Chaminade University of Honolulu

University Communications & Marketing

Chris Eldridge Teaches Hogan Students that Failing is Part of Success

Chris Eldridge and Jordan Caputy
Chris Eldridge (Koa Capital Partners) and Jordan Caputy (Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student)

It was a privilege to hear from Mr. Chris Eldridge, co-founder and Managing Operator of Koa Capital Partners, LLC. Koa Capital Partners invests in Hawaii companies with great potential and strives to create long-term value for shareholders, managers, employees and customers. Their goal with each investment is to help management grow revenue and earnings by expanding sales channels, improving operations, identifying and recruiting talent and providing hands-on, real-world strategic insights along with capital for add-on investments.

Mr. Eldridge is also an entrepreneur and has experience in start-up and management experience in Hawaii having founded and sold companies including America’s Mattress Hawaii, PortaBox Storage and FileMinders.

His story began in a souvenir company in Anchorage, Alaska where he discovered his love of selling and people. One striking similarity I found is Mr. Eldridge’s similar outlook on life as Sylvester Stallone’s character of Rocky Balboa: “if you get knocked down you get back up and you keep on going.”

Mr. Eldridge advised us to be careful of the naysayers and always surround ourselves with positive people who want us to succeed. He also stressed that it is okay to fail because it is a learning opportunity. Learn from your mistakes and do better the next time around. Lastly, he stressed the power of perseverance: as long as you persist, you will be successful.

“If you have the energy and the drive, you can make your mark” – Chris Eldridge.

Written by: Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student, Jordan Caputy
Speaker Session with Chris Eldridge 2/1/17

Chaminade Communication Student Takes on the Big Apple

It’s been a whirlwind week for Chantelle Aguilar, a senior Chaminade communication major, who was named to the American Advertising Federation (AAF) 2017 Most Promising Multicultural Student Class. Flown into New York City by AAF, she spent Feb. 13-16 meeting with professionals from top advertisers, media companies and advertising agencies at the exclusive Most Promising Multicultural Students Recruiters Expo.

Held in conjunction with the Expo, an Industry Immersion program provided her with invaluable networking and learning experiences. The Industry Immersion component of the program allows students to experience the excitement of a career in advertising firsthand by visiting major advertisers, ad agencies and media companies and attending workshops led by industry leaders. In addition, at the “Building Bridges for Our Future Awards Luncheon,” she dined among leading executives and multicultural industry pioneers. The luncheon provided an opportunity for networking and mentorship.

Representing 34 schools, the Most Promising Multicultural Student Class was a carefully selected group of top-tier students in advertising and marketing programs from across the country.  The class was selected for their excellent GPAs, demonstrated talent, leadership and service abilities.

In his recommendation letter, Aguilar’s adviser Dr. Cliff Bieberly said, “Chantelle is an extremely conscientious student who works hard and always takes on new challenges.”  Adding that she is an officer in Chaminade’s American Advertising Federation College Chapter, he pointed out Aguilar’s exceptional GPA.  “This very high-grade average has been earned despite the fact that she is a commuter student, works and is highly involved in our Hogan Entrepreneurs Club, Communication Club, our AAF Student Chapter and the university’s student government where she serves in a marketing communication role,” Dr. Bieberly said.

The 2017 MPMS Judges Committee reviewed the applications from more than 100 highly accomplished students.  Judges came from several top agencies in the advertising profession, including Arc Worldwide, Bloomberg, Droga5, FCB, fluent360, mcgarrybowen, Momentum Worldwide and Omnicom Health Group.  According to the AAF, the judges “were blown away by the talent pool” and that the final selection was quite difficult.

Chantelle is the seventh student from Chaminade to receive this honor since the Communication program began participating in 2004.

Hogan Students Discuss Today’s Politics & Economics with Chris McNally

The Hogan Entrepreneurs Program kicked off its first Wednesday Speakers Series for the Spring 2017 semester with guest speaker, Dr. Chris McNally. Dr. McNally is a Professor of Political Economy at Chaminade University and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu. His presentation was titled Strategic Mega-Trends: Making Sense of Today’s Politics and Economics.

