Speaker Bios

Michael AdA

Secretary of Commerce, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

Michael Ada currently serves as the Secretary of Commerce for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In this role, Mr. Ada serves as the jurisdiction’s Insurance Commissioner and the State Banking Director. His office is charged with economic development and permitting foreign investments into the CNMI as well as providing the jurisdiction’s statistical information by way of the CNMI’s Consumer Price Index and Economic Indicators. He oversees the Central Statistics Division which coordinates much of the U.S. Census Bureau work inclusive of the Economic Census, Household Income and Expenditure Reports, and the Population Census.

Mr. Ada currently serves as the CNMI’s Economic Stimulus Czar in coordinating the jurisdiction’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) efforts. In addition, he serves as the co-chair for the development of the 2009 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). He serves as an Governor appointee for the Office of Economic Adjustment under the Department of Defense in an effort to coordinate the Military Planning for the CNMI. Mr. Ada holds a Master’s of Business Administration and an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Prior to his service with the CNMI Government, Mr. Ada served in management roles in the areas of Financial Services and Telecommunications, as well as in the non-profit sector.

Michael AdY

Board Director and Small Business Committee Co-Chairman, Guam Chamber of Commerce, President, M80 Office Systems, Inc.; Co-Host K57 Business Talk Show, "Monday's with Monty"

Mr. Ady is President of M80 Office Systems, Inc., a company that offers services in office design, furniture sales, furniture reconfiguration and off-premise relocation. The company was established in 1994 and has grown significantly to service not only customers on Guam but all around the Western Pacific including Japan, Korea, Wake and Okinawa. 

He is currently on the Board of the Guam Chamber of Commerce and served for four years as Chairman of the Small Business Focus & Development Committee and is a current member of the Armed Forces Committee. He is the Board Chairman for the Guam Small Business Development Center Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for the Guam Territorial Band. He is a member and past Board Director of the Guam Contractors Association and served for 2 years in the U.S. Army. He was awarded the US SBA Veteran Champion of the Year in 2007.

His passions are his wife, Jovi, his three kids, two grandchildren, gardening and golf.

James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr.

Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii

James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. has spent his life serving the public and working to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai`i. As a city attorney, state judge and as Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona has built a proven record of integrity, leadership and commitment.  First elected to public office in 2002 as Hawai`i’s 11th Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona has led the fight against crime and illegal drugs while working to strengthen Hawai`i’s families. Lt. Governor Aiona and Governor Linda Lingle became Hawai`i's first Republican Administration to win a second term, and they won with the largest margin of victory in any gubernatorial race in the history of the state.

Duke Aiona’s role as Lt. Governor is unprecedented in Hawai`i. Never before has a Lt. Governor been as actively involved in the critical issues and decisions that shape our state and our future.  Lt. Governor Aiona has been instrumental in turning our economy around, restoring integrity to government, improving early childhood and higher education, creating solutions for affordable housing and pushing for meaningful tax relief for businesses and families.

During his first term in office, the Lt. Governor spearheaded a campaign to address the urgent need to confront a statewide epidemic of drug abuse that included crystal methamphetamine, or “ice”, and underage drinking.  He brought together government, nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders for Hawai`i’s first Drug Control Strategy Summit in 2003. The summit resulted in the creation of a comprehensive strategy to combat drug and alcohol use through community mobilization, prevention, treatment and law enforcement. As a result of new measures Lt. Governor Aiona helped to put in place, the production and use of “ice” have dropped significantly in Hawai`i. 

Lt. Governor Aiona has served as a member of the advisory council for the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 to the Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities, which advises the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy. He is also a co-chair for the Aerospace States Association, a national organization of Lt. Governors whose purpose is to promote aerospace policies relating to education and economic development. Additionally, Lt. Governor Aiona is a Co-Chair of Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a national leadership coalition that seeks to prevent underage drinking across the nation.

Duke Aiona began his legal career at the City and County of Honolulu as a deputy prosecutor.  Members of the legal community recognized his strong work ethic and leadership, resulting in his appointment to the Hawai`i State Judiciary in 1990 as a Family Court judge.  His experience in family court gave him first-hand knowledge of the real problems facing Hawai`i families, and reaffirmed his belief that strong families are the foundation of a strong society.

In 1996, Duke Aiona became the first administrative judge and primary architect of the highly successful and innovative Drug Court Program in Hawai`i. The program gives non-violent offenders a chance to stay out of prison through active and effective drug rehabilitation. Under his leadership, 85% of offenders stayed in the program and out of prison.

Lt. Governor Aiona was raised in Pearl City, Hawai`i. He graduated from St. Louis High School, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific and earned his law degree from the University of Hawai`i’s William S. Richardson School of Law in Honolulu.  He is a dedicated family man and leader in the church and community.  He and his wife, Vivian, have been married since 1981 and have four children, Makana, Ohulani, Kuli`a and Ka`imilani. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for St. Louis School. And he is a former board member of Maryknoll School and a former assistant varsity basketball coach for St. Louis School.

John Anderson

Loan Officer, Director of Public Relations Bridge Capital CNMI

Jon Anderson is a longtime resident of the Mariana Islands and Guam. For most of the time he has been in the islands he worked in broadcast media, as a radio and television talk show host and journalist.

Anderson joined Bridge Capital, LLC one year ago as a loan officer. He represents John K. Baldwin, the Managing Partner of Bridge Capital, at this year's conference. The company is based in the CNMI.

David F. Bice

Executive Director, Joint Guam Program Office

Mr. Bice was appointed Executive Director, Joint Guam Program Office in January 2007. In this position, Mr. Bice is responsible for all planning, integration of the Department of Defense infrastructure capabilities, master plan development, program and budget synchronization, construction oversight, government and business coordination, and strategic communications for the realignment of military forces to Guam.

Mr. Bice has extensive operational experience in the Pacific region and a strong record in military facilities development and base operations. A retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, Mr. Bice led Marine forces at every level of command throughout the Pacific from platoon to division level, including the 3D Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. He commanded Marine Corps Base, Hawaii and Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, the largest base in the Marine Corps. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps in 2002, Mr. Bice worked as an international defense consultant in Eastern Europe. He returned to active duty in 2004 in support of the Global War on Terror and served as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps until January 2007.

Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Member of Congress, Guam

In 2003, Congresswoman Bordallo became the first woman to represent Guam in the U.S. House of Representatives. She brings to Congress over 40 years of public service experience in the executive and legislative branches of the Government of Guam as well as in numerous non-governmental organizations. In November of 2008, Congresswoman Bordallo was re-elected to her fourth term in the U.S. Congress.

In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Bordallo serves on the Committee on Armed Services under the leadership of Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri and on the Committee on Natural Resources under Chairman Nick Rahall of West Virginia. She is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife, which has jurisdiction over legislation regarding the U.S. Territories and the Compacts of Free Association, fisheries management, wildlife protection, and coastal zone management among others.

During the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Bordallo continues the work she began in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. She is working to secure the passage of the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act which was reintroduced on the first day of the 111th Congress as H.R. 44. She is also working to ensure that the relocation of U.S. Marines and their families from Okinawa to Guam as well as other military personnel realignments are accomplished in a balanced manner fulfilling national security missions and addressing community needs. In the 109th Congress, Congresswoman Bordallo successfully secured the passage of legislation designating all of Guam as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone, "HUBzone". This designation continues to help Guam’s small businesses compete in the federal marketplace.

Jeanette Brown

Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mrs. Jeanette L. Brown serves as the Director for the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), formally known as the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  As Director, Mrs. Brown is responsible for ensuring that small, disadvantaged, and women-owned firms are provided an equitable opportunity to receive a “fair share” of sub-agreements and contracts.  OSBP develops policies and procedures to aid minority and small women-owned entities doing business with EPA.  Additionally, OSBP is responsible for internal training programs to enhance the capabilities of socioeconomic firms in becoming more competitive and viable in the EPA procurement arena.

Prior to her current position, Mrs. Brown served as the Deputy Director of OSDBU and the Deputy Director of EPA’s Office of Acquisition Management.  Prior to her tenure at EPA, Mrs. Brown served as the Director of the Office of Procurement and Grants Management and the Director of the Division of Program Development for the Minority Small Business Capital Ownership Development Program (more formally know as the 8(a) Program) at the Small Business Administration.

Mrs. Brown has more than 30 years of federal experience in various federal agencies, including the Navy Regional Contracting Center, the Navy Automatic Data Processing Selection Office, the Joint Cruise Missile Project/NAV AIR, the Small Business Administration, and EPA.

In 1980, Mrs. Brown graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.  She also attended graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C.  Mrs. Brown began her career in 1978 as a Navy Cooperative Education (CO-OP) student.

BARBARA  BRYANT

Regional Director (North America), Pacific Asia Travel Association

“The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA’s private and public sector members, we enhance the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region."

Founded in 1951 in Hawaii, PATA is the recognized authority on Asia Pacific travel and tourism. PATA provides leadership and advocacy to the collective efforts of nearly 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, more than 55 airlines and cruise lines, and many hundreds of travel industry companies. In addition, thousands of travel professionals belong to dozens of PATA chapters worldwide. PATA is a not-for-profit organization. 

Barbara Bryant has worked in Asia Pacific travel and tourism marketing for 30 years and has been active within PATA for many of them.  Bryant maintains an active and visible presence in the international tourism industry.  She is co-founder and Managing Partner – Marketing for Bryant & Tripptree Ltd. (BTL), a hotel and tourism marketing and representation firm with offices in California and New York.   In July 2007, BTL was appointed PATA’s North America representative with Bryant as PATA Regional Director North America based in California.
 
Bryant has held several positions within the hotel and tourism industry.   While Director with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) based in Los Angeles 1988-2001, she was seconded to Hong Kong as Manager -Tourism Development 1995-1996.   In 1989, she established the Hong Kong Film Department within the HKTB and executed its marketing strategy as the Hong Kong Film Liaison.  

Larry Bruton

eneral Manager and Owner, Bruton Enterprises, Appropriate Technology Store, Federated States of Micronesia

Mr. Larry Bruton has lived in the FSM for 35 years. After four years in the U.S. Navy he returned to Baylor University where he graduated with a BA degree in Mass Communications/Public Relations in 1974. Larry’s last active duty station with the Navy was in Guam where he met his late wife who was from Chuuk. Upon completing their studies at Baylor, they soon returned to Micronesia. After working for the US Trust Territory Government for four years he and his wife entered the private sector in Chuuk.
 
Bruton Enterprises' core business today is in renewable energy and radio communications. Business diversity remains a survival essential in Chuuk so therefore they also offer services in hyperbaric chamber operations, small cargo transportation within Truk Lagoon, and several other activities of personal interest.
 
Larry is married to the beautiful Iromy Kony Bruton and between them they have four children and 13 grandchildren.

Felix Camacho

Governor of Guam

Felix P. Camacho is Guam’s 10th elected Governor.  While his first term in office was marked by disaster recovery, revitalization of Guam’s economy and stabilizing the government of Guam’s fiscal position, Governor Camacho called for a government that does more with less, and as a result many landmark accomplishments were achieved.

Under the 51-year-old Governor’s leadership, Guam broke ground on four new public schools, opened the new School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Guam, invested hundreds of millions to improve Guam’s aging infrastructure, fostered new investments into the island and led a partnership of government and private sector leaders who lobbied to increase Guam’s role in the U.S. military’s posture in a region vital to national security.

The achievements reached during Governor Camacho’s first term in office serve as a precursor of an even more aggressive strategy to increase Guam’s regional value economically, socially and politically.  The Governor’s vision for Guam required that the first four years focus on rebuilding Guam’s unstable infrastructure, redoubling our commitment to education and stabilizing Guam’s tenuous economy by shoring up the two major components of tourism and the military while diversifying within and into other industries.  All of these efforts have laid a firm foundation for future economic growth and even greater opportunities for the people of Guam.

Our future truly is hopeful.  And Governor Camacho’s focus in his second term in office is to establish a strategy for long-term and sustainable growth that builds careers for our people right here on Guam; careers that will service our island and region and will play a vital role in Guam’s long-term significance in military and industrial development in the Pacific.

As the Governor builds upon his mission to bring prosperity to Guam, he is joined by his wife, the former Joann Gumataotao Garcia; their daughter Jessica and her husband Raymond Blas and their children Scottie, Colin & Raymond; their son Felix “Champ;” and their daughter Maria.

Governor Camacho is the son of the former Lourdes Duenas Perez and the late Carlos G. Camacho, the first elected Governor of Guam. 

W. Nicholas Captain

President, The Captain Company, Captain Realty Advisors

W. Nicholas (“Nick”) Captain is the President of the Guam-based Captain Real Estate Group of Companies. His firms specialize in providing real estate research, consulting, valuation, brokerage and investment services. His clients include Goldman Sachs, U.S. Department of State, Lockheed Martin, AISC, Nuclear Claims Tribunal and many others. In 2007, he served as the transaction originator, buyer’s agent and equity partner on the $23 million bulk sale of the 61 unit Agana Beach Condominiums project. He has provided expert testimony in Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands and Palau, and his published 2003 article was submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court as an authority on Guam real estate. Mr. Captain’s professional designations include the Counselor of Real Estate, Fellow-Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Appraisal Institute’s MAI designation. His background includes seven years of experience at one Hawaii’s foremost real estate consulting firms. A University of Hawaii graduate, he currently serves as the Appraisal Institute’s Ambassador to Micronesia. The geographic areas covered by Mr. Captain include Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Hawaii, American Samoa, Western Samoa and Papua New Guinea. He has also served for many years as the Chairman of the Guam Educational Radio Foundation.

c.l. chesire

Pacific Business Center Program

Dr. C.L. Cheshire has been with the Pacific Business since 1996. Dr. Cheshire serves clients in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and has worked on special projects in the Republic of Palau and American Samoa. He travels regularly to these islands to create opportunities for
business development by linking University of Hawaii resources and technical expertise with government agencies and with individuals starting up or expanding their businesses. Prior to coming to the Pacific Business Center at UH, Dr. Cheshire was the Director of the Economic Development Center for the University of Alaska Southeast, in Ketchikan Alaska from 1987 to 1995. Dr.
Cheshire received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin Madison and his M.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

PERCIVAL E. CLOUDEN

Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority

Percival E. Clouden currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the V.I. Economic Development Authority, a position that he assumed on October 1, 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Clouden had spent over 25 years working in the local banking industry. 

His start in banking came immediately following his graduation from the University of the Virgin Islands, where he earned an Associate’s degree in Accounting, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. He spent his entire banking career with Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, gradually moving up the ranks from Junior Officer and Assistant Branch Manager to Vice President of Credit Administration and Operations, positions that he held for a combination of 14 years.

It is largely this experience coupled with his formal training that Mr. Clouden draws upon as he leads the EDA to achieving its mandate of enhancing and promoting economic development in the Territory. 

Jose Ricardo P. R. Delgado

President and CEO, IT&E, Northern Mariana Islands

Ricky Delgado is the President and CEO of IT&E in the CNMI and Guam, as well as the President of Citadel Holdings and Miascor Holdings in Manila. He has been working in the Telecomm industry since 1993. The Delgado group diversified into the telecommunications market when they started the first GSM mobile communication service in Philippines called Islacom, which was later merged into Globe Telecom.

With over 75,000 total subscribers on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam, the PTI Group of Companies, of which IT&E is a part, is the largest telecommunications company in the Marianas. It was purchased from Verizon in September of 2005. In 2006, Sumitomo Corporation became a long term strategic partner. Together the companies continue to work closely to expand their presence with a long term regional service commitment.

In addition to the purchase of IT&E in 2008, the PTI Group also includes PTI Services, which currently operates a 40-seat call center in Saipan. The call center answers directory assistance calls from Hawaiian Tel, Time Warner and Sandwich Isles in Hawaii, MCV Phone in Guam, and directory assistance and customer care calls for IT&E customers in the CNMI and Guam. Yellow Pages Ink, part of the publishing arm of the PTI Group, publishes the Guam and CNMI Phone Book, a real estate magazine and a lifestyle magazine.

A graduate of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, Ricky went to school not too far away from Rotary International Headquarters. Ricky graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a BA in International Relations and European History.

Ricky resides in Manila and calls the Marianas his second home, visiting frequently for business.

David Fedlam

Island Fellow, Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, MBA Student, Georgetown University

David Fedlam is an Island Fellow with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs. His primary work has been in promoting economic development in the U.S. territories and freely associated states, in particular working to develop Island Business Link, an online global network of businesses and organizations interested in growth opportunities in the islands. 

In addition to working with OIA, Mr. Fedlam is also completing his MBA at Georgetown University and will graduate with honors in May. He also holds degrees from Amherst and Dartmouth Colleges. As an undergraduate, he captained the Amherst College Rugby Football Team during his senior year.

Before going to business school and joining OIA, Mr. Fedlam previously served as the School Director of the Renaissance School in Shelburne, VT. He also coached youth lacrosse and worked as a certified ski instructor at a major ski resort in VT.

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega

Member of Congress, American Samoa

Congressman Faleomavaega has been representing the territory of American Samoa in the United States Congress since 1989.  Re-elected in November, 2008 to an eleventh term by the people of American Samoa, Faleomavaega is the longest serving and only Samoan in the U.S. Congress.

Faleomavaega is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has Congressional oversight responsibilities over: Relations of the United States with foreign nations; Acquisitions of land and buildings for embassies and legations in foreign countries; Establishment of boundary lines between the United States and foreign nations; Export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware; International commodity agreements including all agreements for cooperation in the export of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware; Intervention abroad and declarations of war; Diplomatic service; Measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business abroad; International economic policy; Protection of American citizens abroad and expatriation; and United Nations organizations.

Under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Faleomavaega is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment.  The Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment has broad oversight and jurisdiction over U.S. foreign policies affecting Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region), Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, North Korea, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.  The subcommittee also has jurisdiction over issues relating to the global environment, international fisheries agreements, and the law of the sea.

Faleomavaega is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere which has oversight and jurisdiction over countries including Central and South America and Canada.

On the Natural Resources Committee, Faleomavaega serves on the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

The Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife has broad oversight and jurisdiction to set federal policy for each of the U.S. territories including American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (except those affecting the revenue and appropriations).  It oversees matters regarding the Compact relationship between the U.S. and the Freely Associated States of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia as well as programs administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources has oversight and jurisdiction over the production of energy and mineral resources located on lands owned or managed by the federal government.  The subcommittee also oversees the federal government’s collection of royalties – or a share of the proceeds – that energy companies are required to pay in return for the right to drill on federal lands and in federal waters.

Faleomavaega is Vice Chair of the Congressional Asia Pacific American Caucus.  He is also Vice Chair of the Army Reserve Component of the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus.  He is a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, the Congressional Oceans Caucus, and the Congressional Native American Caucus.

Faleomavaega served as Staff Counsel to the late Congressman Phillip Burton of California who was then chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks and Insular Affairs.  He also served as Chief of Staff for Paramount Chief A.U. Fuimaono who was American Samoa’s first elected Representative to Washington, DC from 1973 to 1975.

Faleomavaega was Lieutenant Governor for American Samoa from 1985 to 1988.  Prior to this, he was Deputy Attorney General for American Samoa from 1981 to 1984.

Faleomavaega served in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam Veteran (1967-1968).  He served in the Army Reserve where he was a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.  He was also a proud member of the 100 Battalion 442 Infantry Reserve Unit, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Congressman Faleomavaega holds a Master of Law degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law School.  He also holds a BA degree in Political Science and History from Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah and an AA degree from Brigham Young University at Laie, Hawaii.

Faleomavaega is the author of Navigating the Future: A Samoan Perspective in U.S.-Pacific Relations.  In his book, he “outlines ways in which relations between the United States and the Pacific can be improved to mutual advantage and calls for deeper understanding of the exceedingly diverse cultures and socio-political systems of this vast region,” says Professor Ron Crocombe of The Institute of Pacific Studies.

Faleomavaega served as a crew member of the famous Hawaiian-Polynesian canoe named Hokule’a which sailed from Tahiti to Hawaii in 1987.

The Congressman holds the traditional Samoan chieftain title “Faleomavaega” of the Faiivae family in Leone, American Samoa.

Congressman Faleomavaega was born in Vailoatai, American Samoa.  He is married to Hinanui Bambridge Cave of Tahiti and they have five children and three grandchildren.

D. Jerry Garcia

Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority

D. Jerry Garcia currently holds the position of Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority. 

Throughout his career, he has worked with both the public and private sectors. He started his professional career as a management consultant for the European division of Alexander Proudfoot, a change-management consulting firm, where his tasks concentrated on productivity management, organizational development and strategic planning for organizations such as American Express (France), British Aerospace (Great Britain), and H&M (Sweden). He left Alexander Proudfoot to become executive director of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he was liaison between St. Croix’s business community and the local government. After several years, he launched Results Marketing, a commercial marketing agency, garnering clients in Europe, the Caribbean and United States. Always in search of a professional challenge, Jerry later joined President Clinton’s Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments which brought him to Washington, DC. Jerry served in the capacity of Special Assistant for Committee and Staff Affairs and Public Relations, reporting directly to the President. In addition, he has served on the advisory board of the Small Business Development Center (Washington, DC.), has been an instructor in entrepreneurial skills for the Corporation for Employment and Training and has worked for several consulting firms within the Washington, DC area concentrating on organizational development. He has extensive knowledge of federal contracting; most recently working with HUD on community, social and economic development housing issues. His most recent job, prior to joining EDA, was working as the COO for PuntoCom, a multimedia company, located in Rome, Italy.

Jerry has extensive experience in dealing with complex organizations and has developed and implemented numerous marketing and organizational development modules over the years.

Jerry doubled majored receiving his bachelors of arts from the University of Virginia in Rhetorical Communications and Psychology and went on to obtain his master degree in Organizational Development, with a concentration of business marketing from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany.

Lt. General Wallace "Chip" Gregson, USMC (Ret.)

Past Commander, Marine Forces Pacific

Chip Gregson retired from the Marine Corps in 2005 at the grade of lieutenant general after 37 years of service.  Assignments included command at every level as well as service in Vietnam and Somalia.  Staff assignments included resource allocation, policy development and service plans.  In his most senior assignments he served as the Director, Asia and Pacific in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; Commander 3d Marine Division in Japan, Commander III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan; and Commander, Marine Corps Forces Pacific and Marine Corps Forces Central Command. 

He manages his own consultant corporation, WCG and Associates International, LLC, concentrating on national security policy, defense, and Asian security issues.

He serves as a Director and as Treasurer of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund; as Trustee, Marine Corps University Foundation; as Honorary Director of the Okinawa Development International Council; as Advisor, Center for Unconventional Security Affairs; and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for a New American Security.  He serves on the board of NOETIC Corporation and Global Relief Technologies.  Memberships include the Council on Foreign Relations; the Pacific Counsel on International Policy; the International Institute for Strategic Studies; the US Naval Institute; and the Marine Corps Association.

Chip and his wife Cindy currently reside in Colorado.  They have two sons, one serving as a Marine officer, one granddaughter and one grandson. 

Richard Hawke

Manager, Energy and the Environment Group, Energy and Communications Branch, New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development

Dr. Richard Hawke is currently Manager, Energy and Environment Group (and has been since January 2008).  His Group of 10 is responsible for providing policy advice on the integration of energy and environmental policy.  This means the group is responsible for renewable energy policy, energy efficiency policy, international energy relations and the New Zealand Energy Strategy.  The Group is also responsible for monitoring the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority – the government agency with the primary responsibility for delivering energy efficiency and conservation programmes.  The Group resides within the Energy and Communications Branch, which includes other groups focussing on fuels, electricity, energy information and modelling.  The Branch is part of the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), who is the government’s lead advisor on economic development.

Prior to this role Richard was the Manager, Regulatory Policy in MED for 18 months.  Before moving to MED 4½ years ago he was a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) for 6 years.  Richard taught and researched in the fields of physical geography and environmental management.  He has a PhD from the University of Toronto and a BA (Hons) and MBA from Victoria University of Wellington.  He also has a keen interest in economics and natural resource management and combined by this both at work and outside work. 

Hugo Hodge Jr

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. returned home to St. Thomas in January 2008 to take the helm as Executive Director (CEO) of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA).  He joined WAPA with marching orders to make alternative energy a top priority and has embarked on an ambitious three to five year plan to bring state-of-the-art alternative solutions to how WAPA presently generates water and power.  Mr. Hodge, who is  certified  both as a power quality professional (CPQ) and a Public Manager, is experienced in alternative sources of generation and has established an impressive record of improving and sustaining  system efficiency at several utilities on the mainland.

Mr. Hodge holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Georgia State University. He has served as the Director of Griffin Power in Georgia where he was in charge of strategic planning and led multifunctional teams in electric distribution operation. He has been involved in the energy management field at the policy level including serving as a board member of the Electric Cities of Georgia. He also chaired a joint committee which determined the direction of public power for the future in Georgia. 

Mr. Hodge is facing WAPA’s challenges head-on. He has committed himself to leading a utility that is efficient in its operations and finances and serves its customers as the very best steward of the public’s dollar.

John Holman

Director of the Pacific Islands, Hawaii Export Assistance Center, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

John Holman currently serves as the Director of the Pacific Islands for the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this capacity, John manages the Hawaii Export Assistance Center, which is located at the Foreign Trade Zone at Pier 2 in downtown Honolulu. The mission of the U.S. Commercial Service is to assist local companies in selling their products or services in international markets.

The Commercial Service has over 100 offices throughout the United States and in over 80 countries at U.S. Embassies abroad. The local Commercial Service office, also known as the Hawaii Export Assistance Center, can help local companies by assisting them in developing their export strategy, conducting market research to target the best potential markets, identifying overseas buyers or distributors, and navigating issues relating to international logistics, regulations, and standards. 

The Hawaii Export Assistance Center provides free consulting and market research to local companies who are interested in entering international markets or expanding into new markets. Additional services such as the Gold Key Program, which arranges meetings with targeted buyers in overseas markets, are available for nominal fees.  The Export Assistance Center can also help companies who are interested in participating in domestic and international trade shows, where matchmaking activities with buyers are often facilitated.

John says that he really enjoys a good challenge. In 2005, he traveled to East Africa and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. “The idea of exporting can be intimidating to many small companies and may seem like a huge mountain to climb, but the reality is that if you have a proven product or service you can be successful internationally. And once you learn how to do it, the potential opportunities are unlimited. When local companies overcome these fears and take advantage of these opportunities it can feel like reaching the summit of a huge mountain. As you can imagine, the view from the top is always the best.”

Prior to his arrival in Honolulu, John served at Commerce headquarters in Washington D.C. as a Senior International Trade Specialist. In this role, he helped facilitate the largest trade mission in U.S. history (to India), was involved in strategic planning and marketing initiatives for the organization, and managed the organization’s Market Research Library.  John also served in Beijing, China as a Foreign Service Officer during a temporary assignment in 2007.

John began his career with the U.S. Department of Commerce with Import Administration, where he helped to ensure that foreign firms were competing fairly in the United States.  John joined the Department after completing his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at San Diego State University.  While at SDSU, John established a study abroad program in Melbourne, Australia.  He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Psychology. 

You can find out more about selling to international markets by visiting www.export.gov, www.buyusa.gov/hawaii, or by contacting the Hawaii Export Assistance Center at 808.522.8040.

Harry Jackson

President, OCEES International

Harry Jackson joined OCEES in Jan 2007 and has extensive background in large project development, financing, operations and management. Before joining the OCEES team, Harry was the Vice President and Asset Manager for Actus Lend Lease LLC (Actus) in Hawaii, a global leader in community development. He was responsible for overseeing the operations and financial management for the Department of Defense’s largest military family housing privatization project which is located in Hawaii, valued at $2.3B for the initial 10 year development period of the 50 year project. Responsibilities included serving as the senior executive on the project, representing Actus as well as serving as a key link between the project and local government, military partner and key stakeholders. Harry provided the project management expertise to write the proposal, develop and implement the project’s community planning to include engineering plans, designs, contract management, renewable energy programs, construction oversight and other initiatives. Duties also included the start-up, hiring, training and management of a 270+ staff servicing a community of more than 25,000 people.

Before his work with Actus Lend Lease, Harry worked for four years providing his expertise for the Navy Quality of Life (QOL) Facility Program at the Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. Projects for QOL facilities included project design, construction and operations. During is tenure, he also developed a $150M Housing Master Plan for Guam Naval Region to construct housing and QOL facilities for approximately 1,000 single sailors, government project financing and much more.

As president of OCEES, Harry is responsible for providing the leadership, motivation, support and commitment to position the company as the global leader in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) project development and operations. Responsibilities also include developing additional energy efficient opportunities in related technologies such as Seawater District Cooling (SDC) A/C, Waste Heat applications, Hydrogen Production/Transportation, Aquaculture, and other renewable energy disciplines. OCEES maintains strong environmental awareness and continuously looks for opportunities to interact and support local communities, educational systems and legislative initiatives.

Harry is a West Point graduate, having received his Bachelor of Science Degree, Engineering, from the United States Military Academy in 1983 and had served in the Army until 1993. He moved to Hawaii in 1993 and is also very active in outdoor sports and supporting local youth organizations and other community programs.

CASEY JESZENKA

Network Director, Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center Network

Casey Jeszenka has been the Network Director of the Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center Network (PISBDCN) for the past five years. Within his responsibilities are overseeing the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in Guam, Yap, Chuuk, RMI, Palau and Kosrae. The SBDCs are a delivery service of management, technical and training assistance to small business in part funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). They are designed to foster the development of small business as defined by the SBA. The service centers provide broad based management and technical assistance to persons who are ready to start a business and people who are already in business in the areas of business counseling, technical assistance, training, information gathering and dissemination and advocacy.

Before taking the PISBDCN Network Director’s position, he was the Special Projects Director for PISBDCN in charge of starting the centers in Chuuk, RMI, Palau and Kosrae. Prior to working for PISBDCN, Casey was a SBDC Director for five counties in Western Montana. Casey was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. He attended the University of Montana were he achieved a dual emphasis bachelors degree in Finance and Management with a minor in Economics. After obtaining his bachelors degree, Casey went on to obtain an MBA from the University of Montana.

Dr. Richard Kelley

Chairman of the Board, Outrigger Enterprises Group

Dr. Richard R. Kelley is the Chairman of the Board of Outrigger Enterprises Group, one of the fastest growing and most diverse hospitality development and management companies in the Pacific. Outrigger currently has 43 resorts, hotels and condominiums with a total of nearly 11,000 rooms under management or development in Hawaii, Guam, Fiji, Australia, Bali, Thailand and China.

Dr. Kelley was born in Honolulu and educated at Punahou School, Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. He returned to Hawaii in 1962 to practice medicine as a board-certified pathologist.  For several years, he was Assistant Professor of Pathology at the John A. Burns Medical School, University of Hawaii. 

Since 1970, he has focused his efforts on Travel & Tourism and has helped family-owned Outrigger expand significantly in Hawaii and across the Pacific. He has also worked tirelessly with the Hawaii’s governmental, labor and industry leaders to develop the State of Hawaii as a travel destination and a desirable place to live.

He is the past-chair of the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. He presently serves as a member of the executive committee of the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council, is a trustee of the University of Denver and maintains a link to medicine as Chairman of the Colorado Neurological Institute.

He keeps in touch with his 3,000 employees across the Pacific through the weekly newsletter, Saturday Briefing. He writes his own column on Travel & Tourism issues, which is also available on the Web.

Dr. Kelley has received numerous awards and honors including Hawaii Sales Person of the Year for his work on the development of the Hawaii Convention Center. He is a member of the Hawaii Business Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Industrial & Office Properties. He was given the O in Life award by Punahou School and designated A Legacy In Tourism by the Travel Industry Management School of the University of Hawaii.

He is the father of seven children and grandfather of thirteen and currently lives with his wife, Linda Van Gilder Kelley, in Colorado but commutes to Hawaii monthly to monitor the activities of his company and the visitor industry.

Mike Keyser

Chief Executive Officer, American Samoa Power Authority

Mike Keyser is Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of the American Samoa Power Authority.  Mr. Keyser received his undergraduate degree in international business from Washington State University in Pullman, WA.  He also holds a law degree from Seattle University School of Law, where he served as an associate editor of the law review.  He has two published papers with the Florida State Journal of Transnational Law and Policy, including most recently, “The Best Kept Secret in the Law: How to Get Paid to Live on a Tropical Island.”  Prior to moving to American Samoa, Mr. Keyser practiced securities law for a boutique Seattle firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions and private & public offerings.  In 2006, Mr. Keyser left his job as ASG Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection to join ASPA as its General Counsel.  Mr. Keyser added the CEO hat in October 2007.  During his time at ASPA, he led ASPA’s move into petroleum importation and sales, led the renegotiation of the tuna cannery power sales agreements, and provided legal guidance on an electric rate revision.  In his spare time, he is an avid scuba diver and golf nut.  His handicap: woods and irons.

Gary Kuwabara

Western Regional Office Acting Director, Office of Economic Adjustment, U.S. Department of Defense

Gary D. Kuwabara is currently the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) Western Regional Office Acting Director. He joined OEA as a Program Manager in 2005. 
 Mr. Kuwabara obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado in 1974 and is a professional licensed architect.  He was the Air Force representative to the Stanford Sloan Fellowship program.  He earned a Masters of Science in Management, from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in 1995 and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2003.

His awards include the 2001 Department of the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award, 1999 Vice President’s Hammer Award (Group Award), 1997 Secretary of the Air Force Installations and Environment (SAF/MI) Certificate of Commendation, 1992 SAF/MI Notable Achievement Award, 1989 Commander-in Chief's Installation Excellence Award (Individual Award), 25th Air Division Civilian of the Year 1987 and 1989, and Northwest Sector Civilian of the Year 1987.

Janet Lawrence

Category Buyer, Defense Commissary Agency

Position: Buyer
Previous Assignments: 2006-Present Buyer Merchandising Business Unit,
DeCA HQ; 2002-2006 Store Administrator, Kirtland AFB, NM; 1997-2002
Store Administrator, Offutt AFB, NE; 1995-1997 Commissary Officer,
Schweinfert, Germany; 1992-1995 Buyer, Merchandising Branch, DeCA HQ EU;
1991-1992 Commissary Officer, RAF Upper Heyford , England; 1989-1991
Assistant Commissary Officer, RAF Greenham Common, England; 1987-1989
Grocery Manager, Offutt AFB, NE; 1985-1987 Commissary Management
Specialist-Intern; 1984-1985 Front End Manager, Laughlin AFB, TX;
1977-1984 Department of the Air Force Civilian

Juanita Liu

Interim Dean, School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaii

Juanita C. Liu is the Interim Dean and Professor of the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii.  She was the first woman to be promoted to full professor in the College of Business at the UH and was awarded the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching.  As a researcher, she conducted pioneering tourism economic impact studies in Western Canada, Turkey, Hawaii and the CNMI, including hotels and museums and cultural attractions.  Her research projects on Hawaii and Pacific Islands include resident attitudes and perception, destination attractivity indices, visitor motivations, Delphi forecasting, Pacific island ecotourism, cruise business and cultural satellite accounts in tourism.  She was elected the 45th President of the Western Regional Science Association and inducted into the prestigious International Academy for the Study of Tourism.  She was a former board member of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, served as an external examiner for the tourism diploma in Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, and was a member of sister-state delegation to Guangdong and UH delegation to Mongolia.  She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Economic Geography from Simon Fraser University, Canada. 

Judge Mays, III

Contracting Officer, Defense Commissary Agency

Current Assignment:  Serves as Branch Chief and Contracting Officer for the Brand Name Resale Branch – for a full range of pre-award and post-award contractual actions

Previous Assignments: 1995-2002 Contracting Officer (Team Leader), DeCA/Field Operating Activity, Marketing Business Unit (MBU), Fort Lee, Va.; 1994-1995 Procurement Analyst, DeCA Headquarters, Fort Lee, Va.; 1991-1994 Supervisory Contract Specialist, DeCA, Fort Lee, Va.; 1989-1991 Contract Specialist, U.S. Army Troop Support Agency (TSA), Fort Lee, Va.; 1987-1989 Department of the Army Intern Contract Specialist, U.S. Army Troop Support Agency (TSA), Fort Lee, Va.; 1985-1987, Accounting Technician, U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and Fort Lee, Va.     

Emanuel (Manny) Mori

President of the Federated States of Micronesia

Emanuel (Manny) Mori is the seventh President of the Federated States of Micronesia. He was selected by 15th FSM Congress and sworn into office on May 11 2007.

President Mori has a collage of financial management experiences in the private sector and brings a realistic, no-nonsense approach to his services as an elected public official. He is regarded highly amongst his colleagues for his candid and often tenacious approach to fiscal discipline.

President Mori was born December 25 1948, on Fefan island, in Chuuk State. He graduated from the Xavier High School in Chuuk and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Guam.

After two years with the Chuuk State Government, President Mori was hired as the comptroller of the new FSM Development Bank. In 1984, within three years of joining the bank, Mori was promoted President and Chief Executive Officer of the FSMDB. In 1997, after six years with the FSMBD, Mori moved to the Bank of the Federated States to take over the post of Executive Vice President of the Bank. He maintained his position as the Executive Vice of the FSM Bank until his election to the Congress of the FSM.

President Mori entered the political arena in 1999 when he was elected as Chuuk State’s at-large or four-year representative to the 11th FSM Congress where he held dual Vice Chairmanship on the committee of Judiciary and Governmental Operations (J&GO) and the committee on Health Education and Social Affairs (HESA). In 2001, during the organization of the 12th FSM Congress, President Mori took over Chairmanship of the committee on Ways and Means whilst retaining his membership on the committees served during the previous Congress. In 2003, President Mori went on a hiatus from politics and accepted the position of General Manager and Chief Executive Officer for the ailing Chuuk Public Utilities Corporation. Under his management, the Corporation undertook and successfully executed measures of progressive reform which include the restoration of 24-hour power services to Weno, the capital island of Chuuk State. The following year, President Mori re-entered the political arena as his home state’s four year or at-large representative to the 13th FSM Congress. In that Congress he served as Vice Chairman of the Committee on External Affairs with membership on the other committees. During the reorganization of the 14th FSM Congress in 2005, President Mori became the Chairman of the Committee on Resources and Development with membership on the other committees. In his varied career over the years, President Mori had remained a strong supporter of community affairs. He was a member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Chuuk Atawe Club. He held memberships on the Board of Directors for the Bank of FSM, the FSM Development Bank and the Pacific Island Development Bank. President Mori also served on the Planning Council for the College of Micronesia-FSM and a member of the taskforce for the FSM National Government Restructuring.

In the 2007 National Election, President Mori was reelected as the State of Chuuk’s four year representative to the 15th FSM Congress. On May 11 2007, during the Opening Session of the 15th FSM Congress, Mori was sworn in as the Seventh President of the FSM.

President Mori is newly married and has four grown daughters from his late wife.

Fredrick Muller

Minister of Resources & Development, Republic of the Marshall Islands

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Dynamic 12 years of government service with emphasis on sustainable economic development career reflecting pioneering experience and a track record of success in rural and community economic development. Maintain focus on achieving practical results while formulating and implementing appropriate technology and economic development solutions to meet a diversity of community needs. Have quality experience in delivering simultaneous small, medium, and large-scale critical projects on time and under budget. Team based management style and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Vast knowledge of Pacific Region development issues, especially Micronesian issues. Immense familiarity and work experience with Regional and International Organizations including SPC, FORSEC, SPREP, SOPAC, USDA, FAO, UNDP, APCC, ESCAP, EUACP, and CDE.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Resources and Development (Jan. 2000-Present)

EDUCATION
University of South Pacific -Certificate in Business Studies: (Agriculture Economics Option)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Marshall Islands Visitors Authority-- Board Member Since 2000
Tobolar Copra Processing Authority--Board Member/Vice Chairman
Majuro Chamber of Commerce--Member
Regional Steering Committee(RPSC) for Support to the Regional Program for Food Security(RPFS)-- Member
RMI National Steering Committee for DSAP/FAO-- Chairman
RMI Energy --Task Force Chairman

Antonio S. Muna

Executive Director, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation

Born in Guam on Dec 25, 1961.  Parents originally from Saipan and has called Saipan home since 1988. Married to Marie Tenorio with two children, Regina and Tony.

Education and Professional Experience:
Graduated from Father Duenas Memorial High in Tai, Guam in 1979.  Received an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy and Graduated from there in 1983. Was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Marine Corps after graduating from the US Naval Academy. During the 5 years in the Marine Corps, was a Supply Officer and stationed in Okinawa and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Left the Marine Corps in 1988 and returned to Saipan. Was a comptroller for a local hardware, construction, and real estate company for three years thru 1991 before entering private practice as a tax and accounting practitioner. As a tax and accounting practitioner, provided tax preparation, tax consultation, bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, and financial consultation services. The highlight of professional career while in private practice was to be part of a successful local bank rehabilitation. Being appointed as a Receiver by the CNMI Superior Court to oversee local bank operations that was suspended. Reopened the local bank a year later. Worked with local bank shareholders to recapitalize bank  and allow for normalization of services.   In Jan of 2006, was appointed CNMI Government Special Assistant for Management and Budget at served in that capacity thru Dec 2007. In May 2008, accepted the present position of Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Executive Director. At the outset, faced with brownouts and intermittent blackouts due to power production shortfall in meeting demand. Procured temporary power services by Sept 12, 2008, which made up for the shortfall in power production and virtually eliminated brownouts and blackouts. Temporary power services is allowing CUC time to rehabilitate Saipan Power Plant 1 generators. Currently on track to delink from temporary power services by contract end on Sept 11, 2009.

Tony Neil

Executive Director, Pacific Power Association

Tony Neil completed his formal education in Australia with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical Engineering. He has also completed a number of post graduate courses in both technical and management areas.

He has spent more than thirty years in a number of power utilities in Australia as an engineer at all levels and then as a Senior Executive. His field of employment during this period was in the areas of generation, transmission, distribution, operations and utility reform in power utilities ranging in size from 2,700 - 10,000MW. During this career Mr. Neil was also responsible for the operations of a 660MW hydroelectric power system in the Snowy Mountains of Australia.

Mr. Neil furthered his career by accepting a secondment to Papua New Guinea for three years to assist their power utility, as a Senior Executive, in the areas of project management, transmission planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance, under an agreement between the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Towards the latter period of his career he established his own consulting company where he was instrumental in effecting ‘twinning’ (Buddy) relationships with a number of power utilities in the Pacific Islands and utilities in Australia. During this period he was the project director for a major Australian Aid project in the Pacific Island Country of Kiribati in the power sector.

In 1998, Mr. Neil became the Executive Director of the Pacific Power Association where he has established a number of progressive programs directed at improving utility performance, including capacity building, performance benchmarking and supply side management involving twenty-four (24) Pacific Island Power Utilities. Mr. Neil was effective in achieving funding for these key projects from the USDOI, the Government of France and the European Union

Tim O'Connell

Rural Energy Coordinator, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development

Rural Energy Coordinator
Manage the Rural Energy for America Program.  Provide outreach, guidance and project oversight to successful applicants.

Cooperative Development Specialist
Provide technical assistance to existing cooperatives and to groups wanting to form cooperatives in the State of Hawaii and the Western Pacific.  Technical assistance includes financial analysis of existing cooperatives, director and member training, strategic, business, and marketing plan(s) development and implementation, and organizational development.

Before moving to Hawaii in 1990, served as an agriculture loan officer for USDA in Washington State.

Class IV graduate of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii (ALFH) 1991. Secretary, Board of Directors, 1993-2007. Board of Directors, 1993-to present

Mark Oliver

Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of the Interior

Mark Oliver is a Federal executive with over twenty-five years of experience in the areas of small business administration, education and community relations, and congressional liaison.  Mark’s performance in these areas accelerated him into leadership positions within the Federal government.  As an executive that focuses on growth, he has conceptualized, developed and deployed multiple strategic initiatives that achieved funding objectives and processed improvements to exceed bottom-line needs.  He understands the need for high-level skill base in the areas of mixing culturally diverse and performance issues in an ever-changing environment.  He has a track record of gaining consensus among diverse groups by persuading, influencing and securing the acceptance of a shared vision.

He has managed national programs and mandates.  His leadership and communication skills are outstanding, and he is considered a Chief Visionary by many organizations and associations across the Nation.  He has excelled in dynamic and demanding environments while remaining pragmatic and focused.

Currently, Mark is the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization with the Department of the Interior.  He is responsible for managing the small business program that promotes small business contracting opportunities.  He has implemented changes within the Small Business Program to include more involvement from program managers in establishing Department-wide small business goals. He has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the initiatives and requirements to direct progressive internal marketing tools for small businesses.

Overall, Mark has held a number of leadership positions within the Department.  Prior to serving as the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, he served as the Deputy Assistant for Business Management and Wildland Fire Chief of Staff, he also was the Director of the Office of Educational Partnerships among many other positions.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Southeastern University in Washington, DC.  He also has an Associate Project Management Certificate.

Theodore Peck

Hawaii Renewable Energy Director, Strategic Industries Division, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism

Theodore 'Ted' Peck, a former naval engineer, consultant, and energy management specialist, is the Administrator for the Hawaii State Energy Office at the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT).
Mr. Peck has been with the State's Energy Office since 2007, and before becoming Administrator he had a leadership role in numerous initiatives including energy planning, the shaping of the state's approach to renewable energy permitting and facilitation, the state hydrogen program, the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative partnership between the state and U.S. Department of Energy, the greenhouse gas emission reduction task force, and a number of other strategic initiatives.

Peck has an extensive background in strategic planning. Prior to working for the State, he was a Principal with Booz Allen Hamilton and led the Honolulu office for its first five years. Within the firm, he led the development of an understanding of the positioning of Hawai‘i as a prime location for energy technology, innovation, investment, and transformation. Under his leadership, the firm grew from a small presence to over 200 consultants supporting clients across the Pacific.  He led multiple highly complex engagements across a wide range of functional areas, including Critical Infrastructure Protection, Information Management, Strategic Communications, and command post exercise planning and management.  

Mr. Peck graduated Cum Laude from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's of science degree in physics; graduated in the top 5 percent from the Naval Nuclear Power School; and received recognition as the top graduate from the S1C Nuclear Power Training Unit. He qualified as a Naval Nuclear Engineer Officer.

In 2004, he was selected as one of Pacific Business News "40 under Forty" and in 2006 was a Pacific Century Fellow.

Nikolao Pula

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior

Nikolao Pula is the first Pacific-Islander of Samoan ancestry ever to serve as the Director of the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. As the OIA Director and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Pula advises the Secretary on operational and administrative matters involving federal policy in the insular areas.

The Office of Insular Affairs is the Executive Branch's liaison organization with four of the five principal U.S. insular areas (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the three freely associated states (the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau). OIA also exercises certain residual responsibilities in two of the nine smaller U.S. insular areas, Palmyra and Wake Atolls.

Mr. Pula served as OIA Director of Policy from February 2000 to January 2001 prior to assuming the Directorship.  Then, Pula was responsible for the general policies regarding insular affairs and oversight of all federal activities.  During his tenure with OIA, he also served as a policy desk officer from August 1993 to July 2000 and Acting Director from January 2001 to June 2002. Pula joined the Department of Interior in 1993.

Before coming to the Department of the Interior, Mr. Pula worked for eleven years on Capitol Hill for Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Congressman Fofo I.F. Sunia (D-Am. Samoa), the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

A graduate of the Marist Brothers' School in American Samoa and Menlo College in Atherton, California, Mr. Pula has pursued further studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He is the youngest son of the renowned Tofa Pula Nikolao Iuli Sr. (later Tuiteleleapaga Nikolao), one of the founders of the public school system in American Samoa. Mr. Pula and his wife, Lois Phillips Pula, R.N., M.S.N., make their home in Annandale, Virginia. They have six grown children.

Sandra Pierantozzi

Minister of State, Republic of Palau

A native Palauan woman who has made historical “firsts” for Palau by becoming the first woman Minister of Finance, the first woman Senator, the first woman Vice President and Minister of Health, and currently the first woman Minister of State. 

Pierantozzi is a graduate of San Diego State University with a master’s degree in educational leadership, a bachelor of business education from the University of Hawaii, and an associate degree from Union College in Lincoln Nebraska.   She has been active in civic activities as well, having served as chairperson and president of the Palau Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Palau National Civil Service Board, chair of the Koror State Public Lands Authority, and more.  She has also served as a governor and chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Islands Development Bank, currently a trustee for Micronesian Conservation Trust, and a founder of Palau Conservation Society. Together she and her Italian husband own and operate several successful businesses in the Republic of Palau.

James Quick

Associate Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies, Southern Methodist University

Dr. James E. Quick is a Professor of Geology and the Associate Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southern Methodist University. Dr. Quick also serves as Special Assistant for Alternative Energy to the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. His background includes a distinguished twenty-six year scientific career with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), where he conducted fundamental research on volcanic processed, supervised large teams of scientists performing research in regional geology, hydrogeology, geologic hazards, environmental restoration, and climate history, and served as Program Coordinator for the Volcano Hazards Program.  Dr. Quick's career with the UGSG began in 1982 after he earned his Ph.D. in geology from the California Institute of Technology. His first tour-of-duty was in Saudi Arabia where he studied some of the oldest rocks recording the formation of the oceanic crust. Upon his return to the United States, Dr. Quick assembled an international team of scientists to study the magmatic evolution of deep crust, which is the birthplace of the magmas that produce the largest explosive eruptions.  His research has taken him to more than 35 countries around the world, and is presented in numerous publications in scientific journals over the last thirty years. His professional affiliations include the American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, and the Dallas Council on Foreign Relations. 

David Robinson

President and General Manager, Panamex Pacific Inc., American Samoa

EDUCATION
Dover College UK
Luton College of Technology UK

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Fellow of the British Institute of Management
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management
Member of the Institute of Directors
Member of the Institute of Mining and metallurgy

CORPORATE/COMMUNITY
Justice of the Peace
Emeritus Trustee Committee for the Development of Australia
Chairman Australia Japan Committee
Member International Relations Committee
Queensland Advisory Committee
Vice President Australia Malaysia Business Council QLD
President Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council QLD
Associate, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority
President American Samoa Chamber of Commerce
Development Officer American Samoa Rugby Union

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Senior management experience in both the private and the public sectors in Asia, the Pacific and Australia during the past forty four years. Appointments include Managing Director, President/General Manager and Assistant Secretary. Considerable experience in investment attraction and economic development in Asia and the Pacific regions.

Graeme Roberts

General Manager, Beca International Consultants Ltd., Marshall Islands

Graeme is a land use planner by training and has worked in more than 20 countries worldwide in his more than 30 years of professional practice. He is currently General Manager of Beca International Consultants Ltd, one of the constituent companies of the Beca group of companies which is headquartered in New Zealand. With more than 2,600 employees Beca operates from three hubs in NZ, Australia and Singapore providing a wide range of professional services in engineering, planning and project management.

Beca has successfully delivered projects in the Pacific for more than 30 years in fields as diverse as port development, airports, roads and bridges, water supply and wastewater treatment, power generation and distribution, land use planning, mining, asset management planning, valuations, food and beverage production, housing and commercial developments and tourism developments. Our philosophy is to develop locationally and functionally sustainable solutions to meet our client’s needs often with the support of a local partner.

We are currently delivering Federally funded projects in American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Graeme will speak on our experiences in winning and delivering these projects.

Simon Sanchez

Chairman, Consolidated Commission on Utilities (CCU) overseeing Guam Power (GPA) and Waterworks Authorities (GWA)

Vice President/General Manager
Guam Dry Cleaners/Marianas Cleaners/Guahan Equipment

Director, Integrated Resource Planning, Inc. (Consulting firm)
Director, Oka Pacific, Inc. (Distributor)

Chairman, Consolidated Commission on Utilities (CCU) (2003-date)
Oversees Guam’s power and water utilities

Senator, 25th Guam Legislature (1999-2000). Chairman, Committee on Health

Former Board member: Guam Chamber of Commerce, Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association, Guam Memorial Hospital

Education: Father Duenas High School
B.A (History) Stanford University
Masters (Urban Planning) Harvard University

Happily married, with two children, five grandchildren

Dr. Stephen Schneider

2007 IPCC Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Climatologist, Stanford University

Dr. Stephen H. Schneider is the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biology, and a Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. He served as an NCAR scientist from 1973-1996, where he co-founded the Climate Project. He focuses on climate change science, integrated assessment of ecological and economic impacts of human-induced climate change, and identifying viable climate policies and technological solutions. He has consulted for federal agencies and White House staff in six administrations. Involved with the IPCC since 1988, he was Coordinating Lead Author, WG II, Chapter 19, "Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from Climate Change" and a core writer for the Fourth Assessment Synthesis Report. He along with four generations of IPCC authors received a collective Nobel Peace Prize for their joint efforts in 2007. Elected to the US National Academy of Sciences in 2002, Dr. Schneider received the American Association for the Advancement of Science/ Westinghouse Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology and a MacArthur Fellowship for integrating and interpreting the results of global climate research. Founder/ editor of Climatic Change, he has authored or co-authored over 500 books, scientific papers, proceedings, legislative testimonies, edited books and chapters, reviews and editorials. Dr. Schneider counsels policy makers, corporate executives, and non-profit stakeholders about using risk management strategies in climate-policy decision-making, given the uncertainties in future projections of global climate change and related impacts. He is actively engaged in improving public understanding of science and the environment through extensive media communication and public outreach.

Ron Simpson

Manager, Honolulu Airports District Office, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. Ronnie V. Simpson is the Manager of the Honolulu Airports District Office for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Western-Pacific Region since December 2000.  Prior to his current assignment, he was the Manager of the Airports Division, Alaskan Region for the FAA for more than 6 years.

He began his career as a Civil Engineer in 1978 in the FAA Airway Facilities Division, Western-Pacific Region.  From 1980 to 1987, he was Senior Civil Engineer in the Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region.  By August 1987, he was assigned in the area of Airport Certification, Western-Pacific Region, as a Supervisor until November 1991 when he moved to the Alaskan Region as Assistant Manager, Airports Division.  In January 1994, he served a detail as Acting Manager, Civil Aviation Security in the Alaskan Region.

Currently, his responsibilities include administration of FAA Airports Programs throughout the Pacific Islands.  The Airports Programs include the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Passenger Facility Charge Program (PFC), the Airport Certification and Safety Program, the Airport Compliance Program, the Surplus Property Program, the Airport Data Program, the Airport Advisory Program, the Noise Compatibility Program, the Airspace Evaluation Program, and the Technical Assistance Program.

Ronnie attained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Masters of Public Administration degrees from the University of Southern California.

Lynn Tabernacki

Senior Manager, Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance, U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

Ms. Tabernacki, with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) since 1995, is Senior Manager of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Finance.  Her efforts are focused on financing clean energy projects and those involving socially-responsible investment. She has been involved in projects on every continent, and specializes in assisting both small-and-medium enterprises and private equity investors.

Prior to OPIC, Ms. Tabernacki worked with Price Waterhouse Poland as a Manager of Corporate Finance.  She provided acquisition advice to clients seeking to invest in Central Europe in the initial transition years.  Ms. Tabernacki previously worked with Citicorp and Arthur Andersen. 

Ms. Tabernacki holds an MBA in International Finance and a BS in Accounting and Business Administration. She is a former Certified Public Accountant and a credit trained professional.

Perry Tenorio

Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority

Perry John Pangelinan Tenorio is the Managing Director for the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) from August 7, 2006 to present. Mr. Tenorio is not new to this position. He had previously served as the MVA Managing Director from August 1998 – January 2002.  As its Managing Director, he was in charge of effectively managing the MVA’s overall duty to promote tourism in the Marianas.  He also served as the direct link to the MVA Board of Directors, working closely with the members. 

Although many changes have taken place since Mr. Tenorio left the MVA, there are still many activities, promotions, and programs that were implemented prior to his departure which are still in effect today.  His experience with the CNMI tourism industry began in December 1991 when he was hired as the Public Relations and Community Programs Manager for what was then the Marianas Visitors Bureau (MVB).  In September 1997, he took on the challenging role of the Marketing Promotions Manager.

Iupati "Pat" Tervola

Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Procurement, American Samoa Government

Born in BattleCreek, Michigan. Mother is from Leone village in American Samoa and father is from Ottertail, Minnesota.
Iupati is a product of Hawaii’s educational system and attended Likelike Elementary School, St. Theresa’s School, and St. Louis High School before finishing at Samoana High School in American Samoa.
College years were spent at Honolulu Community College (AA Degree), University of Hawaii (BA), University of Hawaii (MSW), and University of Hawaii (partial completion of requirements for doctorate degree in education).
Spent early years of career as an educator (Classroom Instructor, Vice-Principal, Principal) with the Department of Education in American Samoa and transferred to the Office of Procurement as a Special Assistant to the Chief Procurement Officer.

Has served as a Deputy Director of the Office of Procurement for the last twenty years and has recently been appointed by Governor Togiola Tulafono to serve as Chief Procurement Officer for the American Samoa Government.

Vera Topasna

Director, Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center

In October 2008, Ms. Vera Topasna was selected as Program Manager for the Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the School of Business and Public Administration, University of Guam. Funded in part by the Defense Logistics Agency, the PTAC Center was established to assist small businesses become competitive in the local and federal marketplace.

Prior to her appointment to PTAC, Ms. Topasna served in leadership positions in the local government of Guam and federal government. She was employed with the Guam Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, and the Guam Department of Labor as the Lead Planner for the Civilian Military Task Force Labor Subcommittee.

As a former civil servant who traveled during her husband’s military career with the U.S. Marine Corps, Ms. Topasna was employed with the Officer in Charge of Construction (now OICC MCIWEST), Camp Pendleton, the U.S. Navy Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa (CFAO) Purchasing and Contracting Division, and the Assistant Chief of Staff (AC/S) Environmental Management Department, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During her tenure in civil service, Ms.Topasna received Outstanding Performance Awards, other honors such as Distinguished Graduate from the US Naval Regional Contracting Center, Singapore.

Togiola T.A. Tulafono

Governor of American Samoa

Togiola T.A. Tulafono was born on February 28, 1947 on Aunu’u Island, American Samoa. He attended elementary schools in Vatia, the Marist Brothers’ School in Atu’u, and graduated from the High School of American Samoa-Samoana in 1966. 

Upon graduation from high school, he became a police officer for one year, graduating from the Honolulu Police Academy in 1967. He attended Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska as an American Samoa Government Academic Scholar, and received the Chadron State Special Talents Scholarship Award in 1969. In 1970, Chadron awarded him a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology.

After graduating from Chadron, he became a Legal Assistant in the American Samoa Attorney General’s Office, and served as Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of Samoan Affairs from 1970 to 1972. He attended Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas from 1972 to 1975, receiving his Doctor of Laws degree in 1975. He was admitted to the Kansas Supreme Court and the High Court of American Samoa in 1975.

From 1975 to 1977, he was a partner in an American Samoan law firm. He served as Vice President of South Pacific Island Airways from 1976 until 1978.

In 1978, he was appointed as a District Court Judge, serving in that capacity until 1980, when he was elected as a Senator from Sa’ole County (1980-1984) and then from Sua County (1989-1996).

While in the Legislature, he served as Chairman for many committees, including Ways and Means, Judiciary, Senate Rules, Senate Select Investigation Committee, and Transportation, Communications, and Wildlife and Natural Resources.

From 1975 to the present, he has been a member of bar associations in Kansas and American Samoa, and was a member of the American Bar Association from 1975 to 1980.

From 1979 to 1983, he served as chairman of the inaugural Board of Directors of the American Samoa Power Authority.

From 1993 to 1996, he served as chairman of the inaugural Board of Higher Education.

He has been listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the West and Outstanding Young Men of America. He has been a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Pago Pago Rotary Club, and was elected as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa in 1996 and 2000.

Governor Tulafono currently serves on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and is the longest serving member with strong leadership and interest in regional issues such as Climate Change.

Togiola was elected as Vice Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa during the 2003 CCCAS Assembly, and served as Chairman for the 2004 CCCAS Assembly. In July 2006, he was voted Vice Chairman of the CCCAS. On July 12, 2008 he was voted again as Chairman for the 2008 CCCAS Assembly and will serve until 2010.  

He is also District President for the American Samoa District, Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Lions Club of Pago Pago. 

He was sworn in as Governor on April 7, 2003, after the sudden passing of Governor Tauese Sunia, and was elected as Governor on November 16, 2004. He was sworn in as Governor on January 3, 2005 and re-elected for a second term as Governor on November 4, 2008.

Robert Underwood

President, University of Guam

The Honorable Robert Underwood is a former Member of the U.S. Congress and is currently the President of the University of Guam. As an educator, he has served as Dean of the College of Education and Academic Vice President at the University of Guam and he is a distinguished scholar with many publications to his credit. He served as the Congressional Delegate from Guam in the 103-107th Congresses (1993-2003) during which he sponsored major legislation for Guam, played an active role in Department of Defense authorization bills and was a forceful advocate for political development for insular areas and the extension of educational and social opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
 
During his tenure in Congress, he was ranking member for several subcommittees. He emphasized the importance of Guam and Asian Pacific Region in national strategic policy and worked to protect the nation’s environmental assets, particularly the oceans and coral reefs.
 
Dr. Underwood received a Bachelors (1969) and Masters Degree (1971) from Cal State University, Los Angeles. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern California.
 
As a teacher and Professor of Education at the University of Guam, he led the effort to include the Chamorro language and culture in the curriculum of Guam’s schools and enhance multicultural understanding. Recently, he participated in the effort to create the national Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund and was elected to be the APIASF’s first Chair of the Board of Trustees.
 
In 2008, Dr. Underwood launched the University of Guam’s green initiative, which recently received funding from the Department of Interior.

Lee Webber

President and Publisher, Honolulu Advertiser, Guam

Lee Webber is president and publisher of The Honolulu Advertiser and president of Gannett Pacific Corporation.  The Honolulu Advertiser is the largest newspaper in the State of Hawaii. 

Mr. Webber has a BBA in Management from University of Guam.  His professional training includes The Looking Glass, Center for Creative Leadership; Management of Managers Program, University of Michigan Business School; American Press Institute-Cost and Management Seminar and Executive Development Program and National Security Forum at the Air War College.

He served as a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman and served in Vietnam in the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Recon Battalion.  He held several key positions at Guam Publications, Inc. and USA TODAY.  Before moving to Hawaii, he was President and Publisher for Guam Publications, Inc. for 24 years and was active in a number of community groups, including the Navy League of the United States, Guam Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America and the Guam Visitors Bureau, among others, as well as being vice chairman of the University of Guam Board of Regents.

Mr. Webber’s awards include Guam Business Executive of the Year (2007), Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa)-University of Guam (2004), Gannett Award for Sixth President’s Ring (2004), Gannett Chairman’s Ring for Fifth President’s Ring (2003), Sunshine Award (Freedom of Information)-Society of Professional Journalists (2000), Silver Beaver Award-Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council (1996), Distinguished Alumni Award-University of Guam (1991), Jaycee International Senate Member (1985), Paul Harris Fellowship (1984) and Jaycee Three Outstanding Young People of Guam (1978).  His military awards include Presidential Unit Commendation (two awards), Navy Unit Commendation Medal (two awards), Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign Medals, National Defense Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. 

Mr. Webber is a board member of numerous business, military and community organizations, including the Air Force Civilian Advisory Council, Boy Scouts of America-Aloha Council, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Military Advisory Committee, Diamond Head Theatre, Enterprise Honolulu, Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, Foundation for the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Friends of the Crime Lab Inc., Hawaii Business Roundtable, Honolulu Navy League, Japan-America Society of Hawaii, Micronesia Conservation Trust, National Association of Drug Court Professionals and USS Missouri Memorial Association.

His professional memberships include the Society of Professional Journalists, International Press Institute, Rotary Club of Honolulu and the Foreign Correspondence Club, H.K.  His military association memberships include the U.S. Navy League, 3rd Marine Division Association, Air Force Association, Khe Sanh Veterans Association and 3rd Recon Association. 

Mr. Webber and his wife, June, have two sons and one daughter.  His hobbies include archery, swimming, scuba diving (Instructor/trainer, Advanced Nitrox Instructor, Emeritus), underwater photography, cycling, pistol, rifle and shotgun shooting.

Mary Werner

Integrated Deployment Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy

Mary joined the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 1995 as an engineer in the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).  As she provided technical assistance on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and supported development of numerous alternatively-financed projects, Mary became the team leader for the Utility Energy Services team and ultimately, the FEMP Program Manager, where she developed new program areas and brought innovative concepts to realization. 

In 2005, Mary became the Program Manager for NREL’s Building Technologies Program, managing the buildings activities across NREL including research, technology development, technology validation, and applied research for residential and commercial buildings.   Through her continued success with NREL, Mary was asked to create the Integrated Deployment corporate function at NREL and develop and direct projects that focus on integrated deployment across a portfolio of energy efficiency, renewable energy, fuels, transportation, and grid integration technologies that utilize the technical expertise across all areas of the lab.

Prior to joining NREL, Mary worked for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District as an engineer in the Advanced and Renewable Technologies group.  Mary has an Executive MBA from the University of Colorado, Denver and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. 

Robert A. Westerfield III

Contracting Officer's Representative, FSM Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure

Rob Westerfield is a retired U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer, who over his career was responsible for over one billion dollars in A/E, construction, and facility support contracts is such diverse locations as Guam, the Azores, Diego Garcia, and Pearl Harbor.  Upon his retirement, he moved to Micronesia in 1995 to become the founding General Manager of the Yap State Public Service Corporation.  He has been with the FSM National Government since 2006, assisting with the implementation of the Infrastructure Program under Compact II.  Mr. Westerfield is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Mississippi and Alabama.

William Weza

General Manager, Marshall Islands Resort; Board Member, Marshall Islands Visitors Authority

EXPERIENCE:
June 2004 to present-- Marshall Islands Resort
General Manager 150 room Resort Hotel on the Islet of Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Managed the daily operations of the Resort with a staff if 90 Marshallese. Developed a relationship with Japan Airlines to bring Charter flights from Japan for fishing and diving. The Resort is owned by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, prior to 2004 Outrigger Hotels managed the property.
December 2002 to March 2004-- Keauhou Beach Resort Director of Food and Beverage Transferred to Keauhou Beach Resort to assist General Manager with the development of the Food & Beverage operation.
March 2001 to December 2002-- Outrigger Marshall Islands Resort, Marshall Islands General Manager Promoted to the position of General Manager, immediate increase in Rooms and Food and Beverage sales due to involvement with the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Past President: Board of Directors Friends of the Children ’s Justice Center of West Hawaii
Past President: Big Island Business Council Past
President: Hawaii Restaurant Association, Big Island Chapter
Representative: Kailua Redesign
Task Force Secretary: Marshall Islands Billfish
Club Secretary: Marshall Islands Chamber of Commerce
Past President: Marshall Islands Tourism
Association Member: Organizing Committee, Cultural in the Arts Jaki Ed (Traditional Clothing Mats)
Board Member: Air Marshall Islands
Chairman: Marshall Islands Visitors Authority Honorary Alii Royal Order of Kamehameha

David Zumwalt

Executive Director, University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park

For the past three years, David Zumwalt has served as the Executive Director of the UVI Research & Technology Park (RTPark), an e-Commerce and economic development initiative jointly backed by commercial interests, the University of the Virgin Islands, and the government of the US Virgin Islands. He and his family reside on St. Croix.

Prior to coming to the Virgin Islands, Mr. Zumwalt has been active as an investor, advisor and active director in venture capital and private equity initiatives in emerging market sectors. In that capacity, he served as President of a converged telecommunications services provider, a telco billing and provisioning software company, and an emerging provider of “privacy assurance” software instrumental in preventing identity theft and financial fraud.

Earlier, he founded and served as Chairman and CEO a leading provider of operational support system software and technology solutions to the worldwide wireless communications industry. During the course of his career, he has established significant customer relationships in 40 countries, primarily in the telecommunications, networking and wireless marketplace.

A graduate of Rice University, David has served regularly as a panelist and guest lecturer in MBA programs at Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, and Texas A&M University. He has been named a Fellow of the Radio Club of America in recognition of his wireless industry contributions.