STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 586, 587, 588, 589, 590

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 586, 587, 588, 589, and 590, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

G.M. No. 586	STANFORD YUEN, for a term to expire 6-30-2019;
G.M. No. 587	LEE PUTNAM, for a term to expire 6-30-2019;
G.M. No. 588	JEFFREY PORTNOY, for a term to expire 6-30-2014;
G.M. No. 589	JEFFREY PORTNOY, for a term to expire 6-30-2019; and
G.M. No. 590	MICHELLE TAGORDA, for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Stanford Yuen, Lee Putnam, Jeffrey Portnoy, and Michelle Tagorda to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii (Board of Regents).

STANFORD YUEN

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Stanford Yuen from twenty-one individuals.  Your Committee received comments on the nomination of Stanford Yuen from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Yuen received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii.  He earned a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

     Mr. Yuen began his career in the aerospace industry as a Design Engineer at Boeing Aircraft.  He went on to serve as a Stockbroker and Account Executive before beginning his long career as a Mechanical Engineer, Industrial Engineer, and Facilities Engineer with various branches of the federal government.  Mr. Yuen also taught Engineering Economics at the University of Hawaii for many years.

     During his time with the federal government, Mr. Yuen played a key role in the success of many major projects including the construction of the Ford Island Bridge, mooring of the battleship U.S.S. Missouri at Pearl Harbor, and closure of Barbers Point.

     Mr. Yuen has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Hawaii Lifetime Achievement Award in Engineering, being named a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Hawaii College of Engineering, Hawaii Engineer-of-the Year, Federal Professional Employee of the Year, and the United Chinese Society's Model Citizen of the Year.

     Mr. Yuen is also active in numerous professional, engineering, business, civic, cultural, education, charitable, athletic, and community organizations, serving in key leadership roles.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Yuen's extensive professional and leadership experience will make him an excellent addition to the Board of Regents.

LEE PUTNAM

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lee Putnam from the Filipino American Citizens League; National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region 12; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; and twenty-six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on the nomination of Lee Putnam from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Putnam received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado.  She went on to receive her Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago and her Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Maryland.

     Dr. Putnam served as a Children's Librarian with the Chicago Public Library, Reference Librarian at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Associate Librarian at Gallaudet College, Management Intern at Rutgers University Libraries, and Consultant to the Library of Congress.

In 1980, Dr. Putnam began her career at the University of Hawaii as an Associate Librarian.  She went on to serve the University of Hawaii as a Faculty Specialist, Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a Faculty Specialist in the Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity.

     Dr. Putnam has been engaged in a number of professional and community activities, including volunteering her time with the Aloha United Way, American Library Association, Hawai‘i Veterans Memorial Fund, and Hawaii Services on Deafness, among other organizations.

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Putnam's wide range of professional and academic experiences, as well as her commitment to the University of Hawaii, will serve her well as a member of the Board of Regents.

JEFFREY PORTNOY

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Jeffrey Portnoy from six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on the nomination of Jeffrey Portnoy from two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Portnoy received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University.  He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Duke University School of Law.

     Mr. Portnoy is a partner with the Cades Schutte law firm and serves as the Chair of the firm's Litigation Department and as Co-Chair of the firm's Management Committee.  He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hawaii Department of Journalism teaching courses on Media Law.

     Mr. Portnoy is very active in the legal community and has served as the President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, Director of the Hawaii Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, President of the Hawaii Defense Lawyers Association, and member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board.  He has also served as a member of the William S. Richardson School of Law Dean Search Committee.

     Mr. Portnoy has been serving as an interim member of the Board of Regents for approximately four months, and your Committee finds that he will continue to be an asset to the Board of Regents.

MICHELLE TAGORDA

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Michelle Tagorda from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Hawai‘i Public Health Association; Filipino American Citizens League, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region 12; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Nursing Advocates & Mentor, Inc.; Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training; and twenty-three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on the nomination of Michelle Tagorda from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Tagorda received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is currently a graduate student in the University of Hawaii's Master of Public Health program and is expected to graduate in May 2015.

     Ms. Tagorda is currently an Undergraduate Advisor and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is also a Program Assistant at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Office of the Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education.  She has previously served as a Peer Advisor with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center and as a Research Assistant on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Epidemiology and Evaluation Team at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Public Health Sciences.

     Ms. Tagorda has received various honors for her academic achievements and is a member of the Mortar Board National Honor Society and Psi Chi Honor Society.

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Tagorda will serve as the student member on the Board of Regents and will bring a fresh and unique perspective to assist the Board of Regents fulfill its mission giving due consideration to the University's student body.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education 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 Higher Education,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair