaii’s most impor-
Hawaii, Mothers Against Drunk Driv- tant functions is to offer free victim
ing’s Hawaii chapter. “Someone has been services to people who have been affected
affected by drunk driving.” by drunk driving.
While January 2011 marked a mile- MADD Hawaii victim services chair-
stone for MADD Hawaii’s three-year- woman Theresa Paulette said the non-
long efforts to get the ignition inter- profit has trained victim advocates who
lock law passed, the nonprofit plans can help victims, family and friends.
to come back stronger to tighten up PHOTO COURTESY: MADD HAWAII Victim services is something Paulette
any loopholes that might exist. The The signs tell the story of MADD Hawaii’s mission — to keep drunk drivers off the knows about firsthand — her 15-year-old
ignition interlock requires those who roads and to help the victims of accidents caused by drunk drivers. son Brian was killed in an accident in
have been arrested for driving under the Kaneohe involving a man who had six
influence to have a device installed in last weekend offered attendees dinner, said. “We are not against drinking. We are drunk driving arrests.
their car that requires a Breathalyzer entertainment, a silent auction, no-host against the combination of drinking and “Most people just need to talk,” Pau-
test in order for the car to start. There bar and a cab ride to and from this year’s driving. We are the only one in the entire lette said. “They are in shock and disbe-
are about 800 devices installed in cars roaring 1920’s theme. The venue itself nation to run this pilot program.” lief. After it happens, your mind races
in Hawaii now. was a secret. Cabs picked up the guests, The inaugural 2010 event raised with all kinds of thoughts, and you think
“We will reach 1,000 by the end of the brought them to the secret venue, and $127,000, which helped MADD Hawaii fill you are going crazy Once you talk with
.
year,” Dotson said. gave them a ride home. an unexpected eight-month funding gap. others, you realize that you are not the
With a staff of three people, including “This is a chance to raise funds and Dotson said the organization receives no only one who is feeling this way It can
.
Dotson, MADD Hawaii has come up with drive home — pun intended — the point proceeds from the no-host bar and her be overwhelming.”
an innovative fun way to raise funds. that this is an organization that educates research revealed that attendees each MADD Hawaii recently trained 18
The second annual MADD Cab Affair people on drinking and driving,” Dotson consumed 1.1 glasses of alcohol. victim advocates across the state.

5. B26 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 OCTOBER 7, 2011
Finalists – Community Spirit
Finance Factors finds creative ways to feed the hungry
BY LYNN NAKAGAWA Finance Factors
PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS Finance Factors
employee Shirley
T o beat Hawaii’s biggest banks in
donating the most food and money
to the Hawaii Foodbank, Finance Fac-
Jackson was a
Spin-to-Win weekly
prize winner in the
Financial institution
CEO: Russell Lau
Address: 1164 Bishop St., Suite 300,
tors launched a creative and cohesive company’s Team Honolulu, HI 96813
fundraising campaign. Management vs. Phone: (808) 548-4940
The company compiled a Finance Team Employee Website: www.financefactors.com
Factors cookbook, organized a bake Food Drive in May.
sale and developed fundraisers such as prizes for the tournament.
“appreciation grams,” notes of thanks PHOTO COURTESY: FINANCE FACTORS “I’m actively involved with the tour-
attached to candy to send to co-workers. nament because I want to make sure its
“One of the founding values of the standards are maintained,” said Teruya,
company is supporting the communities an avid golfer.
we serve,” said Russell Lau, vice chair- Finance Factors is also known for its
man and CEO of Finance Factors and Bank and other participants in the Ha- the Hawaii Bankers Association food signature event, a charity breakfast of
son of co-founder Daniel Lau. waii Bankers Association food drive. drive,” she said. Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs and
Finance Factors joined the Hawaii Another key Hawaii Foodbank fund- Teruya and Lau are also involved rice, held every year since 1996.
Bankers Association food drive in 2009 raiser this year was an in-house auction, with various boards. For Lau, it’s the The company sold 1,200 $5 breakfast
but has been donating to the organiza- in which many of the goods and services St. Andrew’s Priory board, and for Ter- plates and 24 VIP section tickets for its
tion since 2000. After the first bankers were provided by management. For the uya his leadership is devoted to Junior breakfast held in July with personal
food drive in 2009, Finance Factors’ man- auction, President and Chief Operating Achievement of Hawaii. chefs from Pacific Beach Hotel. The
agement realized the company could Officer Steve Teruya auctioned off a Teruya has been involved with the event raised $7,801 for Hawaii Helping
exceed the contributions of other banks sushi and sake gala affair with a hired Junior Achievement of Hawaii program, the Hungry Have Hope, a local nonprofit
with a little more effort and creativity. chef at his home in Kalihi Valley Teruya,
. designed to help K-12 students achieve that helps feed and house the hungry
To generate a friendly competition who has a full sushi bar in his home, said financial literacy and pursue higher and homeless. Finance Factors selects
between management and staff, the com- two seats sold for $400. education, for the past 12 years. a different nonprofit to be the recipi-
pany constructed a scale with wicker “The need continues to go up for both When he first served on the Junior ent of its charity breakfast each year.
baskets and displayed it in the lobby of the amount of people that need and how Achievement board, he knew something It has previously donated to Making
the Finance Factors Center on Bishop much they need,” said Polly Kauahi, had to be done about the $100,000 debt Ends Meet, Kau Kau Wagon, River of
Street to show which group was ahead director of development at the Hawaii the program faced. Life Mission, Good Bears of the World,
in food collections. The company also Foodbank. “Finance Factors wants [its] “I set up accounts and did a cash-flow Aloha Den, KEY Project and the Sex
encouraged everyone to buy food dona- employees to come up with creative analysis and got fundraisers going,” Abuse Treatment Center.
tions in bulk from wholesale retailers. ways, and because they’re having a fun Teruya said. “Our goal is to donate to nonprofits
This year, the company donated $11,606 time they are raising a lot of money They
. He effectively aided the organization that would receive a significant amount
and 6,251 pounds of food to the organiza- have definitely got that team spirit.” in rebuilding its finances. of their donations from such a gift,”
tion, exceeding the donations of Ameri- “What’s important here is that it’s Finance Factors is also the title spon- Lau said.
can Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, not only about a competition, because sor of the Junior Achievement of Hawaii
Central Pacific Bank, First Hawaiian they have been doing this well before Golf Classic, and provides staff and lnakagawa@bizjournals.com | 955-8046
Hagadone employees step up when community issues arise
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ Hagadone Printing Hagadone Printing Co.
PBN CONTRIBUTOR Co. President Clint
L
Schroeder, center, Commercial and publication printing
ittle did Hagadone Printing Co. em-
ployees who volunteered to read twice joins fellow em- President: Clint Schroeder
ployees to rally in Address: 274 Puuhale Road,
a week to Puuhale Elementary School stu-
support of keeping Honolulu, HI 96819
dents for one of their community service
Puuhale Elemen- Phone: (808) 847-5310
projects know they would soon be rallying
tary School open.
the community to keep the school open. Website: www.hagadoneprinting.com
Kalihi and Puuhale Elementary schools PHOTO COURTESY:
were on the state Department of Educa- HAGADONE PRINTING CO. and money .”
tion’s list in 2010 of schools it was consid- Other projects they helped with includ-
ering closing and consolidating to nearby ed donating posters, programs, social
schools in order to save the state $1.5 million. media, and public relations expertise for
After some research, Hagadone Presi- a fundraiser which resulted in a $10,000
dent Clint Schroeder said they found check presentation to Hale Kipa from the
out that Puuhale Elementary had good hour and during the Great Aloha Run. done’s efforts contributed to the Depart- Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu.
scores in math and reading. “They really took the lead,” Kara- ment of Education’s decision in February Between the department heads and the
“We also found out that Kalihi Kai, saki said. “They were the voice of the to keep Puuhale Elementary open. sales force, the company is represented
where they would be going, would be school. They have so much experience That was just one of the company’s in 45 organizations, Schroeder said.
