As Foundation principal and visionary philanthropist, Henk Rogers is committed to the missions of stewarding environmental responsibility through developing non-carbon clean energy sources, working towards an end to wars, and reaching Mars. He is also globally renowned as a true visionary of computer and video gaming. One of the Dutch-born, U.S.-educated entrepreneur and gaming icon's many companies, Blue Planet Software, holds the exclusive intellectual property rights to Tetris, the world's most popular electronic video game (with over 70 million units sold). Rogers revolutionized the entire industry when he brought the now legendary game to U.S. and world markets almost two decades ago. Among Rogers' most recent accomplishments are the launch of the casual game portal Tetris Online, the digital photo management developer Blue Lava Technologies and massively-multiplayer virtual world builder Avatar Reality. His companies also currently include Bullet-Proof Software, AnimaTek, Blue Lava Technologies and Blue Lava Wireless, one of the country's top mobile phone game publishers.
Previously, Rogers' groundbreaking work in the 1980s in Japan's then-fledgling computer game industry led to the development of that country's first-ever Role Playing Game (RPG), Black Onyx (published by Bullet-Proof Software) — he is known there as "the father of RPG." Henk's reach has also greatly influenced the hand-held game systems market via his facilitation of one of the industry's most fruitful partnerships, between Tetris and Nintendo's Game Boy (over 35 million units of the game have been sold through this marriage alone). Henk Rogers currently resides in Hawaii. Raised in Holland until age 11, he attended secondary school at NYC's famous specialized high school for mathematics, science and technology, Stuyvesant High School. He went on to study computer science at the University of Hawaii.
Dr. Peter E. Crouch has been Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa since 2006. In addition to its mission of providing an outstanding undergraduate program in engineering — something about which Crouch is passionate — the College's vision includes being recognized with the Pacific Rim for its unique and distinctive characteristics emanating from its roots in the Hawaiian and Pacific Island communities, its oceanic environment and its East-meets-West location. Dr. Crouch is also currently a member of: the Hawaii Science and Technology Council; the CAMS External Advisory Board, Idaho National Laboratory; and the K-12 Advisory Board for the American Society for Engineering Education Dean's Council.
Previously, Dr. Crouch's distinguished background as an administrator, educator and scholar includes serving as Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Arizona State University. He was also Dean of ASU's esteemed Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering for over a decade. Under his leadership, the school rose to be included among the country's top 50 engineering programs, as ranked by US News and World Report. Also during his tenure, graduate and undergraduate enrollment increased, 160 new faculty members were added, partnerships with top high tech companies were formed and over 20 research projects — accounting for almost $100 million in research expenditures — were funded. Prior to becoming Dean, Crouch was Chair of ASU's Electrical Engineering Department and taught for eight years in the mathematics and engineering departments.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Dr. Crouch has authored two books and more than 100 archival, journal and refereed publications. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Sciences and an M.A. in Control Theory from Warwick University in England as well as a B.A. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University.
Stanley Hong is an attorney, leader in business, civic and community affairs, conservation and philanthropy in Hawaii for almost four decades. Currently, he is Trustee of The King William Charles Lunalilo Trust Estate, which oversees the Lunalilo Home, serving elders of Hawaiian ancestry.
Hong's extensive professional background includes serving as President of Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. He is Trustee for Pacific Capital Funds and Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, and has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of both the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. Previously, he was Vice President/Administration, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Theo H. Davies & Co., Ltd. and served as an executive in Hong Kong and Asia with Davies parent company, Jardine Matheson & Co.
Serving the community, Hong is a Trustee for: The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Child and Family Service, the East West Center Foundation and the St. Louis School. Among other directorships, he is also a Regent for Chaminade University of Honolulu and a Director for the PBS Hawaii Foundation.
Mr. Hong began his career in the early 60's as a law clerk in Hawaii's Supreme Court and later served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Hiram Fong. Hong received his law degree from Drake University Law School and degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University. He and wife, Karen reside in Honolulu. They have two sons, David, an attorney, is Managing Director of Marsh, Inc. based in San Francisco and Jonathan, a Director of Citigroup Global Markets, Ltd. in London.
Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey, Ph.D. is an award-winning filmmaker and cultural anthropologist. Raised by Hawaiian elders, she is deeply committed to the conservation of indigenous knowledge and is an internationally esteemed speaker and expert on the topic. Dr. Lindsey's film company, PIKO Productions, is situated near two ancient heiau temples. Her award-winning documentary film, Then There Were None, chronicling the near extinction of native Hawaiian peoples, is considered a Hawaiian history classic. Now available on DVD, its awards include Best Documentary Short at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in 1996. Dr. Lindsey's journeys have taken her to some of the most remote regions of the world to join such teachers as Micronesia palu (navigators) and Inkan priests and she has also traveled to Bhutan, India and Okinawa. Dr. Lindsey has lectured at Oxford University, Harvard University, the American Museum of Natural History and on Capitol Hill, among other places. In 2004, Dr. Lindsey was honored as Woman of the Year, Hawai'i Island. She supports orphans in Vietnam and India and has established multiple scholarships, which advance literacy and culture in Hawai'i. She serves as an advisor to the trustees of the Kamehameha Schools, the University of Hawaii-Hilo, and is a member of the board of PBS Hawaii. Her middle name 'Kapu'uwailani' means 'heart of heaven' in the Hawaiian language.
Dustin Shindo is a seasoned veteran at overseeing successful business ventures in the software, energy and manufacturing industries. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoku Scientific, a materials science company that he also co-founded in 2001. Hoku is an innovator in clean energy technologies. Initially, the firm's primary focus was on developing new products for hydrogen fuel cells, and they have since diversified with two new divisions: an integrated photovoltaic (PV) business and another centered around polysilicon, the primary material used in the manufacture of PV modules. Shindo's fundamental role is to manage Hoku's growth and strategic direction while maximizing shareholder value.
Prior to establishing Hoku Scientific, Shindo founded Activitymax, Inc., a technology company involved in developing reservation software for the travel industry. As CEO of Activitymax, he managed research and development of the company's software applications and spearheaded contracts with several of Hawaii's largest travel companies. Previously, Dustin started Mehana Brewing Company, a microbrewery located in Hilo, Hawaii that has since become the largest bottling brewery in Hawaii, shipping product to five states and to the Far East. His background also includes a tenure as a business consultant at The Lucas Group, a strategic consulting firm in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Shindo holds an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, and earned a BA in Accounting from the University of Washington.
Last updated by admin on 3/13/2008