presenter biographies - hawaii agriculture conference · 2018-08-28 · presenter biographies...

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PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES Please note: Presenters are listed in alphabetical order by presenter last name. Only those presenters whose information was received by July 24, 2017 are included in this document. Paul Arinaga Scaling-up Production & Profits with Cooperatives & Food Hubs Paul Arinaga is General Manager of the Friends with Farms Agricultural Cooperative (www.friendswithfarms.com). Friends with Farms is a cooperative of farmers who share resources to provide wholesome food grown with principles of Aloha ‘Āina for the people of Hawai‘i. Paul joined Friends with Farms in 2016 after helping the cooperative to win a $250,000 USDA grant. Prior to joining Friends with Farms, Paul was managing director of a marketing communications agency in Brussels, Belgium. He also worked for over 15 years in marketing, product and project management for Microsoft, Philips Electronics and a number of start-up companies. Paul is a passionate advocate for farmers who also likes to get his hands “dirty”. He is currently a student in the Ag School program of GoFarm Hawai’i. Brenda Asuncion Loko I'a: Restoration to Food Production Brenda was raised in Waipi‘o, (‘Ewa, O‘ahu). She began volunteering for Paepae o He‘eia (POH) at He‘eia fishpond during holiday breaks from Occidental College, where she received her B.A. in Biology with a Marine Biology emphasis. She joined the POH staff as a part-time Ka ‘Ai Kamaha‘o internship coordinator while pursuing her M.S. degree in Marine Science from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Brenda worked as a policy specialist with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary where she assisted with management plan development and community-based projects. She joined Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo (KUA) in September 2013 and her primary kuleana is to coordinate opportunities for loko i‘a practitioners to network and increase restoration efforts. Jay Bost Growing New Farmers and New Markets: Farmer Training and Farm to School Jay is Farm Coach at GoFarm Hawaii's Windward Oahu program and works with GoFarm Hawaii programs around the State to further develop their programs. He studied agroecology at

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Page 1: PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES - Hawaii Agriculture Conference · 2018-08-28 · PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES Please note: Presenters are listed in alphabetical order by presenter last name

PRESENTERBIOGRAPHIESPleasenote:Presentersarelistedinalphabeticalorderbypresenterlastname.OnlythosepresenterswhoseinformationwasreceivedbyJuly24,2017areincludedinthisdocument.PaulArinagaScaling-upProduction&ProfitswithCooperatives&FoodHubsPaulArinagaisGeneralManageroftheFriendswithFarmsAgriculturalCooperative(www.friendswithfarms.com).FriendswithFarmsisacooperativeoffarmerswhoshareresourcestoprovidewholesomefoodgrownwithprinciplesofAloha‘ĀinaforthepeopleofHawai‘i.PauljoinedFriendswithFarmsin2016afterhelpingthecooperativetowina$250,000USDAgrant.PriortojoiningFriendswithFarms,PaulwasmanagingdirectorofamarketingcommunicationsagencyinBrussels,Belgium.Healsoworkedforover15yearsinmarketing,productandprojectmanagementforMicrosoft,PhilipsElectronicsandanumberofstart-upcompanies.Paulisapassionateadvocateforfarmerswhoalsolikestogethishands“dirty”.HeiscurrentlyastudentintheAgSchoolprogramofGoFarmHawai’i.BrendaAsuncionLokoI'a:RestorationtoFoodProductionBrendawasraisedinWaipi‘o,(‘Ewa,O‘ahu).ShebeganvolunteeringforPaepaeoHe‘eia(POH)atHe‘eiafishpondduringholidaybreaksfromOccidentalCollege,whereshereceivedherB.A.inBiologywithaMarineBiologyemphasis.ShejoinedthePOHstaffasapart-timeKa‘AiKamaha‘ointernshipcoordinatorwhilepursuingherM.S.degreeinMarineSciencefromHawai‘iPacificUniversity.BrendaworkedasapolicyspecialistwiththeHawaiianIslandsHumpbackWhaleNationalMarineSanctuarywheresheassistedwithmanagementplandevelopmentandcommunity-basedprojects.ShejoinedKua‘āinaUlu‘Auamo(KUA)inSeptember2013andherprimarykuleanaistocoordinateopportunitiesforlokoi‘apractitionerstonetworkandincreaserestorationefforts.JayBostGrowingNewFarmersandNewMarkets:FarmerTrainingandFarmtoSchoolJayisFarmCoachatGoFarmHawaii'sWindwardOahuprogramandworkswithGoFarmHawaiiprogramsaroundtheStatetofurtherdeveloptheirprograms.Hestudiedagroecologyat

Page 2: PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES - Hawaii Agriculture Conference · 2018-08-28 · PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES Please note: Presenters are listed in alphabetical order by presenter last name

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PrescottCollegeandInterdisciplinaryEcologyattheUniversityofFlorida.HiscareerinagricultureandethnobotanyhavetakenhimtoNewMexico,NorthCarolina,St.Croix(USVI),Mexico,andBelize,wherehehasbothworkedandtaughtatnumerousproduction,seed,andeducationalfarms.JayoriginallycametoHawaiitostudyatCTAHR,butjumpedatthechancetocombinehispassionsforfoodproduction,appliedresearch,andteachingwithGoFarmHawaii.Besideshelpingtrainnewfarmers,Jayisanactiveamateurbreederandseedsman,workingwiththeHawaiiSeedGrowersNetworkandothervarietytrialnetworks.HeisalsoinvolvedwithprojectssuchasFarmLinkHawaiiandtheWaimanaloCo-op,workingtodirectlylinksmallgrowersandconsumers.LuisaCastroScaling-upProduction&ProfitswithCooperatives&FoodHubsLuisaF.CastroisthenewstatewideAgriculturalFoodSafetyProgramManagerwiththeHawaiiDepartmentofAgriculture.Withover20yearsworkinginagriculture,waterquality,ruraldevelopmentandadulteducationinHawaii,LuisabringsherknowledgeandskillstothisnewunitattheHDOAtodevelopandimplementanAgricultureFoodSafetyProgramtoensureHawaii’sfarmers,ranchers,producedistributorsandwholesalersareincompliancewiththeFDA’sFoodSafetyModernizationAct.DavidGagnerGrowMetheMoneyDavehasbeenextensivelyinvolvedinnaturalresources,conservationpolicy,andimplementationsincegraduatingfromBowlingGreenStateUniversityin1992withaBAinPoliticalSciencefocusedonEnvironmentalPolicy.Davebeganhiscareerworkingonethanolandoxygenatedfuelsissueswhileconsultingandrepresentingclientsonthestate,federal,corporate,andnon-profitlevels.HeworkedfortheNationalAssociationofConservationDistrictsfrom1999through2001asDirectorofGovernmentAffairswithaspecificfocusonthe2002FarmBillanddevelopingtheassociation’sgrassrootssystem.DaveworkedforDucksUnlimitedastheirleadAgriculturerepresentativefrom2001-2003wherehewasoneoftheprimaryauthors/partnersleadingtheconservationcommunitieseffortsonpassageofthelargestconservationtitleofalltime.FollowinghistimeatDUhewenttoserveasChiefofStaffattheNaturalResourcesConservationServicefrom2003-2006.Hewasamemberofthemanagement/leadershipteamresponsibleforastaffofnearly12,500employees,anda$4billionbudget.HeservedinavarietyofroleswithintheDepartmentincludingtheDepartmentofAgriculture’sRepresentativeoncriticalissuessuchaswetlands,wildlife,drought,KlamathBasin,biofuels,climatechange,andpreparationforthenextFarmBill’sconservationtitle.DaveiscurrentlytheSeniorDirectorofGovernmentRelationsattheNationalFishandWildlifeFoundation.Heisparticularlyfocusedonprivate/agricultural/workinglandsconservationfortheFoundation.Daveandhiswife,Sharon,liveinNorthernVirginiawiththeirchildren.Priortocollege,DavewasintheU.S.Armyservinginthe4thInfantryDivision.Heenjoyshunting,fishing,andtrainingfortriathlons.

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BrookeHansenAgTourism:DiversifyingEconomicOpportunityDr.HansenisananthropologistintheCollegeofAgricultureattheUniversityofHawai`iatHilo.ShehasbeenengagedwithfoodandagriculturaltourismthroughexperientiallearningclassesonHawai`iIslandsince1999.Currentlyherworkisfocusedonstudyingthescope,potential,andimpedimentstoexpandingagritourism.Sheteachescoursesonthesesubjectsinadditiontoclassesonculturaltourism,foodways,spiceagribusiness,andwomen,farming,andfoodresiliency.Herotheracademicspecialtiesincludesustainability,indigenousstudies,andintegrativeandalternativemedicine.ChelseaHarderAloha+Challenge:ACross-SectorApproachtoSustainabilityChelseaHarderisHawai‘iGreenGrowth’sSustainabilityDashboardCoordinator,andisleadingtheimplementationoftheAloha+ChallengeDashboard.Chelseabringsherbackgroundinengineering,communitydevelopment,educationandenergysectorworktoHawai‘iGreenGrowth.ChelseaiscurrentlypursuingaMaster’sDegreeinNaturalResources&LeadershipforSustainabilityattheUniversityofVermont,holdsadegreeinCivilEngineeringfromUniversityofMinnesota,andstudiedabroadinAdvancedEnvironmentalMeasurementsTechniques(AEMT)programatChalmersUniversityinGothenburg,Sweden.ChelseaservedinKiribatiasaPeaceCorpsvolunteerwheresheimplementedprogramsaimedatimprovingthehealthofthecommunityandimprovingtheirresiliencetoclimatechange.SheisaSeniorFellowthroughtheEnvironmentalLeadershipProgram(ELP)Nationalcohort.ChelseaisfromnorthernMinnesotaandhaslivedinHawai‘ifornearlyadecade.KristenHarmonWaterDiversion:AssessmentofOptimalWaterFlowforSustainableEcosystemFunctionsinKawainuiMarshandAgriculturalActivitiesinWaimanalo(Poster)IamagraduatestudentattheUniversityofHawai‘iMānoa,pursingaM.S.degreeinNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalManagementwithaspecializationinEcologyEvolutionandConservationBiology.Myresearchfocusesontheconservationofendangeredspecies,aswellasrestorationandmanagementofnativesystems,inHawai‘i.IplantotransferintothePhDprogramattheUniversityofHawai‘i,Mānoa,withinthenexttwoyears,andfromthere,becomeastewardforwildlifeandtheirecosystemsbypursuingacareerasawildlifeconservationist.HannahHubanksTowardsaHawai‘iSoilHealthIndex:Waterstableaggregatesandcarbonpoolsfollowingchangefromconventionaltoconservationmanagement(Poster)HannahHubanksisanenvironmentalenthusiastwithabackgroundinZoologyfromtheUniversityofWisconsin-MadisonpursuingagraduatedegreeinsoilscienceattheUniversityof

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Hawaii-Manoa,withafocusonenvironmentalhealthandsustainability.Sheenjoysrunning,hiking,oceansports,andleadinganEarth-friendlylifestyle.KerryKakazuVerticalFarming'sRoleinHawai'iAgriculture(Poster)IamtheOwner/PresidentofMetroGrowHawaii,thefirstverticalfarminthestate.Since2014wehavebeensupplyinggourmetleafygreenstorestaurantsandspecialtyfoodstores.ThroughcontinuedresearchanddevelopmentwehopethatverticalfarmingwillgrowintoasignificantcontributoroflocalfoodinHawaii.HiʻileiKaweloLokoIʻa:RestorationtoFoodProductionHiʻileiisoneofthefoundersofPaepaeoHeʻeiaandhasbeentheExecutiveDirectorsince2007.PaepaeoHeʻeiaisasmallnon-profitorganizationthatcaresforHeʻeiaFishpond,an88-acre,800-yearoldtraditionalHawaiianfishpondlocatedonOʻahu’swindwardcoast.PaepaeoHeʻeiawasfoundedin2001andhasbeenactivelyrestoringthefishpondforthepast16years.Hiʻilei’spassionisHawai‘i,itslandandsea,itspeople,practicesandtraditions.Hi‘ileiisawahinelawaiʻa(fisherwoman)fromKahalu‘u,O‘ahu.HerfamilyhasbeenfishingthewatersofKāneʻoheBaycontinuouslyforthepast6generationsandtheirdependenceontheBayforsustenanceheavilyinfluencesherdesiretoseefishpondsrestoredandsucceedasfoodproducers.GraydonKealaLokoI'a:RestorationtoFoodProductionGraydon“Buddy”Keala-HawaiianAquacultureSpecialistandOwner/OperatorofLokoI’aConsulting.HegraduatedfromKauaiHighSchoolin1973andreceivedaB.AinAquaculturewithcertificatesinMarineSciencesandEnvironmentalStudiesin1983fromUH-Manoa.In1976,hestartedtraininginaquacultureattheOceanicInstitute-Makapuuasamarineshrimphatcherytechnician.HeservedasamemberoftheOHA-NativeHawaiianHistoricPreservationCouncilfor8yearsandreceivedtheKuliaIKaNukuAwardfromtheAssociationofHawaiianCivicClubsas2011OutstandingNativeHawaiianforHawaiianFishpondwork.Mr.Kealahaseducationalexperienceincluding4yearsat-riskteacher/counselorforKamehamehaSchools-KaPapaHonuaOKeawanui,Molokaiand2yearsNaPuaNo’eauSummerAquacultureprogramattheOceanicInstitute-KeahuoluAquacultureFacilityinKonawherehewasthesitemanager.Heisauthorof:LokoI’aAManualonHawaiianFishpondRestorationandManagement.

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KevinKellyRegionalFoodHubs:OpeningLargeMarketstoSmallFarmers&Scaling-upProduction&ProfitswithCooperatives&FoodHubsAmarinegeologistbytraining,Mr.KellywentontoreceivedhisMBAandformorethan15yearshasservedasanadvisorastheUniversityofHawai‘i’sVice-PresidentofResearchandInnovation.HehasmanagedseverallargefederalresearchawardsfromtheNationalScienceFoundation,DepartmentofHomelandSecurityandNASAandhasservedontheboardsofnumerouscommunityorganizationsincludingtheHawai‘iScience&TechnologyCouncilandtheDefendO‘ahuCoalition.HewastheChairpersonofthe2013ClustersofOpportunityproject,acommunity-driven,economicanalysisoftheNorthShoreregionfocusedonintegratingexistingassets,includingpeople,togeneratenewjobsandneweconomicopportunitiesthatcontributetothegrowthandsustainabilityNorthSorecommunitieswhileprotectingtheenvironmentandpreservingtheoverallruralcharacterandculturalsignificanceoftheregion.HestartedtheNorthShoreEconomicVitalityPartnershipnon-profitin2015.DanielaKittingerThreeWaystoBuildaFoodSystemforHawai‘i’sFutureDanielaKittingeristheSupplementalNutritionAccessProgramEducation(SNAP-Ed)CoordinatorfortheDepartmentofHealth,wheresheworksonbuildingnetworkstosupportaccesstohealthy,localfood.Asalifelonghealthadvocate,shehasledlarge-scaleinitiativesonabroadarrayofsocialissues,includingsubstanceabuseprevention,foodpolicy,and‘āina-basededucation.SheholdsaBachelor’sdegreeinNutritionandKinesiologyandaMaster'sinPublicHealthfromUHMānoa.NatalieKurashimaIndigenousAgandClimateChangeNatalieKurashimawasbornandraisedinWaipiʻo,OʻahuandcurrentlylivesinKonaonHawaiʻiIsland.SheistheIntegratedResourcesManageratKamehamehaSchools,focusedonintegratingnaturalandculturalresourcemanagementprojects,andincreasingcommunitycontributionsinʻāinastewardship.NataliereceivedaB.S.inConservationandResourceStudiesfromUCBerkeley,andaMastersandPh.D.inBotanyatUHMānoa.Herresearchfocusesonunderstandingthepast,present,andfuturepotentialofindigenousHawaiianagriculturalsystemstoinformtheirrestorationtoday.NoaLincolnBreadfruitinHawai‘i:Past,Present,andFutureNoaLincolnistheIndigenousCropsandCroppingSystemsresearchspecialistattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa.HehailsfromKealakekua,Hawai‘i.Noahashadintensivetraininginlā‘aulapa‘au,andworkedintraditionalagriculturearoundthePacificRim.HehasreceivedhisdegreesfromYaleandStanfordUniversities.

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StephanieMockGrowingAgriculturewithTechnologyStephanieMock,ConservationSpecialist/DirectorofFieldOperationsforO'ahuResourceConservation&DevelopmentCouncil,workswithfarmersbyprovidingtechnicalassistance,conservationplanning,agriculturalworkshopsandhasprovidedtechnicalassistanceonover8,000acresthroughouttheislands.Stephanie'sworkhasfocusedonhowfarmers/producerscanenhancenaturalresourcestewardshipinHawai'iwhilealsoremainingeconomicallyviable.ShehasbeenpartoftheeffortledbyO'ahuRC&DtobringconservationplanningassistancetofarmersinHawai'ithroughanew,onlineconservationplanningtoolcalled"808Planner".JohnMorganAgTourism:DiversifyingEconomicOpportunityBornandraisedinHawaii,JohnMorganisasixthgenerationHawaiiresidentJohngraduatedfromPunahouHighSchoolin1974andwenttobothOregonStateUniversityandtheUniversityofHawaii,majoringinEconomics,beforeworkingfulltimeatKualoaRanch.HestartedhisworkcareeratKualoaRanchin1971asaparttimelaborer.Hebecamemanagerofthefamilyownedcompanyin1981,whenthecompanyemployed8people.Hestartedadiversifiedoutdoorrecreationoperationattheranchin1985andsincethen,KualoaRanchhasgrowntoemployabout300people.Itsprimaryendeavorsarecattleranching,diversifiedagriculture,outdoorrecreation,educationandrealestate.Johnhasbeenactiveinthecommunityformanyyears,andispresentlyontheboardsoftheHawaiiVisitorsandConventionBureau,theHawaiiCattlemen’sCouncil,andtheOahuCemetery.SomeofhispastboardaffiliationsincludetheStateBoardofLandandNaturalResources,theHawaiiTrustforPublicLand,theHawaiianMissionChildren’sSociety,theBishopMuseumandtheHawaiiNatureCenter.Overtheyears,JohnandKualoaRanchhavebeentherecipientsofnumerousawards,including:Kama`ainaoftheYear,BusinessLeaderoftheYear,TourismLegacyAward,NationalCattlemen’sBeefAssociation’sEnvironmentalStewardshipAward,andmore.JohnhasbeenmarriedtohiswifeCarrisince1981andthecouplehasthreechildren,livinginNewYork,HawaiiandAuckland,NewZealand.Anna-LisaOkoyeGrowingNewFarmersandNewMarkets:FarmerTrainingandFarmtoSchoolAnna-LisaOkoyeisTheKohalaCenter'sChiefOperatingOfficer.Foundedintheyear2000,TheKohalaCenterisanindependent,community-basedcenterforresearch,conservation,andeducation.Weturnresearchandancestralknowledgeintoaction,sothatcommunitiesinHawaiiandaroundtheworldcanthrive—ecologically,economically,culturally,andsocially.Ourmainareasoffocusarefood,water,place,andpeople.AsCOO,Anna-Lisaisresponsiblefordevelopingnewinitiatives,aswellastheprogrammaticeffectivenessandfinancialsustainabilityofTheKohalaCenter.ShealsositsontheExecutiveCommitteeoftheHawaiiFarmtoSchoolInitiative,apublic-privatepartnershipbetweentheLt.GovernorofHawaii,the

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HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation,theHawaiiDepartmentofAgriculture,HawaiiStateProcurementOffice,andTheKohalaCenter.PriortobecomingCOO,Anna-LisawasaRuralBusinessDevelopmentSpecialistwithTheKohalaCenter.Inthisrole,shewasresponsibleformanagingtheCenter’smicro-loanprograms,assistingwithcooperativedevelopment,providingtechnicalassistanceservicestoruralbusinesses(includingbusinessplanning,financialplanning,record-keeping,andgrantandloanapplicationpreparation),andworkingonvariousagriculturalindustryprojects,includingcottagefoodlegislationandfarmtoschoolinitiatives.Anna-LisareceivedaJurisDoctordegreefromNewYorkUniversitySchoolofLaw,andaBachelorofArtsinPsychologyfromtheUniversityofPennsylvania.ShepracticedlawinNewYork,Chicago,andWashington,D.C.intheareasofcorporateandpublicfinancepriortorelocatingtoHawaiiin2013.JasonOkuhamaGrowMetheMoneyPast17yearsasManagingPartner,HawaiiLendingSpecialistsLLCdbaCommercialandBusinessLendingandformerlySVPwithB&ILendingLLC.Loanorigination,sales,marketing,underwritingandservicing;specializingintheUSDAFarmServiceAgency,USDARuralDevelopmentandU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationloanprograms,commercialrealestateandresidentialfinancing.TerritoryincludesHawaii,SouthernandWesternPacific.FormerlyVPwithBankoffAmerica,CommunityDevelopmentBankingGroup.AdministeredtheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministration,USDARuralDevelopmentandothergovernmentloanprograms.ShannonRamirezFarmCorpsHawaii,PosterPresentationShannonRamirezisthedirectorforFarmCorpsHawaii,whichisanAmeriCorpsIntiativeandaprogramofFriendsofKonaPacificPublicCharterSchool,locatedontheBigIsland.ThisprogramsupportsgrowinghealthyfoodusingAmeriCorpsmembersplacedatlocalschoolsandfarms.CynthiaReevesValueAdded:DoingitRightfromHarvesttoSaleDr.CindyReevesistheMauiCountyAdministratorfortheUniversityofHawaiiatManoa,CollegeofTropicalAgricultureandHumanResources(CTAHR).Inthisrole,sheoverseesallfacilities,research,ExtensionoutreachandinstructiononMaui,MolokaiandLanai.Priortothisposition,CindywasaNationalProgramLeaderforNutrition,Health&WellnesswiththeUSDANIFA.ShealsoservedastheDirectorofNutritionandFamilySciencesintheFamilies,4HandNutritionunitofUSDACSREES(nowNIFA).InadditiontotheUniversityofHawaii,Cindyhas

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heldacademicfacultypositionsattheUniversityofMaryland,andtheUniversityofOtagoinNewZealand.SheearnedherBSinBiologyfromtheUniversityofNevada,Reno;herMPHdegreeinNutritionfromtheUniversityofHawaiiatManoa;andherPhDinNutritionfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis.JoshuaSilvaFSMA/GAP:TheAlphabetSouptoSafeProduceforAllConsumersJoshisanewediblecropsExtensionAgentwiththeUniversityofHawaiiCooperativeExtensionService,OahuCounty.Hisfocusareasincludeintegratedcropandpestmanagement,soilfertility,andfoodsafety,primarilyservicingwestOahufarmers.JoshisacertifiedProduceSafetyAllianceTrainerandisworkingtowardsbecomingaLeadTrainertofurthersupportlocalfoodsafetyneedsandprograms.DaveStoneValue-Added/DoingItRightFromHarvesttoSaleDaveStone,Ph.D.,istheDirectoroftheOregonStateUniversityFoodInnovationCenter.Dr.StoneisanAssociateProfessorwiththeDepartmentofFoodScienceandTechnologywithabackgroundintoxicology,foodsafetyandcommunication.Dr.Stone’sCenterisanurbanagriculturalstationlocatedindowntownPortland.Servicesincludeprovidingsupporttoagriculture,foodentrepreneursandfoodprocessors.Dr.Stone.Dr.StonehasservedonaNationalAcademiesExpertPanel,engagedwithnumerouscommunitygroups,industrystakeholders,NGOsandgovernmentalagenciesthroughhisExtensionAppointment.IkaikaVelezLokoI'a:RestorationtoFoodProductionBornandraisedKahaluu,grewupfishingKaneohebay.Spent5years1993-1999bigislandpuna.GraduatedCastleHS2003.Married2010,2daughters.EmployedKualoaRanch2007,Moli'iLokoIa.Presentresponsibilities,Kia'ilokostewardshipandoysterproduction.PomaiWeigertAgTourism:DiversifyingEconomicOpportunityBusinessStrategist&Consultant.Pomai'sBigPictureThinkingandBusinessSavvyhavegainedherclientsandpartnershipsthatincludesomeofHawaii’smostpopularandpioneeringbusinessleaders&localagencies.Herconceptshavetakenheraroundtheglobe,acrosstheStateandwithineachislandnetworktodiversifyandmodelleadershipskills,collaborativemarketing&servicemethods,andcompetitivebrandbuildingtokeepHawaiirelevantandviableintoday’sever-changingsocio-economicenvironments.

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MelanieWillichGrowingNewFarmersandNewMarkets:FarmerTrainingandFarmtoSchoolMelanieWillich,PhD,isTheKohalaCenter'sFarmerTrainingCoordinatorandDirectoroftheBeginningFarmerRancherDevelopmentProgramonHawaiiIsland.MelaniereceivedaBScinAgriculturalSciencesandaMScinTropicalandInternationalAgriculturefromGeorgAugustUniversityinGöttingen,Germany.SheearnedaPhDinOrganicPlantProductionandAgroecosystemsResearchintheTropicsfromtheUniversityofKasselinWitzenhausen,Germany.MelaniecurrentlyalsoholdsapositionasSoil&FieldCropsResearchAssociatewiththeCollegeofAgriculture,ForestryandNaturalResourceManagementatUHHilo.KylieWongFSMA/GAP:TheAlphabetSouptoSafeProduceforAllConsumersKylieWongisanJuniorExtensionAgentforMauiCountyCooperativeExtension.Herprogramfocusesareediblecropssustainableagricultureandfarmfoodsafety,includingGoodAgriculturalPracticesandFoodSafetyModernizationActeducation.JanelYamamotoGrowingNewFarmersandNewMarkets:FarmerTrainingandFarmtoSchoolDirectorofGoFarmHawaiiandtheAgribusinessIncubatorProgram.GoFarmHawaii’smissionistoenhanceHawaii’sfoodsecurityandeconomybyincreasingthenumberoflocalagriculturalproducersbyofferingthosewithaninterestinagricultureacombinationofknowledge,experience,andsupportdesignedtoassisttheminbecomingviableproductiongrowers,andaccomplishthisinamannerthatencouragessustainability.TheAgribusinessIncubatorProgramhelpspeoplewhoproduce,use,orpromoteagricultureinHawaiitostart,grow,andimprovetheirbottomline.TheProgramservesallislandswithbusinessplanning,marketing,financialanalysis,andotherguidancedesignedtolaunchbusinessesandproducts,lowercosts,andincreasesales.JanelprovidesinstructionandconsultingtoGoFarmHawaiistudentsandlocalfarmersonavarietyofbusinessmanagementtopics.EnYoungThreeWaystoBuildaFoodSystemforHawai‘i’sFutureEnYoungistheExecutiveDirectorofTheFoodBasketInc,Hawai`iIsland'sFoodBank.LivinginthecollaborativecommunityofHawai`iCounty,TheFoodBasketisexploringnewwaysnon-profitscancontributetogrowingtheagriculturalsector.