STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1735

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 792, 793, 794

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 792, 793, and 794, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Procurement Policy Board

 

G.M. No. 792

GARY KUROKAWA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 793

JAMES MASTIN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and

 

G.M. No. 794

LENA CULLISON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Gary Kurokawa, James Mastin, and Lena Cullison to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated for appointment to the Procurement Policy Board.

 

GARY KUROKAWA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Gary Kurokawa from the Department of Accounting and General Services; State Procurement Office; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Ralph S. Inouye Co. Ltd.; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Kurokawa has wide-ranging knowledge and experience in government processes and management, including in areas relevant to service on the Procurement Policy Board such as budgets and fiscal controls and procurement and purchasing.  Mr. Kurokawa is currently the Chief of Staff to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and served for nearly thirty years as Administrator and Deputy Director of Budget and Fiscal Services for the City and County of Honolulu.  In his professional career, Mr. Kurokawa has monitored and directed the county procurement and purchasing processes, led all counties in the State to promote legislative initiatives and provide statewide technical expertise in training and operational policies, and implemented large scale software migration to automate internal and external work processes.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Kurokawa's public procurement knowledge and experience, including firsthand understanding of the process and challenges of the procurement code, will be strong assets to the Procurement Policy Board which further qualify him for appointment to the Board as a member who is a county employee with significant high-level procurement experience, as required by section 103D-201, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

JAMES MASTIN

 

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of James Mastin from the Department of Accounting and General Services, State Procurement Office, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Mastin has been involved in federal procurement for over thirty years, and is currently a Procurement Analyst in the Expeditionary Contracting Command in the Small Business Office for the Department of Defense.  In his current position, Mr. Mastin reviews acquisitions and makes recommendations for all acquisitions over $10,000, and is the United States Army's only Small Business Professional in the Pacific region.  In this role, Mr. Mastin supports the planning and implementation of programs to increase small business opportunities in federal government contract work by implementing policies designed to ensure consistent application of subcontracting requirements with respect to small businesses and providing guidance on socio-economic opportunities and programs affecting various types of small businesses.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Mastin's vast experience in federal procurement, including awareness and knowledge of the challenges facing small businesses in the procurement process, and his commitment to service will be strong assets to the Procurement Policy Board which further qualify him for appointment to the Board as a member who is a full-time employee of the State or any county and who has significant high-level, federal procurement experience, as required by section 103D-201, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

LENA CULLISON

 

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Lena Cullison from the Department of Accounting and General Services, State Procurement Office, and nine individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Cullison is an Analyst in Strategic Procurement for Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.  Ms. Cullison has a wide range of private sector experience including in all aspects of procurement, business planning, and contract drafting and negotiation.  Ms. Cullison received a Master of Business Administration from Shidler College of Business and a Juris Doctor from William S. Richardson School of Law.  The nominee indicated in her personal statement that she would like to contribute the experience, knowledge, and best practices she has gained from her private sector experience to serve effectively on the Procurement Policy Board and improve efficiencies in the State procurement process and contract administration.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Cullison's professional experience and education, and commitment to service, will be strong assets to the Procurement Policy Board which further qualify her for appointment to the Board as a general member who is not a full-time employee of the State or any county, pursuant to section 103D-201, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations 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 Government Operations,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair