More than a dozen honorees of the 26th Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business awards have ties to the University of Hawaiʻi, including a current staff member at UH Foundation, with UH Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business. The annual awards recognize women who excel in business and community leadership.
Bianca Mordasini, Shidler college’s senior director of alumni and external relations, is one of the 31 honorees. Mordasini builds and sustains a comprehensive alumni engagement program, as well as oversees all of the college’s marketing, events, public relations and community outreach initiatives. Before joining UH, Mordasini served as director of communications at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, and director of public relations for a luxury hotel property with Irongate. Mordasini earned her bachelor of arts degree in communications from UH Mānoa and currently serves as chair for the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi’s Young Professionals (YP) Program, a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to enhancing opportunities for YPs to thrive personally and professionally.
“I am incredibly honored to be nominated for such a prestigious accolade,” Mordasini said. “This recognition came as a complete surprise, and I am grateful and humbled to be in the company of such amazing female leaders. A heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees!”
Mordasini and the other honorees will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on March 28 at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort.
Other awardees with UH ties
- Angela Britten, Hawaiʻi Land Trust chief operations and philanthropy officer
- Tricia Buskirk, Hawaiʻi Community Federal Credit Union president and CEO
- Carol Higa, Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union senior VP of business banking and credit administration
- Lori Kahikina, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation executive director and CEO
- Shirley Lau Chan, Prince Resorts Hawaiʻi/Prince Waikīkī director of human resources
- Reina Miyamoto, Hawaiʻi Homeownership Center executive director
- Cyd Miyashiro, American Savings Bank first vice president, corporate banking
- Cayenne Peʻa, Alakaʻi Development principal and co-founder
- Alana Peacott-Ricardos, Finance Factors Ltd. vice president general counsel and compliance officer
- Agatha Viernes-LeGros, Bank of Hawaiʻi senior vice president
- Leanne Kealoha Fox, Institute for Climate and Peace president
- Marie (Mari) Villa, Villa Business Consulting CEO
