Dr. Tony Trpkovski CEO & Founder
NIU Health Urgent Care+ throughout Hawai‘i and one day, the world Changing trajectorytheofhealthcareMEET
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Dr. T looks to the future of healthcare and beyond...
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CEO and Founder, Accumulus
Realtor Broker, Hawaii Island Luxury Real Estate
Project Visitation Volunteer Program Consultant, Family Programs Hawaii
DR. TONY TRPKOVSKI
LYNN "VINCE" ABRAMO
Contributing Writer & Social Media
Contents
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Castle Hospitality Group
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On November 2nd, we are celebrating Hawai‘i’s Leaders via a hip, elegant PEM Awards Event. Recognizing some of Hawai‘i’s most extraordinary entrepreneurs and businesses elite.
risk head-on, provided these new business-owners with the hope that “they could do it, too.” It is this very message that we aim to communicate through both our magazine and business networking events.
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Two key concepts that every business-owner and seasoned leader—be it a young entrepreneur or seasoned veteran— draws upon in order to maintain their company’s competitive edge. As such, these are two consistent themes that we highlight throughout every issue of Pacific Edge Magazine. In a recent conversation with several of our most loyal readers and supporters, it came to our attention that Pacific Edge Magazine was the catalyst that gave them the confidence to start their own businesses and venture into the oftenunknown territory of entrepreneurialism. Our features about colleagues, who have made the same leap and faced
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Naomi Hazelton Owner, Publisher of Pacific Edge Magazine
Not only will we be recognizing the outstanding achievements of some of Hawai‘i’s most successful and innovative companies, but we will also celebrate our 18-year anniversary in 2023! Stay tuned for an amazing event in early 2022. For more information about the event and how you can attend, visit our website at PacificEdgeMagazine.com in late December. And for information on the PEM Businesses Achievement Awards Gala, visit PacificEdgeAwards.com. Or, @PacificEdgeMagazine @Pacific Edge Magazine Businesses Achievement Award Gala. Also, Pacific Edge Magazine on Linkedin. We will continue to bring you stories of inspiration and innovation. Pacific Edge Magazine is more than just pages of a quarterly publication. We are a community and forum for business professionals of all ages to gather and to learn, but most of all to share hope and spread MahaloALOHA.&Aloha,
With this in mind, we are excited to announce the 4th Annual Pacific Edge Magazine Women in Businesses program. It aired on Thursday, Sept 26th at 8:00 P.M. on KITV4 and Pacific Edge Magazine’s Facebook page via livestream. It’s now on our Pacific Edge Magazine YouTube channel. And we are celebrating our 18th Year Anniversary in January of 2023. We also got back into full swing with several amazing networking events.
Inspiration and innovation.
Dr. Tony Trpkovski CEO & FOUNDER NIU HEALTH URGENT CARE+ //ENTREPRENEURSHIPDr.Tlookstothefutureofhealthcareandbeyond... 6 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
People want to know more about you. What made you decide to pursue medicine?
out on my own. I wanted to open up a new clinic that focused on the community of Hawai‘i as well as the tourists. In December of 2018, I cofounded the Doctors of Waikiki.
We sat down at one of the monkeypod tables, assuring my back was to the screens and I began my interview.
I really love people. I want to help them, care for them, and take it beyond a normal doctor/patient relationship. It’s like a trait I have, I can’t change that, that’s me. I’m a natural caregiver. I like being a problem solver, I like taking care of people in general. It is genetic; I can’t help it.
//ENTREPRENEURSHIP PACIFICEDGEMAGAZINE.COM 7
If I go back in my family ancestry, we have been caregivers for many generations. My parents were the kahunas of medicine in Macedonia. I felt compelled to carry on that lineage as it is in my DNA.
Dr.
It’s a challenge to keep up with this man, he has so much passion and his energy is intrinsic. Dr. T escorted me to the 7th floor of the Anaha building in Honolulu, the doors opened and voilà. Before us was a private lounging area for residents and their guests. Beautiful is an understatement; the space was pristine and welcoming. I was surprised that no one else was taking advantage of this arena of Zen. The only sound was coming from two television flatscreens. The TVs were at a relativity low volume, but you could still feel the vocal excitement of the sports commentators announcing a play-by-play of a NFL (National Football League) game.
As I walked into one of the most luxurious condominiums in all of Hawai‘i, I knew I was going to interview the CEO and founder of NIU Health, Dr. Tony Trpkovski. What I didn’t know is that this interview would change my perspective on my life and career.
My parents immigrated separately in the 60s. They were trying to escape due to changes in Yugoslavia; there were a lot of conflicts. We had some relatives who lived in the United States. I finished my primary education in Indiana, and through a school board program in Yugoslavia, which eventually became Macedonia, I received my medical education. Upon returning to the U.S., I completed a residency program in Internal Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Tony Trpkovski, better known as Dr. T, had already made his mark on O‘ahu as one of the best doctors in Hawai‘i. Though he currently has a successful practice that he cofounded, Doctors of Waikiki, Dr. T had bigger plans. A vision, a dream if you will: affordable and accessible healthcare for all.
Dr. T, most people follow professional sports, why don’t you? He softly chuckles.
In the spring of 2020, NIU Health Urgent Care+ was born.
I would enjoy sports more if franchise leadership came up with some type of international oversight or prototype. A model where 5% of their profit automatically goes back to the community. Professional sports make so much money, why can’t they give a little more back?
No one ever gets turned away. Everyone deserves fair and easy access to care. Meaning if you have insurance, great; if you don’t have insurance, I still have a product that fits your need for less than $10/month. In my medical career, I was always heartbroken when we sometimes couldn’t provide patient care due to cost constraints. There has to be another way! NIU is that way.
To me, NIU Health means access to lowcost quality care.
How did you end up in Hawai‘i? I had a medical practice in Venice, Florida and visited Hawai‘i on vacation. I fell in love with the Hawaiian culture, the weather, and the place. I wanted to shift gears and try to find a way to make Hawai‘i my home. I found a position with Hawai‘i Pacific Health on Kaua‘i, in Kapa‘a. I also worked part-time as a hospitalist at the Wilcox Medical Center. I loved Kaua‘i so much because it reminded me of my youth. It reminded me of the country; I enjoyed outdoor living, and my children were young at the time.
Over the past four years, I have served both tourists and our local population. As I continued to help the community and visitors, I knew I wanted to deliver care more effectively. I’ve always been a renegade and I know that the biggest stopgap to quality healthcare is COST. Now, this would be the correct place to make a new business model. How can I make a better product, how can I take away the barriers of expensive healthcare and monetize it differently, so everyone has access to quality care?
In the spring of 2020, NIU Health Urgent Care+ launched, tell us more… “Niu” means coconut in the Hawaiian language. For all Pacific Islanders, the coconut was a vital element in their travels to the outer islands and beyond. A food source, a water source, a seed to plant and to grow. Housing, clothing…everything can be tied to the coconut.
Most of us are familiar with the Doctors of Waikiki, but what is NIU Health and how did this vision come to life?
Dr. T was ambivalent.
When I was thinking about NIU Health and the future of healthcare I knew that
I was working at HPH Kaua‘i but transitioned to O‘ahu and loved what I was doing. I had a large group of patients, but I wanted to expand this further and branch
Kristin Heinold, Chief Marketing Officer for NIU Health. When Kristin is not promoting NIU Health, she enjoys spending time with her dapper husband Shane, and their adorable rescue dog Sophie.
We’veservices.also
NIU Health is simply aligning healthcare with what people already spend their time on: social media, gaming, online shopping, YouTube, Netflix, and all of the others. Let’s reward users by giving them the tools to monetize their health.
products at a discount in what we’ve “coined” the NIU Marketplace, where you will save money by using NIU coin as payment versus other forms of currency. You can also share your earned coins with others for health-related goods and
created a direct Healthcare Engagement Platform for patients. We are being proactive by engaging NIU members and rewarding them to be active in their health. This is how you can earn NIU coin. The process is called “play-to-earn” and it’s extremely innovative. We are motivating people to do healthy activities, giving them places to go, suggesting foods to buy, advocating partnerships with gyms to exercise in, and so on. Things that are fun and healthy that will change their whole outlook on wellness.
Tell us about the NIU Health Coin, what is it and why is it revolutionary? We live in a new world. Why should we stop at healthcare? We need to look at other health-centric revenue streams that can provide a quality patient experience.
NIU Health Coin is the first cryptocurrency of its kind that decreases cost and increases access to healthcare. Everyone will be able to earn and spend NIU coin by the end of this year. Sixty percent of the coin proceeds will go to decreasing cost and increasing access to healthcare. For example, NIU coin can be used to decrease the price related to an elective service or pay for your monthly NIU membership if you are uninsured. The coin may also be used to purchase
Dr. T, what do you love most about your job? I love what I do. I love life and I celebrate every day I’m on this earth. I love helping people, otherwise I wouldn’t do this. My favorite part is when I’ve helped someone and see a smile on their face. Being the hand they can hold, being the person who supports them. That’s something I’ve been doing for so long now. I get really excited about looking at healthcare on a global level. Looking at the disparity throughout Hawai‘i and the rest of the world. My mission is to spread healthcare aloha throughout the islands and the world. Healthcare should be selfless, it’s a necessity for all.
telehealth was where we were going. It’s already here. But telehealth is not enough. You need to add physical services, you need to have a place where patients can be seen, a place where you can have procedures done, x-rays, and labs. A combination of both physical and online. NIU Health delivers optimal care to a large population at a low cost.
After an unanticipated two hours, I turned my recorder off. I had to get home to feed my dog, Dr. T had to go save the world.
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Stacey Katakura
BUSINESS Q&A
CEO AND FOUNDER ACCUMULUS 10 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
Did you always want this career track?
What are the hardest lessons you’ve had to face in becoming a leading woman in power?
It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 that I came to realize how important managing stress and self-care is to one’s overall health.
First, having the courage to start Accumulus. We just celebrated our 5-year anniversary and had a thank you party for our employees, clients, and business partners. The Mayor came to our party and said, “You haven’t made it as a business until you’ve made it through the first five years.” Boy, is that true! We have accomplished so much through the past five years, and I’m so proud we have been able to serve so much of the community through our leadership and hard work during the pandemic. We have truly become a leading business advisory firm, committed to the success of our people, our clients, and our community—which also happens to be our vision statement! Now it’s time for a new vision.
Ironically, no. My career goals have changed throughout my career as I attained each one. I needed to dream bigger and reach higher. At some point mid-career, I realized that I wanted to be a business owner. I just didn’t know at the time what type of business it would be. Each step of my career eventually brought me to where I am today.
I think the hardest lesson that I’m still working on is how to successfully work with friends. Through my career, I’ve found it is easier to cultivate friendships with people I’ve worked with and have had a chance to develop a mutual professional respect for, but harder to transition a personal relationship into a professional one.
If you are a mom, what is the reality of managing kids and family life with your career demands?
What are two of your proudest accomplishments of your career?
I’m a fur mommy and Bogey comes with me to work most days. I realize that with fur babies we have less time on this earth to spend with them, so when I started my own company, I wanted to make sure that I spent as much time as I could with him while he’s still with us.
How do you manage stress and self care?
BUSINESS Q&A
What is your current daily routine? I wake up, make my bed, brush my teeth, walk and feed Bogey, eat breakfast (either a green smoothie or overnight oats), get ready for work, stop to grab an oat milk latte on my way to the office, read and respond to as many e-mails as I can between meetings and before lunch, more meetings, work, and when I don’t have an evening work commitment or social event, I will do an evening workout while listening to an audiobook (I listen to audiobooks anytime I workout alone, or am in my car for more than 10 minutes), walk and feed Bogey, eat dinner (at home or out), and wind down with a shower at the end of the day and a cup of chamomile or hibiscus tea and a meditation, journaling, or an audiobook or podcast before bed.
If you could look into a crystal ball, what would you want to know about your future?
The most important things I’d want to know are that I’m healthy, happy, fulfilled, and have no regrets.
PACIFICEDGEMAGAZINE.COM 11
I’ve since fully recovered from cancer, but I have now incorporated exercise into my weekly routine through a combination of weight training, Pilates, yoga, and walking. I also try to meditate daily and take warm Epsom salt baths weekly. In times of stress, I turn to my dog, Bogey, and play with him for a few minutes. He always destresses me!
Secondly, I’m so proud of the people that I have had an opportunity to mentor thus far in my career. A few of my mentees have gone on to become such successful women in their own right and I am so proud of them. I’ve always thought the most successful mentoring stories are when the mentee can become more successful than the mentor, and I think at least one of them is on her way to doing so. I am a strong advocate of gender equity and love to mentor and empower others in our community (men or women) to succeed and thrive. It just so happens most of my mentees to date have also been women.
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BUSINESS Q&A
GENERAL MANAGER PASHA HAWAII
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Pasha Hawaii is a third-generation, family-owned company with ties to Hawai‘i dating back to World War II. It is one of the nation’s leading domestic ocean shipping companies with dedicated service to Hawai‘i from the continental United States. Pasha Hawaii operates a fleet of six vessels out of multiple ports. Pasha Hawaii introduced its first vessel, MV Jean Anne, to Hawai‘i in 2005, the same year Reggie Maldonado joined the company as General Manager. With his deep ties to Hawai‘i and his background in the automotive industry, Pasha Hawaii knew that Mr. Maldonado would provide valuable support to the company as Pasha Hawaii introduced the first roll-on roll-off ocean transportation services to the businesses and people of the State of Hawai‘i.
Reggie Maldonado
growth and success is a tribute to our team members and the loyalty we’ve earned from our customers. Many of our employees have been with us from the very beginning, including myself. Our success lies in helping our customers not only succeed, but grow their business.
Asstocked.frontline
Working with people and providing Hawai‘i with an essential service, 24/7. As an Island state, more than 90 percent of all goods imported are brought via ocean carrier. For myself and our Pasha Hawaii team, we have a strong sense of responsibility to make sure our customers have what they need. It’s very gratifying to hear our customers tell us our customer
service and delivery is second to Beingnone.
We are always looking for ways to improve not only our customer service, but our impact on the environment through green initiatives. We will soon welcome two new containerships, MV George III and MV Janet Marie. The ships are named after the late parents of our current President and CEO, George Pasha IV. I had the pleasure of knowing both George III and Janet Pasha. Working with George Pasha III was gratifying for me because he too consistently focused on providing the highest quality ocean transportation services and customer service to our community that we, as a team, could do; our current President shares that vision. Both ships will operate on natural gas from day one, surpassing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 standards for ocean vessels with close to zero sulfur
Pashamembers.Hawaii’s
able to give back to the community is also one of the best aspects of my job. A few years back, we teamed up with our sister company, Hawaii Stevedores, Inc., to create an employee community action team program called Hui Hulilima (Helping Hands). Together, employees from both Pasha Hawaii and Hawaii Stevedores go out into the community throughout the year, providing volunteer services supported by company-sponsored financial donations.
How did the pandemic affect your operations?
How do you define success?
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry? It’s a high-cost industry that requires constant investments in your infrastructure. Over the course of several years, Pasha has invested approximately $1 billion in its Hawai‘i business that includes the construction of new ships, new containers, and the current development of the state-of-the-art Kapalama Container Terminal.
emissions, and resulting in a 99.9 percent reduction in particulate matter, a 90 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide and 25 percent reduced carbon dioxide as compared to liquid oil fuels. Upon its inaugural sail from the Port of Long Beach, George III will be the first natural gas-powered containership to fuel on the West Coast and the first to service Hawai‘i. Honolulu will serve as the home port for both ships.
PACIFICEDGEMAGAZINE.COM 15
I don’t think there’s a single business that wasn’t impacted by this unprecedented pandemic. This was, by far, one of the most significant challenges we have faced as a company, yet nothing stopped us from being able to maintain our operations on schedule and meet the ever-changing needs of our Thecustomers.biggest challenge was successfully pivoting our operations numerous times without knowing how long this pandemic would last or how it would ultimately affect Hawai‘i. State and county mandates were constantly being updated, which affected individual consumer behaviors, and led to a swift drop in tourism, quickly changing the normal supply and demand patterns. We worked closely with our customers and vendors to make the necessary adjustments and to ensure they had what they needed to keep their doors open and shelves
essential workers, we also implemented and adhered to internal safety measures to keep our team members safe, ensuring our 24/7 operations were not disrupted. Seeing the amazing teamwork, resilience and dedication from our team is something I will never forget.
BUSINESS Q&A
What do you love most about your job?
What do you hope to see in your industry in the next 10 years?
I’d like to see the continued growth in diversity within the maritime industry. Maritime plays such a crucial role in our everyday lives, and we need to ensure we have the workforce needed to support this important industry. Employing women, minorities and people from all walks of life and experiences leads to increased creativity, innovation and the sharing of different perspectives. This results in better productivity and problem solving. Within Pasha Hawaii, I also hope to see our employees continue to grow in their maritime careers.
Success is seeing your hard work and dedication come to fruition. Our business is based on relationships and building trust with our customers. When I first started with Pasha Hawaii, the company had launched its first ship with a handful of employees. Today, Pasha Hawaii’s fleet has grown to six ships, with two more on the way, and we now employ more than 400 team
There are many types of success in one’s life. True success is more than having lots of money, wealth, material items, tangibles, status and position, power, etc. Success is the satisfaction of knowing that you gave your best effort to use the gifts and talents that were bestowed upon you to reach your highest achievements that bring happiness, pleasure, and Isatisfaction.believetrue
What do you hope to see in your industry in the next 10 years?
I grew up as a shy, lonely, bullied kid with no friends until a caring high school teacher took special interest in mentoring me to break me out of my shell and build my self-confidence. She taught me to think positively and motivated me to improve and strive for excellence. Since then, I have been blessed with many mentors who have guided me to push myself to be successful. In return, I also mentor others and help those who are less fortunate to be their best.
Like the rest of the world, the legal profession will continue to become even more computerized, electronic, and digitized in the future. Contracts and forms will become more standardized, with digital signatures being the normal way of executing contracts and agreements that will require less attorney involvement. Having advanced computer and technical skills will continue to be valued.
Peter C. K. Fong PARTNER FONG & FONG ATTORNEYS AT LAW BUSINESS Q&A 16 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
How do you define success?
success requires one to share their gifts and talents and journey of your life’s walk with your family, friends, and fellow mankind to improve the lives of those you touch during your life’s journey.
A huge drawback in the loss of human personal interaction will continue to occur as the computer age matures, which I hope the valued human personal interaction aspect of the profession can be preserved and saved.
as the darkest hour of failure is actually the point from which success and a brighter tomorrow will occur.
Know that there are no limits except those that you set and or create.
We are all bestowed with gifts that we are stewards of and we have a duty to use those gifts not only for our own benefit, but also to share with and improve our fellow Inmankind.closing,
I am also on the golf committee of Waialae Country Club, West Honolulu Rotary, Chaine des Rotisseurs, and director of the Honolulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.
What are some surprising lessons you learned in becoming a leader? I learned to develop and follow a mission statement with the collaboration of the stakeholders which contains core values and objectives. A great leader is able to be a role model and have others work together as a team despite their differences, attitudes, and difficulties.
The legal profession is facing many of the same challenges being experienced by most businesses and industries including: Uncertainty of the future with Covid-19 and the pandemic; cybersecurity; providing clients more services consistent with advancing technologies; keeping up and staying current with the advancing technologies; hiring and retention of attorneys and staff; adjusting to the hybrid working environment, and the like.
