Organizers
Curator: L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine
Bred, born, and raised in Hawaii; L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine dedicated more than a decade of her professional career building communities as a Property Manager in neighborhoods on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and in Houston, Texas. Neenz focused on the intertwined relationship between the property owners, residents, and outlying neighborhood members to reinforce the goals of the entire community.
Nearly three years ago, a casual conversation on Twitter led to her sitting in the audience at a conference listening to a speech by Founding Partner of Garage Technology Ventures, co-Founder of Nononina, author, and speaker Guy Kawasaki. Today, she’s the Chief Evangelist for Kawasaki’s latest personal venture, leading news aggregation site, Alltop.
With Kawasaki as her Business Advisor, Neenz founded social media marketing company, Pono Media. Less than a year old, Pono Media has successfully launched Hawaii Tech 5.0 and Hawaii Traditions. Building communities through social media, Pono Media will partner with TEYC Hawaii to launch Entrepreneurs Wanted — a business resource for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs.
Neenz is currently a co-organizer of [re] Think: Hawaii.
Executive Producer: Traci Toguchi
Traci Toguchi is a Renaissance Chick. She is a singer, songwriter, actor, marketing strategist, holistic entertainment/e-coach, evolving web developer (CIW certified), and former Miss Hawaii interested in all things tech, art, food, green/organic, and entrepreneur-focused.
Besides the above, Traci also enjoys spending time with her loved ones, being an aunt, hiking, playing the guitar, watercolor painting, and researching, exploring and living sustainably. Says Traci, “I’m inspired by people who choose to see the good and let that be their guide through the ups and downs in life.”
Follow @tracitoguchi on Twitter.
Connector: Christine Lu
Christine Lu connects good people to each other so great things can happen. A self professed geek girl, sinophile and foodie who grew up in Southern California.
Christine lived and worked in China for a number of years as Marketing Director for Home Shopping Shanghai Limited, a joint-venture of HSN International’s TV shopping business.
Upon moving back to the US, she launched a podcast show in 2007 for Entrepreneur Magazine called The China Business Show which led to the founding of The China Business Network. Christine devotes much of her time and projects on the bridge between East and West. She is founder of Cilantro Media, a boutique firm focused on slightly disruptive business models and ideas that bring about effective change.
Christine has been involved in the social media strategy for Hawaii Tourism Authority, Fatburger, pur~lisse skincare, M1NT Shanghai, Cause Media Group and The China Business Network.
Based on her belief that knowledge should be shared in an open free thinking environment that allows new ideas to thrive, Christine is involved in several cross border initiatives including co-founding [RE]Think, curator of TEDxShanghai, Geeks On A Plane, China 2.0 Tour and The China Business Show.
Christine is also an active TED member. She curated the first TEDxShanghai event in June 2009 and is on the organizing team for TEDxHonolulu. Following this year’s TEDGlobal, she is now in the midst of organizing a TEDx group from China to TEDActive / TED2010.
Christine is currently involved in several social good projects for Cause Media Group, Project Rebirth and Go Green Initiative. She is the editor-in-chief of WhatGives?! a new platform focused on sharing stories and updates on social good and non-profits. She is also partnering with photographer Kris Krug on a Creative Commons licensed book about Shanghai launching next year during the World Expo.
