• Heide and Cook executive VP and CFO retire • Tim Motts to lead Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i • Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i president and exec. director retires Heide and Cook executive VP and CFO retire After
• Heide and Cook executive VP and CFO retire • Tim Motts to lead
Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i • Japanese Cultural Center of
Hawai‘i president and exec. director retires
Heide and Cook executive VP and CFO retire
After 16 years as chief financial officer and executive vice president of Heide and Cook, one of the state’s largest mechanical contracting firms, Dexter Kekua is retiring, a press release announced.
Kekua joined the company in 1995 and, with Heide and Cook. President, Earle Matsuda, oversaw the firm’s growth and success while working on many of Hawai‘i’s prime commercial projects, the news statement said.
Kekua is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and has spent more than 35 years in the finance profession. Prior to joining Heide and Cook, he held senior management positions in companies in Hawai‘i and California.
“Dexter has been a key partner in our efforts to grow the company and provide our customers with the quality products and services that have been the hallmark of Heide and Cook’s reputation in the field of mechanical contracting,” said Heide and Cook President and CEO Earle Matsuda in the statement.
Matsuda also announced that the company is restructuring to focus on and grow its core business areas.
“Our plan is to concentrate our sales and marketing resources in areas of our business that have the greatest potential for growth,” he said. “These include our air conditioning preventive maintenance, plumbing service and our retail and rental division, Air Reps Hawai‘i.”
Specialty contracting will continue to be an integral part of the company’s business plan, but its Plumbing and Fire Protection Division will close, the statement said. The company’s Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal Divisions will refocus its efforts on selective areas of the market place.
The restructuring will be led by Heide and Cook’s senior management team of Matsuda, senior VP and director of operations Sam Callejo P.E., VP of administration and controller Ann Takamori and VP account executive Ross Sasamura P.E.
Founded in 1946, Heide and Cook is one of Hawaii’s largest Native Hawaiian-owned companies. Some of Heide & Cook’s projects include Nordstrom’s ice plant, the installation of Turbocor silent, electro-magnetic, energy-saving compressors at Macy’s and the installation of the first broad absorber system at the Kaua‘i Marriott.
Tim Motts to lead Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i
The Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i announced Monday it has hired Tim Motts as its new executive director. Motts succeeds David Nakada, who has been at the organization’s helm for 33 years.
“We’ve found a new leader who clearly understands BGCH’s focus on developing the whole person — academic success, character and leadership development and healthy living,” David Hudson, president of the board, stated in a news release. Motts will start Aug. 15.
Motts is a lifelong non-profit sector professional, who dedicated his career to serving young people and helping increase their educational and community engagement, the press release said. His aim is to support the children of Hawai‘i to become the best students and citizens possible.
The search committee, led by retired judge Michael Town, spent five months conducting a comprehensive national search process. Motts was the final selection after very careful deliberation. The five-person committee worked with HR Solutions’ Marie Kumabe to facilitate the search.
“I look forward to working with Tim,” Hudson said. “It will be a compelling challenge for the board of directors to keep up with his energy and enthusiasm, as I know he will be a great asset for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawai‘i.”
For the past five years, Motts served as the chief professional officer (executive director) of the boys & girls club of west San Gabriel valley. During his tenure, Motts doubled the outreach and impact of the nonprofit. Like the current situation, Motts replaced a long-term, successful executive director, who had been an integral part of the community for more than three decades.
“Tim Motts is an ideal choice for Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i,” Nakada said. “His commitment to youth is proven, and his dedication to inspiring kids will continue building our community legacy. I am confident in his ability to affirm this organizations’ status as hugely relevant and effective.”
Nakada will stay through the end of the year to assist with the transition. He then moves on to head a recently established project to assist start-up social services ventures dedicated to youth development.
Motts is married to Alison Duran Motts, whose father was born and raised on O‘ahu and his extended family still resides in the islands. Alison will continue her years of experience in hospitality management, which began as a manager and sommelier for Disneyland Resort. They look forward to raising their two young sons, Jaxson Keahi and Gavin Kekoa, in the islands.
Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring Hawai‘i’s youth to become responsible citizens. BGCH operates nine sites on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i president and exec. director retires
President and Executive Director Lenny Yajima Andrew has announced that she will retire from her position at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, a news statement said.
“It has been an honor and privilege serving as president of the Cultural Center,” said Lenny Yajima Andrew, president & executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, in the statement. “While I’ve truly enjoyed working with our board and other volunteers whose passion for their work is infectious, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends.”
Andrew had served as president and executive director for more than four years, had overseen all operations of the Cultural Center and had managed a staff of 12 employees, the statement said. Under Andrew’s leadership, the Cultural Center has grown its educational programs, expanded community outreach events, and made significant strides in the effort to preserve World War II Confinement Sites in Hawai‘i.
“We are so grateful for the years of service Lenny has put into the Cultural Center and for her many contributions to her staff, volunteers and the community,” said Curt Otaguro, chairman of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i Board of Directors, in the statement. “Lenny has an incredible appreciation and understanding of the Japanese American experience. We are hopeful we will find a strong leader for the Center with Lenny’s passion and vision. We wish her well as she begins her retirement.”
“I am proud of the progress we have made at the Cultural Center,” Andrew said. “The Cultural Center is well positioned to meet exciting challenges and to continue telling the evolving stories of the Japanese American community. I am confident that my retirement will have a minimal effect on the Cultural Center, because of the capable professional staff, the strong Board of Directors, the dedicated Board of Governors and the enthusiastic core of volunteers. I will miss the daily interactions.”
Andrew will remain at the Cultural Center until a successor is chosen to ensure a seamless transition. The Board of Directors has begun the search for a new president. Interested applicants should forward their inquiries and resumes to jcchpresidentsearch@gmail.com.
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, a non-profit organization, strives to strengthen our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i, the news statement said.
Founded on May 1987, the Center celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012. The Cultural Center has more than 4,800 members and annually connects to more than 30,000 residents and visitors through its programs and events. The Cultural Center features a historical museum, an exhibition gallery, library/archive center, the Kenshikan martial arts dojo, the Seikoan Japanese teahouse and a gift shop.
For more information call 945-7633, email info@jcch.com or visit the website at www.jcch.com.