one of the largest schools after consoli- and expertise.” community service efforts. One of the resources that the company
dation,” he said. Schroeder noted that all 150 employees “What we do is we sit down and we has been able to use in its community
Hagadone participated in a letter- were involved and other businesses also have a strategic planning meeting,” service efforts is its H1 Marketing Divi-
writing campaign, then the company offered to help out. said Jonelle Rezantes, vice president sion, which offers services that can help
started to help the school think of pro- “It was so gratifying to me to see ev- of sales. “This past year we chose three its 3,000 clients with website design,
posals to generate revenue and reduce eryone jump on the bandwagon,” he pillars of excellence — children’s arts, content design, graphic arts, and social
costs such as utilizing solar electric. said. “People do care, and businesses do education and literacy .” media so that they can have a consistent
“We wanted to present alternatives have influence. We provided the battle When the company chooses to help online image with their print materials.
to be a model instead of a problem,” cry We asked the question, if we close
. out, the project must fit one of those The community partnerships Haga-
Schroeder said. important schools, how do we expect to three areas, she said. done employees form benefit the com-
Lorelei Karasaki, Puuhale Elementary become a good state?” “When it comes to the service projects, pany Schroeder said. .
,
School’s principal at the time, appreciated Rolling up their sleeves with parents, we wanted something where we could “I look at those people that do the most
Hagadone’s efforts, which included a Face- teachers, students, other businesses, get involved,” she said. ”We allowed our in the community he said. “I always
,”
book page as well as sign waving at rush politicians and community leaders, Haga- employees to help out on company time think of those people first.”

6. B30 PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS | pacificbusinessnews.com BUSINESS LEADERSHIP HAWAII 2011 OCTOBER 7, 2011
Finalists – Innovative Company of the Year
Presentation company delivers messages in unique ways
BY TREENA SHAPIRO Empowered Presentations!
PBN CONTRIBUTOR
E mpowered Presentations! has estab- Business presentation service
lished itself as a leader in its class CEO: Cory Jim
because no other business in Hawaii Address: 2885 S. King St., Suite 102,
offers the same specialized slideshow Honolulu, HI 96826
design service. Phone: (808) 225-2959
The company — run by newlyweds Website: empoweredpresentations.com
Yancey Unequivocally president, and
,
Cory Jim, CEO — creates PowerPoint tablished herself as a successful entre-
and Keynote presentations that are si- preneur. Empowered Presentations!
multaneously sophisticated and simple. combines her business savvy with other
Text is used sparingly to create crisp, passions.
concise messages that can be driven “I love to be on stage,” she said.
home with powerful imagery . She knows from experience that a
“It’s so different from traditional good presentation can build a speaker’s
marketing,” Unequivocally said. “It’s confidence and energize an audience.
presentation design that no one really “It makes a big difference when you’re
gets yet.” communicating a message you want
The partners used images of skunks them to grasp,” she said.
in a sample presentation to convey their Unequivocally works closely with cli-
opinion of typical presentations that use ents to give them that same presentation
excessive bullet points, crazy animations experience, using written Post-it notes
and boring templates. TINA YUEN PBN to organize a storyboard tailored to
“Instead of one slide with 10 bullet Newlyweds Cory Jim and Yancey Unequivocally throw conventional wisdom the speaker’s purpose, audience, target
points, why not have 10 slides with one aside, using powerful imagery when they design presentations for businesses. market and call-to-action.
bullet point? Slides are free. We charge “Then Cory does his magic,” she said.
by the project,” Unequivocally said. create a presentation on smoking that One slide simply says “or ...” Jim said he taught himself PowerPoint
While more slides might force the showcased their design philosophy Unequivocally compares their pre- while serving in the Marines, just so he
presenter to click more often, the time and innovative storytelling method, sentations to Superbowl commercials. could send his son educational slide-
to deliver the message remains the same, which delivers relevant statistics with- “They’re engaging. They’re trans- shows while on a tour of duty in Iraq.
