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Okabe: No. 8, tell me about a time when a team you were on got stalled and did not
<br />function effectively?
<br />Waltjen: Okay, so the one time I can think of where I felt like I was on a team and
<br />it wasn't running effectively was when Mayor Kenoi asked me to join his team as the
<br />Executive Secretary for the Managing Director and the Deputy Managing Director.
<br />And he asked me to join his team about halfway towards his second term. So, that
<br />position I would have been there for 2 �/2 years, and this group of people, the team has
<br />been together for 5 �/2 years. So, you know it was a rough transition because you know,
<br />not only did I have to learn different personalities in this office, you know learn their
<br />internal processes and procedures and learn my job. And it actually took me taking
<br />the initiative to go outside of the Mayor's Office to the other County agencies and ask
<br />for assistance, ask for help just so I can be successful in my job while trying to ease
<br />my way into this team that has been together for 5 �/2 years, you know without coming
<br />across as a know-it-all, or you know someone who's just trying to negate what they
<br />had in place.
<br />So you know, it was a rough start but as I mentioned before you know, I'm a hard
<br />worker and I'm not going to quit, and I certainly wasn't going to fail, you know, Billy
<br />asked me to come, he trusted me to do the job. So, I would say for the first 3 �/2
<br />months on the job, you know I had this constant mantra running through my head, you
<br />know, "It's showti me, Stacie, like let's go, Stacie", just kind of giving myself words of
<br />affirmation too so I don't lose what the purpose of why I was there, which was to help
<br />Billy, yeah. It was a rough start but I learned my job, I proved myself, I gained their
<br />respect and I made lifelong friends. So, I'm very thankful that Mayor Kenoi gave me
<br />that opportunity.
<br />Okabe: No. 9, as Director of the Department of Liquor Control, it would be important
<br />to stay current in changes in government oversight, industry and the marketplace.
<br />What actions would you take to stay informed and involved, and what role does the
<br />Commission have in the scheme of things?
<br />Waltjen: So, to stay informed and involved I will continue to send staff, Commission
<br />members, and Board members to the State and National conferences such as the
<br />NLLEA (National Liquor Laws Enforcement Association), which is National Liquor Laws
<br />Enforcement Association, NABCA (National Alcohol Beverage Control Association),
<br />National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, and NCSLA (National Conference of
<br />State Liquor Administrators), which is the National Conference of State Liquor
<br />Administrators.
<br />It's very important for the Director and the staff to stay on top of what's trending you
<br />know, on the State and Federal levels. So, being able to attend these conferences
<br />are very important so we can you know, create network, ask questions, talk to the
<br />expert witnesses, speakers that they bring into these conferences which is very
<br />important for gathering information to see what's happening or not happening there,
<br />and maybe how it wouldn't happen here, you know. And as a Commission you know,
<br />your body, your function is also to approve and deny liquor license applications. So,
<br />MINUTES - LIQUOR COMMISSION MEETING SPECIAL MEETING - MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 - HILO PAGE 20 OF 35
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