Chamber Hosts Tadia Rice, Business Expo

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership and installation luncheon will feature management consultant and organizational dynamics expert Tadia Rice as its keynote speaker on Friday, June 27, at the Four Seasons Reort Hualalai.

Rice’s topic is: “Got Guanxi? Gaining the competitive edge through intercultural relationships.”

Before and after the luncheon, the chamber will host a Business Expo, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m., also at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. The Expo is free and open to the public.

The chamber will celebrate the installation of its new officers and directors for 2014-15, honor this year’s Pualu Award winners for service to the community, and to recognize the Hawaii Island 2014 SBA award winners.

Rice worked in the new South Africa for 10 years, specializing in emerging democracy issues and bi-lateral trade agreements with the United States. Said the chamber’s Web site, Rice “understands the leader’s journey and her approach is no nonsense and to the point.”

Rice has written several books, including Equal Circles and Midst of a Miracle, chronicling her experiences in corporate America and eyewitness accounts of the changes that took place in South Africa in 1994. Her new book about her time with Nelson Mandela will be finished later this year.

Reservations for the luncheon are required by Friday, June 20. Register here or call the Chamber, 329-1758.

Vendor registration for the Business Expo is also available.