Entries Tagged 'entrepreneur' ↓

Leslie Wilcox talks story with Maui-raised and based entrepreneur Leona Rocha Wilson, a one-time national spokesperson for the home sewing industry and inventor of the “fashion rule”, a tool still in use today. Leona is also a passionate advocate for education, and uses her Maui-based cable show, Go School, No Come Like Me, to inspire people through stories of lives transformed by family support of education. Her colorful life, which included a stint in the military and writing a book, is a shining example of how to constantly reinvent oneself.

 

 Long Story Short - Leona Rocha Wilson - Maui-Based Entrepreneur and Inventor [27:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

Leslie Wilcox talks story with Layla Dedrick, Pacific Business News’ 2009 Young Business Leader of the Year. Layla is C.E.O. of  Bella Pietra, a natural stone company, and she runs her business on values that are part of her Hawaiian heritage: Kuleana (responsibility), Malama (caring for), and Kupono (doing the right thing in the right place). She talks with Leslie about her journey from her childhood in Waianae, to attending Kamehameha Schools, to teaching special needs children, to running a highly successful business with her husband.

 

 Long Story Short - Layla Dedrick - Young Business Leader [27:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

On this episode of Long Story Short, Leslie Wilcox sits down to share stories with Hawaii Island farmer Richard Ha.

Never heard of him?  Well, Richard Ha isn’t your average farmer.  He’s been called a visionary farmer.  An innovative small business owner, Ha offers his employees profit sharing, has found a way to generate electricity on his property outside of Hilo, initiated an adopt-a-class program at Keaukaha Elementary School, advocates native Hawaiian practices of ahupua‘a and writes a blog on his website.

Interested in hearing more about him?  Then tune in for an engaging conversation with Richard Ha, a visionary farmer, on Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox.

 

 Long Story Short - Richard Ha - Visionary Farmer [26:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

Jon de Mello is the creative mastermind behind the phenomenally successful Mountain Apple Company. Jon’s many talents and non-stop creative energy seem perfectly suited to the high-powered world of entertainment.

 

 Long Story Short - Jon deMello - Mountain Apple's Creative Force [26:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

Anne Namba is the creator of a fashion line blending vintage Japanese fabrics and contemporary fashion, “kimono couture.” Her brand, Anne Namba Designs, is being picked up nationally by Nordstrom’s and is featured in other select Mainland stores. Anne graduated from Kalani High School and went on to the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. After stints in the garment industry in New York and L.A., Anne started her own business.

 

 Long Story Short - Anne Namba - Fashion Designer of 'Kimono Couture' [26:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

The Keaulana ‘ohana of Makaha is a family of watermen and women who’ve grown up in and around the ocean. It’s infused every cell of who they are. Brian Keaulana is following in the wake of his dad “Buffalo” as a living legend. Brian is carving out an international reputation as a big wave rider, Hollywood stunt man, ocean risk management expert, inventor and businessman.

 

 Long Story Short - Brian Keaulana - Big Wave Rider and Businessman [27:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

Cha Thompson runs a large family and a large, family-run business with her husband of 42 years, Jack Thompson.  Together, they own and operate Tihati Productions, one of the largest entertainment businesses in the state.

Raised in public housing, Cha tells Leslie Wilcox that she’s most proud of being able to provide an education for her children.  Each has attended college.  And she herself recently earned a college degree.  “You know, we were always hungry, Leslie; we were always hungry,” she recalls.  “And so maybe that was it.  Maybe I thought, you know, I’m never gonna let that happen to my kids; and it never did.”

How have Cha and Jack succeeded in raising five children of their own and seven more hanai (a Polynesian tradition of adoption)?  “We expect for them to give back,” Cha says.  “We always say in our family, Much is expected from whom much is given.”

Tune in to hear stories of faith and family with Cha Thompson on Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox.

 

 Long Story Short - Cha Thompson [26:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox is a production of PBS Hawaii.

If you know the name Mamo, it’s probably because Mamo Howell is one of Hawaii’s most successful fashion designers and retailers. Quite an accomplishment for a woman  – half Hawaiian – who started her business in her 40s.

But that’s not where Mamo’s story began. As a teenager she danced hula in Waikiki to help support her family and later became a high-fashion model, strutting on runways in New York and Paris. Hawaii’s first top model.

 

 Long Story Short - Mamo Howell - Hawaii Fashion Designer [26:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

An entrepreneur with an inspiring story of success. Kent Untermann’s career has included playing football at the University of Hawaii, training at the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie camp – and turning a swap meet business into an operation that generates $15 million dollars a year.

Leslie Wilcox sits down with Kent to hear how he said goodbye to his NFL dreams and applied himself to success in another field – the picture framing business – starting the Hawaii company Pictures Plus.

 

 Long Story Short - Kent Untermann [26:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download