The Mahalo No Ka Hana Chapter of the International Association of Administration Professionals* (IAAP) honored Steve Hoag, director of human resources and assistant to the president of Hawaii Reserves, Inc., as the Executive of the Year.
Hoag was recognized at the annual chapter luncheon on Wednesday, October 20, in conjunction with Bosses' Day. The plaque reads, "In recognition of an executive who encourages and supports the advancement and effectiveness of administrative professionals."
"I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the Executive of the Year award, knowing that it comes from our administrative professionals, who are such a vital part of the work of the Laie entities," Hoag said. "I wholeheartedly agree with the vision of the IAAP - our organizations excel when our administrative professionals attain excellence."
The IAAP vision of which Hoag spoke is "to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence [and] to enhance their individual and collective value, image, competence, and influence."
"The Mahalo No Ka Hana Chapter was organized and chartered on August 12, 1995," said Theone Taala, chapter president since June of this year. "Our members are mostly from BYU-Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center and HRI, but we welcome anyone who wants to join."
Past recipients of this award were Garth Allred (1999), Logo Apelu (2001), Richard Vierra (2001), Delsa Moe (2002) and Jeff Burroughs (2003). Administrative assistants who want their boss to be recognized can submit a nomination form to a selection committee.
In addition to annual luncheons to honor the executive of the year, the chapter also holds monthly meetings and invites guest speakers from the administrative ranks.
Dr. Michael J. Chun, president and headmaster of Kamehameha Schools, was this month's guest speaker at the luncheon. He spoke on IAAP's theme for this year's national conference - innovation advances administrative professionals.
"Innovation has been the lynchpin for advancing mankind throughout the ages," he said. "Yes, the work we do as professionals has been fortified and enhanced by technology and technological innovations."
However, Chun counseled, while innovation and technology can empower and enable, it is left to people to achieve and accomplish.
"While innovative technology is a wonderful addition to our work place and personal lives, it is not the answer for our future," he said. "While innovative technology is a critical factor in changing the world, the human mind is a far more powerful force in that change.
"And while innovative technology provides important 'bricks' in our societal structure, the human heart is the 'mortar' that keeps everything together," he continued. "It is not innovative technology that makes you the professionals that you are; your heads and your hearts are what make you the special servant leaders that you have become."
* Administrative professionals are those who were formerly referred to as secretaries.