PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER APPOINTED AS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE CHAIRPERSON
News Release from Office of the Governor, Feb 15, 2019
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture chairperson. Glenn Muranaka is appointed as deputy to the chair.
Shimabukuro-Geiser was designated acting chairperson for the Board of Agriculture last month. She has also served as deputy to the chairperson since 2015. Shimabukuro-Geiser is a long-time advocate of agriculture, having worked at Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc. in Waiʻanae where she served as vice president and administrative fiscal assistant. She was also vice president of Associated Producers Corp. in Honolulu.
“Phyllis has been instrumental in moving the department forward in our efforts to increase local food production,” said Gov. Ige.
Muranaka retired from Meadow Gold Dairies after a 45-year career at the company. He started as a statistical clerk in 1972 and wrapped up his career after more than 20 years as Meadow Golds’ president and general manager. Muranaka led diversity initiatives and created a climate for creativity and increased innovation.
Muranaka was inducted into the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association’s Hall of Fame. He is also the recipient of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ 2018 Ka Lei Hano Heritage Award.
“Glenn has been a proven leader in agriculture and he will be an asset to the department,” Ige said.
Both appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.
Link to photos here
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GOVERNOR DESIGNATES PHYLLIS SHIMABUKURO-GEISER AS ACTING BOARD OF AGRICULTURE CHAIR
News Release from Office of the Governor, Jan 30, 2019
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has designated Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as acting chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. The designation comes after Denise Albano resigned for personal reasons on January 29, 2019. Albano was the governor’s nominee for Board of Agriculture chairperson.
Under HRS 26-33, Shimabukuro-Geiser will serve in this position for up to 60 days from the date of vacancy or until the position is filled.
Shimabukuro-Geiser has served as deputy to the chairperson since 2015. She was also recently re-appointed to the position. Shimabukuro-Geiser is a long-time agriculture advocate who was previously employed at Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc. in Waiʻanae where she served as vice president and administrative fiscal assistant. She was also vice president at Associated Producers Corp. In Honolulu.
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GOVERNOR IGE MAKES LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS AT AGRICULTURE AND DBEDT
News Release from Office of the Governor, Jan 16, 2019
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed a new chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and a new director at the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Department of Agriculture
Denise Albano has been appointed chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture, and Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser has been reappointed deputy to the chairperson.
Albano has served as the Department of Agriculture’s water director since 2016, creating and improving water systems across state water agencies, using a collaborative approach to water usage in Hawai‘i.
Albano was president and co-founder of Feed the Hunger Foundation in San Francisco, California, where she created, developed and oversaw a public foundation that provides loans and grants to organizations internationally as well as domestically – in California and Hawai‘i.
In addition, Albano managed the Capital Campaign at The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i; served as executive director of the YMCA, Richmond district, San Francisco; was executive director Project YES/Youth Uprising in Oakland, California; and was a family support senior program officer for the San Francisco Children and Families Commission.
“Denise has extensive executive management experience in both government and nonprofits. Her expertise in strategic growth and leadership, program development and collaborative partnerships, will serve the Department of Agriculture well,” said Gov. Ige.
“I’m very excited by this opportunity to join the dedicated employees of the Department of Agriculture to support their efforts and the desire of the governor and his administration to continue to vitalize an industry that is so important to the community of Hawai‘i,” Albano said.
Gov. Ige also reappointed Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as deputy to the chairperson, a position she has held since 2015.
Shimabukuro-Geiser is a long-time agriculture advocate who was previously employed at Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc. in Waianae, having served as vice president and administrative and fiscal assistant. She was also vice president at Associated Producers Corp. in Honolulu.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve in Gov. Ige’s administration these past four years. I thank him for this opportunity to continue serving our hard-working farmers, ranchers and nursery growers who are so committed to the success of agriculture in Hawaiʻi,” said Shimabukuro-Geiser….
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