STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2021

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 589, 590, 610, 611, 661

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 589, 590, 610, 611, and 661, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Procurement Policy Board

 

G.M. No. 589

LANCE INOUYE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 590

RICHARD HELTZEL,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 610

DIANE NAKAGAWA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2026;

 

G.M. No. 611

LISA MARUYAMA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024; and

 

G.M. No. 661

LANCE INOUYE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2027,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Lance Inouye, Richard Heltzel, Diane Nakagawa, and Lisa Maruyama for service on the Procurement Policy Board.

 

 

LANCE INOUYE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominations for the appointment and reappointment of Lance Inouye from the State Procurement Office, General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; Royal Contracting Co., Ltd; S&M Sakamoto, Inc.; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Nordic PCL Construction, Inc.; D&C Plumbing, Inc.; Alan Shintani, Inc.; Civil-Mechanical Contractor, Inc.; SSFRM International, Inc.; and six individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Inouye's contracting background qualifies him for appointment and reappointment to the Board as a member with five years of high-level construction procurement experience.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Inouye is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ralph S. Inouye Co., Ltd. where he has spent over forty years in the construction business.  Previously, he worked as an attorney in private practice and a Deputy Attorney General.   Mr. Inouye has served on numerous boards, including the Hawaii State Land Use Commission, General Contractors Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Fund, Shriners Hospital Capital Campaign Committee, Academy of the Pacific Board, and Department of Education Advisory Committee.  In addition to his many years of construction experience in Hawaii, Mr. Inouye has extensive knowledge of the Hawaii Procurement Code.  Your Committee therefore finds that Lance Inouye's knowledge, background, and experience with the construction procurement process in Hawaii will be valuable assets to the Procurement Policy Board.

 

RICHARD HELTZEL

 

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for appointment of Richard Heltzel from the State Procurement Office; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; S&M Sakamoto, Inc.; Civil‑Mechanical Contractor; Royal Contracting Co., Ltd; SSFM International, Inc.; Elite Pacific Construction, Inc.; D&C Plumbing, Inc.; Nordic PCL Construction, Inc.; Koga Engineering and Construction, Inc.; Alan Shintani, Inc.; and six individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Heltzel's maritime construction background qualifies him for appointment to the Board as a member with five years of general procurement experience.  Mr. Heltzel is a licensed civil engineer and has over forty years of maritime construction experience, including thirty-eight years of experience with the procurement process of the State and local agencies as well as federal contracts.  Mr. Heltzel is currently the President of Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc., where he is directly responsible for planning and execution of the company's ongoing and completed projects.  Prior to serving as President, he was the company's Vice President and Project Manager.  Mr. Heltzel is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, where he has previously served as Vice President, President, and Chairman of the Legislative Committee; Associated General Contractors of America; and American Society of Civil Engineers.  Your Committee was concerned that the other nominees represented general contractors and thus there would not be a voice for the subcontractors on the Procurement Policy Board.  During the hearing, Mr. Hetzel indicated that he held multiple subcontractor licenses in his own right and as such will advocate for the subcontractor community on issues that affect them.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that Mr. Hetzel would provide a necessary voice on the board by ensuring representation of subcontractors.  Your Committee therefore finds that Richard Heltzel's knowledge, background, and experience will be valuable assets to the Procurement Policy Board.

 

DIANE NAKAGAWA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for appointment of Diane Nakagawa from the State Procurement Office, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Parks and Recreation of the County of Hawai‘i, Finance Department of the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Corporation Counsel of the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the County Clerk of the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Finance of the County of Maui, and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Nakagawa's work in county and local government and community-based organizations qualify her for appointment to the Board as a member with five years of high-level county procurement experience.  Your Committee notes that Diane Nakagawa has served as the Deputy Director of the Finance Department of the County of Hawai‘i since May 2022.  Prior to this, she served as the County's Purchasing Agent, overseeing procurement, with the exception of construction-related contracts, for all county departments.  During her time with the County of Hawai‘i, she has implemented several critical initiatives such as developing a procurement training program for employees and a development program for businesses to promote competition in the marketplace.  Ms. Nakagawa previously worked for the City of Phoenix, Arizona, and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce in Arizona.  She has over twenty years of experience working in economic development and public administration and has been instrumental in guiding executive and legislative branches with understanding statutory requirements for all procurement processes.  Your Committee therefore finds that Diane Nakagawa's experience, personal knowledge, and demonstrated interest in public service will be valuable assets to the Procurement Policy Board.

 

LISA MARUYAMA

 

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for appointment of Lisa Maruyama from the State Procurement Office; Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Oahu Economic Development Board; YWCA O‘ahu; The Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Partners in Development Foundation; EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.; Transform Hawai‘i Government; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Domestic Violence Action Center; Parents and Children Together; Hawai‘i Community Foundation; Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; National Council of Nonprofits; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; and fifteen individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Maruyama's nonprofit background qualifies her for appointment to the Board as a member with five years of general procurement experience.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Maruyama currently is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, which provides support and services to Hawaii's nonprofit organizations to improve their overall management, including professional development opportunities for staff and boards of directors in program development and implementation, financial management, fundraising, marketing, community relations, and advocacy.  Her professional experience includes serving as Interim Executive Director of the Women's Fund of Hawaii, Marketing Consultant for the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, Marketing Consultant for the Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Vice President of Public Affairs at Bright Light Marketing, Executive Director of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Maruyama has successfully convened and maintained meetings among Hawaii's nonprofit leaders to have honest and candid conversations about the government and procurement system so that government agencies and nonprofit organizations can work collaboratively as partners.  Your Committee therefore finds that Lisa Maruyama's knowledge, working experience, and desire to contribute to the community will be valuable assets to the Procurement Policy Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair