|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Speakers | |
| KEYNOTE SPEAKERS | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Back To Top | |
| SESSION SPEAKERS | |
| STEVE BAZZELL - Chief, Farm Loan Programs, USDA, Farm Service Agency (FSA), Hawaii State & Pacific Basin Office - B.S./M.S. Agriculture Business & Economics. Moved to Hawaii in 1998 from Washington, DC where he had worked for FSA, the Farmers Home Administration, and the Farm Credit Administration over a 12-year period. Session: "Bankability" |
|
| Back To Top | |
| PAUL BREWBAKER - Senior Vice President/Chief Economist with Bank of Hawaii where his responsibilities include research on financial and economic risk, works in the bank's Treasury. He joined the bank's Economics Department in 1985 and is a director of the Hawaii Economic Association and a member of the American Bankers - Association Economic Advisory Committee. Session: Crop Insurance for All Seasons and Reasons |
|
| Back To Top | |
| MARCUS BUCHANAN - Consultant. Ph.D. in Soil Fertility and Systems Modeling from North Carolina State Univ. Marcus works on agricultural nutrient and irrigation management, wastewater application to soil, watershed assessment, compost production, and compost quality assessment. He has conducted on-farm vegetable crop trials with compost and co-developed a compost maturity index. Session: "Entre-manure-ship" |
|
| Back To Top | |
| GREG CALISTRO - Produce and Floral Buyer Merchandiser for Save Mart Supermarkets. In 1988, Greg started as a Produce Manager with Save Mart Supermarkets, a 52 year old company located in the Central Valley of California. His duties include buying of all floral products, merchandising plans for produce and floral, and category planning and execution of Produce & Floral Programs. Session: Mass Marketing - Is the Big Box Store for You? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| JOHN "RANDY" CATES - Born and raised in Hawaii. In 1991, Randy started Safety Boats Hawaii which provided divers and vessels for salvages and research. In 1999, Cates International was formed as a result of a research project that successfully demonstrated the feasibility of open ocean aquaculture utilizing sub-surface cages. To date, it is the first open ocean fish farm in the U.S. obtaining the first ocean lease. Session: Innovative Products - Reframing the Challenge to Enhance Business Assets |
|
| Back To Top | |
| ROBERTA CHU - Senior Vice President and Manager, Bank of Hawaii's Hawaii Island Commercial Banking Center - B.A. Economics. Roberta has over 10 years of banking experience in Los Angeles and 8 years of experience on Hawaii Island. BOH clients in agricultural businesses include production, processing and marketing of various crops. Roberta is currently Chairperson of Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. Session: "Bankability" |
|
| Back To Top | |
| MARK CUMMINGS – Business Analyst, Staff Agronomist. Mark is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Agronomy and conducts compost research trials and educational seminars on the microbiology of compost and its interaction with soils in production agriculture, turfgrass, and commercial landscaping. Session: Additional Session-Entre-manure-ship #2 |
|
| Back To Top | |
| JOE DAVIS - Since 1994 Davis has been the CEO of AgriLogic, Inc., a consulting firm performing policy and risk management analysis in agriculture. During this time AgriLogic has completed over 100 projects dealing with farm policy and feasibility and development of crop insurance products, including the development of insurance products for Hawaii. Session: Crop Insurance for All Seasons and Reasons |
|
| Back To Top | |
| CARL EVENSEN – Ph.D., Extension Specialist. Provides statewide leadership for extension programs in natural resource management and environmental quality, with University of Hawaii's Cooperative Extension Service. He is responsible for developing and implementing public education and instructional programs on pollution control and water quality and currently focuses on animal manure management. Session: "Entre-manure-ship" Session: Additional Session-Entre-manure-ship #2 |
|
| Back To Top | |
| JAMES S. GREENWELL - President of Palani Ranch Company and Lanihau Properties, LLC. Jim has a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University. He is Vice President of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council and Chair of HCC's Land Issues Committee, Past Chairman of the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference and currently a Director of the Hawaii Cattle Producers Co-operative. Session: Agriculture Taxes and Land Use - What is Best for Agriculture? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| WILLIAM HAAR - Bill is a Field Representative with Rural Community Insurance Services (RCIS) in Fresno California. He has been in the crop insurance industry since 1989. Originally hired as a loss adjuster, he became a Field Representative in 1997. Bill's duties include marketing, training policy & company procedure, agency relations. Session: Crop Insurance for All Seasons and Reasons |
|
| Back To Top | |
| TOM HILL – Tom is the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. He is also the field manager for Garst Seed Company. Session: Agriculture Taxes and Land Use - What is Best for Agriculture? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| JIM HOLLYER - Program manager for the Agricultural Development in the American Pacific program (ADAP). Jim is working on spreading the word about the importance of on-farm food safety to all 2,300 produce farms in Hawaii. He sees that a food-safe farm can be a huge marketing tool for Hawaii's agricultural business. Session: Food Safety From Farm to Fork |
|
| Back To Top | |
| ERIC JANG - Supervisory Research Entomologist, Ph.D. Eric is Research Leader of the Tropical Plant Pests Research Unit at the U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center. Eric oversees research programs on detection control and suppression of fruit flies for PBARC. His personal research involves developing new semiochemical attractants and the development of area-wide control strategies against fruit flies. Session: A Strategic Transformation - Fruit Fly Suppression and Irradiation |
|
| Back To Top | |
| RICHARD C. JOHNSON - Owner-Manager of Onomea Orchards, an exotic tropical fruit orchard on the Big Island. Johnson is also President of the state-wide association, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, and Vice President of Hawaiian Rainbows Business Development L.L.C. B.S. Mechanical Engineering; M.S. Financial Management. Session: Agricultural Theft - Everybody's Problem |
|
| Back To Top | |
| THOMAS KAFSACK - Thomas retired to Maui and started SURFING GOAT DAIRY in 2002. The Dairy was the winner of 4 National Awards at the American Cheese Society in Milwaukee, WI in July 2004. Before his retirement, Thomas, an MBA, was an Assistant Professor for Computing in Germany, Founder/Owner of one of the biggest software companies in Germany, Winner of IBM's international Star Stream Award. Session: Ag Tourism - A Practical Look from the Practitioners |
|
| Back To Top | |
| KENT LAU - Kent is Vice President and Business Banking Team Leader at First Hawaiian Bank's Main Banking Center. Responsibilities include commercial lending and integration of cash management services, business convenience products, trust, investment and financial services. He has been in banking for the past 21 years. Session: "Bankability" |
|
| Back To Top | |
| ALBERT LOUIE - Seed Certification Director and Food Safety Coordinator, Commodities Branch, Quality Assurance Division, DOA. An independent third party auditor for Primuslabs and for the USDA's Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Program. With the Commodities Branch for 22 years inspecting Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Eggs, Processed Foods, Coffee, Fishery Products, and Animal Feed. Session: Food Safety From Farm to Fork |
|
| Back To Top | |
| DEAN MATSUKAWA - Agricultural Loan Administrator-B.A. from the University of Washington. Dean heads the Agricultural Loan Division for the State Department of Agriculture. The program provides assistance to farmers, ranchers and aquaculturists located throughout the State. Dean is a graduate of Class VI of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii. Session: "Bankability" |
|
| Back To Top | |
| DALE MILLER - Dale is a Senior Risk Management Specialist with the USDA Risk Management Agency in Davis, California. The agency administers the Federal Crop Insurance program in Hawaii. Dale's responsibilities include policy development, claims, and education. He has been with the agency for 27 years. Session: Crop Insurance for All Seasons and Reasons |
|
| Back To Top | |
| WILLIAM MURPHY - Davis Regional Director for the Risk Management Agency (RMA). RMA oversees the USDA crop insurance programs in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Hawaii. Mr. Murphy has been employed by the RMA for 22 years and has held the positions of RMA Western Regional Compliance Director, National Reinsurance Director, Policy Development Specialist and Underwriter. Session: Crop Insurance for All Seasons and Reasons |
|
| Back To Top | |
| FRANK NOMURA - Hawaii Horticulture Merchandiser. Frank has a long history of managing hardware and gardening stores. In 1994, Frank started as District Coordinator for Wal-Mart. Before retiring in 2002, he was the Horticulture Buyer for 9 Western States and was providing training to Wal-Mart associates. He returned in 2004 and his duties include buying floral, lei products and live goods. Session: Mass Marketing - Is the Big Box Store for You? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| DEAN OKIMOTO - President & Owner of Nalo Farms, Inc. and Local Island Fresh Edibles, LLC. Dean was a member of the Oahu Ag Tax Task Force that recently addressed the problems with the new agricultural real property
tax program. Session: Agriculture Taxes and Land Use - What is Best for Agriculture? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| DIANE QUITIQUIT - VP Marketing & Development for Parker Ranch. Diane serves on both the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau board as well as past Chair of the Big Island Visitor Bureau. Diane served on the first Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority both as a member and as its Chair. Diane served as director of the Department of Research and Development for the County of Hawaii. Session: Ag Tourism - A Practical Look from the Practitioners |
|
| Back To Top | |
JIM REDDEKOPP JR - Founder, Hawaiian Vanilla Company. The Hawaiian Vanilla Company has been featured on national/local television shows, culinary publications and local restaurants. Hawaiian Vanilla Co. offers weekly shore excursions with Norwegian Cruise Line entitled A Rural Renaissance Experience showcasing Hamakua Coast Gourmet Farms. Jim is also a graduate of Hawaii Ag Leadership and a member of Hamakua Farm Bureau. |
|
| Back To Top | |
| MITCH ROTH - Deputy Prosecutor for the County of Hawaii. In this capacity, Mitch currently works with the Community Oriented Prosecution Project and the Asset Forfeiture Program and has been designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. He is a founding member of the organization, Community Coalition for Neighborhood Safety. He is also a board member of the Western Community Policing Center and the chair of the Center's advisory board in Hawaii. Session: Agricultural Theft - Everybody's Problem |
|
| Back To Top | |
| SHAWN SLOCUM - Processed Foods and Dealer Licensing Program Specialist from Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Quality Assurance Division, Commodities Branch-B.S. Agriculture Technology. Slocum has been a member of the State's Ag Theft Task Force since its beginning. She is the Federal State Supervisor for USDA, AMS, FV, Processed Branch. Session: Agricultural Theft - Everybody's Problem |
|
| Back To Top | |
| STEVE SMITH - Currently President of the Hawaii Forest Industry Association and represents the forestry sector on the Kauai Agricultural Advisory Committee. His company, Forestry Management Consultants-Hawaii, has provided services to local, national and international firms such as PruTimber and Jaakko Poyry Consulting, the world's largest forestry consulting company. Session: Innovative Products - Reframing the Challenge to Enhance Business Assets |
|
| Back To Top | |
| JAMES TAVARES – Owner/Operator The Grassmaster Sod Farm. Located in the Kula Agricultural Park on the island of Maui. Growers of Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustine, ‘ El Toro ' and Emerald Zoysia grasses. BS General Agriculture & MS Horticulture Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa. Session: Additional Session-Entre-manure-ship #2 |
|
| Back To Top | |
LINUS TAVARES - Vice President and Hilo Branch manager for Farm Credit Services of Hawaii. MBA graduate, B.S in Business Administration, and graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. 22 years of agricultural lending experience throughout the state of Hawaii. Experienced in various levels of agricultural financing from the small "mom & pop" operators to large corporate farmers. |
|
| Back To Top | |
| DEAN UCHIDA - Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii (LURF), which is a private, non-profit research and trade organization whose members are major Hawaii landowners and developers. Dean has been involved, from both the private and public sectors, in real estate development, property management, land use law and land use planning in Hawaii since 1981. Session: Agriculture Taxes and Land Use - What is Best for Agriculture? |
|
| Back To Top | |
| LETITIA UEHARA - Currently Director of Marketing and Special Projects at Armstrong Produce. Area of responsibility includes Food Safety. Armstrong is the first wholesale produce company to receive food safety certification by USDA (achieved June 2004). Served for 9 years as Deputy to the Chairperson of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, having previously served as Communications Director at the Department. Session: Food Safety From Farm to Fork |
|
| Back To Top | |
| ROGER VARGUS - Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS-PBARC. Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in Entomology. Presently Area-Wide Coordinator of the Hawaii Fruit Fly Area-Wide Pest Management program. Vargas is an expert in insect ecology, mass rearing and biological control of tropical fruit flies. Session: A Strategic Transformation - Fruit Fly Suppression and Irradiation |
|
| Back To Top | |
| LYLE WONG - Ph.D., Administrator, Plant Industry Division, HDOA. The Plant Industry Division consists of three line branches, Pesticides, Plant Pest Control and Plant Quarantine. Wong was instrumental in opening up the Japan market to potted foliage plants from Hawaii and to opening up U.S. mainland markets to fresh agricultural products from Hawaii using irradiation as a quarantine treatment. Session: A Strategic Transformation - Fruit Fly Suppression and Irradiation |
|
| Back To Top | |
| EARL YAMAMOTO – Planner for the Hawaii Department of Agriculture since 1982. Earl has a B.A. and completed coursework for a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii. He specializes in agricultural resource protection and development issues and is a charter member of the American Planning Association – Hawaii Chapter. Session: Agriculture Taxes and Land Use - What is Best for Agriculture? |
|
| Back To Top | |
FRANCIS ZEE - Horticulturist and Research Leader at USDA-ARS, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (PBARC). Francis received his PhD in 1985 from CTAHR in Horticulture. His area of study was breeding and genetics. He has worked in the Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit in Hilo since 1986. He is experienced in innovative approaches in plant genetic resource management and utilization. |
|
| Back To Top | |
|
GARRETT WASNY 
JANE ECKERT