STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1632

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 691, 692, 693, 694

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 691, 692, 693, and 694, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Commission on the Status of Women

 

G.M. No. 691

LESLIE WILKINS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 692

LISA ELLEN SMITH,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 693

SHERRY CAMPAGNA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 694

CYD L. HOFFELD,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Leslie Wilkins, Lisa Ellen Smith, Sherry Campagna, and Cyd L. Hoffeld to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to serve on the Commission on the Status of Women.

 

LESLIE WILKINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Leslie Wilkins from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and two individuals.

 

     Ms. Wilkins currently serves as Vice President of the Maui Economic Development Board where she leads the Women in Technology program, which is a pilot and demonstration project that was developed to engage more girls, women, Native Hawaiians, and other underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.  Prior to joining the Maui Economic Development Board, she provided various services, including program development consulting, revenue diversification strategy advising, and proposal writing.

 

     Ms. Wilkins has served and advocated on behalf of the women's community in Hawaii for many years.  She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women and represents the County of Maui.  She also serves as the Chairperson of Maui County's Workforce Development Investment Board and as a member of the State's Workforce Development Council.  She has served in state and national leadership roles with the Business & Professional Women's Organization for over two decades.  Finally, she is a recipient of various awards and honor and is a published author of numerous periodicals and reports.

 

     Testimony in support of Ms. Wilkins' nomination indicates that the nominee is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Hawaii.  She brings to the Commission her keen and critical analysis of issues affecting women and girls in Hawaii, and she would be enthusiastically welcomed to the Commission for a second term.

 

LISA ELLEN SMITH

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lisa Ellen Smith from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and four individuals.

 

     Ms. Smith received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Ohio University and a Master's degree in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University.  She currently serves as a Public Housing Supervisor for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority where she is in charge of overseeing eleven project sites on Kauai.  She is responsible for providing day-to-day management, maintenance, and resident services for public housing developments and the state rent subsidy program for over three hundred public housing units.  She previously served as a Coastal Zone Management Planner where she assisted and participated in the development and design of planning projects for the Coastal Zone Management Program on Kauai.

 

     Ms. Smith currently serves as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, representing the County of Kauai, and as a member of the Kauai County Committee on the Status of Women.  She also volunteers her time with the Kauai County Farm Bureau and YWCA of Kauai.

 

     Testimony in support of Ms. Smith's nomination indicates that her background in affordable housing and land use issues adds to the Commission's mission to advance the status of women and girls, particularly those who live below the poverty line and are in need of affordable rental housing.  She is described as a committed advocate who is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Hawaii.

 

SHERRY CAMPAGNA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Sherry Campagna from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and ten individuals.

 

     Ms. Campagna earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Kennesaw State University.  She currently owns and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Kamaka Green in Honolulu, which is an environmental and renewable energy company.  Her career background includes environmental planning, environmental permitting, wetland design, construction, and restoration, stormwater management, wildlife science, critical habitat conservation, landfill planning, transportation projects, shoreline stabilization, and land development.

 

     Ms. Campagna is an active community service participant.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Oahu; as President of Olomea, Inc.; as a Core Committee Member of TEDxHawaii; as a Board Member for Family Programs Hawaii's ITAO Advisory Board; as a Caucus Member of the Legislative Keiki Caucus; and on the Board of Directors of the Kinaole Foundation.  Her memberships include the YWCA of Oahu, Prince Kuhio Native Hawaiian Civic Club, Wahine in Hawaii Business, Women in Renewable Energy, and National Association of Environmental Professionals.

 

     Testimony in support of Ms. Campagna's nomination indicates that she is an avid builder of grass roots support for programs that serve women and girls.  In her service with the YWCA of Oahu, she uses her planning and environmental consulting expertise to bring a professional approach to facilitate and implement programs, fund development, and advocate issues.  Furthermore, her environmental science background along with her ties to the Native Hawaiian community will add much to the Commission to represent the City and County of Honolulu.

 

CYD L. HOFFELD

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Cyd L. Hoffeld from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and one individual.

 

     Ms. Hoffeld currently serves as a Health Promotions Manager for Bay Clinic, Inc.  Her duties and responsibilities include promoting, maintaining, and improving individual and community health by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors; collecting and analyzing data to identify community needs; and planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments.  Her previous work experience includes serving as a counselor for the Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, a Women's Advocate and Case Manager for Alternatives to Violence, and a Domestic Violence Trainer for the Family Crisis Shelter.

 

     Ms. Hoffeld serves as the Vice Chairperson on the Hawaii County Committee on the Status of Women, Chapter Historian for the Ahahui Kaahumanu Society, Board Member for the Neighborhood Place of Puna, and Board Member of the Hawaii Youth Business Center.  She is the 2015 recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds Award and 2010 recipient of the Woman of the Year Award of the Hawaii County Women's Hall of Fame.

 

     Ms. Hoffeld's personal statement indicates that as a survivor of domestic violence, she is passionate about assisting other women who are also survivors of domestic violence to make better choices and create a better life for themselves and their children.  Her passion for and background in creating a better and healthier community will assist the Commission in fulfilling its mission and goals.

 

     Based on the testimony submitted, your Committee finds that Leslie Wilkins, Lisa Ellen Smith, Sherry Campagna, and Cyd L. Hoffeld are exceptionally qualified to serve on the Commission on the Status of Women.  The nominees' professional experience will serve the Commission and public well.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair