Hawaii nonprofit people in the news
> Natasha Gray, 29, and Alexandra Lavers, 25, walked the perimeter of Oahu, a 134-mile trek, in three days over the Memorial Day weekend hoping to raise $13,400, or $100 per mile, for the Hawaii Meth Project. The hike started and ended at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu but the real journey began about eight months ago when Gray, a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was looking for a way to contribute to the community. She liked the Hawaii Meth Project because it dealt with something that has a large impact in Hawaii and with helping teens. She asked her friend Lavers, who was already looking for a way to volunteer, to help. According to the Hawaii Meth Project, methamphetamine use in Hawaii has led to overburdened jails and increased foster care, health care and treatment costs. Most recent statistics show that Hawaii ranks fifth in the nation for meth use by people 12 and older, and that meth abuse costs the state about $500 million a year.
> Blair Collis on June 1 succeeds Tim Johns as president and CEO of the Bishop Museum. Most recently the museum’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, Collis "has been instrumental in helping guide the institution through challenging times" and in improving the museum's ability to meet the needs of the community, said Board Chairman Charman Akina. Johns will go to the Hawaii Medical Service Association as senior vice president responsible for government relations, legal services and strategic planning. He joined Bishop Museum in 2007 and is credited with leading the nonprofit through reorganization and refocusing necessitated by the economic downturn.
> Olelo Community Media has named Roy Amemiya Jr. as its president and CEO. Amemiya replaces Kealii Lopez, who was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie as the director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Amemiya has served as Olelo’s interim president and CEO since January, and he has previously served as the company’s chief operating officer since July 2010. Olelo Community Media is a private, nonprofit provider of educational, public and governmental access television services and resources on Oahu
> Honolulu Theatre for Youth has named Becky Dunning to the position of managing director, effective May 16. She succeeds Louise King Lanzilotti, who resigned in late 2010. As managing director, Dunning will be a member of the HTY's unique triumvirate management structure, which places the managing, artistic and drama education departments on equal footing. She will lead alongside Artistic Director Eric Johnson and Drama Education Director Daniel A. Kelin, II, focusing on the business aspect of running the theatre, including administration, development and community relations. Dunning was formerly the director of operations and advancement for Blue Planet Foundation.
> Alvin Katahara has been named the University of Hawaii Foundation’s associate vice president of alumni relations and the university alumni association’s executive director. He has worked for UH and the UH Foundation since 2009. Katahara will direct the communications efforts with alumni and friends of the UH system. He also will guide the university’s efforts to supply alumni relations programming, according to a statement from the UH Foundation. Katahara previously was the director of annual giving for the UH Foundation's athletic fundraising organization, Ahahui Koa Anenue.
> The Junior League of Honolulu presented its 2011 Laura N. Dowsett Award this week to Elisabeth “Liz” Chun, who has served the Junior League of Honolulu for almost 20 years. In her honor, the JLH will make a donation to Good Beginnings Alliance, which is the organization Chun selected for the donation.
> AARP Hawaii has appointed George Massengale to be associate state director for advocacy. He was previously at American Cancer Society where he served as director of government relations and coordinated the legislative campaign to establish Hawaii’s Smoke Free Workplace Law.
> Kaiser Permanente Hawaii appointed Lorenzo A. Henderson as regional compliance officer. He has 13 years of experience in health care compliance, management consulting and law, including as director of health care delivery compliance at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
> Chaminade University has announced four new regents: James Kraus, Chaminade faculty senate president and English professor; Laurie K.S. Tom, assistant clinical professor of medicine at UH John A. Burns School of Medicine; Shelley Wilson, founder and president of Wilson Homecare; and Hoyt H. Zia, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hawaiian Airlines.
> Enterprise Honolulu, the Oahu Economic Development Board, has elected Roger Peters to its board of directors. He is currently executive vice president and general manager of dck pacific and will serve the board for a three-year term.
> Chaminade University has added four members to its board of governors: John C. Brogan, past -president-North America for ITT Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, president-Hawaii, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and chairman of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; Adelia Dung, owner of Spectrum Wealth Management and president of the Alana Dung Research Foundation; Christine M. Gayagas, president of First Canoe Strategies and consultant and adviser to LMI in McLean, Va.; and Donald Rodrigues, executive director of Matibabu Foundation.
> Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii has named three new board members: Tim Dick, CEO of Adama Materials, a developer of nanotechnology-based advanced materials, and a Partner at Startup Capital Ventures of Palo Alto; Peter Kay, President of CyberCom, Inc., a high-tech management consulting firm; and Alan Oshima of AMO Consulting LLC.
> Pacific Business News’ 2011 class of Forty Under 40 includes six young nonprofit leaders. From the class of 40 men and women, one will be honored with the 2011 American Savings Bank Community Leader of the Year award and one will be named the 2011 Pacific Business News Young Business Leader of the Year. The two winners will be announced at an evening event June 16 at the Hawaii Convention Center. This year’s class includes: Jill Baldemor, Teach for America-Hawaii; Jennifer Dotson, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving; Marcie Herring, Junior League of Honolulu; Kristin Inouye, Hawaii Pacific Health; Keawe Liu, Hawaii Preparatory Academy; and Christi Masters, Imua Family Service.
