Five distinguished individuals will be recognized at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business Hall of Honor Awards on Tuesday, September 30 at the Sheraton Waikīkī. These individuals were selected for their outstanding contributions to their profession, community and to the Shidler College of Business.
Honorees
Roland Casamina, BBA 1976, president and CEO of House of Finance Inc
Casamina established House of Finance Inc. in 1995. Under his leadership as president and CEO, the company prospered and was recognized by Pacific Business News as one of the top 20 largest residential lenders in Hawaiʻi for the past five years. In 2008, Casamina received the coveted “Man of the Year” award by the Hawaiʻi Jaycees for his community service work. He also established a $50,000 endowed scholarship for undergraduate business students at the Shidler College of Business in 2012. Read more about him.
Curtis Freeze, MBA 1987, CEO of Prospect Asset Management Inc.
Freeze is the founder and director of Prospect Co. Ltd. and Prospect Asset Management, Hawaiʻi-based investment firms with locations in Tokyo. His firms are widely respected for their ability to find companies with long-term capital growth for Japanese investors. For many years, Freeze has hosted a number of alumni gathering in Tokyo for the Shidler College of Business. In 2005, he supported the college’s Internship and Career Development Office through a $100,000 matching gift campaign. Read more about him.
James Lee, BBA 1978, CEO of KB Lee Corporation and UH regent emeritus
Lee is a partner in the Honolulu law firm of Devens, Lo, Youth, Nakano, Saito, Lee and Wong and the CEO of KB Lee Corporation, a family holding company that owns Hee Hing restaurant. Lee served on the UH Board of Regents from 2009–2014. He was also board chair of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Foundation Inc., director of Boy Scouts of America, chair of the ʻIolani School Family Fair and vice chair of the Research Corporation of UH. Read more about him.
Gina Mangieri, EMBA 2002, KHON2 reporter and founder of The Cole Academy
Mangieri is an investigative reporter for KHON2 and the founder of The Cole Academy preschools. A journalist by trade, Mangieri worked in print and broadcast news in New York, London, Chicago and Washington D.C. She moved to Hawaiʻi in 1999 to serve as editor of Pacific Business News. In 2004, she established The Cole Academy preschools. Read more about her.
David McClain, professor and president emeritus University of Hawaiʻi
McClain is president emeritus of the University of Hawaiʻi. He has been a tenured professor of finance at the Shidler College of Business since 1991. He led the 10-campus UH System from 2004–2009 and also served as UH vice president for academic affairs during 2003–2004. He was dean of the UH Mānoa College of Business from 2000–2003. Prior to joining UH, McClain served as senior staff economist on the Council of Economic Advisors to President Jimmy Carter. Read more about him.
“For over two decades, the Shidler College of Business Hall of Honor has been recognizing distinguished Shidler alumni and friends from Hawaiʻi and around the world,” said Shidler College of Business Dean Vancy Roley. “This year’s inductees are a remarkable group of well-respected community leaders and accomplished professionals in their field. They are excellent examples of the quality of our graduates and we look forward to honoring them at the Hall of Honor Awards.”
Event details
Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine, the Hall of Honor Awards will take place on Tuesday, September 30, 5:30–9 p.m. at Sheraton Waikīkī. To register, visit the Shidler College of Business website or call (808) 956-0323.
—A UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business news release
—By Dolly Omiya