she added. out cramming slides with bullet points formational,” she said. “We create that Now the self-taught designer spends
Unequivocally and Jim had been and charts. experience through slide decks.” anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours
business partners for years, but it took Half of one slide is dominated by an Through the Slideshare contest and per slide, matching appropriate images
winning the World’s Best Presentation ashen globe, while just a quarter is used word-of-mouth, Empowered Presenta- and fonts to create dynamic messages a
Award on Slideshare.net to convince to state “there are 1.1 billion smokers in tions! has attracted clients from around 10-year-old can grasp immediately .
them to launch their own company last the world today Cigarettes arranged to
.” the world, including the Harvard Graduate What Empowered Presentations! cre-
December. represent a bar graph illustrate “that School of Education, Academy 21, the Uni- ates is closer to videography than tradi-
Unequivocally’s father had died of number is expected to increase by 1.6 versity of Phoenix, IdeaSeed and TEDx. tional slideshows, Jim said. “We’re the
lung cancer, inspiring the couple to billion by the year 2025.” At 29, Unequivocally has already es- front runners in this.”
GreenPath Technologies takes solar power to the battlefield
BY LINDA DELA CRUZ GreenPath Technologies
PBN CONTRIBUTOR
H awaii-based GreenPath Technolo- Solar power contractor
gies is a solar power contractor that President: Briand Achong
doesn’t just install photovoltaic panels Address: 754 Ilaniwai St., Honolulu, HI
on rooftops. 96813
The company has also invented por- Phone: (808) 748-8418
table solar panels that fit in a backpack. Website: greenpath-tech.com
The Honolulu-based firm’s LITE-PM
system was tested by the military at the “Because we are a nonprofit, we can-
Balikatan Field exercises in the Philip- not claim the tax incentives or energy
pines in April this year. It creates power credit,” Gaxiola said. “They negotiated
for computers at command stations, and a lower rate and we don’t need to hire a
it can save time and money for supplies maintenance person. It’s a good deal.”
to be delivered when renewable energy Gaxiola also liked that GreenPath
is used to recharge batteries in the field. Technologies replaced the old roofing
At nearly six pounds, the portable with hydro coating, a white material that
panels fold up to 17 inches wide and 11.5 PHOTO COURTESY: ROBERT DUREN takes less energy to cool down the offices.
inches long and can fit in a backpack. The GreenPath Technologies team includes, clockwise from left, Briand Achong, GreenPath Technologies, which start-
Unfolded, it is six feet long. Jodi Webb, Jim Chaney, Charles Chacko, Robert Martin and Wayne Asam. ed in 2007, has installed solar panels at
“Patrols can be longer if you don’t need a variety of places, such as the Waialae
to run generators and if you do not need hiking and recharging batteries for nonprofit organizations. The purchase Country Club, Japanese Cultural Center,
to run as much fuel,” said GreenPath computers,” Achong said. “The price power agreement is when one organiza- Building Industry Association of Ha-
Technologies President Briand Achong. point is not quite there yet.” tion owns the power and sells it to the waii, Construction Training Center of
“For the military it has a non-glare finish In addition to making the portable other organization. the Pacific, Hawaii USA Federal Credit
so there is no reflection.” solar panels, GreenPath Technologies The J. Walter Cameron Center on Union, and the Waimea fire station and
The LITE-PM was also used in Thai- also installs photovoltaic solar panels Maui secured a purchase power agree- police station on the Big Island.
land at the Crimson Viper Field Exer- for residential and commercial clients ment with GreenPath Technologies in The firm’s upcoming projects include
cises in June this year. and nonprofit organizations. December 2009, and now has 66 panels on installing solar panels at the Maui De-
“Someday in the future the consumer The firm offers a purchase power one building, and 480 panels on another, partment of Transportation’s base yard
can use this technology in camping, agreement that often works well for said Executive Director Cesar Gaxiola. and a cold storage facility in Honolulu.