2022 Virtual Tech Job Fair Live Session: Working in Hawaii's IT Sector

This joint presentation presents the insights from the recent IT Workforce Needs Analysis conducted by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The speakers will share recommendations and actions that are being taken in the community to build Hawaii's IT workforce, as well as the steps students and incumbent workers can take to enter and advance in the technology space.

Presenter(s):
KEALA PETERS
EVP, Education & Workforce Development, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

As Executive Vice President of Education & Workforce Development and Executive Director of Sector Partnerships, Keala is responsible for the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s education-related strategic initiatives that help bridge business with education in support of a strong talent pipeline for Hawaii.

Through Sector Partnerships, Keala helps to convene industry executives and solve for Hawaii’s complex workforce development and economic development issues. Keala and her team also coordinate high quality work-based learning opportunities that prepare students for college and career readiness in an innovation economy.

Keala has extensive experience as a Community Builder, Collaborator and Communications Executive in both the private and non-profit sectors on the mainland and in Hawaii. She brings her experience at Nike, Inc., Microsoft, Hawaii Pacific Health and The Queen’s Health Systems to the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

She serves on the Institute for Human Services (IHS) Board of Directors and is active with the State of Hawaii Workforce Development Council (WDC) as a member of the Employer Engagement and the Sector Strategies and Career Pathways committees.
As a Native Hawaiian woman born and raised in Honolulu, Keala is a strong advocate for Hawaii families and believes that everyone should have access to a high-quality education and that education is the foundation for success.

ALAN ITO
IT Workforce Development & Regulated Policy Lead, University of Hawaii

Mr. Ito recently joined the University of Hawaii as IT Workforce Development & Regulated Policy Lead. Immediately prior to this, he was information security officer for Hawaii Pacific Health responsible for the oversight of Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s information security programs. Prior to joining Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Mr. Ito held various information technology leadership positions including chief information
officer for TeamPraxis, Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp., and St. Francis Healthcare System. He helped start the Regional Extension Center program at the Hawai‘i Health Information Exchange and was involved in starting Convergence CT, a health care data company.

NICOLETTE VAN DER LEE
Program Manager, Hana Career Pathways, University of Hawaii Community Colleges

Nicolette van der Lee, MEd, is a Program Manager for the Hana Career Pathways project at University of Hawaii Community Colleges. She coordinates workforce development programming to respond to industry and community needs leading to industry credentials, work-based learning, and college and career pathways.