Meet Our Ambassadors
Our Turquoise Ambassadors are leaders across Hawaii joined in raising awareness and funds for the COVID-19 Action Initiative and its goals through the IWT campaign.
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Kenny Cabanting
Kenny says that creativity, innovation, and collaboration with “aloha” is his driving force.
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Valerie Davison
Valerie Davison, WELCOA Certified Faculty, was inspired to help the Lung Association for her sister, Eleanor Grace, who passed away from non-small cell lung cancer. She helped instill strength and positivity among fellow cancer fighters and supporters. To carry on her legacy, Valerie works with the Lung Association to provide hope for people with lung cancer and other respiratory diseases so they can live and thrive!
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Mary Fastenau
Mary Fastenau is a Senior Partner at Anthology Marketing Group, a Finn Partners Company. Her responsibilities include account service, media, and social media. She also remains passionate about digital communications and web development.
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Cassie Favreau-Chung
Cassie Favreau-Chung is a film & television creative with over 15 years of experience working in various facets of the entertainment industry, and currently serves as the Executive Producer for Local Serial Program at KITV4 Island Television.
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Cynthia J. Goto, M.D.
Dr. Cynthia Goto has been an advocate for over 30 years to improve access to health care and social services. She has worked on legislation and campaigns relating to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, legislation to improve access to emergency contraception, expedited partner therapy, tobacco control, physical activity and nutrition, and domestic violence.
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Adrienne Huang
Adrienne Huang is the Human Resource Specialist at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management and Industrial Relations, and received her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Shidler College of Business. She is an active member of SHRM Hawaiʻi, and most recently served on the SHRM Hawaiʻi Emerging Professionals Committee.
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Melissa Kim
Melissa Kim is an English teacher and Social Emotional Learning Coordinator at Roosevelt High School in Hawaiʻi. She received a BA in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Master of Art in Teaching at Chaminade University. Her lifelong passion is to close the achievement gap in communities through equity, education, and empowerment.
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Kerry Lezy
Kerry brings diverse skills to her position as program associate, where she provides communications, administrative, and logistical support to the Omidyar Fellows program and the Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum.
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Nicole Nakamatsu
Nicole is a current a third year medical student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. From a young age, volunteerism and service have been a large part of her life, which is reflected in her goals to serve her community through medicine as a physician. Her passion for a healthier Hawaiʻi continues as she works with the American Lung Association as a Turquoise Ambassador.
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Mami Ogiwara
Mami Erica Ogiwara was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science & Nutrition from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Mami has actively engaged in the community volunteering with many organizations, and has been promoting her platform by advocating for health and wellness in her community.
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Mia Ostrowski
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Lukas Petersons
Lukas Petersons is a construction project manager with almost 25 years of experience working in construction and prides himself on “building dreams.” Having worked his way up quickly in various roles from remodel carpenter to Chief Operating Officer in the construction industry in both Seattle and Hawaiʻi, he currently serves as Senior Project Manager and Estimator for Longhouse Design+Build, a multi-disciplinary, Architectural and Construction collaborative based in Honolulu, specializing in custom, luxury residential architecture, development and construction. He manages all aspects of the home building process, specializing in high-end custom homes.
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Patti Ponimoi
Patti Ponimoi is the Market President / General Manager at SummitMedia in Honolulu. She oversees local sales efforts for radio stations Krater 96.3 FM, Power 104.3 FM, Hawaiian 105 KINE FM, KCCN FM 100, and KKNE AM 900.
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Troy Siruno
Troy is a leader in the fields of nonprofit and communications. His mom is a lung cancer survivor so he is raising money to help support the mission of the American Lung Association with the hope that more lives like his mom's can be saved from the devastating effects of lung disease.
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Sachiko Slomoff
Sachiko Slomoff uses her personal and career experiences to help her clients actualize a business in alignment with their authentic selves.
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Sophia Stark
Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, 17-year-old high school graduate Sophia Stark exemplifies the spirit of aloha by sharing her artistic talents and volunteerism island-wide and beyond.
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Bryan Talisayan
Bryan is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi, the state’s leading mental health education and advocacy organization. He is raising funds because as a former smoker, he fully understands and supports the Association’s services in Hawaiʻi.
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Rachel Wagenman
Rachel works in a school for young women, and she is dedicated to helping raise awareness and funds to improve lung health for children and everyone in Hawaiʻi.
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Jennifer Wong
Jennifer Wong is a Communications Associate at Strategies 360, a strategic communications and public affairs firm in Downtown Honolulu. With an award-winning background in television news, Jennifer provides expertise needed to develop and execute successful communications campaigns, and provides media support and management to her clients.
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Melanie Yamaguchi
Melanie has a decade of experience in the journalism field, particularly in TV news. She grew up on Oʻahu and went to college in Washington, followed by grad school in Arizona. Her innate curiosity about people and places ultimately led her to pursue a career in journalism. She is currently a senior digital producer at Hawaiʻi News Now, where she reports, writes and produces social media content.