Chaminade University of Honolulu

MBA

Chaminade Ties Continue as MBA Alumni Reunite

Laughter, smiles and renewed friendships filled the Oʻahu Country Club as alumni from Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Master of Business Administration program gathered for an evening of reconnecting.

For many in attendance, the evening on August 20 represented more than a reunion of MBA graduates. Several alumni had also earned undergraduate or other graduate degrees from Chaminade, making the gathering a true Silversword reunion—and a reminder that the connections formed at the University often continue long after students leave Kalaepōhaku.

Throughout the evening, conversations turned to careers, families and life since graduation, but also to shared memories of classrooms, professors and the experiences that helped shape their Chaminade journeys. For many MBA alumni, the program was an important step in their professional development, providing opportunities to strengthen leadership and management skills while connecting with classmates from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

Those relationships, alumni said, often extend beyond the classroom. The connections made with faculty and fellow students can become part of a professional network and, in some cases, lasting friendships that continue to grow years after graduation.

“I am very thankful for the education I received at Chaminade,” said MBA alumna Betty Mastrantonio. “The close-knit community, experienced faculty and beautiful campus on the hill made the experience incredibly valuable and life-changing.”

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., welcomed guests and shared updates from campus before introducing Amir H. Toosi, DBA, the new dean of the College of Business, Innovation & Technology.

Toosi spoke about the intersection of art and science in business and his excitement about joining Chaminade and becoming part of the University community. Before coming to Chaminade, he served for 14 years as dean of the Division of Business and Security Studies at Rivier University in New Hampshire. Throughout his career, he has helped lead academic innovation, expand programs and develop partnerships that strengthen student learning and workforce development.

The College of Business, Innovation & Technology offers programs designed to prepare students for an evolving workplace and economy. Its programs span business administration, accounting, strategic marketing, sport and event management, interior design, computer science, data science, analytics and visualization, and the MBA program.

For working professionals, the MBA offers an opportunity to continue their education while building practical knowledge and leadership skills that can be applied to their careers and communities. The program also brings together professionals with different experiences and perspectives, creating opportunities for students to learn from one another as well as from faculty.

As the evening came to a close, guests enjoyed Chaminade favors and door prizes. But the gathering’s most lasting takeaway was the opportunity to reconnect with classmates, professors and the University that remains an important part of their lives.

The evening was also a reminder that graduation does not necessarily mark the end of a Chaminade journey. For the MBA alumni gathered at the Oʻahu Country Club, the friendships, professional connections and memories formed along the way continue to be part of the Silversword ʻohana.

Entrepreneur Seeks to Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders

Connie Kramer, MBA ’24, EdD ’28 craves new projects—and her resume proves it.

For more than two decades, she worked in the fast-paced world of media production, film and television before launching her own event planning company, collaborating with local businesses to put together high-end destination weddings, corporate and nonprofit events.

She took her company far and then, as a young mother, sold it to return to marketing and a more predictable work schedule. In 2013, she landed a role as director of sales and marketing at a Hawaii hotel chain—a position she held until 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was an unexpected departure.

But it gave Kramer a chance to do what she does best: Find a new challenge to take on. “Getting a master’s degree was always in the back of my mind,” she said. “And then the opportunity came up.”

She enrolled in the Professional MBA program at Chaminade, a year-long program designed for experienced professionals that includes online and in-person instruction and an international study trip. Kramer said she was nervous about going back to school, but quickly found her Chaminade classes were a perfect fit.

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“The classes really pulled from real-world case studies,” Kramer said. “That allowed me to bring my own experiences while broadening my leadership skills. That was one of the big sellers for me.”

Kramer said she not only enjoyed learning from her professors, but collaborating with her classmates. She was also challenged to think about the next steps in her career. “I thought I was going to use the MBA for director-ship roles,” she said. “But the faculty at Chaminade inspired me by making learning relevant in the classroom. I realized I wanted to give back through education.”

Kramer said she realized that she had trained teammates throughout her business career.

Why not, she asked herself, use her skills to prepare the next generation of leaders?

That’s why Kramer now finds herself pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change at Chaminade. She started her first doctoral classes in July, while also tackling a lectureship role at the University. Her ultimate goal is to become a professor.

“I never thought this would be something that would be on my radar,” she said. “But because of the warm relationships I’ve established with my professors at Chaminade and joining the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, it’s inspired me to pursue this new passion.”

At the same time, Kramer is still juggling other roles, including as an entrepreneur.

Coming from a family of avid golfers, she started a business selling fun plush golf covers with Hawaii themes. Golf Plush Paradise sells almost exclusively online, but Kramer also makes time to get to a few fairs and markets as she’s looking to build the brand.

“There’s so much golfing in Hawaii, but these speak to the female golfer like me,” she said.

At the same time, Kramer is looking to expand her volunteer work. She said while her resume reflects a diverse set of skills, at the core of all of her work has been a desire to give back.

Air Force Honors Silversword for Leadership, Service

Yazmine Esquivel, MBA ’24 is accustomed to wearing many hats.

As a maintenance management analyst for the Department of Defense in Honolulu, she helps supervisors and senior managers improve unit performance, equipment condition, fleet health and personnel skills. The Air Force veteran also has nearly a decade of experience in supply chain management, logistics planning, inventory forecasting and import/export compliance.

Perhaps most importantly, Esquivel is a leader—and she’s thankful to Chaminade for that.

She says her MBA studies at the University and her participation in Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program helped her build confidence, broaden her perspectives and translate her extensive knowledge into opportunities for innovation and process improvement.

That dedication is now getting noticed.

This summer, Esquivel was recognized as among the “best and brightest” of the Pacific Air Forces with a Civilian of the Year Award, which honors those who exemplify excellence in their work, participate in educational opportunities off the clock, and give back to their communities.

Esquivel says the award was “deeply meaningful,” reminding her of the long hours she put in and moments of self-doubt she overcame to achieve her education and career goals. “I am grateful that others see value in the work I care so much about, and I feel encouraged to keep growing,” she said.

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An average work day for Esquivel is, well, anything but average.

“I help the U.S. Air Force keep nine Boeing C17 cargo jets ready to fly,” she said.

“My role is part planner, part problem-solver. I pull data from our maintenance system, double-check every detail lines up, make sure the right parts are on the shelf before work is due, and map out each aircraft’s maintenance schedule up to a year ahead. Then I brief our production team so everyone knows what is coming next. It’s a behind-the-scenes job … but it never stops being exciting.”

She said her MBA experience at Chaminade was like a “rehearsal” for her day job.

The courses in human resources, leadership, finance and marketing helped build a “technical toolkit” to rely on, she said. But her biggest takeaways from the program came from the leadership values that her professors instilled, including bringing a solutions-oriented attitude, always showing up prepared and remembering that people always come first in every project.

Yazmine Ezquivel, MBA ’24 says her experiences at Chaminade helped her develop as a leader.

“Beyond that, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program took those lessons beyond the classroom,” Ezquivel added. “Through volunteer projects and mentorship in the local community, I learned to connect business goals with service, to listen before acting, and to stay adaptable at all times.”

She said she’s grateful to many of her mentors at Chaminade, including Marketing Senior Lecturer Wera Panow-Loui, M.B.A., who recruited Esquivel into her Women in Leadership Development program, and School of Business and Communication Interim Dean Annette Santos, D.B.A.

Esquivel said Santos connected her with the Soroptimist International of Waikiki, a volunteer organization where she now serves as a delegate, “paying it forward” by working to empower women and girls to reach their goals of economic empowerment through higher education.

Photo Gallery: MBA Alumni Pau Hana

More than 40 alumni and guests came together to mingle and network at last month’s MBA Alumni Pau Hana.

Heidi Bow, Chaminade director of development, said the event “was a chance to connect, reminisce and share a memorable evening with our Chaminade MBA ‘ohana. We enjoyed hearing attendees’ stories and learning about the incredible paths they’ve taken since graduation.”

The pau hana August 7 at the Oahu Country Club included addresses by President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. and Provost Lance Askildson, Ph.D.

Bow offered a special mahalo to Rodney Harano, MBA ”84, who was the event sponsor and generously donated wine for the evening.

For more on the MBA program at Chaminade, click here.

