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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0884.000 2014-2016 ....... os • , Randall Jl. Kurohara ic. Managing Director William P. Kenoi .4layor rs Robert H.Command 4•: •.".�: �` Deputy Managing Director Itrnnf3A of c- tt�utt't`T (Office of tltecttuur 25 Aupuni Street-Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bide.C • Kailua-Kona,I lawai'i 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)3234440 April 28, 2016 1 The Honorable Dru M. Kanuha and Members of the County Council =y Hawaii County Council c 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 N,) -- Dear Chairman Kanuha and Members of the Council, It is my pleasure to submit for your consideration the appointment of Mr. John De Fries as Director of the County of Hawai'i's Department of Research and Development pursuant to Section 6-8.2 of the Hawaii County Charter. Mr. De Fries brings a wealth of experience and leadership in the areas of construction, tourism. resort development, culture and sustainability and has worked closely with the past 3 directors of the Department of Research and Development. His recent work focused on projects such as the GVS Transmedia Accelerator, Hawaii Green Growth Initiative. Rebranding of the Hawaii Island Film Office, World Conservation Congress (IUCN) as well as being instrumental in developing partnerships with Arizona State University (ASU) and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability. In addition, Mr. De Fries has served on many boards whose kuleana is the economic, social and environmental stewardship of Hawaii Island. Mr. De Fries currently resides in Kona with his wife Ginny. Pursuant to Rule 5(6)(g) of the Rules of Procedure and Organization of the Council of the County of Hawaii, we respectfully request a waiver of this nomination through committee so that it may be considered by the full County Council on May 17, 2016. Mr. De Fries was appointed Director of the Department of Research and Development on April 1, 2016. Attached is a copy of his resume. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. William P. Kenoi MAYOR Council Action Due By: May 31, 2016 Last Council Meeting: May 18, 2016 Comm. No. Ref. To:CCIA- w,(�teroo County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. Date 'MJAY 0 3 2016 ,, , sem-,1 John De Fries County of Hawaii Acting Director �> Department of Research and Development Born and raised in a Waikiki Beach neighborhood on the island of Oahu, John grew up surrounded by elders within his family who were steeped in the traditional practices of the Hawaiian culture; while at the same time, Waikiki Beach was well on its way to becoming a global visitor destination. As this world-famous beach offered recreational venues for visitors and local residents alike, John recalls the ocean as a valued source of food and medicine for his family and neighbors, as well. This childhood setting embedded a life-long awareness and respect for the symbiotic and holistic relationships that co-exist between community and culture, nature and commerce. John and his wife Ginny have resided in Kona since 1991 and his Native Hawaiian ancestry is rooted to Hawaii Island. 1968 — 1973: Construction Trades • Laborer > Foreman — Pools of Distinction Inc. 1973-1993: Hawaii Hospitality Industry and Resort Development • Tour Director > Manager, Group Tours Division, Island Holidays Hotels and Resorts (a subsidiary of AmFac, Inc.) • Sales Manager, AmFac Hotels and Resorts Hawaii • Assistant to the Chairman > Vice President, Landmark Hotels & Sweeney Development, developer and original operator of the Embassy Suites Maui, Embassy Vacations Resort, Kauai and the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, Maui > Company co-founded VITEC — Visitor Industry Training and Education Center at Maui Community College in 1988 1 Utilizing his previous 20 years of experience, in 1993 John established Native Sun Business Group, Inc. (NSBG) as a business consulting and project management firm that primarily focused on client engagements within Hawaii's hospitality and real estate development industries. The diversity of NSBG's past (and partial) client list is a reflection of John's wide-range of experience, interests and skill-sets: • Bishop Museum • Mauna Lani Resort • Grand Wailea Resort • Queen Emma Foundation • ESPN & IMG (Golf- Senior Skins Game) • ATC Makena LLC (Makena Resort Developer, Maui) • WCIT Architecture (Center for Hawaiian Music and Dance) • Hawaii Community Foundation (member of host team led by Pierre and Pam Omidyar for the Hawaii visit in 2012 by His Holiness, The Dalai Lama; and subsequently in 2014, by Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Pakistani leader and women's rights advocate, Hina Jilani and former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland 2001-2012: NSBG retained by owner-developer of Hokuli'a • June 2001 , John was recruited by Arizona-based businessman, Lyle Anderson and affiliates of Japan Airlines to become President and CEO of 1250 Oceanside Partners; developer of the Kona master-planned community of Hokuli'a. • Seven months prior to John's appointment, 1250 Oceanside Partners entered what would become a five-and-a-half year, high profile lawsuit in the 3'd Circuit Court on charges ranging from environmental, cultural and land use violations. The legal case was settled in April 2006. • Upon his resignation from 1250 Oceanside Partners in March 2012, John returned to his private consulting practice. 2 Worked with Previous Hawaii County R&D Directors: John has worked closely with three previous Directors. First with Randy Kurohara in preparing Hawaii Island to be showcased in Honolulu during APEC Hawaii 2011 . In recent years he has worked with both Laverne Omori and Kawehi Inaba on the following projects: 1 . GVS Transmedia Accelerator 2. Hawaii Green Growth Initiative 3. Rebranding of the Hawaii Island Film Office 4. PUC Docket: NextEra Energy-HEI Proposed Merger 5. World Conservation Congress (September 2016 in Honolulu) 6. Building Hawaii Island partnerships with Arizona State University (ASU) and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability Non-Profit Organization Affiliations: • Member, Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Memorial Committee • Former Board Member of: o Friends of the Future (resigned due to R&D appointment) o Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce o Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association o Hawaii Island Leadership Council, Hawaii Community Foundation o ASU, School of Sustainability and Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability (resigned due to R&D appointment) John currently serves on the board of Kualoa Ranch; a for-profit company. Education • Graduate of Punahou School in Honolulu • Attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa 3 DENNIS"FRESH"ONISHI •Y'•_�.c,....,� 4j.. AARON S.Y. CHUNG Chairperson MAIL["MFUEIItOti-UAVII) KAREN EOFF MARGARET WILLE - GREGGOR ILAGAN Tice Chair .`b,, ,,.,i�V`;' DRU MAMO KANUHA DANNY PALEKA VALERIE T. POINDEXTER HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawui i Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hita. Hawaii 96720 May 2, 2016 Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Hawai`i County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo.Hawaii 96720 RE: Comm. No. 884 : Nomination of John De Fries as Director of the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, from Mayor William P. Kenoi, dated April 28, 2016. Pursuant to Section 2(g) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the County of I Iawai`i, this written request is submitted with my approval that the above-referenced matter be waived from the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development to the full Council for immediate action. In reviewing this matter, timely approval is crucial. It is therefore advantageous that approval is granted and the matter he placed onto the next Council agenda for review. However, in the event this request is denied, for whatever reason, I understand the matter shall be referred to the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development for placement on its future agenda. Sine VV�M� V De is"Fresh" Onishi, Chairperson Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development Approve Date/Waive to Council: Disapproved/Date/Refer to GREDC: 4V1/41 \ '74449 (lo ivt/Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chairperson Hawaii County Council Hawaii County Council Nagai 7 County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer