President's Message

Aloha Members,

I would like to thank you for electing me as President for the 2016-2017 term. I am humbled and gracious for this opportunity. I have been on the board for the past three years and I am excited to work with this year’s board to come up with more opportunities to help our membership be successful.

This year we will be entering a new partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The Chamber will become the operations manager for HFMA. This management agreement will include membership, marketing communications, events and administrative functions. This will help increase support of the Food Manufacturing Industry as both organizations share the same goal of promoting Hawaii-made products both nationally and internationally. Click here to read the press release to be distributed today announcing this agreement.

I would also like to thank this year’s board for taking time off their busy schedules to serve our members:

Officers
Vice-President – Steve Mulgrew, Mulvadi Corporation
Secretary – Stuart Saito, Hawaiian Host
Treasurer – Adrienne Sweeney, Island Princess

Directors
Liz Anderson – Hawaiian Nougat
Jimmy Chan – Hawaiian Chip Company
Ruth Hashisaka – Kauai Kookie
Paula Hegele – MauiWine
Gary Yoshioka – Diamond Bakery
 
The Board will meet this month to set up committees for education and networking, membership, marketing and the Taste event. You will hear from the different committees in upcoming newsletters and emails. We will also plan to engage with our Advisory Council as they offer great insight and perspective for the food manufacturing industry.
 
This will be a year of change, but with the help of our members, the board, and the Chamber, it will be change that benefits all of us.

 

Rodrigo Balala
HFMA President