Ad People

Cale Guillermo has served as President of Ad 2 Hawaiʻi since June 2023, leading the organization through significant growth in membership and programming. He is a Career & Technical Education graduate from ʻAiea High School and earned a degree in Television Production from Leeward Community College before graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business with majors in Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship, and International Business. Professionally, he is an in-house marketer at Atlas Insurance Agency, the largest insurance agency in Hawaiʻi, recently acquired by Marsh, a Fortune 500 company, and owner of KALE!, a comedic parody art brand.

Lincoln Jacobe is the CEO of 6 Pillars Marketing, where he excels in strategic development, creative strategy, public relations, and brand experience. A high-impact strategist for the world's most iconic brands, Lincoln leads global initiatives for Fortune 500 powerhouses including LVMH, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser-Busch, and Dave & Buster’s, and more. 

Lincoln is a prominent member of the Forbes Business Council, recently recognized with an Editor’s Choice distinction for his business insights. By blending the "Aloha Spirit" with world-class brand strategy, Lincoln remains a pivotal figure in Hawaii’s business and philanthropic landscape, and was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame by the Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi.

Mei Jeanne brings a unique blend of public relations, marketing, issue advocacy, and event planning to Anthology. She leverages extensive experience with local and national clients and partners to advance their objectives through holistic, strategic communications. With keen insight into Hawai‘i’s multicultural community, she plays a pivotal role in developing award-winning identity programs and initiatives.

Her deep ties to the Native Hawaiian community, combined with her strategic leadership and collaborative approach, ensure work is grounded in cultural understanding and local manaʻo, earning industry recognition including AAF Pele Golds, AMA Marketer of the Year, and PRSA Koa Anvils.

Brandt Farias currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Central Pacific Bank, where he oversees all the Bank’s marketing and communications programs, He joined the bank in 2021 as Senior Vice President and Marketing Director. 

Prior to coming to CPB, he served in key marketing roles at Hawaii Pacific Health and First Hawaiian Bank. 

He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and serves on the boards of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Heart Association and the Hawaii Employers Council.

Jean-Paul Gedeon is a lifelong entrepreneur, born and raised in Hawaii, with over two decades of experience building businesses.

He's an AAF Hawaii member since 2013.

As CEO of JPG Media and JPG Hawaii, he leads a multi-million dollar company with exclusive advertising network spanning over 100 venues statewide, including The Kahala Hotel, ‘Alohilani Resort, Windward Mall, Kailua Town, Times Supermarket, Don Quijote, Aloha Petroleum, and HELE locations. 

JPG combines creative production, large-format signage, digital screens, and vehicle advertising to help brands connect with communities and amplify their voice.

A creative at heart, he’s a lyricist and rapper.

Jean-Paul.com

Karen Brizendine is a Honolulu-based freelance animator with over a decade of experience in post-production. She specializes in 2D animation, motion graphics, and visual effects—and has a not-so-secret love for spreadsheets.

With degrees in both accounting and animation, Karen enjoys working at the intersection of left-brain precision and right-brain creativity. She considers herself fortunate to have started at Montaj 9, where she was mentored by some of Hawaiʻi’s leading advertising creatives. Since then, she has worked across nearly every facet of post—from motion graphics and VFX to assistant editing, finish, and final delivery—helping keep projects polished and pipelines running smoothly.

She has worked on award-winning campaigns recognized by the Pele Awards, Communication Arts, national ADDYs, and a regional Emmy nomination.

When she’s not wrangling keyframes, Karen enjoys trivia nights, hiking with her dog Rocco Taco Bell, and the ongoing mission to teach her cat how to walk on a leash.

Jade Lun is the founder of Jade Agency Hawaii, established in 2022. A Columbia College Chicago graduate, she earned her Bachelors in Fine Arts in Advertising Art Direction with a Marketing minor in just three years. Her career spans prestigious agencies including Leo Burnett Worldwide, Foote, Cone & Belding, and Weber Shandwick. The American Association of Advertising Agencies recognized her as a Multicultural Advertising Internship Program awardee in 2015. She received the 2019 Creative Catalyst Emerging Leader Award in Chicago.

Although planning to start her agency later in life, the COVID-19 pandemic inspired Jade to pursue her dreams sooner. With only her cat, Waylan, and two suitcases, she left the mainland for Hawaii to begin a new life chapter. She joined AD 2 as a board member in 2021 and serves on the Make-A-Wish Young Leaders Board and as a Wish Granter. Her agency has served clients such as Reddit, Olive Garden, Servco, and FarmLovers Farmers Market.

Kristina Lockwood is Vice President and General Manager of Nexstar Media Group’s broadcast and digital operations in Hawaii, overseeing KHON2, KHON2.com, KHII, Hawaii’s CW, Nexstar Digital Hawaii, and the newly launched KHON+ connected TV app. Since 2013, she has led KHON’s evolution into a full-service, multi-platform media company serving Hawaii’s viewers and advertisers.

Under her leadership, KHON has launched top-rated programs including KHON2 News at 9, KHON2 News at 4PM, Take 2, and Living808, along with original local series such as Sam Choy’s In the Kitchen and Aloha Authentic. In 2019, she and her team added KHII Channel 5, delivering 24/7 content and exclusive coverage of signature events like the Aloha Festivals Parade, The Eddie Aikau Invitational, and the Nā Wāhine and Moloka‘i Hoe World Championships.

Kristina began her career at MidWeek in 1990 and has held leadership roles at KGMB, KITV, and Cox Media. A graduate of Hawaii Pacific University and Kaiser High School, she serves on the boards of ‘Ahahui Koa Ānuenue and the Hawaii Red Cross. She is deeply committed to her family, her KHON2 ohana, her community, and the people of Hawaii.

Lindsay’s path to leadership at MVNP has been shaped by dedication, collaboration, and a passion for bringing people together. Over the past eight years, she’s focused on building strong client partnerships and fostering a connected, supportive team culture—whether leading brand campaigns or organizing agency gatherings.

Originally from Milwaukee, she began her career at Jacobson/Rost (now Morning Walk), where she worked on national brands like MillerCoors and Royal Enfield. Since joining MVNP in 2017, she has enjoyed collaborating with clients and creatives alike—most notably helping to lead the award-winning Hawai‘i Rooted and Mālama Hawai‘i campaigns for the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau.

Lindsay is also the co-president of AAF Hawai‘i, an active community volunteer, and a proud mom. Today, as MVNP’s Managing Director – West Coast, she continues to cultivate strong client relationships and help guide the agency’s account service team.

Adrian Walker has been happily ensconced in Hawai‘i for about 17 years now. His circuitous route to the Islands – during which he served as copywriter and copy director at agencies from Tokyo to Cincinnati – helped him develop his unique perspective on the challenges and joys of advertising. He has crafted concepts and copy for multi-billion-dollar multinationals and mom-and-pop shops alike, quietly having a lot of fun along the way.

Jasmine's journey in Hawaii's advertising industry began at Chaminade University, where she was recognized as one of the nation's top 50 students and received the American Advertising Federation's Most Promising Multicultural Student award. She later represented her university in the American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition and continued to contribute to the industry by taking on leadership roles with Ad 2 Hawaii and is now serving as the High School Pele Award Chair for the past four years.

Currently, Jasmine leverages her expertise as a Loan Officer and Branch Manager at Territorial Savings Bank, where she also assists with marketing efforts. In addition to her professional commitments, she is actively involved in community service through organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, Hawaii Kai Jaycees, Honolulu Chinese Jaycees, and Kapolei Chamber of Commerce. During her downtime, Jasmine enjoys immersing herself in Asian dramas, anime, and TV series, as well as indulging in her love for endless scrolling on social media.

Bernard Uy (pronounced "WE”) is the co-founder and Executive Creative Director of Wall-to-Wall Studios, a creative branding agency that has produced award-winning graphic design, advertising and interactive work for over 30 years. With offices in Pittsburgh and Honolulu, W|W’s focus has always been about helping businesses connect with their audiences through building emotional brand currency. W|W has been fortunate enough to have worked with almost every industry that has returned his emails and cold calls.

Bernie (pronounced “BER-nee”) has previously served as a board member and past President of both AIGA Pittsburgh and Honolulu chapters, a past board member of Bishop Museum and is the current Board Chair of the non-profit Hawaii Arts Alliance. He has taught as an adjunct professor at his alma mater Carnegie Mellon’s School of Design, and as a visiting professor at the St. Gallen School of Design in Switzerland. Bernie was previously honored as a Pittsburgh magazine “40 Under 40," AAF Hawaii’s 2009 “Ad Man of Year,” a Hawaii Business Magazine “20 For The Next 20,” and called “One of the Tallest Bass Players In Our Band” by his bandmates, the Dangerous Pistols of Meow Meow. He enjoys cooking, spending time with his daughter, and writing about himself in the third person.

As vice president, global brand group at OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group, Brent Shiratori champions OUTRIGGER’s brand and is responsible for marketing strategy and creative development for: paid media, integrated campaigns, web, social, email, communications programs, brand resources, loyalty & partnership marketing, sales team resources, and oversight of the overall guest experience and property brand activation.

Brent opened Aidia Marketing, a strategic marketing consultancy with his wife Celeste. And he has previously been director strategic planning at Matsumoto & Clapperton and 1013 Integrated. Before that he served as management supervisor at Carol H Williams Advertising and Marketing Drive, a DraftFCB company, in the Bay Area. Brent also worked at Laird Christianson Advertising, CP Advertising and Starr Seigle Advertising.

A triple major in marketing, accounting and management information systems, Brent holds his bachelor’s from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau’s marketing committee, and has several awards to his name, including HSMAI’s Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization; Ad 2 Honolulu’s Outstanding Young Advertising Person of the Year; the Jim Fish National Public Service Award; GD Crain Jr. Memorial Award for Public Service; Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Education Award; and Most Promising Minority Students Award from the American Advertising Federation.

Claire Tong's journey began as an Air Force brat, fostering adaptability as her family traversed the globe. Despite initial aspirations for a medical career, Claire pivoted towards advertising, starting at Starr, Seigle, McCombs in 1986. Roles expanded to accounting, account service, and media buying, granting exposure to diverse industries. It was her tenure at Straub Clinic & Hospital from 1994 onwards that melded medical interests with marketing. Spearheading campaigns like "Straub Firsts" with Shooters Film Production earned Pele recognition. 

Claire flourished at Hawai‘i Pacific Health, collaborating on award-winning initiatives. Recent endeavors include a transformative rebranding campaign in 2016 with Anthology Group, focusing on elevating brand awareness. Outside the office, Claire advocates for an active lifestyle, engaging in workouts and participating in numerous marathons, triathlons, and 10Ks. A staunch supporter of University of Hawai‘i Athletics, she serves as the current Na Koa President for the UH Football Program. Additionally, Claire champions community involvement, affiliated with various organizations, and cherishes quality time with her family and beloved dogs, whether traveling or enjoying peaceful moments at home.

Keoki Smith is a freelance Grip and Electric Set Technician serving Hawaii’s Film and Television Industry for over 20 years. 

Credits include work on films like Jurassic Park(2001), Descendants (2011) and Jamojaya (2021) and TV series like Hawaii 5-0(2016), Magnum PI(2019), and Baywatch, Hawaii (2000), Rescue HI-Surf (2023-2024) 

Keoki is also the owner of Gripsmith LLC, a lighting equipment rental and service company serving local Hawaii commercial and independent producers. 

“Good actors deserve good lighting. Bad actors also deserve good lighting.” -Keoki Smith

Gerard is a creative producer/director/editor/cinematographer. He is the vice president of film at NMG Network, responsible for developing branded content, editorial videos, commercials and films. He has shot, directed and produced a number of award-winning commercials and he is a 2022 Sundance Institute Producer Intensive Fellow. He produced, directed, and served as the director of photography for Ka Huaka'i: The Journey to Merrie Monarch, a feature length documentary produced in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, that was included in Brand Storytelling 2022, a sanctioned event of the Sundance Film Festival. Gerard serves as the executive director for 'Ohina, an artist collective that nurtures, cultivates, and showcases Hawaiʻi filmmakers and their films. Through ʻOhina, he has produced a number of short films that have been distributed nationwide, including Kālewa & Other People, which are now a part of the Criterion Collection. He is also a governor on the regional EMMY® AWARDS board (The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences SF/Northern California).

Known as one of the premier photographers in the Pacific Rim, Ric is an island artist with a global perspective, serving a diverse international clientele from his home base in Honolulu.

Ric has excelled in photography’s most demanding genres, people, lifestyle, resorts food and aerial photography. Bringing a fresh eye and a unique approach to each one.

Ric Noyle, born in Cape Town, South Africa, has resided in Honolulu, Hawaii for the past 45 years.

He has gained an unsurpassed reputation for quality and dependability. Both for his strong technical skills with light and composition and his ability to capture the emotions, beauty and intensity of his subjects.

Need sets built, locations, casting, permits, equipment rentals, make-up, hairstyling, food displays? No problem. He does it all! Ric has worked with the Department of Education for years, not only with PhotoCon but also visiting schools for their career days, as well as working with the faculty and staff also. He has given workshops for Photo Clubs and anyone who has requested his help. He has volunteered his services for many various groups around town to take group photos or document an event for them.

He has worked with Aloha United Way, Kupuna Aikido, Goodwill Hawaii, and various others. And each job that comes in, whether it is paid or unpaid, it is always handled the same with 100% of Ric’s effort.

For over twenty years, Brian has been wearing out laptop keyboards as a copywriter, creative director, and storyteller at ad agencies in San Francisco, Detroit, New York, and his hometown of Hawaii. His clients have included AT&T, Mastercard, Wendy’s, and some of Hawaii’s biggest brands, including the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Airlines, McDonald’s Hawaii, and Servco Pacific. 

Brian has worked on projects that have won awards from the American Advertising Awards, Telly Awards, Communication Arts, and the Pele Awards. His writing work won an Emmy for Hawaiian Airlines with NMG Network, and a Silver Telly for Kamehameha Schools as a writer and director.

Brian is also a produced screenwriter, the Education Director of the ‘Ohina Filmmakers Lab, a former AAF Hawaii board member, and a former Faculty Lecturer teaching screenwriting at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu. He’s at his happiest when he’s coming up with big ideas, listening to 80’s music, watching movies, and laughing with his kids.

Michael Choe has served Ad 2 Hawaii as chair of the public service, membership, and communications committees and as the secretary. Since his involvement in 2017, Michael has helped Ad 2 Hawaii receive various awards, created the ADvise mentorship program, and assisted in revitalizing “Signature Socials” to boost membership engagement.

Michael graduated with an English degree from UH Manoa, followed by a memorable two-year teaching experience in Korea. He came back to Hawaii where he dabbled in freelancing, worked with Frolic Hawaii, and was eventually hired as a social media specialist for Hawaiian Electric. Recently in his spare time, Michael has been exploring new hobbies, attempting escape rooms, and pursuing a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Paul Lam is the Governor of AAF District 13, is the Hawaiʻi representative on the National AAF Board of Directors and the AAF Council of Governors, and is the immediate past Chair of the AAF Western Region.

As the Pele Awards chairman, year after year, he is given the daunting task of bringing the industry together to honor the best in Advertising and Design.

Most recognizable is Paul’s commitment to continue the Pele Awards despite the pandemic. Paul also works diligently to ‘grow’ the industry pipeline through the creation of the High School Pele Awards, now in its 5th year. The first and only program of its kind in the nation which helps get youth interested and engaged in Advertising and Design.

In 2018, he opened up his own media buying and consulting firm. Today, he serves numerous clients including large and small businesses.

Born and raised in Hawaii, David Sato has nearly two decades of experience in video production and cinematography. While a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, he began his career at KHON where he shot news stories, produced station commercials and edited special interest packages. After college, he joined Pacific Focus, where he worked his way up the ladder as a production assistant, grip to Director/Director of Photography. 

In 2009, David formed his own production company, Upstream Hawaii. Over the years, he has partnered with many advertising agencies, film production companies and global brands to create award-winning commercials, documentaries, and digital content. His client list includes ESPN, Disney, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, McDonald's, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Hawaii Pacific Health and more.

A New York native, Chuck Cohen came to the Islands more than three decades ago and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in Hawaiʻi media. In Honolulu, he served as media director at Ogilvey & Mather, The Schiller Group, Milici Valenti Ng Pak, Starr-Seigle Communications, and for the last 15 years at Anthology Marketing Group.

His formidable New York experience included tenure at famed powerhouses BBDO Advertising, Ted Bates, and Cunningham & Walsh. 

Chuck has long been known by his peers in client, agency and media worlds as an innovative strategist, out-of-the-box thinker, and generous teacher to the next generation of professionals. He represents the best – if sometimes rough-hewn – of the best in dedication to his craft, his clients, and his teammates.

In his current position, Kevin Yim has led the process of revitalizing the Zippy’s brand through design, new digital services, a new social media presence, and renovations to the locations. He continues to work on the deeper digital transformation of Hawaii’s leading food brand. Before Zippy’s, he led marketing teams at Hawaiian Airlines and Bank of Hawaii. At Hawaiian Airlines, he spearheaded consumer marketing efforts around the globe.

Before Hawaiian Airlines, he led the branding efforts at Bank of Hawaii. He currently serves on the boards of HUGS Hawaii, the Aloha Diaper Bank, Goodwill Contract Services of Hawaii, and the Movers & Shakas program. He is a former director for Goodwill Industries Hawaii, Pacific Islanders in Communications, and the Oahu Visitors Bureau. He is a Kamehameha Schools graduate and the University of San Francisco.

Despite many challenges during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Priscilla Zheng maintained a positive attitude. Through her leadership and guidance, she rallied the troops and continued to create a sense of community by continuing the AdVise mentorship program, creating online programming and events, and ensuring that the public service campaign continued.

In her spare time, Priscilla gives back to the community as a Speech and Debate coach for Aiea High School and Farrington High School. Her impeccable work ethic is apparent in her day job and through her volunteer activities. 

Brad manages Wasiswas, an independent, boutique advertising agency based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He's a creative director and advertising copywriter who has worked on many of Hawaii's most recognizable brands including American Savings Bank, Central Pacific Bank, Hawaii State FCU, Farmers Insurance, DTRIC Insurance, Aston Hotels & Resorts, Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee, Zippy's, Poke&Box, Island Air, Windward Mall, Ala Moana Dental Care, Aloha United Way, Hospice Hawaii/Navian Hawaii, Olelo TV, Hawaii State Department of Health, UH System, HGEA, Kapiolani Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, HSTA, Foodland, HomeWorld, SlumberWorld and many others.

Prior to starting up Wasiswas, Brad was a Founding Partner and Creative Director at Hendrix Miyasaki Shin Advertising, a Senior Copywriter at Peck Sims Mueller, and a Copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather, Hawaii.

Wasiswas | Hawaii Advertising Agency | Founded by Bradley Shin

Clifford Cheng is a graduate of UH Manoa with a BFA in Graphic Design. He is the founder of VOICE and is co-owner and art director at Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine as well as a partner at the Hawaii Fish and Dive Expo.

He started his career locally in 1990 at The Art Directors International, Hill & Knowlton Commpac and Info Grafik. He then moved to Los Angeles and worked at Delta Airlines cleaning planes (mostly for the flight benefits). A year later he landed a position designing environmental graphic systems at Scott Architectural Graphics in Sonoma Country CA. Moving back to Hawaii in 1994, he founded VOICE, whose local, national and international clients are a diverse mix of corporations, emerging start-ups and non-profit organizations. No stranger to agency life, he is often called in as a hired gun/mouse for special projects.

Clifford is a former multi-term board member of the AIGA Honolulu and has volunteered annually at the nationally recognized AIGA Design Lab since its inception. He speaks to UH and HCC portfolio classes and attends portfolio reviews on a regular basis. He has mentored a multitude of aspiring emerging designers through the award winning Abstract Magazine. He has also served as a judge for the Hawaii Department of Education’s SkillsUSA competition for many years and for the AAF’s College Pele Awards in the publication design category.

Hawaii SkinDiver | One World One Breath

After graduating with a degree in business marketing and communications at the University of Oregon, Lauren returned home to pursue a career in the marketing industry. She got her start in Hawaii's market at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum as part of their marketing team, notably helping to plan and promote the commemoration of the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary. Lauren is currently Assistant Account Executive of Digital Communications at Becker Communications, Inc. where she works on accounts such as Iolani Palace, Castle Resorts and Hotels, Waikiki Aquarium, Palolo Chinese Home, and more.

Lauren serves as President of Ad 2 Hawaii where she first joined the organization in 2017. She contributed to that year's public service campaign for Aloha Harvest and from there, found a love for developing advertising and marketing campaigns for local nonprofits. Lauren joined Ad 2 Hawaii's Board of Directors as the Public Service Co-Chair the following year, leading a campaign for Malama Mentors. She continued to serve on the board as Treasurer while also enhancing the club's communication channels through the brand refresh project in 2020.

Integrated Communications | Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Digital Communications Agency | Honolulu, Hawaii (beckercommunications.com)