The Nominating Committee of the Hawaii Employers Council has filed with Corporate Secretary Michelle Kim Stone the names of ten nominees for election to three-year terms on HEC’s Board of Governors, beginning in January 2026.

• Diana Brown, Chief People Officer, Servco Pacific, Inc.
• Jason Chang, President & CEO, The Queen’s Health System
• Katy Chen, President & CEO, Goodwill Hawaii
• Ron Comeau Freitas, Manager, Ala Moana Hotel
• Dean Kapoi, VP Operations, Matson
• Steven Knapp, Director of HR, Trilogy Excursions (Maui)
• Nikki Senter, Chief Legal Officer, James Campbell Company LLC
• Kimberly Svetin, President, Molokai Drugs, Inc. (Maui)
• Susan Thoemmes, SVP HR Technology, Bank of Hawaii
• Lisa Ubay, HR & Safety Manager, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (Kauai)

The names of the Board nominees will appear on the proxy ballot, which will be sent to the primary HR contact of each HEC member company via DocuSign. Election results will be announced at HEC’s 82nd Annual Meeting on November 18, 2025.

Candidate Bios:

Diana Brown is the Chief People Officer for Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco). She is a member of Servco’s Executive Committee and serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and Servco’s businesses. Brown provides leadership and oversight of Servco’s strategic human capital initiatives, including organizational design, succession and talent planning, executive compensation, and other company-wide people practices across the decentralized business portfolio. Brown is also accountable for Communications and Community Relations.

Brown has served as an HR executive domestically and internationally. Prior to joining Servco, she served as Head of People for a fintech start-up and led human resource teams for Capital One, including serving as the Head of International HR and the Chief People Officer for Capital One Canada. Brown is a certified executive coach and holds multiple coaching and Human Resources certifications. Brown earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech.

Brown is actively involved in her community and supports a variety of charitable organizations in Hawaii. She is a member of several non-profit boards including the Hawaii Foodbank and The Salvation Army Honolulu Advisory Board, and a newly established non-profit, Lokahi: The Ukulele Collective, aimed at providing all students in Hawaii access to high-quality music education. Brown is also the President of the Servco Foundation and is on the selection committee of the Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation.

Jason C. Chang joined The Queen’s Health Systems (QHS) in 2015. QHS is Hawaii’s oldest and preeminent family of health care-related companies that includes four hospitals on three islands, including The Queen’s Medical Center. Prior to joining QHS, Mr. Chang was the Chief Executive Officer of the McAllen Heart Hospital and South Texas Health System and Universal Health Services which is an $800 million regional health system comprised of five hospitals.

An accomplished healthcare executive, Chang has over fifteen years of executive leadership experience in both for-profit and non- profit healthcare sectors. His background includes hospital and health system management; ambulatory service and clinical program development; quality and service improvement; managing tertiary/quaternary services in a teaching hospital environment; clinical integration and physician network development. Chang received his Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Blood Bank of Hawaii, St. Francis Healthcare System, Vizient West Coast Network Board, American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 9, and is the current chair of the Oahu Workforce Development Board.
 

Katy Chen serves as the President and CEO of Goodwill Hawaii, one of the largest nonprofits in the State of Hawaii with an annual budget of $35M and 500+ employees statewide. She has a Bachelors of Political Science, graduating cum laude with distinction, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington. Prior to working in the not-for-profit sector, Chen practiced corporate law in Honolulu. During her legal practice, she assisted many non-profits in establishing their tax-exempt status and advised them in complying with the relevant charity acts. Subsequently, she worked in London as the Chief Executive of CIAC, a legal-aid and social welfare charity for ethnic minorities, and then as the Executive Director of Hawaii Literacy and PATCH.

Chen’s community service includes service on the State Law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board, the City & County of Honolulu Ethics Commission, and on the Board of local and national non-profits, including the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the Hawaii Book and Music Festival. Chen continues to be an active member of the Hawaii State Bar.

A graduate of the University of Moncton in Canada, Ron Comeau Freitas has spent over 20 years as a Human Resources Professional within the hospitality industry. He has worked for various hotel companies including Delta, Renaissance, Marriott, the Ritz Carlton, Sheraton, Westin, Luxury Collection, Halekulani and now Ala Moana Hotel by MANTRA.

He has received multiple Human Resources-related awards, such as the Award of Excellence from the International Professional Management Association for Human Resources and Human Resources Excellence Awards from Marriott International.

In 2020, he took advantage of being furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic to go back to college to sharpen his skills by taking various classes in Accounting, Data Analysis, Presentation Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Negotiation Skills and Corporate & Commercial Law.

In 2023, Comeau Freitas transitioned away from being a Human Resources Professional by joining the operational side of the hotel as a Hotel Manager at Ala Moana Hotel by MANTRA.

Dean Kapoi is the Vice President of Operations at Matson Terminals, a role he has held since June 2021. In this position, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company, playing a key role in ensuring efficient and effective port and terminal services.

He began his career at Hawaiian Cement applying his industrial engineering background before moving into labor relations with the Teamsters and later with the IBEW during his time at Hawaiian Electric.

Kapoi spent 16 years with Young Brothers, culminating as Vice President of Operations and Labor Relations, where he oversaw statewide operations and employee relations strategy. In 2018, he joined Matson Terminals, where he now serves in a senior leadership role integrating terminal operations with labor relations management.

