KAILUA-KONA — The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced Wendy Laros, who’s worked for more than 25 years in various positions at Jack’s Diving Locker in Kailua-Kona, as the Chamber’s new executive director.
Laros most recently served as the Chamber’s operations coordinator, according to an announcement from the organization. The change is effective immediately.
“As a resident of Hawaii for over 30 years, I hope to bring a style of leadership representative of this unique community,” Laros said in an email to West Hawaii Today. “It’s an amazing place to work, live, play and grow. The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce is here to promote the community while strengthening the local economy.”
Before her work as operations coordinator, the Chamber said, Laros worked with the Chamber’s Education and Workforce Development Committee and the development of the West Hawaii Workforce Needs Assessment.
That report explored the existing and future needs of the region’s business community, according to news files.
Aside from her experience at the Chamber, Laros has also worked in management, marketing, sales and event planning at Jack’s Diving Locker.
“Wendy’s lengthy background of community engagement in West Hawaii makes her particularly well-suited to advocate for local businesses,” said board Chair Dale Suezaki in a statement.
The organization’s role in the community, Laros told the newspaper, is “to provide leadership and advocacy for a successful business environment in West Hawaii.”
“Prior to working at the Chamber, I was a very involved member and leveraged the resources provided through this organization to enhance business success,” she said. “The Chamber offers low cost or no cost avenues for promoting and marketing plus the networking opportunities are plentiful. Building relationships can be a key to business success in our island community.”
Laros replaces the vacancy left after former director Kirstin Kahaloa, who now works for Blue Zones Hawaii, left the Chamber in March.
Laros said with incoming board Chair Matthew Grauso coming in, she anticipates “some change in direction and strategy,” but didn’t go into detail about potential changes.
Grauso, the general manager of the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou, will begin his term on July 1, she said.
The incoming board chair, in the announcement, said he’s excited about the future.
“There is so much positive momentum in the business community now with the expansion of air service between Kona and Japan, renewed development activity and growth in many regional sectors,” Grauso said in the Chamber announcement.