What inspires you or is most exciting about your job, business, and industry, and what are the biggest challenges?
What inspires me most about my role at Pacific Historic Parks is the opportunity to preserve and elevate the stories that have shaped our nation and the Pacific region. Each site we support—from the USS Arizona Memorial to Kalaupapa National Historical Park—represents a legacy of sacrifice, resilience, and remembrance.
Our mission isn’t just about honoring the past—it’s about ensuring future generations learn, connect, and grow from these powerful stories. One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is watching history come alive through our Education Team. Whether they’re working with students, hosting veterans, or creating unforgettable experiences for Make-A-Wish families, their impact is transformational. We’re also building meaningful international partnerships—such as our collaboration with Hiroshima—and preparing for the reopening of Kalaupapa, a site that holds profound lessons in human dignity and perseverance. But with meaningful work comes real challenges. Chief among them is remaining relevant to younger generations in a fast-paced, tech–driven world. We must continually evolve—embracing innovation while staying rooted in our mission—to ensure these stories remain urgent, emotional, and deeply personal.
What does it take to be a leader?
True leadership isn’t about titles or hierarchy. It’s about showing up with intention, integrity, and the ability to empower others. A strong leader listens deeply, leads with empathy, and creates space for others to grow. It’s about setting the tone and lifting others, not seeking the spotlight. When I stepped into the CEO role after serving as CFO, it wasn’t simply a career move—it was a moment of advocacy. I believed in the vision I had for our organization and the value I could bring to the role. That experience taught me that leadership begins with believing in yourself—and expands through the way you serve others. At its core, leadership is about impact. It’s measured not by your personal accomplishments, but by how many people help you succeed.
I feel like a boss when…
I feel like a boss when I see my team thriving—when they feel seen, supported, and inspired to lead in their own way. To me, real leadership is about creating a culture where people feel safe to be themselves, excited to contribute, and confident enough to take bold steps forward. At Pacific Historic Parks, we’ve built a work culture that prioritizes inclusion, balance, and joy. From ensuring fair compensation to small daily gestures—like making sure everyone is fed (food is absolutely my love language!)—I lead with the goal of creating a place where people want to show up, collaborate, and grow. The best moments aren’t when I’m in the spotlight—they’re when someone on my team pitches a new idea, mentors a peer, or steps into their own leadership. That’s when I know I’m doing something right.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is this: Your leadership should be measured by how well you empower others—not by what you accomplish alone. That insight changed the way I define success. It’s not about how far you go—it’s about how many people you bring with you. At Pacific Historic Parks, I’ve seen this come to life in the growth of our team, the programs we’ve developed, and the culture we’ve created. Our educators are inspiring students, our staff are stepping into new roles, and the impact is extending far beyond our walls. That kind of ripple effect—that generational leadership—is what I strive for every day.
What have you created that you are most proud of?
What I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve created at Pacific Historic Parks—a mission-driven, people-first organization that honors the past while shaping the future. We’ve built a team that leads with heart and a business model that sustains our purpose. Our Education Team is reaching thousands of students, our hybrid nonprofit-retail approach supports long-term impact, and we’ve developed a legacy of service that touches communities across the Pacific and beyond. The programs and partnerships we’ve built will outlive us—and that, to me, is the greatest success of all. We’re not just preserving history. We’re building something enduring. And I’m honored to help lead that legacy forward.
