Salesperson of The Year

Since 1957, SME Honolulu has honored exceptional sales professionals through our annual Salesperson of the Year (SPOY) award. This prestigious event celebrates outstanding achievements in sales and marketing within our community.

Chad Buck, founder, owner, and CEO of multiple companies, including Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, is the Sales & Marketing Executives of Honolulu’s 2023 Salesperson of the Year. Buck will be honored at SME’s annual gala on June 13^th at the Sheraton Waikiki.

Charlene “Cha” Thompson, has been a leader at the forefront of the visitor industry in Hawaii, with Hawaiian and Polynesian Entertainment, as well as throughout the Pacific and Asia, for over 50 years. Alongside her husband Jack “Tihati” Thompson, they became founders of Tihati Productions.

Hannemann, who is Honolulu-born and of Samoan/German/English ancestry, has served the community of Hawaii in various influential roles and organizations in the public and private sectors and the nonprofit world. He was elected mayor of the City and County of Honolulu in 2004 and was re-elected to a second term in 2008.

SME Honolulu is proud to announce our 2018 SPOY recipient, Master Navigator and President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, Nainoa Thompson.

Eric Yeaman joined First Hawaiian Bank (NASDAQ: FHB) as President and Chief Operating Officer on June 22, 2015. He oversees the bank’s Retail Banking Group as well as its Strategic Planning and Investor Relations, Digital Banking, Enterprise Technology, Operations Services, and Bank Properties Divisions. He is also a member of the bank’s Senior Management Committee.

Each year, the Sales & Marketing Executives recognize one member of the community who greatly enhances the image of Hawaii and the quality of life. This year, the association is proud to announce our latest recipient. Praised for her work ethic, community involvement, and philanthropy, Jean Rolles is widely regarded as a significant contributor to the business community.

V. Vance Roley joined the University of Hawai‘i Shidler College of Business as dean and First Hawaiian Bank Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Management on January 1, 2005.

Dennis Francis was honored as president and publisher of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and oversees Oahu Publications, the San Francisco Examiner, and weekly newspapers in San Francisco. Editor & Publisher, the industry’s leading magazine, in 2013 named him “Publisher of the Year” for his effective leadership and generous charitable work.

John Dean was honored as President and CEO of Central Pacific Bank. A 30-year veteran of the financial services industry, Dean joined CPB in 2010 and led the then-troubled bank’s recovery efforts. In three years he oversaw a $325 million capital raise, helped revitalize the company’s core values and led the bank to nine consecutive quarters of profitability.

Born and raised on Maui, Carr is known in Hawaii for building communities on a foundation of family living, the spirit of the islands, and respect for the land. From master-planned communities to resort-style living to affordable housing, Mr. Carr has embraced each of his projects with enthusiasm and fervor, resulting in Stanford Carr Development being recognized as one of the most dynamic and successful real estate developers in Hawaii.