Chaminade University of Honolulu

Business & Communication

Finding Your Passion and Creating Your Business Around It

It was an honor to hear from Shelley Wilson, President of Wilson Care Group, Hawaii’s largest private-duty home health care service provider.

Shelley Wilson and Kalei EhlersHaving grown up from a farm in Iowa, Shelley wanted more out of life and joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school. Shortly after joining the military, she was involved in a car accident that broke bones in many parts of her body. She was only 18 years old and was hospitalized for a year.

Time is precious and with a second chance in life, Shelley wanted to make an impact. It is through her journey to recovery when she realized how important good quality home care can change the course of someone’s life. She finished her recovery at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. The bond in Hawaii and the Ohana spirit inspired Shelley to start her first company, Wilson Homecare. Now, Wilson Homecare and Wilson Senior Living comprise Wilson Care Group.

Shelley also spoke about her company’s mission and culture. Everyone who works at Wilson Care Group must have the passion in taking care of others. In Wilson Care Group, everyone has a voice. Shelley listens to her employees and welcomes different perspective and ideas. She also encourages her employees to have fun and at the same time, taking the job seriously.

Shelley closed the session with a few Keys to Success:
1. Find your passion as it will drive your mission in life.
2. Create your own journey/story, and be your own person even if you have to start at the bottom.
3. Be optimistic. Whatever you do in life, have a mindset that you will be 100% successful. Be open to failure . This is when you gain knowledge about yourself and grow.
4. Don’t listen to the naysayers. You are the only cheerleader that you need. You cannot count on others to determine if you are going to be successful or not.
5. Hustle to make things happen and be resourceful. Life is a grind.

Written by: Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student, Kalei Ehlers
Speaker Session with Shelley Wilson

Sticking to Business Fundamentals

This past Wednesday’s Hogan speaker session was a memorable one! We heard from a successful entrepreneur who found motivation and a more positive outlook in life when he broke his neck and was paralyzed at a young age. He lifted weights, participated in marathons, and continued to risk it all.

Mike IrishThis inspirational individual was Mr. Mike Irish, Hawaii’s “kim chee king,” and CEO of Halm’s Enterprises and Diamond Head Seafood Company.

As a businessman, Mr. Irish is always driven to succeed. He has found success in real estate, the hotel industry, and in his latest pursuit of the kim chee industry. His path in entrepreneurship began with his father’s business ventures in real estate.

His presentation was focused on his personal accounts of the value of sticking to business fundamentals. Many of the local products that the people of Hawaii had grown up with were run by family owned businesses. Family members who had grown and moved on to other things approached Mr. Irish to hopefully sell their business and perpetuate their products.

The majority of his successes were founded upon the creation and maintenance of demand for his products and services, as well as the network he was able to build.

We had an amazing time with Mr. Irish. He provided us with an enlightening look into how business is done well in Hawaii. His motto is “the harder you work, the luckier you get!”

Written by: Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student, Clarke Velasco
Speaker Session with Mike Irish 2/14/18

Hogan Students Help Homeless With Resumes, Interviewing Skills at Job Preparation Workshop

For homeless men and women, getting hired can be a daunting task – even when Hawaii boasts the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. But thanks to volunteer efforts by 16 Chaminade University students, finding gainful employment got easier for homeless individuals who attended the 13th annual Job Preparation Workshop conducted by the Hogan Entrepreneurs Program. Hogan Homeless WorkshopLeading the event were Chaminade instructor and Hogan board member Denny McDonough, along with Ed Nakamura, an employment specialist with the Institute for Human Services nonprofit organization. Students helped attendees with interviewing techniques, shared information about job resources and created resumes that were sent to more than 500 potential employers. The homeless people were “eager to learn,” said volunteer Savannah Lyn Delos Santos, a junior preparing for a career in business marketing. “They were all hungry for growth and it was so evident in their actions, curiosity and enthusiasm,” Delos Santos said. “I gave my business card to a few participants and told them to keep me updated on the progress of their job hunt.” Among the challenges in conducting the workshop, Delos Santos said, was assisting attendees with limited English skills. A personal challenge, she said, was witnessing the pain and desperation of homeless people struggling to survive. “Many of them shared the stories of their lives and what led to their homelessness,” she said. “It made me happy to know that I was making a difference, but also sad that many people do not get the chance to see what life is like on the other side. “While most of society shuns them because they have nothing, they are just doing what they can to move forward and rise up. They made me realize how sometimes one chance is all someone needs to create a better life for both them and their families.” Other students volunteering for the workshop were: Monique Gomes, Bonita Dydasco, Mokihana Maldonado, Clarke Velasco, Caitlin Martinez, Sarah Cervantes, Fabian Patterson, Jackie McGreal, Antonio Bonnetty, Ally Alvarez-Stratton, Chris Ortiz, Grant Okazaki, Nate Cassion, Taletha Manigo and Tyler Taydus. The Hogan Entrepreneurs Program provides Chaminade students with the knowledge, skills, motivation and networking opportunities to succeed in business ventures. This one- or two-year certificate program is open to all students, regardless of their majors. The Hogan motto is: “Doing business things that make social sense. Doing social things that make business sense.”

Alum Rhys Murphy’s AUSA Hoops Business Helps Aussie Basketball Dreams Come True in America

When international student-athletes seek to play basketball in the United States, navigating the myriad of rules and regulations can be “overwhelming.” This according to Chaminade University alumnus Rhys Murphy (Accounting ’14), a two-year starter for the Silversword men’s team. Rhys MurphySensing a business opportunity, Murphy returned to his hometown of Sydney, Australia, where he founded and serves as president of AUSA Hoops. This basketball camp organization helps Aussie boys and girls pursue their academic and athletic goals at high schools, colleges and universities across America. “In terms of successes, we are at just over 70 players who are in college now,” said Murphy, who placed student-athletes at prominent schools in the Pac-12, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Big East conferences. These players earned more than $5 million in scholarships. Murphy and his staff accomplished this feat by conducting training and development programs for young hoopsters and bringing them to America for a series of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments where college coaches recruit players. These trips don’t include sightseeing excursions to Disneyland. They’re focused on proving that Australians have what it takes to play top-tier basketball in the U.S. As for Murphy’s basketball career, the six-foot-seven-inch forward “stumbled into an opportunity to play AAU basketball in Chicago” and received over 50 scholarship offers. Murphy opted for Oregon State, where he competed in 18 games for the Beavers during 2011-12. After transferring to Chaminade for his junior and senior years, Murphy started the final 12 games of the 2013-14 season and was twice-named to the All-Pacific West Conference Academic Team. Murphy got the idea for AUSA Hoops as a junior during spring break when a summer internship with a Chicago hedge fund failed to materialize. “I pretty much just sat down and thought about what I could do myself,” Murphy recalled, “because I had no work experience and realized I would need to get a job the following year.” Rhys MurphyBy turning his basketball camp concept into a bigger project, Murphy “ticked the ‘work-experience’ box” on his resume. “The most challenging part is always right after the inspiration and excitement of the initial idea begins to fade and the reality of the amount of work that needs to be completed starts to become more and more clear,” Murphy said. “I started with the thought that I had a pretty good idea about the industry, and then very quickly realized I knew next to nothing about the intricacies of how it worked. So for the first couple years I was almost flying blind trying to figure it out as I went. “I don’t believe starting your own business is as hard as people perceive it to be,” Murphy added. “Yes, you need to be resilient, consistent with your work and have a desire to constantly learn and improve. But so much of it is just about having the confidence – or delusion – to get started and then keep rolling with the punches. It’s a wild rollercoaster!” One Chaminade instructor who particularly influenced Murphy is Richard Kido, an Associate Professor of Accounting. Kido praised Murphy’s work ethic in the classroom and on the basketball court. “Despite the demands of being a scholar-athlete, Rhys was outstanding in all his classes,” Kido said. “His positive attitude was infectious and carried over to his classmates.” Another instructor making an impression on Murphy was Business Professor Wayne Tanna, who emphasized the importance of community service. Murphy continues that commitment to giving back by uplifting Australia’s South Sudanese basketball community through AUSA Hoops. “I think Professor Tanna did a great job of opening my eyes to the tremendous need for help out there,” Murphy said. “And he opened my eyes to my own privileges by putting me in new environments where people were not as well off.” That’s why community service is a slam dunk for Murphy and his team at AUSA Hoops. Chaminade University’s School of Business and Communication offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting. Community service activities for students include tax clinics and the FAFSA project, which helps low-income and immigrant families fill out college financial aid forms.

Eco-Minded World Traveler and ‘Gearhead’ Max Karg Lands in Business School

Undergraduate Max Karg, an ecologically minded world traveler who buys, rebuilds and sells vehicles to make ends meet, eventually touched down on Oahu and found his way to Chaminade University. Max Karg (Business Administration)A Business Administration major who’s minoring in Environmental Studies, Karg developed a taste for domestic and international travel as a teenager and hasn’t slowed down since. “I have gone to different countries in Europe for both leisure and on a foreign exchange trip with my high school as I was growing up,” said Karg, a native of North Manchester, Indiana. “When I turned 16 and got my driver’s license, I took a 10,000-plus-mile solo road trip across the United States, exploring many different states and regions in doing so. “This winter, I plan to visit Cuba and the Bahamas,” Karg continued. “In the future I hope to visit Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan in one trip, Australia and New Zealand in another trip, and Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria and Switzerland in another trip.” Max Karg (Business Administration)To fund his travels and help pay for college, Karg – a self-described “gearhead” – has bought, repaired and sold nearly 70 cars, trucks and motorcycles to date. “I did this back home beginning at age 15, not thinking much of it,” Karg said. “But it has gained me very valuable business and sales skills that allow me to make practical connections in class.” Karg said he set his sights on Honolulu after applying to colleges nationwide and receiving a scholarship offer from a university in Hawaii. “Having never been to Hawaii, I booked a ticket to check out the school and island over the winter,” Karg said. “I fell in love with the island’s rich culture, lush greenery and tropical sun. “Since I was on the island, I checked out other schools,” Karg said. “I stepped on Chaminade’s campus and something just felt right. I took a tour of the campus and knew that this was somewhere I’d love to attend. I got home, applied and got in with a substantial academic scholarship that made it possible to come out here for my education.” Chaminade’s small class sizes and friendly atmosphere immediately appealed to Karg. “I would say my favorite part of Chaminade is the student/faculty ratio,” he said. “This has enabled me to make deep connections with the staff and faculty here that I likely wouldn’t be able to accomplish at larger institutions.” Karg praised all his Chaminade professors for being “incredibly helpful,” but said two of them “have really stuck out.” “The first being Dr. (Gail) Grabowsky in the science department, who got me thinking about an environmental science minor,” Karg said. “She’s very passionate about what she does, which clearly shows in her classes. “The second is Dr. (Margaret) Friedman, who is in the business department and specializes in marketing. She also keeps her class very engaging and brings in lots of real-world examples. “I’m glad I’m able to call both of these women not only my professors,” Karg said, “but also my advisors and mentors.” Max Karg (Business Administration)When he’s not in class, Karg participates in numerous extracurricular activities. “I am on the Student Allocations board,” he said, “served as treasurer of the Communications Club my first year, started the Photography Club and serve as Vice President of the Adventure Club. I also went to a leadership conference on Maui last year.” Following graduation, Karg said he plans to buy, improve and sell real estate. “I hope to not only make a property more appealing aesthetically,” he said, “but also more energy efficient and utilize sustainable materials in any reconstruction that may need to be done. “I am also considering a master’s degree in Business Administration – possibly with an emphasis in sustainability- a little bit down the road.” For an adventurous world traveler such as Karg, that road could lead just about anywhere. The Business Administration program offered by Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication helps students become proficient in interpersonal communication and business intelligence through coursework, internships and service-learning opportunities. The Environmental Studies minor offered by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics focuses on policy and environmental law to prepare students for careers in environmental science, ecology and conservation biology.

To Be Successful: Knowledge and Networking

It was an honor to hear from Mr. Ray Pekowski, Chairman and CEO of The Expo Group, a trusted exhibition and events partner that helps organizations grow their attendance, exhibitor and sponsorship revenue through the design and execution of unique, compelling and memorable experiences. Mr. Pekowski is not only a serial entrepreneur, or a trade show maven, but an author. Earlier this year, he wrote and published his first book Lessons of an Entrepreneur. According to a book review from Amazon.com, “Lessons of an Entrepreneur is written for those who want to create a culture of stewardship and servant leadership.”

Mailani Faniel and Ray Pekowski
Mailani Faniel & Ray Pekowski

His company takes pride in delivering discipline, collaboration, accountability, focus and execution. These are all key concepts that each and every entrepreneur should practice. Mr. Pekowski touched upon the importance of organizational culture and how crucial it is for an employee’s position to fit their expertise. The Expo Group’s mission statement states, “Today. Tomorrow. Together.” This Texas based brand specializes in helping people perform at a higher level within their business.

Although his ultimate dream was to become an NFL football coach, instead, he earned the title of being the youngest manager of a publicly traded company. One of his earliest lessons learned as an entrepreneur was that archaic types of programming are unusual. Therefore, keep up with the revolutionizing advancements in modern technology in order to take the lead against competitors. Mr. Pekowski also emphasized the importance of a skilled decision-making process when a company is faced with a threat. He mentioned how vital it is for entrepreneurs to be visionary and to cater to their passions.

According to Mr. Pekowski, “12.5% of being successful is knowledge and 87.5% is networking.” Networking has repeatedly been the number one focus for most of the speakers that present at our Wednesday night sessions. Mr. Pekowski noted that entrepreneurs must make their networking connections personal and long-term. Lastly, he told us to believe in ourselves, even when others may not believe in us.

Written by: Hogan Entrepreneurs Program student, Mailani Faniel
Speaker Session with ray Pekowski 11/15/17