A big concern is about our future generation of workers and the workforce values and attitudes. In general, employees want to be paid more and expect more while having less loyalty to their employers. Hopefully, this trend will reverse and/or change.
What do you love most about your job?
I truly love and enjoy helping others, especially those less fortunate. I chose to enter the legal profession because of a genuine interest in helping others both to prevent problems and to resolve the ones that do occur.
What are some words of advice for an exit strategy?
I truly love and enjoy giving back and helping out to improve my community. Presently, I am the Chair of the BOD of Maryknoll School and President and Chair of the BOD of Palolo Chinese Home.
In addition to being an attorney, I am currently a judge (per diem), hearings officer for the attorney disciplinary board, and also an arbitrator and mediator.
My advice is to have a long-term exit strategy. Plan your career to provide you with “financial freedom” so you will not be forced to be a slave to your work in a particular job or position just to survive. Exit on a high note or at a high point in your career, and not because you are forced to quit.
What do you do for fun?
Follow and practice “NOBLESSE OBLIGE” in your life: “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
the secret of laws of attraction that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life because of the energy that you Alwaysemit.
be positive, supportive and optimistic, and know that good things will occur.
Transparency, accountability, moral values, ethics, and humility are Rememberimportant.
One only learns and improves from failures and not by successes.
Turn your failures around and use them as a force to push you on to Whatgreatness.appears
I am always amazed by the wonder of the human experience of imperfection. That is, no matter how imperfect and messed up we are individually as human beings, when we work together as an organization or society, we can accomplish many great things as a team.
BUSINESS Q&A PACIFICEDGEMAGAZINE.COM 17
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?
BUSINESS Q&A Janaki Elizabeth Berman CHIROPRACTIC, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PERSONAL TRAINING, AND NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING DR. JANAKI ELIZABETH BERMAN, D.C., LLC 18 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
A week after I attained my doctorate from Palmer in 1996, I met Dr.
I had an insurance practice with staff in Los Gatos, California, for eight years before returning to O‘ahu in 2004. It was a relief to downsize and have patient care always be the priority. I enjoy every aspect of my
How do you define success?
What do you love most about your job?
What are some words of advice for an exit strategy?
By being not just a doctor, but a healer. Success for me is defined by seeing my patients heal. To see them walking easier, picking up a child, excelling in their athletics, or to simply recognize the pain is no longer there. Those moments thrill me.
practice. I handle everything from scheduling patients, treatment, to accepting payment. It can be stressful, but I love it. I regularly see visitors from the mainland, but also globally. Dubai, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. And they return to my office for treatment when they are back on-island. I may only have an opportunity for one or two treatments to relieve them from pain but love the challenge and meet many interesting people. However, local patients are always closest to my heart.
Describe your ideal day. Sleeping late, cuddling with my cats. Spending time with my friends and my parents who live down the hall.
What do you hope to see in your industry in the next 10 years?
What do you do for fun? I also offer PT and personal training in my private exercise studio. I love physical activity, ocean swims, hikes, yoga. But I am also very content with a martini and a lovely filet. I enjoy the opera, Marvel movies, our museums and botanical gardens. I enjoy being in the Professional Women’s Network and love to get dressed up and attend events, PEM included.
BUSINESS Q&A
What are some surprising lessons you learned in becoming a leader? I was a competitive gymnast for 14 years and had sports injuries as a child. It became second nature to receive treatment, expect to recover, and move forward with a positive outlook. But it’s important to understand every patient has a unique experience and may never have experienced pain before—it can be terrifying. It’s important that I don’t just treat them but listen and provide reassurance during their recovery.
And usually require many return visits. I’ve tried that model and found it most effective to take time to provide comprehensive treatment starting with the first visit. Patients progress quickly out of pain and dysfunction.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry? Insurance. Unlike most chiropractors, I spend an hour, hand on treatment with every patient. I accept most HMSA plans but most insurance reimbursement is as low as $30. As a result, insurance practices allow an average of 7-15 minutes face time with the doctor.
PACIFICEDGEMAGAZINE.COM 19
Moyer. She was in her nineties and still seeing patients. I decided then, that would be me. It’s still my plan.
I hope that practitionersindependentwhotreateach patient as an individual, will persevere. The trend is chiropractic franchises on the mainland, and one here. The Joint admits that they only hire C-rated doctors to keep it uniform. Like Burger King. Most alarming is patients are becoming complacent with paying minimal fees for a 5-minute “crack.” When I treat visitors, I always remind them to follow up with their chiropractor at home. After treatment with me, many say they will need to find a new Doc, as they have never experienced a full chiropractic adjustment before
What are three words that define who you are?
If you could give your younger self some advice, what would it be?
What gets you out of bed every day?
What have you created that you are the most proud of?
BUSINESS Q&A
REALTOR BROKER HAWAII ISLAND LUXURY
Kraft
As an independent contractor you must be positive, committed, organized, driven and open to adapt in adversity. Having your long- and short-term goals in your business plan updated annually goes a long way. Commit to your plan and refocus where needed..
I would describe myself as kind, tenacious, and approachable.
Did you choose your profession or did it choose you?
Creating a sense of community around my life and work. Getting out and networking in a variety of avenues—both business and fun. Network and meet as many people as you can and giving back to your community is so rewarding.
A combination of personal general interest in real estate coupled with my undergraduate studies in psychology and economics seemed to lead me to my career path.
Be confident, study hard, and take advice. Confidence does come with work experience but learn from your mistakes and move forward and grow in these experiences. Share your knowledge and try not to feel intimidated—your worth is more than you realize. Stay in contact with your sphere of influence.
Renée
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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SPRINGBOARD HOSPITALITY 22 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
BUSINESS Q&A
Rob Robinson
Of course success means different things to different people. For me, success is happiness, both personally and professionally. I get to wake up every day and work in an industry that I love. I am very fortunate my career path has led me here. On a personal note, I was lucky to meet my soulmate at a very young age. We’ve now been together for 28 years, have two beautiful children, and live a charmed life in Kailua. Happiness is my greatest success.
What do you love most about your job?
at all of our hotels and across all departments. If an applicant even shows up for a scheduled interview and is offered a job, there is no certainty they’ll show up for their first shift. If they do, then retention becomes the challenge. People come to work for a few days or a few weeks and they’re gone. It’s a job seeker’s market, and the competition has gotten fierce with employers having to outbid others on wages and offer things like signing bonuses, retention incentives, and other perks we’ve never had to offer before. Our industry has always been known for taking care of our people and offering good wages and benefits, but today’s labor environment is a whole new ball game and it doesn’t seem sustainable.
Describe your ideal day/vacation. My ideal day is easy to describe because I get to live it all the time. Wake up with a local iced coffee, catch up on world events, and then in no particular order head to the beach with our dog and play a round of golf. Having owned a few restaurants in our lifetime, we love to cook, so the perfect day ends with a delicious home-cooked meal while spending quality time with the family…the humans and the pets. Add a bottle (or two) of great wine and there you have my ideal day.
leadership. Surrounding myself with great people and then allowing them to do what they do best has been a great recipe for success.
First and foremost, I have learned not all leaders are good leaders. It’s a natural tendency to believe people who are in leadership roles are deserving, but it’s astonishing how many people wind up in leadership roles who don’t belong there. There is a distinct difference between a leader and a good leader. Of course, there’s the hard work that has to go into rising through any ranks, but I realized early on in my career that self-awareness and emotional intelligence were key to being a good leader. Maybe the school curriculum has changed in recent years, but nobody taught me that was important. I think being in the service industry really helped me become the leader I am today because serving others created an easy segue to practicing servant
How do you define success?
No surprise as I know all industries are in the same boat, but hands down, labor is our biggest challenge right now. We cannot fill open positions, let alone with qualified candidates. We have openings
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It would be cliché to start talking about how I love the people, so if I can be real for a moment, I don’t think there is an industry that is more fun. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the people and there is nothing more satisfying than having happy guests at our hotels and happy employees throughout our organization. But I love how much fun I have had throughout my career in hospitality. Beginning with my early days as a bartender in San Francisco, every step of my journey in this business has been filled with good times, great memories, and life-long friends. I am so grateful to have had this career and humbled to now be in a position of leading an organization where I can hopefully impart the same culture of doing what you love…and having fun while doing it.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?
What are some surprising lessons you learned in becoming a leader?
The land and sea were the classrooms of our kūpuna. It is here that keiki learn the kuleana we all share in preserving our honua. Together, we malāma ‘āina for generations to come.
Hānai i ke keiki, ola ka lāhui
Our ‘āina. Our ‘ōpio. Our future.
ksbe.edu @kamehamehaschools
Combining legendary Four Seasons service with Sensei’s innovative approach to helping people live longer lives, guests can immerse themselves in programs and services designed to guide one towards healthier living practices . Sensei offers an evidence-led approach to wellbeing, the Sensei Way, focused on three paths - Movement, Nourish and Rest.
Wellness & Serenity on
//RESORT LIFESTYLE 26 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
Choose from a collection of curated experiences to more structured programs. Customized itineraries are crafted to meet each guest’s personal goals with activities ranging from one-on-one consultations, massages in a private spa hale, fitness and yoga classes and island excursions. An array of activities, many managed by Four Seasons, enhance your stay.
Sensei Lāna'i , A Four Seasons Resort Where Your Personalized Journey to Well-being BeginsLana‘i
www.fourseasons.com/sensei
Ocean lovers can set sail on a snorkeling tour or choose a sunset sail along the Lāna'i coastline while nibbling on appetizers and sipping tropical cocktails. Horseback ride, hike, play tennis or golf - you'll want to reserve time to wander along the botanical garden paths and be inspired by the artwork dotting the grounds and interiors.
Refuel and recharge with delicious meals that combine flavor, optimal health benefits and locally grown ingredients – including from Sensei’s on-island sustainable farm. Menus feature Nobu classics along with dishes incorporating Sensei's nutritional philosophy. Align actions with intentions on Lāna'i.
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Revell Newton VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING CASTLE HOSPITALITY GROUP BUSINESS Q&A 28 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
What are some words of advice for an exit strategy? Don’t enter.
leave a job. You leave a Leadersleader.
What do you hope to see in your industry in the next 10 years? It would be fantastic to see the hospitality industry, local communities, and cultural leaders come together and truly understand everyone is living and working in a symbiotic relationship. Each can only be successful if all are successful.
people leaving the state, supply chain disruptions, high rate of taxation, cost of living, overall cost of goods and services are everyone’s challenges.
always speak up and fight for what they believe is right for their people and their business.
Talent always has options so leaders should take very good care of their Leaderstalent.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?
surround themselves with people who are better than they are and then are smart enough to get out of the Feedbackway.is
How do you define success? Being happy with enjoying and finding special meaning in what you do is the key to success. Most important is knowing you’re a positive influence on your team and company. Getting up in the morning and being excited about getting to work more days than not—is success.
a gift. Leaders need to be open to giving and receiving it. A leader needs to ensure a culture of feedback is foundationally embedded in their Leadersteams.don’thave
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Leadershipreward.
A leader needs to be strategic, creative, and imagine new ways of approaching complex problems or Aopportunities.leadershould
meetings to have meetings! If you’re having a meeting about how many meetings you have, you have too many meetings!
is about setting the pace. A leader always must be on their game, upbeat, and positive because who wants to work for someone who isn’t, right?
What are some surprising lessons you learned in becoming a leader? There are so many lessons: A very wise boss of mine always told me, “It’s not who you know, it’s who you grow.” This is truly the best part of leadership. The ability to help or mentor someone to grow and succeed is the ultimate leadership
What do you love most about your job?
You can learn just as much from a bad leader as you can from a good one.
A leader understands what gets measured—gets managed.
Over the past two and a half years, the pandemic created—and continues to create—massive challenges for the hospitality industry. Loss of staffing due to
Castle Hospitality Group is an entrepreneurial, aggressive local company based in Hawai‘i. The best part of my job is to be able to help to strategically steer the direction of the company overall. Castle’s ability to adapt, innovate, and evolve at a pace much quicker than our larger competition is truly the company’s competitive advantage and why it’s awesome.
Perception is reality. A leader is always trying to investigate and improve their blind spots with the understanding they are not who they think they are.
A leader is nice. You never know what someone has gone, or is going Youthrough.don’t
celebrate and enjoy their victories because they’ve earned them.
What do you do for fun? BBQ, beach, golf—no wait—BBQ, beach……
Weshipping.created a complex system to capture rainfall on our property into irrigation ponds to be used for vineyard irrigation. The water we use to make wine is treated and reused as vineyard or landscaping irrigation. In the vineyard, we use several techniques to gauge water status and implement minimal irrigation, and in the winery we track and implement best practices to improve water conservation.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?
In 2003, we installed the largest solar renewable energy array of any winery in the world. Now we are amping up, pun intended, our commitment to solar by building a microgrid so we can store energy we generate during the day for use at night and in the event of a power outage. We reuse our packaging boxes, having reused over 1 million boxes since its inception. We have composted more than 420,000 pounds of waste, diverting over 90% of waste away from landfills. In recent years, we have experimented with and expanded our use of a lighter weight bottle to reduce the impact on shipping, and our direct fulfillment partner offsets all of its carbon emissions from
While great vineyards and high-quality facilities are critical to making excellent wine, people are the most important ingredient. It is easy to accomplish the goals of the business if you have a top-performing team. It is important to recognize, encourage, and promote others and empower them to make decisions in areas where they are the key stakeholders. At Domaine Carneros, I have enjoyed building on our practice of open book management and other
What do you love most about your job?
For me, being successful means being inspired by the work I do and inspiring others to feel engaged in the work they do. Success is about being part of something bigger, helping a team meet important goals, and bringing value to those around me. Making wine is particularly rewarding because we get to share the literal fruits of our labor with one another and with the wine-loving community, bringing joy to people’s lives and celebrations.
Describe your ideal day. An ideal day starts with a hike with beautiful views followed by a delicious lunch at a great restaurant. After an afternoon spent relaxing poolside, nothing warms my heart more than an evening that involves making dinner with friends and family sharing delectable wines!
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At Domaine Carneros, we are committed to do what we can to mitigate these concerns by developing a robust sustainability program and reducing our carbon footprint.
Climate change and its resultant impact on the wine industry is one of the most significant business concerns facing our
I enjoy living a wine country lifestyle, having dinner parties with friends that feature fresh vegetables from our gardens and delicious wines we produce locally. Hikes and dancing with friends and taking yoga classes help to offset the indulgent enjoyment of all that bounty! I love traveling and experiencing new people and cuisines, and I often see live music locally or while traveling.
How do you define success?
HAWAI‘I’S BEST Q&A
Remi Cohen
What are some surprising lessons you learned in becoming a leader?
What do you do for fun?
employee engagement and advancement programs to support the team in performing optimally even during difficult times like we have experienced the last few years. I am so proud of the team at Domaine Carneros and continue to be impressed with what we accomplish in world-class winemaking and hospitality.
industry. Water quality and availability is another major concern.
I am fortunate to work at a place as beautiful as Domaine Carneros, with a group of people who care deeply about the wines we make while protecting the beautiful land around us. Every day that I walk our estate vineyards, I am reminded of how lucky we are to live and work in the gorgeous Napa Valley and how important it is that our wines represent this special place and our practices enhance our environment.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DOMAINE CARNEROS
Lynn “Vince”Abramo PROJECT VISITATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CONSULTANT FAMILY PROGRAMS HAWAII BUSINESS Q&A 34 PACIFIC EDGE MAGAZINE
Biggest regret of my career? Staying in organizations that were not a good fit.
What would you say to your younger self?
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Via a network of volunteers, Our Kupuna, a nonprofit organization, provides essential items to kupuna throughout Hawai‘i.
Describe me in three words: Strength, flexibility, growth.
BUSINESS Q&A
How has my career shifted in the 2020 pandemic?
Also during this time, I created two consulting pathways for businesses:
Did you always want this career track?
2) Volunteer Management: A support system for nonprofits with volunteer program management
Honestly, it’s when I can help people get to a place of peace and healthy dialogue. I feel confident in my ability to do that by being fully present with each client and company.
In June 2021, I had two hip surgeries and during recovery I had time to really step back and reassess what I was doing to grow Bambooshoot.
It’s all good.
If you could look into a crystal ball, what would you want to know about your future?
When I was eight, my father gave me a real stethoscope that I still have. He said that I would help people. I didn’t know what I would do, and my path had many twists and turns to get to where I am now. But I believe mediation and coaching can work to heal relationships and individuals.
So, simply put, my self-reflection while healing from hip surgery and then developing programs to match what businesses really need in terms of training, coaching and mediation led directly to the clarity I was seeking in building Bambooshoot. That bamboo took root, so to speak.
What are the proudest moments of your career?
At this same time during the height of the pandemic, a new light was cast on social disparities in our country. We saw a rise of mental health issues with depression and anxiety, racial inequality, and conflict. And due to that increase in awareness of negative social conditions, the pandemic served as an incubator for the services Bambooshoot provides.
Currently, I am a consultant for Our Kupuna as well as another nonprofit, Family Programs Hawaii. I am also an instructor for the Hands In Helping Out Education (HIHOED) program. In addition, I am creating a dispute resolution system for an accounting firm and looking for other businesses that want to learn how to develop amazing collaboration with their staff and leaders.
How do you manage stress and selfcare?
1) Dispute Resolution Program: A customized conflict resolution package through training, coaching, meeting facilitation, and interoffice mediation
I think people who know me would say that I volunteer as a way to destress and that is true. Being handson or being in meetings to help out an organization has been very fulfilling. I love to hang out with my husband, adult children and friends. Every day I pray, drink water, learn something new, and take breaks for self-care.
In business, I would want to know that people are carrying out the practice of making peace. In life, I would want to know my children are healthy and have fulfilling careers while contributing to the community.
When the pandemic hit, I was in my third year of growing my coaching business, Bambooshoot, and I also took on a full-time job as a program director for Our Kupuna.
So, in a sense, I have my own inner stethoscope to monitor what clients may need for their well-being.
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CONNECTIONS NETWORK. EDUCATE. CELEBRATE.
5ACCUMULUSyearcelebration
NETWORK. EDUCATE. CELEBRATE.
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2022 The Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards honors successful businesses and innovative leaders who promote best business practices and community involvement. Business Pivot of the Year » Healthcare Leader of the Year » Non-Profit Impact of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award » Young Professional of the Year » Business Executive of the Year Commitment to Green » Best New Business » Best Family-Run Business Social Media :: Influencer of the Year » Social Media :: Business Impact of the Year Hospitality Executive of the Year » Business Woman of the Year DAVE ERDMAN AchievementLifetimeAward KELLY SANDERS Hospitality Executive of the Year RYAN KALEI TSUJI Young Professional of the Year CINA LUKS Social Media Influencer of the Year TIERA COVINGTON Business Woman of the Year ASAD GHIASUDDIN Healthcare Leader of the Year RYAN EMMONS Business Executive of the Year HI TECH HUI Family Run Business WINNERSYEAR'SLAST NOMINATE www.pacificedgeawards.com/noMInateNOW! presents
Introducing our ‘Ohana Class
The new M/V George III and M/V Janet Marie will mark three generations of service to Hawaii, while representing the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly vessels to serve the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane. Both vessels will operate fully on natural gas from day one in service, surpassing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels.