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MBA Alumnus Sees Community Service as Essential

As vice chair and chief operating officer at Central Pacific Bank, David Morimoto, MBA ’97 keeps a breakneck schedule, overseeing banking at 27 branches along with CPB’s business and commercial banking, commercial real estate and wealth management lines of business.

But no matter how busy Morimoto gets, he still makes time to give back.

It’s a “good habit” he says was instilled in him growing up in the islands and working hard to make an impact.

“I think Hawai’i is more philanthropic than most states. Part of that comes from our upbringing and the spirit of aloha,” he said.

“Giving to those who are less fortunate—I hope that is what my two daughters see in me. “

Morimoto started at Central Pacific Bank in 1991, and has served across the company. Before being promoted to chief operating officer in March, Morimoto was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank.

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In the community, Morimoto has long been active with Aloha United Way and homeless services nonprofit Institute for Human Services (IHS).

At IHS, he is the nonprofit’s board chair—a role that he says has afforded him the opportunity to better understand the complexity of Hawai’i’s homeless crisis. “Homelessness is a large and growing problem,” he said. “It’s about helping as many people as you can to improve their situation.”

Also in a volunteer capacity, Morimoto serves with the U.S.-Japan Council, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. Morimoto said as a yonsei, or fourth-generation Japanese-American, the council’s mission of education and relationship-building has resonated with him.

Chaminade’s mission of service also struck a chord with Morimoto while he pursued his MBA.

Central Pacific Bank Chief Operating Officer David Morimoto volunteers at homeless service nonprofit Institute for Human Services.

He attended classes at night to attain his MBA—as online learning wasn’t an option at the time. Morimoto recalled that many of his fellow students were professionals or members of the military and he appreciated learning about their unique perspectives to business and the community.

“I enjoyed the diversity,” he said.

It’s one of the reasons that when he has a chance to talk to younger people, especially college students, he encourages them to get outside of their comfort zones and seek out opportunities that will challenge them—and help them to grow.

“Work ethic has also been a lot of what I think has led to my success,” he added. “I waited tables in college and carried that work ethic into the day job. It served me well.”

Chaminade MBA Options Geared Toward Advancement, Impact

Prospective MBA students come with different goals, experiences and expectations, which is why Chaminade offers two unique MBA pathways—both designed to maximize student success and impact, said MBA Program Director Eduard Merc, Ph.D.

The best part? Whichever option you choose, you can finish in just 12 months.

The two pathway options are the MBA, open to students from all educational or professional backgrounds, and the Professional MBA, geared toward business executives.

Merc said both degrees were recently restructured to put a dual focus on soft and hard skills building—from leadership to data analytics. He added the MBA and Professional MBA also stress hands-on learning, mentoring and a “business for good” philosophy.

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And in a new offering this Spring, students in both MBA pathways will be able to take a preparation course for the Project Management Professional certification exam—a highly sought-after credential. Merc said more preparation courses will be added in the future.

Merc said that a foundational principle of Chaminade’s MBA program is preparing students to use innovative strategies to make a difference. “We are graduating students who want to improve their community through an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

Annette Taijeron Santos, D.B.A., interim dean of the School of Business and Communication at Chaminade, added that students are encouraged to “act locally but think globally. Everything they’re learning in classes, it’s rooted to real-world learning experiences and what the workforce is demanding, especially for career mobility.”

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Applications are now being accepted for the MBA, with a Spring deadline of April 7.

Merc noted that students in the MBA program come with a diversity of backgrounds. To provide a “level playing field” for everyone, incoming students attend an in-person or remote “MBA bootcamp,” which covers key themes of accounting, economics, finance and more.

“It helps them feel confident about their skills before the semester even starts,” he said.

The Professional MBA, meanwhile, is cohort-based and students are admitted in the Fall. Merc said a typical cohort has about 15 to 20 people—all entrepreneurs, business owners and emerging leaders seeking to advance their careers. In addition to online learning, students meet every other Saturday for intensive instruction and discussion.

Merc noted the Professional MBA also includes an optional international study trip to Japan. Participants get the chance to meet business leaders, tour companies and network.

For more information on the MBA and Professional MBA at Chaminade, click here.