According to Dr. McNally, it took three generations to build up the first age of globalization, and a lot of accepted norms are probably going to become unhinged soon. He spoke about the rising flows of foreign direct investment, steady growth in major markets, relatively open trade, decline of transport costs, increased intra-industry trade, and the introduction and spread of information and technology. He added that climate change, inequalities and backlashes against globalization, disruptive technologies, and geopolitical and economic power shift are some major global challenges that are likely to persist.

There have been rapid increases of inequality within nation states, and these inequalities are amplified by lack of opportunity for advancement amongst many in the world. Technology, for example, is going to be the next big thing driving global economies. Combination of new emerging technologies promise to make an impact, specifically the three A’s: Artificial Intelligence, Additive Manufacturing, and Autonomous Machines. Jobs will be replaced and lost due to these new technologies, and much will depend on trends in development labor markets, government policies, and social attitudes.

State capitalism is a magnified role that does not use markets to maximize economic efficiency, but to maximize the powers and survival of the states because it believes in free and fair trade. Dr. McNally’s argument about the age of uncertainty is that global power relations are undergoing a power transition, with power shifting to the great Eurasian powers. He also stressed that we may all fall into some sort of anarchy.

Dr. McNally concluded his presentation with this piece of advice: “Brace yourself for the Age of Uncertainty, learn to hedge and be nimble, and be able adapt to change!”

Written by: Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student, Ferleen Mallarme 
Speaker Session with Chris McNally 1/25/17

Marshallese Poet and Activist Inspires Chaminade Students

Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, poet and activist

More than 125 students, faculty and staff packed the Clarence T. C. Ching Center in Eiben Hall to hear the Marshallese poet and activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner read poetry from her book Iep Jāltok: Poems from a Marshallese Daughter. Published this month by The University of Arizona Press, Iep Jāltok made history as the first published book of poetry written by a Marshallese author.

Considered an important new voice for justice, Jetñil-Kijiner connected the Chaminade community to Marshallese daily life and tradition through the weaving of her impassioned words and rhythmic descriptions. She shared her background and the role of women in the matriarchal Marshallese culture and highlighted in her poems the traumas of colonialism, racism, forced migration, American nuclear testing and the threats of climate change.  However, she ended with a vision of hope in her deeply moving rendition of  “Dear Matafele Peinam,” performed originally at the 2014 Opening Ceremony of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Summit. It received international acclaim.

Students from environmental studies and student members from the Micronesian Club and other Pacific Island clubs were especially moved by the activist poet. One Chaminade student was invited to read with Jetñil-Kijiner.  He read in Marshallese, and she read in English. Students were visibly moved.

Iep Jaltok, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner's book

Jetñil-Kijiner’s writing and performances have been featured on CNN, Democracy Now, Mother Jones, the Huffington Post, NBC News, National Geographic, Vogue, Nobel Women’s Initiative and more. She co-founded the nonprofit Jo-Jikum, dedicated to empowering Marshallese youth to seek solutions to climate change and other environmental impacts threatening their home island. Jetñil-Kijiner has been selected as one of 13 Climate Warriors by Vogue in 2015 and the Impact Hero of the Year by Earth Company in 2016. She received her Master’s in Pacific Island Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The division of Humanities and Fine Arts hosted the February 17 event, which was coordinated by the English department and spearheaded by English professor Koreen Nakahodo.

Forensic Students Present Research at National Conference

Chelsie Mangca Valdez and Hannah Dibner with their pig experiment
Chelsie Mangca Valdez and Hannah Dibner

Based on their discoveries in the field of carcass decomposition, Chaminade University students Hannah Dibner and Chelsie Mangca Valdez were invited to present their research at a national conference held by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

The academy’s 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, scheduled for February 13-18 in New Orleans, brings together professionals in all areas of forensic science, including criminalists, physicians, toxicologists, anthropologists, dentists, physicists, psychiatrists, engineers and educators.

Dibner and Valdez, who will both graduate in Spring 2017 with a Master of Science in Forensic Sciences, decided to partner on their research into the biology and pathology of how pig carcasses decompose.

Dibner focused on the effects of scavenging by the Small Asian Mongoose. She points out that this type of research is important because wounds created by scavengers could be mistaken for trauma from violence. Also, knowledge of scavenger behavior could help search parties more effectively locate and recover human remains.

Hannah Dibner presenting at AAFS conference
Hannah Dibner

“Studying rotting carcasses may not be everyone’s idea of a good time,” Dibner says, “but to me it’s a dream come true. The decomp studies at Chaminade are asking certain questions that we haven’t seen addressed by anyone else. And as a scientist, that’s an incredibly exciting and unique position to be in.”

Valdez studied the skin chemistry of decomposing pigs. Her research may lead to a new technique for determining Post-Mortem Interval, meaning the amount of time that elapses after a person dies.

Chelsie Mangca Valdez presenting at AAFS conference
Chelsie Mangca Valdez

“The thing I am most excited about regarding the AAFS conference is the opportunity to meet professionals in the field I have committed seven years of my life studying,” Valdez says. “This experiment was very time consuming but it was very much worth it,” she adds. “I never thought I would be attending a national conference, let alone presenting my finding all while still attending college.”

Dr. David O. Carter, director of Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences Program, encouraged Dibner and Valdez to submit their research to AAFS.

Faculty and Staff Express Themselves in Multidimensions at Art Show

Yukio Ozaki, Dale Fryxell, and Walter Takeda
Yukio Ozaki, Dale Fryxell, and Walter Takeda

Fine Arts professor, Yukio Ozaki, a renowned ceramist, strung clear line through the frame hooks of artwork that arrived earlier that morning. It was February 14, Valentine’s Day, with the show about to open. Volunteers had been busy setting up the exhibit since the day before. Ozaki worked quickly to hang the new entries. When the call went out for artwork, 28 staff and faculty members responded with an amazing variety of creative expression in unexpected media. Ozaki himself had submitted a pastel abstract that he had made in third grade. Smiling broadly, he shared, “I was so glad that my mother saved it.”

Dave Coleman, the dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, gathered shell lei, placed them on his arm and waited for artists to arrive. This is the second year that his division has sponsored the art show.  Fine Arts professors Walter Takeda and Ozaki continued as chief organizers. Coleman pointed out that it was in alignment with the significance of Humanities and Fine Arts. “The Faculty Staff Art Show is an opportunity to engender a culture of art and art expression on campus and to showcase the multi-dimensions of our colleagues,” he said.

Faculty, staff, students and friends streamed through the exhibit. Takeda, dressed in a swanky black vest and black pants set off by his Valentine-red shirt, greeted everyone and referred to his colleagues as “true renaissance faculty and staff.”

Leslie Loon and Sr. Malia Wong
Leslie Loon and Sr. Malia Wong

Takeda was right. What variety! There were exquisite religious pieces and a whimsical, playful rendition of Diamond Head.  One dad included his son’s piece as part of his, a reminder of the strong human connections we touch when we create.  One staff worker remembered his mother and his Native American culture as he stood near his displayed piece.

The exhibit included a wooden puppet built by History professor Mitch Yamasaki, graphic designs by Nursing professor Edna Magpantay-Monroe, and a gothic wooden cathedral by Communication professor Cliff Bieberly. From repurposed fiber and bamboo representing Communication professor Eva Washburn-Repollo’s passion for her teaching to a chunk of koa turned into a beacon of light in dark times from Education dean Dale Fryxell, pieces had their stories and deeper meanings. Starfish, jellyfish, photos, landscapes, etchings, video, mosaic, and more added to the buffet of creative endeavors.

Stop by and marvel a little.  Expect to be surprised and pleased. The Faculty Staff Art Show runs through Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Sullivan Family Library.

Elizabeth Park at Faculty Art Show
Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo at Faculty Art Exhibit
Dr. Junghwa Suh at Faculty Art Exhibit
Dr. Dale Fryxell's art piece