Chaminade University of Honolulu

Hogan Entrepreneurial Program

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program Celebrates 20 Years

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Not even a torrential downpour could dampen the moods of attendees who celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Since its inception, Gary Hogan has been committed to the idea of mentoring students in leadership and inculcating the entrepreneurial spirit. These are two qualities that were instilled in him by his late parents, Ed and Lynn Hogan, founders of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.

“We tried to establish a travel and tourism school in California, but it never took off,” Hogan recalls. “During that same time, my dad had become dear friends with Fr. Spitzer (then president of Gonzaga University), who helped establish the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at that university.”

Wanting to give back to the Hawaii community, Hogan thought of Chaminade because of its mission to educate for service, justice and peace, and to do so with an integral, quality education. He was also fond of the late, former Chaminade president Sue Wesselkamper.

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program 20th anniversary

“Sue liked the idea so I spoke to my mom and dad about the opportunity, and we all agreed that it would benefit the local community,” says Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Pleasant Travel Series. “This 20-year milestone is an achievement that we can all be proud of.”

Dr. Roy Panzarella certainly is. As the program director for the past two-and-a-half years, the one-time Lockheed Martin chief executive looks to strengthen the school’s partnerships with local businesses and its leaders and to bring in new ideas on how to problem-solve.

“Twenty-one is the legal age right, so we still have a minor we’re raising,” Panzarella quips. “We’re in the infancy, phase-one stage, and we’re going to take the crawl-before-you-run approach.”

Choosing to enroll in an entrepreneurial program bears a lot of factors. While rankings may be an important one, another should be what’s behind the ranking. Teaching methodology matters and so, too, does the experiential component to the entrepreneurial journey. 

According to Panzarella, it’s critical to differentiate between starting a business and learning the skills of entrepreneurship as a springboard to success. 

“Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business, though it’s that, too,” he explains. “Entrepreneurship is about acquiring the skills of success, and we try to teach those skills in the context of entrepreneurship.”

With a diagram resembling a three-tiered wedding cake in hand, Panzarella points out the significance of each layer, starting with the base, which he refers to as the “direct” impact that the program has on its students. At this level, the engagement includes Wednesday Guest Lecture Series, internships, social media value and mentorship.

The second tier features the operational side of the program—the nuts-and-bolts structure of running an entrepreneurial curriculum. And the top layer involves the strategic component, which lays out the future transformation roadmap, the mission, the vision, the values and the people of Hogan.

Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute

Embedded in the larger Hogan program is the new Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute, named after Vaughn Vasconcellos, a former Chaminade Board of Regents Chair and a current member of the Board of Governors.

“Vaughn has agreed to return in the coming months as the first chair of the institute, during which he will lecture and host meetings and socials in an attempt to broaden the exposure of the institute, as well as Hogan and Chaminade,” Panzarella says. “The institute will also sponsor an entrepreneurial mission abroad in the next year or two.”

Poised to expand in the future, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, now in concert with the Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute, will train and mentor tomorrow’s leaders and entrepreneurs. The education that students will receive will prepare them to lead with empathy, morality, compassion, and a drive to identify problems and create scalable solutions that can benefit individuals, communities and the globe. 

“The goal is to develop a Minor in entrepreneurship and then a Major,” Panzarella asserts. “My dream is for the program to be recognized as the ‘Pearl of the Pacific,’ which will attract people from across the region.”

In partnership with American Savings Bank, the bi-annual Nonprofit Business Plan Competition (the next one will be held in 2024) has already appealed to a diverse group of entrepreneurs across the main Hawaiian islands, including Lawai‘a Naihe, executive director for this year’s first-place winner, Hoakeolapono Trades Academy and Institute on Kauai, and AALII Mentoring, a charitable business that was formed to help students from underrepresented populations to navigate, persist and succeed in higher education. 

“We can’t lose perspective of what we set forth, which is to mentor future entrepreneurs in the Jesuit tradition,” Hogan says. “This has been the goal for the past two decades, and we just want to build on that momentum and continue to serve the community.”

Other positive community relationships involve Catholic Charities and the Institute for Human Services. Both have previously participated in the annual “Job Preparation Workshop” for homeless and near-homeless individuals. Hogan students, including previous participant and now an MBA candidate Savannah Lyn Delos Santos ’22, work alongside the participants to help construct their resumes, and to assist in improving their job interviewing skills. 

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program 20th anniversary

“While most of society shuns them because they have nothing, they are just doing what they can to move forward and rise up,” Delos Santos says. “They made me realize how sometimes one chance is all someone needs to create a better life for both them and their families.”

By connecting entrepreneurial education with service and ethical leadership, students can build on their interests and abilities to create a positive difference in the community. The program offers extensive hands-on experience and networking opportunities with like-minded aspiring entrepreneurs and industry champions.

“From day one, we want students to understand leadership and entrepreneurship,” Hogan affirms. “We want to teach them good ethics and morals with an emphasis on long-term leadership.”

Asked what he expects during the next 20 years, Panzarella says he wants to build capacity and nurture more international partnerships. He also aims to have the program focus more on a practical than theoretical direction.

“Yes, business plans and a solid business foundation are important,” Panzarella says. “And we know that IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional intelligence) matter, but we need to know more about cultural intelligence. We want students to become better versions of themselves. We want them to walk away with the necessary tools in their toolbox or arrows in their quiver— whatever the metaphor may be—to succeed in their lives.”

Chaminade University Awarded $600,000 Federal Grant

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Chaminade University of Honolulu was among seven minority educational institutions that received $1.75 million in grants from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The monies are part of an expanded pilot program to support entrepreneurship for undergraduate students.

“This marks another proud achievement and win for our faculty members,” says Chaminade University of Honolulu president Lynn Babington. “Principal Investigator, Dr. Helen Turner, and a supportive leadership team shepherded this grant through a rigorous vetting process, and deserve all the recognition for bringing this nationally competitive award to the university.”

Submitted to the MBDA’s Minority Colleges and Universities Grant Competition, the award will allow Chaminade to develop the “‘Inana Sustainability Entrepreneurship Program,” which aims to spark minority entrepreneurial innovation among Hawaii-Pacific undergraduates.

“As a Native Hawaiian Serving Institution, Chaminade University of Honolulu’s proposal demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the mission and goals of MBDA, and the requirements of the Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement,” says Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, in a prepared statement. “In addition, their application presented evidence of the expertise and community resources necessary to meet these goals.”

The Minority Colleges and Universities pilot program will help fund the development of curricula, pilot courses, seminars, and replicable products and tools that address inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship and general economic development.  The award is worth $600,000, funded annually over a two-year span.

“The ‘Inana program is highly collaborative and builds on foundations laid by Chaminade’s more-than-20-year history of promoting business and entrepreneurship,” Dr. Turner says. “`Inana will bring together our new UN Sustainability Center, our outstanding School of Business and Communication, and the highly regarded Hogan Entrepreneurs Program, as well as our Marianist Leadership Center and Experiential Honors program. Together we will laser-focus on supporting the next generation of sustainability focused entrepreneurs for Hawaii and our Pacific region.”

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Chaminade University of Honolulu believes in the power of education to drive positive change, broaden perspectives and deepen our understanding of one another. With an emphasis on transformative service-learning experiences, we prepare students to serve as tomorrow’s leaders, inspiring and challenging them to use their minds and their hearts to help build stronger and more just communities. We are proud to serve as Hawai‘i’s only Marianist university, and rely on these values to guide us in delivering a high-quality education with an individualized approach and a focus on excellence, innovation and change. Established in 1955, we offer more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral degrees in education, psychology and nursing practice. Learn more at chaminade.edu.

2022 Nonprofit Business Plan Competition

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Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition finalists

From vocational training to higher education mentorship and homelessness prevention, the services delivered by the winners of the 10th annual Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition are as diverse as the clients they serve.

But what they all share is a commitment to building a better Hawaii for everyone.

And now they have some additional support to do just that.

Chaminade University was proud to host a special ceremony on April 27 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center to announce the winners of the annual competition—designed to support innovative proposals in the public good and celebrate the contributions that nonprofits make to the community.

In all, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank awarded $35,000 to nine Hawaii nonprofit organizations who participated in the competition this year. The first-place winner, Ho’ākeolapono Trades Academy and Institute, walked away with the $12,000 prize.

“We are so incredibly impressed by all of the Hawaii nonprofits who submitted proposals for the 2022 Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. It is clear they are embracing innovation as they seek to maximize their positive impact and help our communities thrive,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, PhD.

“For 10 years, this competition has showcased the ingenuity of Hawaii nonprofits, celebrated entrepreneurs who are driving positive change, and offered critical support to projects that have helped thousands of Hawaii residents overcome challenges and seek out new opportunities.”

Dr. Roy Panzarella, director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, said socially-motivated entrepreneurship is a powerful tool in addressing some of the biggest issues facing Hawaii families.

“The Nonprofit Business Plan Competition is about pushing the envelope, embracing change and rewarding Hawaii organizations and leaders who are meeting community needs in new ways,” he said. “It is also about recognizing that we can accomplish great things when we all work together.”

In addition to all the competition’s finalists, attendees at the event included Hogan Entrepreneurial Program leadership, Dr. Babington and American Savings Bank Senior Vice President and Director of Community Advancement Michelle Bartell.

Hoakeolapono Trades Academy receiving their award

In their application, first-place winner Ho’ākeolapono Trades Academy and Institute laid out an ambitious proposal for delivering cutting-edge vocational training across high-demand trades, with a special focus on problem-solving and lifelong learning. The nonprofit is geared toward career technical secondary students and has already partnered with several public schools to deliver its programs.

They’re also teaming up with the community on construction projects, involving their student participants in hands-on efforts to make renovations to classrooms and install staircases and ramps. Looking ahead, they’re working to build a training hub on Hawaii Island and they want to launch a “refurbishing thrift shop” that will feature high-need household items restored by students.

“Ho’ākeolapono Trades Academy and Institute was designed to increase employment and advancement opportunities by providing participants with crucial building and construction knowledge and multidisciplinary, 21st-century trade skills,” the nonprofit wrote, in its business plan.

Alii Mentoring receiving their award

The second-place prize of $10,000 went to A’ALI’I Mentoring, a nonprofit that was formed to help students from underrepresented populations to navigate, persist and succeed in higher education. The organization offers one-on-one mentoring, scholarships, career development, community service activities and monthly group workshops on topics ranging from finances to communication.

“Transitioning from high school to post-secondary education remains a daunting challenge for many students,” the nonprofit said. “The support of a mentor, who can serve as a guide as well as a listener, can be an effective intervention in addressing low persistence rates of post-secondary education.”

Family Promise Hawaii receiving their award at the Nonprofit Business Plan Competition

The third-place winner was Family Promise of Hawaii, which provides services to homeless and low-income families. The nonprofit received $5,000 to help support its ‘Ohana Navigation Center, an innovative space seen as a hub for services, a gathering place, and a resource for supplies.

The center will even serve as a shelter space to temporarily house families.

“The project’s proposed design will include a child-friendly campus where families can access various supportive services created with input from Family Promise beneficiaries, staff and community partners,” the nonprofit said. They hope to serve 290 families a year at the center.

Aina Momona receiving their award at the Nonprofit Business Plan Competition

The fourth-place award of $3,000 went to nonprofit Hui Aloha ʻĀina Momona’s Ku’i’ai Accelerator project to provide quality wood to families and organizations so they can make taro pounding boards that will become heirlooms for future generations. The organization offers educational programs focused on food sustainability, local agricultural and indigenous farming and lifestyle practices.

In past competitions, judges chose eight finalists to compete for the top prize. Because of the amount of excellent business plans submitted, nine finalists were chosen this year.

The Five other nonprofit finalists also received $1,000 awards:

Student’s Business Makes Paw-sitive Impact

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Oliver Carson, Business Administration student, creator of Better Place Brands

By day, Oliver Carson is studying business. And by night, he’s running one.

The Chaminade University senior and Hogan Entrepreneurial Program student owns Better Place Brands, whose mission of giving back is baked right into the name. Carson started the business with his father in August 2020, launching a line of private-label coffee brands geared toward animal lovers.

“Customers not only want a great product, but they want the product to stand for something. That’s what this company is all about,” Carson said. “It also feels good to make those donations every quarter.”