A proud graduate of Wai‘anae High School, Kapoi earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from California State University, Long Beach.

Steven Knapp serves as Director of Human Resources at Trilogy Excursions Maui, where he leads with a focus on organizational culture, employee engagement, and strategic workforce development. With certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), he brings expertise in aligning people strategy with business goals while fostering supportive, high-performing workplace environments. Knapp also brings professional experience outside of the human resources field as well. He has held other leadership positions such as Director of Operations for a multi-location auto parts business on Maui and Fleet Manager for the second largest municipality in the County of San Diego.

Knapp’s professional commitment to human capital is complemented by his civic and community service. He was a Commissioner on the Maui County Cost of Government Commission (2023–2025), contributing to local governance and efficiency initiatives. A lifelong advocate for personal and professional growth, he is a life member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and has held past certifications including International Public Management Association – Certified Professional (IPMA-CP) and National Automotive Fleet Management – Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (NAFA-CAFM).

As a Lahaina community member, Knapp is active in the Lahaina Canoe Club and his canoe team was a 2025 State Championship qualifier. He also volunteers locally, reflecting his dedication to service and strengthening community connections.

Nikki Senter is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary of James Campbell Company LLC, where she oversees all legal, governance, human resources, communications, and community giving functions. With over two decades of legal and executive experience, Senter has built her career at the intersection of real estate, corporate governance, and organizational leadership.

Prior to joining James Campbell Company, she served as Senior Assistant General Counsel for The Howard Hughes Corporation, focusing on national development projects, and held senior legal roles at Alexander & Baldwin and her own law practice, Senter Law LLLC. Senter began her career at Imanaka Asato LLLC, rising to Partner with a specialization in real estate development and condominium law.

Appointed by two governors, Senter has served on the Hawaii Real Estate Commission since 2011, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair, where she has led regulatory oversight of more than 17,000 licensees statewide. She has been recognized as Pacific Business News’ Business Leader of the Year (2021) and a Women Who Mean Business honoree (2019).

Senter holds a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law and a B.B.A. in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. She is active in community service and has served on boards including the Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division and the Hawaii Baptist Academy Alumni Association.

Kimberly Mikami Svetin is the third-generation president of Molokai Drugs, Inc., Hawaii’s oldest independent pharmacy, founded in 1935 by her grandfather, Richard Sakata. Carrying forward her family’s legacy, Mikami Svetin oversees a staff of 20 employees serving the Molokai community through the pharmacy and the family’s beloved 48-flavor ice cream shop.

As President, she manages all aspects of the business—including operations, human resources, marketing, finance, and community relations—while championing small business advocacy across Hawaii. Deeply committed to mentorship and workforce development, Mikami Svetin has partnered with the Maui Economic Development Board’s Aloha Connection Innovation program to create internship and training opportunities for future pharmacy professionals and Molokai’s public-school students.

A vocal advocate for small and family-run businesses, Mikami Svetin engages in legislative matters that impact Hawaii’s pharmacy industry and broader local economy. Her leadership is rooted in a dedication to excellent customer service, strong community ties, and supporting the next generation of local talent.

Mikami Svetin’s legacy is one of stewardship—sustaining Molokai Drugs as a vital community resource while championing the unique role small businesses play in preserving Hawaii’s local character and resilience.

She is a proud alumna of Pomona College in Claremont, California, and Molokai High and Intermediate School. She is grateful to have experienced both private and public schools and credits her teachers for making her a lifelong learner.

Susan Thoemmes is Senior Vice President and Director of HR Technology & Operations at Bank of Hawaii, where she oversees the bank’s HRIS environment, HR Service Center, and Payroll teams. With more than three decades at Bank of Hawaii, Thoemmes has played a pivotal role in modernizing and managing complex HR technology systems while ensuring seamless delivery of critical HR services to employees across the organization.

Since beginning her career as an intern at Bank of Hawaii and later at the State of Hawaii’s Information & Communication Services Division, Thoemmes has built deep expertise in human resources information systems, payroll operations, and HR service delivery. She has advanced through multiple leadership roles at the bank, including VP of HRIS and VP of HR Delivery, before being appointed to her current senior executive position in 2019.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business with a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems, Thoemmes combines her technical background with her commitment to operational excellence and employee experience. She is recognized for her leadership in vendor management and in implementing HR technology solutions that support both business goals and workforce needs.

Lisa Ubay is the Manager of Human Resources & Safety at the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative, where she oversees the functions that protect and strengthen KIUC’s most valuable asset: its people. In this dual-role she leads efforts in talent acquisition, workforce development, safety compliance, and risk management for the utility serving Kauaʻi.

With a keen sense of people-first leadership, Ubay plays a central role in shaping KIUC’s internal culture, ensuring that employees are well supported, trained, and empowered to do their work safely and efficiently. She collaborates across departments to build programs that improve safety metrics, maintain regulatory compliance, and foster career growth.

Her role is especially critical given KIUC’s commitment to reliability, renewable energy goals, and member-service excellence. As manager of both HR and safety, Ubay helps ensure that KIUC’s employees are prepared, protected, and aligned with the cooperative’s mission to sustainably power Kauaʻi.