STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3720

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 513, 514, 673, 674, 675

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 513, 514, 673, 674, and 675, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Small Business Regulatory Review Board

 

G.M. No. 513

REG BAKER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 514

REG BAKER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 673

WILLIAM LYDGATE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 674

WILLIAM LYDGATE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022; and

 

G.M. No. 675

MARY ALBITZ,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Reg Baker, William Lydgate, and Mary Albitz for service on the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

 


REG BAKER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominations for the appointment and reappointment of Reg Baker from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.

 

     Mr. Baker has vast experience in business spanning over twenty-five years.  He is the owner of Reg Baker, CPA, LLC, and is nationally recognized as a specialist in small- and mid-sized businesses.  Mr. Baker has been an interim member of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board since 2017 and has provided insight in areas such as regulatory issues and administrative rules on taxation and labor.  In addition to serving on the Small Business Regulatory Review Board, Mr. Baker serves on the National Board of Directors for the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, and is the Chairman of Region IX of the Small Business Administration's Board of Directors.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Baker is an exemplary candidate for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board given his extensive experience working with small- and medium-sized businesses.

 

WILLIAM LYDGATE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominations for the appointment and reappointment of William Lydgate from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

 

     Mr. Lydgate is the owner and President of Steelgrass Farm, located in Kauai.  Steelgrass Farm grows and harvests chocolate, coffee, vanilla, tropical fruits and flowers, and honey bees.  Mr. Lydgate is an advocate of the benefits of farming sustainability and has vast experience in agriculture and land and natural resources.  He is a leader in the new Hawaiian specialty chocolate industry and a pioneer of agricultural based tourism.  Mr. Lydgate is also a successful public speaker, having given a Tedx Talk presentation titled "Changing the way we think about chocolate" where he discussed the health benefits of dark chocolate.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Lydgate's experience running a small business in Kauai and his knowledge of the agriculture industry qualify him for appointment and reappointment to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

 

MARY ALBITZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mary Albitz from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

 

     Ms. Albitz is the Vice President of business development at FocalPoint Business Coach and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Upcountry since 2016.  She is responsible for promoting FocalPoint Business Coach in the community and one-on-one coaching of clients, among other things.  Prior to working at FocalPoint Business Coach, she was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jigsaw Java, Inc.  Ms. Albitz's experience as a small-business owner allowed her to develop relationships with leaders, such as Honolulu City Council members, and was involved with the local Chamber of Commerce and Redwood City Downtown Business Group.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Albitz's experience as a small-business owner and her familiarity with the challenges that small-business owners often face qualify her for appointment to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology 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 Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

 

 

 

____________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair