Who We Are – Board & Staff

Board of Directors

Dinny Landsdowne, President

Ms. Lansdowne has over 25 years experience as a successful creative entrepreneur and marketing consultant. A former eco-fashion designer, Dinny’s lines sold across North America and in her own Vancouver boutique. In 1990, she established her signature line, Dinny, and manufactured, promoted and distributed her apparel designs across Canada. She personally managed all aspects of the company and garnered awards and media coverage. After several years, Dinny’s warehouse and manufacturing center suffered a major flood, which wiped out

the company’s inventory and all her latest goods. Undaunted, she began consulting for other fashion companies while rebuilding her design business as Style Box Clothing Co. The new line had a socially responsible focus, using eco-friendly fabrics, contributing 5% to non-profits. After a health crisis in 2004, Dinny closed her company but continued her strategic business consulting focusing on socially responsible entrepreneurs. Her clients include creative entrepreneurs, business coaches, speakers, authors and healers and direct sales leaders. As demands for her time and advice have increased, Ms. Lansdowne is once again recreating her business. Her newest endeavor includes the creation of a new social network mentoring system to be launched in 2011. InspiredMentors is designed to train and support creative and social venture entrepreneurs in developing sustainable businesses that showcase their talents while creating positive change. Dinny travels extensively and works with clients throughout North America, Australia, Hong Kong and Hawaii. She volunteers and contributes to several causes including: Dress for Success and Pivot Legal (Hope in Shadows Project). Dinny’s first surf experience was as a guest at Spirit Sessions and she’s been feeling the stoke ever since.

Phil Kinnicutt, Vice-President President & CEO, Kinnicutt Consulting, L.L.P.

Mr. Kinnicutt is a seasoned consultant with extensive experience as a non-profit board member and advisor, as well as a dynamic marketing and public relations executive. His 40-plus year career in Hawaii includes serving as Director of Marketing and Brand Management for the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Managing Director of Ogilvy & Mather, Hawaii; and Director of Public Relations for HMSA. Phil is committed to community development and has over 30 years of experience serving on nonprofit boards. He is Board Secretary and Chair of the Communications Committee of GBS/CIDP Foundation International, headquartered in Pennsylvania. He is also Secretary of Aloha Care, and a director of the Shidler College of Business Alumni Association and the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO). He is a past board president and board member of the Waikiki Health Center, and has served on numerous other boards including: Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, Better Business Bureau of Hawai‘i, Hanahauoli School, Hawaii Council of Camp Fire, Inc., Honolulu Advertising Federation, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Kaneohe Yacht Club, Neighborhood Justice Center, Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the University of Hawaii, College of Business Administration Advisory Board. Phil has lived in Hawaii since 1963, and while he no longer surfs, he remains an avid fisherman and deep-sea ocean lover.

Katherine Cho Brack, Treasurer Director, Profitlink Corporation Ltd.

Katherine Cho Brack seeks to create vital new connections between strong economies, sustainable development, and progressive social action. Whether she’s creating a new business entity, analyzing investment opportunities or developing a new philanthropic venture, Katherine is always working toward building financial and cultural wealth–for her clients and for the benefit of future generations. Katherine’s an astute business and market analyst and her professional experiences have included senior positions at PCCW Limited, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Salomon Brothers and Hewlett Packard. Her non-profit work has included helping to establish, and then acting as Director of, the ADM Capital Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor focusing on forest and wildlife conservation projects in China and Vietnam. Currently living in Hong Kong, Katherine is proud to be a local girl. She’s a graduate of Iolani High School, and attended Santa Clara University, London Business School and the Stern School of Business at NYU. She holds an MBA in Finance and International Business, has deep expertise in the Asian real estate and telecommunications markets, and speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin. In addition to serving as Treasurer, Katherine is a key advisor to SSS outreach and development efforts. The Brack family have generously sponsored the purchase of a quiver of brand new boards for Surfrider Spirit Sessions. Katherine’s been called a “yoga fanatic,” loves hiking, and is learning to be a dog whisperer with her adopted stray dog Sam.

Kristine K Yoo Secretary Deputy Prosecutor, State of Hawaii

Ms. Yoo is a well-respected attorney and prosecutor in the State of Hawaii. She attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she edited the Hastings Women’s Law Journal, spent time abroad at the University of Leiden (the Netherlands), and served as president of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. She clerked for the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, U.S. District Court, San Francisco, and worked for a California law firm. Kristine served as an attorney for Legal Aid Society of Hawaii before joining the Hawaii State Prosecutor’s Office. As a prosecutor, Kristine is involved in all aspects of the case, from initial case analysis to conducting felony trials to verdict. She also makes time to mentor summer interns, works with police recruits on courtroom presentation skills, serves as a judge for trial advocacy classes, and facilitates mock trials for the Citizens’ Police Academy. Kristine is also active in the bar, serving as a director of the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association and as a Barrister in the American Inns of the Court IV (Hawai‘i Chapter). She is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and California. When not practicing law, Kristine can be found surfing, outrigger canoe paddling, and hiking. Since 2007, Kristine has volunteered as a Surf Mentor with the Surfrider Spirit Sessions program and has endeared herself to some of our most challenging girls. She frequently wears the coolest t-shirts in the group.

Honorable Judge Karen Radius, Ret. Hawai‘i State Family Court, First Judicary

The Honorable Judge Radius is the founding judge of the Hawaii State Juvenile Drug Court and Girls Court, which is one of the first of its kind in the nation. Though officially retired, she volunteers her time to preside over Girls Court. Judge Radius has served in every division of the First Circuit Family Court, including serving as the lead judge of the Domestic Division where she heard divorce trials involving contested child custody, visitation, and other child related issues, as well as property division and financial issues. She was also lead judge of the Special Division, hearing petitions for restraining orders in cases involving domestic violence, guardianship, adoptions, and mental health commitment cases. Judge Radius has presided over child abuse and neglect/child protective services (CPS) cases, and juvenile law violations and status offenses. In 2007, Judge Radius was named Jurist of the Year by Chief Justice Ronald Moon. Judge Radius is profoundly committed to supporting at-risk and troubled youth and is an avid supporter of innovative and impactful methods. She is an avid reader, and often will join her Girls Court cohorts in their surf sessions.

Anthony “TJ” Quan Associate Attorney, Smith Himmelmann

TJ Quan grew up in Guam, went to college on the US West Coast, and earned his JD degree here in Hawaii, where he now lives.  But wherever TJ finds himself, he seeks to support native people’s rights, empower local youth and build a stronger community. JT attended the University of Washington, Seattle, where he was part of the Pac-10 Conference Scholar-Athlete Track and Field Team while working toward a BA in Political Science.  TJ came to came to Hawaii to attend law school at UH, Manoa, where he received his JD degree and was an editor of the Asian Pacific Law and Policy Journal and a member of the Advocates for Public Interest Law Board. Presently, TJ is an associate attorney at Smith Himmelmann where he specializes in labor and employment law, discrimination and workers compensation issues. Previously he was a staff attorney at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation where he litigated in federal and state courts on behalf of Native Hawaiian rights. TJ began his legal career working in the offices of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, and then became a Deputy Public Defender for the State of Hawaii, representing indigent individuals. TJ’s passion for surfing, and his expertise in mediation and alternative dispute resolution give him a special connection to SSS kids.  One of our most popular mentors, TJ’s known for spontaneously jumping into the kids’ rap sessions. Check out his great back up vocals on a “Spirit Sessions” rap here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GGuMRhg2I8&feature=related%29

Carlos DiPonio- bio coming soon

Advisory Board

Jeffery Schwartz Kela Associates, Strategic Planning Consultant, Executive Coach, Non-Profit Development Specialist

Mr. Schwartz possesses an enormous range of skills and vast experience in developing and enacting public policy, facilitating non-profit organizational effectiveness and strategic leadership, as well as formulating and implementing successful business and entrepreneurial endeavors. Jeff is a passionate promoter for a better world. He served as Counsel for Environmental Legislation to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee and was instrumental in the enactment of landmark legislation including the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, and helped initiate the first congressional hearings on the ozone depleting potential of chlorinated fluorocarbons in consumer products. As spokesman for DPT, Jeff helped draft and get enacted the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, and served as a public member of Health and Human Services Department’s National Advisory Committee on Childhood Vaccines. Mr. Schwartz also served as program officer, grant maker and Director and Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness for the Fannie Mae Foundation and serves as President of The Social Venture Capital Foundation. Mr. Schwartz co-founded, helped build and manage Jellinek, Schwartz & Connolly, Inc.(JSC), an environmental science, policy, and management consulting firm serving Fortune 1000 clients. JSC was then sold to a publicly traded company. Jeff has moved from DC to live in his dream home on Maui which he shares with his wife and four dogs and cat. His Spirit Sessions team swears he will surf one day.

Shannon Sheets Vice President, Bank of Hawaii

Ms. Sheets has over 13 years of financial analysis experience in the banking, affordable housing, and real estate industries. A graduate of Miliken University, she began her career as a Credit Analyst with Bank One in Springfield, Illinois. After serving as a financial analyst, senior analyst, credit approval officer and assistant vice president in business banking, Shannon went to work for an affordable housing developer, National Church Residences. In 2005, Shannon said aloha to cold winters and moved to Hawai‘i and into a position with Bank of Hawai‘i. She then became involved in affordable housing development, serving as Project Manager with EAH Housing. Returning to Bank of Hawai‘i, Shannon quickly rose to a position in Credit Review, where she currently provides regular reports on credit risk levels to the Audit Committee, Board of Directors, and management team. Shannon is actively involved in the community, serving as Secretary/Treasurer of Hui Kahale, Inc., an affiliate of EAH Housing, focusing on affordable housing development. She is also involved with the River of Life Mission, Institute for Human Services, and Interfaith Hospitality Network (Columbus, OH). Shannon loves all types of sports, surfing, kayaking and ice hockey. Since 2008, she has served as a volunteer Surf Mentor to court-involved girls in the Surfrider Spirit Sessions program. Her ability to connect with the girls is phenomenal, as is her ability to rock it on Guitar Hero.

Annabel Murray, Esq. Founder, The Children’s Law Center

Annabel Murray is life-long child advocate dedicated to insuring that custody litigation, foster care and child support agreements are always guided by the best interests of Hawaii’s children. She’s among Surfrider Spirit Sessions’ original mentors, and was instrumental in developing SSS pilot programs with Founder Cynthia Derosier and Judge Karen Radius in 2006. Annabel’s presently Best Interest Facilitator and Custody Evaluator with The Children’s Law Center, a private firm in Hawaii focusing exclusively on child advocacy. Previously, Annabel worked as lead attorney and project coordinator for Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii at the Na Keiki Law Center. Annabel’s focus has always been on making lives better for all of our keiki. She’s one of original founders of Project Visitation, which works to maintain the relationship between brothers and sisters living in separate foster homes. She began her child advocacy work with Judge R. Mark Browning and the Hawaii Family Courts. In 2007 she was the recipient of the VLSH – Na Loio Pu’uwai Aloha Award for outstanding commitment in providing equal-access to justice. Annabel believes in the deep connections between Hawaiian cultural values, respect for the aina, and malama for the next generations. Annabel is a descendant of the Daughters of Hawaii, a group founded in 1903 and dedicated to preserving Hawaiian cultural heritage. She grew up in Hawaii, attended high school in San Diego and graduated from the University of California San Diego and the California Western School of Law before moving back to Hawaii to in 1992. Annabel lives with her awesome daughter and their chihuahua “Viper.” An avid surfer and hiker, she dreams of sailing around the world on an endless summer surf trip.

Dale Hope- bio coming soon

Magnolia “Maggie” Caswell-Mackey Interactive Game Designer, Avatar Reality

Maggie Caswell-Mackey is proud to be among a new generation of “eco-geeks” for whom the virtual, social and natural worlds are seamlessly interwoven to create the amazing fabric of life. She brings a youthful exuberance and unique tech perspective to SSS. An interactive game designer, Maggie is currently a Technical Designer at Avatar Reality, Inc. in Honolulu. Her responsibilities range from game design and implementation, to Lua scripting, API design, technical art, and developer support for the 3D social world platform Blue Mars. Maggie earned her Masters of Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University and her BS in Mathematics with honors from Principia College. Her professional experience includes educational software editing, technical design, search engine positioning strategies, and market research for established and startup companies including VPG Integrated Media, Schell Games, and Demiurge Studios. Maggie’s known as one of our “stealth mentors”; laid back and mellow at first, but once kids get to know her, she becomes the “rad-cool video game designer surfer.” She presently serves on the fundraising committee where she shares her technical expertise and insights to help us tap into new technologies and networks to reach our funding goals. On the mainland Maggie loved snowboarding, but now she shreds water as an avid surfer. Relatively new to Hawaii, but full of aloha spirit, don’t be surprised if you spot her cruising Waikiki on her SUP at dawn. (Which, by the way, Maggie won as the top fundraiser of the SSS 2010 Mentor Fundraising challenge !)

Dr. Kevin Lee Fujimoto

Kevin Lee Fujimoto is a clinical psychologist and brings over 10 years of extensive experience as a clinician and researcher in youth mental health services to our advisory board. Affectionately referred to as”Dr. Kev” or “Dr. Rasta,” he provides much needed counseling, mentor training, and support services to our team. Dr. Kev received his doctorate at Pepperdine University and has also received degrees from California State University at Long Beach and Columbia University in New York City. He has vast experience in providing direct psychological services for children, adolescents, and their families in his private practice, community based mental health settings, and school-based mental health programs. In addition to his private practice, he currently is a clinical psychologist for the State of Hawaii Department of Education and provides supervision of masters level therapists and classroom consultation. His additional experience includes psychological assessments, inpatient counseling within hospital and juvenile hall facilities, residential treatment programs, and crisis intervention. He is also a Red Cross Disaster Team member and certified psychological first aid trainer. Dr. Rasta has served as a Surfrider Spirit Sessions mentor from 2008-2009. His family Roots are island-based and reach directly to Jamaica and here in Hawaii. He is an avid reader and practices meditation daily. He can often been seen with dreadlocks flying as he tears apart waves at Velzyland, Kaisers, Diamond Head, and other popular surf spots!

Kevin Wong Corporate Graphics Manager, Outrigger Enterprises Group

Kevin Wong has been helping Hawaii’s companies deliver outstanding marketing and communications initiatives for more than 15 years. As a member of the SSS fundraising committee, Kevin generously contributes his design savvy, technical expertise and wealth of resources to our public outreach and community education efforts. Kevin knows the communications business inside and out, having held positions ranging from operations manager to senior art director for companies like JWG Associates, Laird Christianson Advertising and Outrigger Enterprises Group. He brings his vision and craftsmanship to every project, large or small, corporate or community-based, whether it’s for clients like Prince Resorts and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, or Le Jardin Academy and Hospice Hawaii. Kevin graduated from Honolulu’s St. Louis High School, continued his education at Arizona State University, and earned his BFA in graphic design from University of Hawaii, Manoa. Actively involved in the advertising industry, Kevin is a member of AIGA [American Institute of Graphic Arts] Hawaii and is a recipient of several Pele Awards from the Honolulu Advertising Federation. Known as the “Chinese Cowboy” in the SSS family, Kevin loves country and Hawaiian music, horseback riding and cruising on his SUP. If you see a local Chinese dude cruising around Waikiki in cowboy boots, jeans and an aloha shirt, that’s probably Kevin!

Staff

Cynthia Y.H. Derosier Founder, Executive Director/CEO, Program Director

Ms. Derosier leverages her experience as an advertising and communications business owner, specializing in marketing communications, corporate relationship building, and strategic planning and facilitating, into managing Surfrider Spirit Sessions’ organizational development, public relations, social and corporate partner outreach, and fundraising. Cynthia is the author of “The Surfer Spirit,” the book which inspired the Surfrider Spirit Sessions Program. She established and began implementing Spirit Sessions in 2007. Since that time, she has also conducted corporate team-building programs that incorporate the Spirit Sessions to benefit the non-profit organization. She continues to lead the Spirit Sessions programs and oversees program development. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Cynthia is a graduate of I`olani School. She attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she earned a BFA with a focus in Advertising Art Direction and Graphic Design. She has over 20 years’ experience in brand building and relationship marketing, working with top agencies such as Ogilvy & Mather (NYC, Australia and Hawai‘i), J. Walter Thompson (NYC), and Cohn & Wells (NYC). She attended Columbia University Teachers College, working towards a Masters in Child Art Therapy, when she returned to Hawaii to work as a lead team member on The Hawaii Convention Center account. She is also certified as a graphic recorder, strategic planner and team building facilitator. Cynthia is an active member of the Organization of Women Leaders (OWL) and is on the Executive Committee of The Surfrider Foundation, O‘ahu Chapter. She has paddled in outrigger canoes and in sail canoes including long distance travel from Oahu to Kauai. She also scuba dives, draws, paints, and of course, she surfs.

Samson “Uncle Santa Sam” Rodrigues Program Manager, Surf Instructor

Mr. Rodrigues has spent his lifetime supporting others and has over 40 years of experience in social services. In 2010 Sam retired from Hawaii State Family Services where he last served as a case manager for families in crisis. In addition to monitoring these families and their children, “Uncle” Sam taught effective parenting skills so children could be successfully reunited with their parents. He has extensive training in all facets of child and family welfare including: identifying and treating sexual abuse and domestic violence, dealing with aggressive clients, human development and adolescence, effective parenting, substance abuse identification and treatment, gang awareness and prevention, and grief, trauma and suicide prevention. Sam is an avid waterman and has worked as a Waikiki Beach Boy on weekends for over 20 years. He is Spirit Sessions’ original surf instructor and worked with founder, Cynthia Derosier, to develop the program from the very start. (In fact, Sam is one of the instructors who first taught Cynthia how to surf!). Uncle Sam has a natural warmth and charisma that draws people to him and commands love and respect from our youth. He has been featured in local commercials as a “Surfing Santa,” and appears in several surf films. True to his Hawaiian heritage, Sam loves outrigger canoe paddling as well as surfing. He has competed in the Molokai Channel over a dozen times and has raced all over the world including in Tahiti, Rarotonga, New Zealand, Australia and France. When he’s not working, you can often find him in a canoe or working at the beach stand in Waikiki.

Scott Naguwa Program & Development Coordinator

Mr. Naguwa comes to Surfrider Spirit Sessions with a youthful passion and driving determination to do good in the world. Scott first joined Spirit Sessions as a mentor and quickly found his background in Environmental Science and Marine Biology could enrich lives beyond the lab. He has been involved in supporting non-profit ventures including initiating and leading fundraising drives from the time he was a young teen. Scott has over ten years experience in scientific research and project management and is a published scientist. He has worked with independent labs and environmental consulting firms conducting and managing various projects ranging from identifying a means of removal of invasive in-land species, to aquaculture and agriculture field work and research. In addition, Scott has several years experience in management and sales and has worked as a contract bicycle mechanic for Boca Hawaii and the Honolulu Century Ride. Scott also has a long history in both competitive and non-competitive sports, and has coached youth at Punahou School. Mr. Naguwa attended Davis Senior High School, then graduated from the University of California Davis with a BA in Environmental Science and Management. Scott comes from a family of fisherman and got his love of the ocean from them. Born to two Hawaii “locals” in Northern California, Scott spent his summers with family in Hawaii, going to the beach, fishing, diving, and surfing. He has been and avid fisherman since the age of 5. Working to be the best waterman he can be, Scott spends most of his free time surfing, fishing, and diving. When he is not in the water you will find him mountain biking, hiking, cooking, playing music, and traveling….or more likely, hard at work trying to develop yet another way to improve or enhance our programs and processes.

Kiana Blankenfeld, Youth Coordinator/Employment Trainer Bio coming soon.

Joy Takenouchi Administrative Assistant Bio coming soon.

Kimo Short Junior Mentor Manager Kimo is proof of the power of Spirit Sessions. A former youth under the supervision of Hawaii State Courts, Kimo has become one of our strongest youth leaders. At age 13 Kimo had been involved in drugs, ran away from home frequent, flunked 9th grade several times and sported of GPA of .05. Through his involvement with Spirit Sessions and with the support of a myriad of mentors, Kimo has taken command of his life and now dedicates himself to living the best life he can. Kimo accelerated his studies, caught up on all his classes and graduated from Kalani High School with honors before his seventeenth birthday. He is now enrolled in college, and is currently working for US Fish & Wildlife as well as Surfrider Spirit Sessions. Kimo is our very first Junior Mentor Manager and leads a team of Junior Mentors. Kimo channels his abundant energy into surfing, running, working out and inspiring other youth to living “clean” and healthy lives. He plans on becoming a marine biologist or environmental advocate. We’ve seen his charisma and drive and won’t be surprised if he one day becomes President of the United States….he’s just that driven. He’ll have our vote!

Junior Mentors & Junior Mentor Interns

For confidentiality reasons we only list the first names of our Junior Mentors, both active and past.

• Jenna
• Joyce
• Sean
• Daniel
• Kahiau
• Lealani
• Kainoalani
• Ceara
• Daniel
• Jeani
• Kelly
• Kristel
• Annie
• Shay
• Lorenzo
• Greg
• Chickasaw
• Kimo
• AC