For Immediate Release: October 1, 2008
DBEDT Release News 08-30

Outstanding Employees Honored

HONOLULU--The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism announced its outstanding performance awards today. Awards were made of the Employee, Manager and Team of the year. Department winners will become part of the pool of candidates in contention for the Governor's Employee, Manager and Team of the year award.

Employee of the Year: Alex Ho, Economic Development Specialist
Alex was tasked with the challenge of launching the inaugural FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition. Most individuals would have shied away from such a monumental undertaking, but Alex enthusiastically accepted the challenge, utilizing his excellent people skills, energy, and experience in marketing to pull it off.

Alex was able to successfully persuade and motivate people, completing and organizing a near-impossible task in little more than a year. The competition was so successful that it is now an annual event.

"We will see a dramatic increase in participation, not only locally, but also nationally," said DBEDT director Theodore E. Liu. "As a result of Alex's efforts, there will undoubtedly be a dramatic increase in the scientific and technical fields by Hawaii's students."

Manager of the Year: Donne Dawson, Film Industry Development Manager
Donne's unique ability to balance multiple demands, her knowledge of and passion for the Film Industry, and her appreciation for Hawaii's cultural sensitivities are what makes her the perfect Film Commissioner for the State of Hawaii.

Even with limited financial and human resources, she has led her team to reach record production activity and established Act 88 -- the Film Production Tax Credit Incentive -- which has brought in $200 million in production activity in the past year. Her ability to work with demanding and diverse constituencies, Neighbor Island Film Commissioners, the legislature, the native Hawaiian community, and the State, County and Federal governments shows her innate capabilities to manage this multi-pronged and growing sector of Hawaii's economy.

Team of the Year: Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC) - Dan Davidson, Darren Ueki, Dean Sakata, Pauline Wong, Janice Takahashi - AG - Diane Taira.
The HHFDC "Preserve Kukui Gardens" Team undertook the first large-scale affordable housing preservation effort by the State government. In coordination with the residents and advocates, the Team lobbied the Legislature, initiated negotiations, communicated with stakeholders, and with perseverance, creativity, and innovation, completed the structured transaction to preserve Kukui Gardens as an affordable rental housing complex. Due to the Team's exemplary efforts and ability to resolve one obstacle after another (no matter how frustrating), their creative, structured transaction resulted in a reduction in State subsidies and the recapture of $25 million.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov