SSCR3226

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3226

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 378

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 378, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

G.M. No. 378

CHUCK Y. GEE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds that Chuck Y. Gee has the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly and fourteen individuals. Testimony in opposition to the nomination was submitted by the Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Comments were submitted by the Hawaii Women's Political Caucus. Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Mr. Gee earned a Master of Arts degree from Michigan State University, a Bachelor's degree from the University of Denver, Associate's degree from City College of San Francisco, and Degree of Professional Studies from the University of Denver. Mr. Gee is an International Tourism Advisor/Consultant, Human Resource Development/Training Consultant, and Textbook Writer, and he has a hotel company investment startup.

Mr. Gee is a prominent administrator and educator of travel and tourism management. He served as Dean of the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management, Interim Dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business, Associate Dean/Professor of the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management, Tourism Training Consultant for the East-West Center Institute for Technical Interchange, and Associate Director of the University of Denver's School of Human Resources Management.

Mr. Gee has volunteered his time and efforts to serve on several state and national governmental advisory organizations. He served three terms on the United States Department of Commerce's Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and has served as a member or chairperson of strategic planning committees under several City and County of Honolulu mayors. Although Mr. Gee is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong-China-Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Asia Travel Association, Hawaii Chapter, his service extends beyond the travel and tourism industry, as he also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kuakini Health System and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Kuakini Medical Center.

Mr. Gee's service and expertise have not gone unnoticed; he has received numerous honors, largely for his work in the travel industry. These honors include the Grand Award for Individual Educational Accomplishment and the Life Member Award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Emeritus Golden Key Honorary recognition from the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, Travel Industry Hall of Leaders Award from the Travel Industry of America, Award of Excellence for Tourism Education from the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China, and the Governor's Award for Hawaii State Manager of the Year. He was also recently recognized by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin as one of the "100 Who Made a Difference" in the State of Hawaii during the twentieth century.

Mr. Gee is a current member of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. His experiences as dean of various schools within the University, combined with his active participation in tourism-related associations outside of the University, give him a unique perspective on the needs of the State that the University is capable to fill presently or in the future.

During this difficult economic climate, Mr. Gee identifies financial stability, revenue growth, and the pursuit of economic opportunities for the community and State as priorities for the Board of Regents. Your Committee finds that Mr. Gee has already been instrumental to the Board of Regents' efforts to pursue revenue generating options while keeping Hawaii residents' needs in consideration, and his international reputation is helpful in bolstering the University's reputation as a global university. Your Committee further finds that Mr. Gee possesses the experience, knowledge, and insights to make prudent decisions that are in the best interests of the University community and the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair