Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 12, 1 December 2009 — OHA names key directors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA names key directors

By Ka Wai Ola staff Making headway in its strategic plan-driven reorganization, OHA recently named four more to leadership positions. Richard Pezzulo was selected as Resource Management Director and Chief Financial Officer, Esther Kia'āina as Chief Advocate, Dr. Kamana'opono Crabbe as Research Director, and Denise Iseri-Matsubara as Community Relations Director. The four directors will support OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o and newly appointed Chief Operating Officer Stanton Enomoto as the agency aims to streamline into a performancebased operation with a focus on asset management, research and advocacy. "We are very pleased to weleome our new directors," said Nāmu'o. "We are fortunate to have such highly skilled leaders in their respective fields join our organization to help us secure a better future for Hawaiians." Pezzulo has served as OHA's Chief Financial Officer since 2008. He previously served as OHA's Director of Planning, Research, Evaluation and Grants and as Executive Director of Empower O'ahu, a nonprofit that focuses on economically distressed eommunities. Pezzulo, who earned an MBA from Southern Cross University in Australia, has also worked with the United Nations, the U.S. Census Bureau, the International Labor Organization and the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Paeihe. To her post as Chief Advocate, Kia'āina brings 21 years of experience in Washington, D.C., where she served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, Legislative Director and Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Robert Underwood of Guam, and Chief of Staff to Hawai'i Congressman Ed Case. In the nation's capital, she worked to advance policy relating to Native Hawaiians and Paeihe Islanders and was instrumental in drafting and securing passage of the Apology Resolution, whieh President Clinton signed in 1993. She comes to OHA from Kamehameha Schools, where she served as a Land Asset Manager. A Kamehameha graduate, Kia'āina received her juris doctorate from George Washington University Law School. Crabbe, who was appointed Research Director for OHA, most recently worked as a licensed psychologist and Director of Training at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Heahh Center. Crabbe has extensive experience serving the Native Hawaiian community and Hawai'i residents in the areas of elinieal psychology, family therapy and Native Hawaiian health research. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Iseri-Matsubara, the new Community Relations Director, comes to OHA from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, where she served as Special Assistant to the Chairperson. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and UH-Mānoa, Iseri-Matsubara has also served as Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Director of Government Relations and has almost 20 years in management at Young Brothers Ltd. Her past experience ranges from community outreach for puhlie policy and legislative matters to customer service. The recent appointments eome after OHA's September announcement of its new six-year strategic plan, whieh aims to focus resources on programs and activities that will lead to systemic change, thereby maximizing impact for all Native Hawaiians. Enomoto, who was named COO in September, said the new directors are filling key positions at OHA. "Resource management, advocacy, research and community relations are critical areas for us as we move forward with our strategic plan," he said. ■

We are fortunate to have such highly skilled leaders in their respective fields j oin our organization to help us secure a better future for Hawaiians." — Clyde Nāmu'o, OHAAdministrator

Richard Pezzulo

Esther Kiū'ōina

Dr. Komonū'opono Crabbe

Denise lseriMatsubara