Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame to Induct Leaders

Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i will proudly be inducting Constance Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Sig Zane and Nalani Kanakaole of Sig Zane Designs, and the partners of Anthology Marketing Group into its 28th Annual Business Hall of Fame gala fundraising dinner on Friday, March 2, 2018,  at the Sheraton Waikīkī.

Since 1990, Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i has recognized and honored outstanding individuals at the top of their industries who have led and inspired others through their business success and involvement within their communities. This year’s laureate inductees are no exception with each demonstrating exceptional leadership, corporate and community giving, and a commitment to ensuring Hawai‘i is a better place for future generations. It is also the first time Junior Achievement is inducting a company into the Business Hall of Fame.

“We are incredibly excited to be celebrating the work and contributions each of our inductees and their companies have made to our business community in a number of different industries,” said Janel Denny, president of Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i. “Each honoree is a distinguished leader in their respective fields and have made it a priority within themselves, as well as their companies, to give back to the community and organizations like Junior Achievement in very meaningful ways. They are inspirational role models who are helping to make Hawai‘i a better place each and every day.”

Sig Zane and Nalani Kanakaole of Sig Zane Designs opened their doors in 1985 in downtown Hilo. Hand-cutting his designs and hand-screening the fabric, Zane uses the aloha shirt as a canvas to express stories of the Hawaiian Islands and its culture. In addition to aloha shirts, the company also designs logos – Hawaiian Electric is one of his most visible brand identities.

Nalani Kanakaole and Sig Zane of Sig Zane Designs. Courtesy Sig Zane

The company and its work has always been a family affair, including their son, Kuhao, who oversees the design department. Through story, they believe they can help perpetuate the teachings of their forefathers, ensuring that the next generations will have a strong connection to our island’s roots and traditions.

Anthology Marketing Group is Hawai‘i’s most experienced integrated marketing and communications company offering a team of best-in-practice specialists providing services in public relations, advertising, digital and research.

Mary Fastenau, Dennis Christianson, Barbara Ankersmit and Nathan Kam, partners of Anthology Marketing Group. Courtesy Anthology Marketing Group

Established in 2007 with the joining of three powerhouse marketing companies with deep roots in Hawai‘i’s business community, Anthology celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year and is led by Dennis Christianson, Barbara Ankersmit, Mary Fastenau and Nathan Kam. As a trusted partner to some of Hawai‘i’s most well-known brands, the company’s award-winning work is punctuated with its commitment to giving back to the community. Each year, Anthology hosts dozens of student visits and actively champions careers in marketing by participating in career day events. The partners and senior staff volunteer their time and expertise on boards and committees, support dozens of charitable events throughout the year and organize a Yule Store event each December to raise money for a staff-selected nonprofit organization.

Constance “Connie” Lau, who became president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) in May 2006, is regarded as one of Hawai‘i’s most influential executives.

Constance “Connie” Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries. Courtesy Hawaiian Electric Industries

She also serves as chairman of Hawaiian Electric Company and chairman of American Savings Bank. Born and raised in Honolulu, Lau is a nationally recognized leader in the fields of critical infrastructure, resilience and physical and cyber security, banking and energy. Since 2012, she has chaired the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), which advised President Barack Obama through the Department of Homeland Security on the security of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors and their information systems, including the energy and financial services.

Lau was named 2011 Woman of the Year by the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment in Washington, D.C., and serves on the boards of the Electric Power Research Institute, the Edison Electric Institute, and the Associated Electrical & Gas Insurance Services. She’s also a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Twelfth District Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council and was one of U.S. Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking for 2004, 2005 and 2006 when she headed American Savings Bank.

Lau joined the HEI in 1984 serving first as assistant corporate counsel and treasurer of Hawaiian Electric Company and then as treasurer of HEI. In 1999, she became director and senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Savings Bank and became president and chief executive officer in June 2001. She also served as an HEI director from 2001 through 2004 and has been serving as an HEI director since May 2006.

Lau was named Pacific Business News’ (PBN) 2004 Hawai‘i Business Leader of the Year and was also named one of PBN’s “10 to Watch” in 2013 for her leadership in clean energy and transportation. She serves on the boards of the Hawai‘i Business Roundtable, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Punahou School and the Consuelo Foundation, which helps women, children and families in Hawai‘i and the Philippines.

This year’s laureates were carefully chosen by the Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i Business Hall of Fame selection committee for their applied leadership and management skills to the community or public service, their impact on Hawai‘i’s business community and their accomplishments in working with Hawai‘i’s youth.

In addition to celebrating professional excellence, this event is Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i’s signature fundraiser which supports work that focuses on the development of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for youth. Programs focus on Title I schools and enable students to gain access to positive role models as management and executive-level volunteers from banks, insurance and financial companies, marketing firms and universities bring real-life business experience to the classroom in conjunction with a powerful Junior Achievement curriculum.

Programs equip students with the tools to be successful in today’s economy through successful and research-based curriculum and programs. Research continues to indicate business and financial literacy programs are critical for today’s students given the complexity of financial realities and the inability of many high school graduates to manage money, avoid debt, establish and responsibly handle credit, pay taxes, save for the future, launch a small business and develop post-secondary education goals that lead to future careers.

The sold-out 28th Annual Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i Business Hall of Fame Dinner takes place Friday, March 2, 2018 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Sheraton Waikīkī.

For more information on about how you can get involved in JAH, visit Junior Achievement Hawai‘i or by calling (808) 545-1777.