BRIAN JOSEPH BAKER, PRESIDENT

Joe Baker has been the president of two foundations and is on the Board of Governors for Iowa State University.  He is also on the board of Friends of Hawaii Charities, Ahahui Koa Anuenue (UH), and a start-up company, CombiSep, Inc. Joe serves on the advisory boards of the Institute for Energy Law and the Institute for International and Comparative Law. He is a member of the Philanthropy Roundtable, the Churchill Club, and the Manhattan Institute. Joe also has experience in real estate management. He earned a BA at Seaver College, Pepperdine University, and an MS from Georgetown University. Joe joined the Board in August 2004 and was elected president in June 2006. He served as vice president from 2005 to 2006.

ERIC VON PLATEN LUDER, VICE PRESIDENT

Eric von Platen Luder is president of Olu Kai, Ltd., which does business as Huggo's Restaurant, Huggo's On the Rocks, and Paradise Gourmet Catering. He is also a partner in Alii Garden Marketplace. Eric is past president of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and supports many charitable organizations in West Hawaii.  Eric is a graduate of Hawaii Preparatory Academy and has a business degree from Southern Methodist University.  He joined the Board in January 2001 and was elected vice president for the second time in June 2006.

HONEY CURRENT COOK, SECRETARY

Honey Cook is a world traveler and philanthropist. She studied liberal arts at University of Nevada-Reno and currently owns and operates a 60 acre Kona coffee plantation and manages rental property in South Kona with her husband and partner, Dennis Cook. Honey is a volunteer extraordinaire and in her years of involvement with the school has consistently taken on a leadership role in a variety of activities. She joined the board this school year.

MICHAEL WATSON, TREASURER

Michael Watson has thirty years of administrative and financial experience in business and nonprofits. Currently he serves as Director of Administrative Services at the Arc of Kona. Previously, he was controller of Rogue Recovery Programs in Grants Pass, Oregon, COO of VISP Technologies, a regional internet service provider, owner of several businesses, and founder of a two-year college. Michael earned his bachelor of education degree at Antioch Christian College in Denver. In addition, he earned a degree in career accounting at Central California Commercial College. Michael joined the Board in June 2006.
PETER BRESCIANI, ESQ., DIRECTOR

Peter Bresciani is the supervising attorney for the Kona Public Defender's Office. He was in a private practice in San Francisco emphasizing criminal defense from 1975 until he moved to the Big Island in 1992. He is past president and former member of the board of Kona Pacific Waldorf School, and he also served on the planning team for the Big Island Drug Court. In addition to his legal career, Peter is an organic coffee farmer. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin and received his law degree from Hastings College of the Law. Peter joined the Board in June 2006.

KATHLEEN KISS DAMON, DIRECTOR

Kathleen Kiss Damon has forty years of experience in education; formerly she recently retired as the Director of the University of Hawaii Center, West Hawaii where she served since l998. In the University of Hawaii system, she spent seventeen years as a Dean of Student Services, first at Leeward Community College and then Honolulu Community College. Previous to that she was a tenured professor in English at Windward Community College. Other educational positions held were at public and private high schools in Hawaii and on the mainland as well as Heidelberg College and the University of Iowa. She has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master's degree in American Literature from the University of Iowa, and a Doctorate from University of Southern California. She is a past board member and officer of both the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Na Leo O' Hawaii, public access television. She currently serves on the advisory committee for the UH Sea Grant project and is a member of the Kona Branch of AAUW. She joined the board for Hualalai Academy in spring 2007.

VICTORIA MERRITT HASTY, DIRECTOR

Vicki Hasty is a vice president with First Hawaiian Bank. Vicki has over fifteen years' experience in personal and business banking working with various financial institutions.  She graduated cum laude from Wellesley College, received her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law, and is admitted to the bar in Washington. Vicki is past vice president of the Hualalai Academy Parents' Association, and joined the Board in June 2001. Previously she was secretary and vice president, and she has served as treasurer since July 2005.
STEPHEN E. HEIMAN, DIRECTOR

Stephen E. Heiman is co-founder of Miller Heiman, Inc., an international sales consulting firm with predominantly Fortune 200 Clients. He has co-authored six successful business books, including The New Strategic Selling and The New Conceptual Selling. His background in sales and senior management featured stints at IBM and North American Van Lines.  Steve earned a BS degree in Marketing and Theater at Prescott College. He joined the Board in November 2005.

PAUL KEALOHA, DIRECTOR

Paul Kealoha is a police captain with over 20 years of experience in the Hawaii Police Department. Starting as a patrol officer, Paul has worked in the patrol, VICE, criminal intelligence, and criminal investigation divisions, and currently serves as the district commander of the North and South  Kona Districts commanding approximately 80 personnel. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. Paul joined the Board in June 2006.

ERIK KUTZ, DIRECTOR

Erik Kutz moved to the Island of Hawai`i in 2005 when he was named Head Golf Professional of The Club at Hokuli`a. Erik began his career with The Lyle Anderson Company at the Golf at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona in fall of 1997. He spent the next four years working his way to a First Assistant position and in this role assisted with the Nicklaus/Flick Golf Schools and The Tradition, a major on the Champions Tour. In 2001, Erik became the Head Golf Professional at the Mirabel Club in Scottsdale. As the prodigal son returned, so did Erik return to The Lyle Anderson Company in 2004 as the First Assistant at Superstition Mountain. Erik earned his PGA Class A Professional status in 2001 and holds a degree from the San Diego Golf Academy. Eric, his wife Cristy, and their baby girl and reside in Keauhou.
TAD NOTTAGE, DIRECTOR

Tad Nottage is president of Aloha Insurance Services. Tad has held managerial and executive positions with a number of Hawaii companies and has worked in the insurance industry for almost twenty years. Born and raised in Hawaii, he attended high school at Punahou and has degrees in business and marketing from the University of Puget Sound. He is a past board member of the Hawaii Montessori School. Tad joined the Board in June 2006.

FELICITY JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, EX-OFFICIO

Felicity Johnson has been the principal of Hualalai Academy since its inception in 1995-96. Felicity attended the University of London Institute of Education, London University, and Oxford University, and she holds an MA degree in education. She is past president of Kona Crime Prevention, vice president of the Waimea Community Theater, and, among other things, a member of Partnership for Hawaii's Keiki Project, National Association of University Women, Association for Childhood Education International, and Phi Delta Kappa. Felicity joined the Board in July 2002 as an ex-officio member.