Carson’s Better Place Brands has different “companies” named after pets.

There’s the Great Dane Coffee Company. The Golden Retriever Coffee Company. And most recently, Carson launched the Cat Rescue Coffee Company. In all, he has 13 private coffee labels. And each of them donates 20% of the proceeds to charities and rescue shelters located across the United States. Two are located right here in Hawaii—Cat People of Oahu and Lanai Cat Sanctuary.

In 2021, Carson’s companies gave $10,000 in cash and in-kind merchandise to organizations.

“We did better than expected,” he said, adding he hopes to donate even more this year.

‘A really perfect fit’
Oliver Carson with his two dogs

Carson grew up in a suburb outside of Cleveland and attended Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, a Marianist school. As a child, he visited Hawaii several times with his family—and it became a dream to study in the islands. It turned out that dream was much more achievable than he realized.

A basketball coach who used to play at Chaminade chatted with him about the university.

He then learned about the Chaminade Scholars program, which offers up to 75% off tuition to students who are members of a Catholic parish or attend a Catholic or Marianist high school, demonstrate academic excellence, and participate in experiences of service and faith.

Of everything Chaminade had to offer, he was most excited about joining a vibrant community and learning more about Hawaii’s rich cultural traditions. “I grew up in a diverse environment and that has always been something that I’ve been attracted to,” Carson said. “It was a really perfect fit.”

At Chaminade, Carson also found the same values of family spirit, serving others and giving back that he’d embraced at his Marianist high school. “It really felt similar to that tradition I experienced,” he said.

In fact, Carson said he felt a special connection to Chaminade on his very first day in the residence halls. He attended Mass at the Mystical Rose Oratory and met Fr. Marty Solma, SM, who also grew up just outside of Cleveland and attended Villa Angela-St. Joseph High. “It was such a crazy moment,” Carson said.

From there, Carson jumped into life in the islands.

His roommates, who were from Hawaii, showed him the best beaches and taught him how to surf. He became the manager of the basketball team. And, he served as a peer mentor for CUH 100, a welcome course for incoming students.

At the beginning of his junior year, he joined the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program.

Carson said Hogan’s programs and networking opportunities continue to inspire him—and Hogan Program Director Dr. Roy Panzarella has given him the confidence to pursue his own business ventures. “We have been so lucky to hear from entrepreneurs from all over the world doing great things,” he said.

A business that gives back
Oliver Carson's Boxy Brown's Coffee Co pillow and boxer

Carson is busy enough as a student that it’s hard to imagine how he has time to run a business.

At Better Place Brands, he handles everything from customer service to social media. And he’s particularly proud of his business model: Selling a good product while supporting a good cause.

As a Business Administration student, he has been able to use his experience as a business owner for class projects, getting input—and no shortage of encouragement—from his professors and peers along the way. He has also thrived in the School of Business and Communication’s “business for good” approach and believes strongly that everyone has a role in making the world a better place.

After all, he does own a company called Better Place Brands.  

Carson is an animal lover himself and started his Great Dane Coffee Company first in honor of his family’s Great Dane. He then partnered with pet rescue organizations, which were able to promote what he was doing—and help him continue to grow and launch more companies along the way.

He said while he’s gearing up for graduate school—he plans to pursue an MBA degree—he’s also looking ahead to expand his business. “We want to continue to add more brands and to eventually grow beyond the dog rescue world,” Carson said. “Our ultimate goal is to do even more good out there—with the help of our customers and the causes they believe in.”

Welcome to MBA Alumnus and Kaiser Permanente COO’s World

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Andrew Giles, MBA '17, COO of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

To say that Andrew Giles, MBA ’17, has been busy over the last few years is putting things mildly.

It’s more like he’s been running a marathon—at a sprinter’s pace.

Giles was recently selected to serve as the chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii’s Moanalua Medical Center. Previously, he was the assistant administrator of hospital operations and support services. And in early 2020, he was also tapped as Kaiser’s COVID incident commander.

It’s a role that required him to “live and breathe” epidemiology and virology while also working to understand ever-changing facility needs, secure needed supplies and expand to meet new demand.

Testing centers, hospitalization surges, mass vaccine clinics. Welcome to Giles’ world.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Giles said, huffing a laugh. “Educating, testing, and from a leadership perspective, keeping the staff motivated and ensuring they have the appropriate equipment.”

And that’s not all Giles has been up to.

In December, Giles wrapped up a one-year term as president of the Hawaii chapter for the American College of Healthcare Executives, an organization that provides scholarships, networking, and continuing education opportunities. He’s also active in American Hospital Association and other industry groups.

All that hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

In 2021, Giles was honored as one of Pacific Business News’ “40 under 40” Hawaii professionals.

“On a day-to-day basis, my priority typically lies at the hospital, ensuring we’re providing safe and quality care to patients,” said Giles. “I really like to engage with staff and serve as a conduit to make sure they have the tools they need to be successful, including looking at our operational metrics and targets.”

Giles moved to the islands about a decade ago, after wrapping up an undergraduate degree in Organizational Management at Wilmington University and working in operations and environmental services. He worked at other Hawaii hospitals before finding a spot at Kaiser Permanente as director of support services, overseeing everything from hospital communications to patient transport.

It was around that time that Giles started to look at MBA programs.

He considered several different universities but ultimately decided on Chaminade’s MBA program after taking a tour of the campus. Giles said he wanted to take classes in person and liked the university’s strong Marianist mission, individualized approach to the degree and emphasis on hands-on learning.

“The mission and involvement in the community, it certainly resonated with my faith,” he said.

Giles added that the small class sizes also helped students create stronger relationships and bring the content to life. “I had a really diverse group of people in my classes,” said Giles. “There were folks earlier in their careers. There were later careerists in the military. I made some really good connections.”

Looking back, he said several projects he undertook as an MBA student still resonates with him.

In one, he explored the delivery of healthcare to medically-underserved communities, including the Waianae Coast, Wahiawa and the North Shore. He said he also appreciated the Hawaiian Studies course he took that helped him better understand culturally appropriate ways to serve patients.

And while at Chaminade, Giles also participated in the signature Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and described it as a highlight. “The Hogan program was an extremely valuable learning experience, hearing the inspirational stories from entrepreneurs and connecting with community leaders,” he said.

Shortly after graduating with his MBA degree, Giles was promoted to the assistant administrator role at Kaiser.

And he said he’s just as excited today about his work as he was when he started.

“I’m really thankful for what I do,” he said. “I just genuinely enjoy helping people.”

Nonprofit Business Plan Competition 2022

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Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank are currently seeking entries in its Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. The competition, held every other year, is open to Hawaii nonprofit organizations looking to start new ventures that will benefit society. Finalists and winning nonprofits will receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $12,000 to support their proposals.

“We’re pleased to continue this important program that aims to stimulate public interest and support in nonprofit organizations and encourages excellence and innovation in socially-motivated entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Roy Panzarella, director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program. “We are also grateful for American Savings Bank’s continued partnership.”

Applicants must submit a statement of intent by February 1, 2022, to participate in the competition. Among the competition’s requirements:

  • Applicants must be a new nonprofit organization (in operation less than 12 months prior to entry deadline), a new program of an existing nonprofit organization, or a new for-profit subsidiary of a nonprofit organization.
  • Applicants must be located in the state of Hawaii.
  • The proposed venture must be designed to benefit society, i.e., it must generate positive social outcomes.
  • Only one business plan may be submitted for review.

The deadline for business plans is March 8, 2022. Eight finalists will then be selected to give an in-person presentation on April 12, 2022.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Chaminade University on April 27, 2022. Grants will be awarded to first place ($12,000), second place ($10,000) third place ($5,000) and fourth place ($3,000) winners. The remaining finalists will also receive $1,000 each.

For detailed information about the 2022 Nonprofit Business Plan Competition, click here to download the entry packet. The entry packet includes eligibility requirements, entry and review process, recognition and awards, evaluation criteria and FAQs, as well as a sample business plan outline.

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Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program is a one- or two-year certificate program. Students learn first-hand from experienced Hawaii business leaders and entrepreneurs about the business of getting a new idea up and running. This involves academic coursework, mentorships and internships with business leaders, weekly lectures, study trips, and programs like the nonprofit business plan competition. For more information, visit Chaminade.edu/hogan.