Workforce Development Council

The Workforce Development Council is a 41-member advisory commission comprised of both public and private-sector representatives, selected by the Governor to serve in staggered 4-year terms on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of workforce development programs in Hawaii and ways to support economic development throughout the state. Vacancies are pending appointments by the Governor.

As of July 1, 2022

Private Sector

Alan Hayashi
Chair, Workforce Development Council
Owner/Principal, Consult 808

Sean Knox
Assistant Vice Chair, Workforce Development Council
President, Hawaii Employment Services, Inc.

Shannon Okinaka
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Hawaiian Airlines

Kelly Ueoka
President, Pacxa

Gerald Schmitz
Vice President, Lendlease DOD Communities

Shelli Ihori
Associate Director, Workforce Development, Hawaii Pacific Health

Rona Fukumoto
President & CEO, Lanakila Pacific

Trang Malone
Advisor, Workforce Initiatives, CVS Health

Brian Tatsumura
Owner, Briant808, LLC

Ian Kitajima
Director of Corporate Development, Oceanit

Jason Brand
President, Brand Industrial Group

Kira Higa
Director of Human Resources, Hawaiian Telcom

Cary Miyashiro
President, Quad D Solutions

Ken Loui
Vice President, Pacific Marine

Cheryl Cross
Management Consultant, C.A. Cross & Associates

Keith DeMello
Director of Communications and Community, Ulupono Initiative

Eileen Caldwell
Director of Human Resources, Mariott Hawaii and French Polynesia

Local Workforce Development Boards

Leslie Wilkins
Chair, Maui County Workforce Development Board
Vice President, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. 

Jason Chang
Chair, Oahu Workforce Development Board
President, Queen’s Medical Center

Rossella Guardascione
Chair, Hawaii County Workforce Development Board
Director of Human Resources, Kona Beach Hotel

Jackie Kaina
Interim Chair, Director of Programs, Kauai Economic Development Board

Legislature

Jackson Sayama
Hawaii State Representative

Stanley Chang
Hawaii State Senator

Labor and Workforce Training Organizations 

Brian Lee
Vice Chair, Workforce Development Council
Executive Director, Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Fund

April Chun Acquavella
Training Coordinator, Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund 

Jason Bradshaw
Legislative Representative, Hawaii Iron Workers Stabilization Fund

Chuck Shima
Training Coordinator, Plumbers Union Local 675

Winona Whitman
Statewide Director of Employment & Training, Alu Like, Inc.

Scott Collins
Fields Service Officer, Hawaii Government Employees Association

Dion Dizon
Director, Committee on Political Education, AFL-CIO

Lorna Woo
Director, Government Affairs, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50

Mayors

Mike Victorino
Mayor, County of Maui

Rick Blangiardi
Mayor, City and County of Honolulu

Derek Kawakami
Mayor, County of Kauai

Mitch Roth
Mayor, County of Hawaii

The Governor

David Ige
Governor, State of Hawaii

Directors

Maureen Bates
Administrator, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Director, Department of  Human Services

Anne Perreira-Eustaquio
Director, Department of Labor & Industrial Relations

Keith Hayashi
Superintendent, Department of Education

David Lassner
President, University of Hawaii System

Mike McCartney
Director, Department of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism