Board of Directors

Board of Directors (left to right): Cynthia Sunahara, Lester Stiefel, Gigi Davidson, Norma Koenig, Carolyn Abraham Smith, Sylvia Hara-Nielson, Waynele Yu, Alan Shimozono, Normadeene Musick, Mark Conching

Mark Conching, President

Mark has been the owner of MC Consulting since 1993. He previously held marketing director positions at Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union and Airport Urgent Care and earned his BBA in Marketing from the University of Hawai‘i. Specializing in the visioning process, planning sessions, marketing plans, strategic marketing, copy writing and the development of collateral materials, Mark’s clients include credit unions, banks, insurance agencies, hotels, general contractors, private schools, and nonprofits.

Alan Shimozono, Vice President

Alan is Vice President and Business Relationship Manager at American Savings Bank, assisting small business owners throughout the bank’s East Honolulu area. His financial career includes business banking, consumer banking, mortgage loan origination, and creating a training program for new mortgage loan officers. Outside of his financial services career, Alan has volunteered his time for youth, being an assistant coach for high school and off-season club volleyball teams. He holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Sylvia Hara-Nielsen, PhD, MEd, MPA, Secretary

Sylvia has been a community organizer, high school teacher, career counselor and state government administrator. In her current position as Transition Coordinator and Americorps Program Director at Farrington High School, she develops, implements, and evaluates programs linking classroom-based instruction with work- and community-based experiences. Over the past 15 years at Farrington, she has authored and managed workforce development grants addressing educational needs and initiated partnerships with agencies and businesses to extend opportunities to individuals residing in low socioeconomic communities.

Susan Kondo

Susan is the Volunteer Project Coordinator for Business Education Partnership, under the Superintendent’s Office of the Department of Education. In this position she acts as a liaison between Senator Norman Sakamoto’s Office and the Department of Education. Her goal is to build and enhance the partnerships between schools and the community, thus enriching the learning environment and promoting student achievement by way of service learning. Prior to this, Susan worked at City Bank for 30 years in the Marketing Department.

Natalie Mun-Takata

Natalie is currently a vice-principal of Kalakaua Middle School. She enjoys the excitement of working with others to create an exemplary school. Her efforts in building partnerships between the school and the community has enriched the learning environment and has promoted student achievement at Kalakaua School. She has been employed by the Hawaii Department of Education for more than 20 years, having previously served as principal at Linapuni Elementary School and Kalihi Elementary School.

Normadene K. Musick, MEd

Normadeene retired in July, 2010 with more than 25 years of experience as an educator holding various positions in administration and instruction. She most recently served as Executive Director of Halau Ku Mana New Century Charter School. As a faculty member, she taught business technology, management, medical office procedures and job development. She has worked in a variety of industries, including healthcare, banking, sales, and entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Normadeene is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. She earned her MEd in Education Administration from the University of Hawai‘i and is working on a doctorate degree in the same field.

Lester Stiefel

Lester is originally from New York City where he worked in social services for a number of years before he made a career switch to human resources. He’s held various human resource positions at Macy’s, the Bank of Nova Scotia and Citigroup. In 1998, he and his family relocated to Hawaii where he first worked with Cheap Tickets, Inc. He has been at Bank of Hawaii since 2001 as a Senior Vice President in Human Resources. Lester currently serves on Board of Directors with the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, and Hawaii Arts Center for Youth. He holds a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University and Bachelor degree in Psychology from the City University of New York.

Cynthia Sunahara

Cynthia is currently the Principal of Linapuni Elementary School. She previously served as the School Renewal Specialist for the Kaiser Complex Schools and the Principal of Pu‘uhale Elementary School from 1999-2007. She began her teaching career at Farrington High School as a Title I Reading teacher and has also been Vice Principal at Farrington High School for seven years and at Kaimiloa Elementary School for two years. She is a member of Academy 21, formerly Collaborative Action for Public Education, a Principals’ Leadership Academy and the Kalihi Business Association.