Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• MANUEL C. MENENDEZ III, whose mission as head of the city's Office of Economic Development is to bolster business in Honolulu, will outline various "Economic Development Initiatives" in a speech July 24 at The Pacific Club to the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. The forum before the group's local chapter begins with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast; the program will be from 8 to 9 a.m. Fee; nonmembers welcomed. Reservations by July 22: call, Barbie Rosario, 845-4994.

• Fred Noa, a retail expert and vice president of the Retail Properties team with CB Richard Ellis Hawaii Inc., will be among those speaking at the Hawai'i Developers' Council mid-year real estate review. Noa, who will discuss "Changing of the Guard," will be one of several panelists' giving overviews of how various segments of the real estate and development industry are performing this year. Other panelists, focusing on other segments of the industry, including residential, office, resort and visitor industry, include Harvey Shapiro, of the Honolulu Board of Realtors; Steve Metter, of MW Group; Joseph Toy of Hospitality Advisors LLC; and C. Mark Ambard, of Ambard & Co. Bank of Hawaii economist Paul Brewbaker will provide an economic overview. The panel discussion will be 7:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki. Fee. Registration: 845-4004.

• Mold — including how to prevent the problem in the building design stage, its health risks, and inherent legal liability — will be the focus of a dinner meeting discussion tomorrow, sponsored by the local chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute. Panelists include representatives of the local construction, architectural diagnostics, mold remediation and environmental consulting and risk-management industries. The buffet dinner meeting begins with 5:15 p.m. no-host cocktails at The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Fee; guests welcomed. Reservations by today: Barbie Rosario, 847-6575.

TUESDAY

• Current law and practice for early-stage and emerging growth companies, nontraditional venture capital financing, and Hawai'i Act 221 investment tax credit venture capital financing will be among topics discussed at the monthly THINKTECH LAW SERIES, sponsored by ThinkTech Hawai'i and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Outreach College/Pacific New Media. Speaking will be Jeffrey K.D. au, managing director and general counsel of PacificGap Group LLC, a Hawai'i-based venture-capital firm with offices in Honolulu and Silicon Valley, Calif. He will speak on "Legal Structures: Considerations and Paradigms for Venture Capital Financing." The workshop will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at UH Downtown in Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall, lower level. Small fee. Registration: 956-8400.

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU will offer free weekly orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday in the center's offices in Suite 2506 of the Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., will offer advice on business startup, marketing plans, loans, employee handbooks and access to capital. Free. Reservations: 521-6221.

• A free COMPUTER BOOT CAMP is offered from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to all small-business owners interested in using computer technology to improve and expand business operations and management. The program is sponsored by the Small Business Resource Center, in partnership with the Small Business Administration, the city Office of Economic Development, Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, Hawai'i Women's Business Center, and SCORE. The program is open to all clients of the center who have attended a center orientation, offered at 9 a.m. Tuesdays or 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Attendees will have access to training videos and resource materials. Workshops and free counseling also are offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• The 2003 Koa Anvil awards, presented by the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America to recognize the best in Hawai'i's public relations community, will be presented at the group's annual awards dinner at 6 p.m. July 23 at The Royal Hawaiian hotel's Monarch Room. Fee; nonmembers and student members welcomed. Reservations by Wednesday: B.J. Whitman, 931-8408.

• Wednesday is the reservations deadline for the monthly luncheon meeting of the Honolulu chapter of AMERICAN SOCIETY OF WOMEN ACCOUNTANTS. Speaking on "Financing Alternatives for Small Business Owners" will be Kimberly Hite, an economic development specialist with the Small Business Administration. The meeting will be from noon to 1 p.m. at The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Fee; guests welcomed. Reservations: Susan Song, 527-4234.

• The Hawaii Women's Business Center will begin an "ENTREPRENEUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM" for those with some business skills but who need to enhance their abilities to start a business. A free, informational session on the new program will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and July 30 at the Small Business Resource Center, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Registration: Oliv'e, 522-8136.

THURSDAY

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at The Wisteria restaurant. Guests welcome. Information: 368-2757.

• The HONOLULU BUSINESS NETWORK, a networking opportunity for small-business owners and professionals, meets from 12:01 to 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Restaurant Row. Call: Tracy Nakashima, 525-6028.

FRIDAY

• How new U.S. and European large-scale retailers continue to post record profits in Japan despite a troubled economy will be discussed by one of that country's leading retail developers as the closing keynote address to the upcoming International Council of Shopping Centers conference. Speaking from 10:45 a.m. to noon Friday at the Wailea Marriott, an Outrigger Resort, on Maui will be Kanji Matsushita, of Takenaka Corp. He will outline the sweeping changes to retail real estate in Japan in the past five years, including the entry of U.S. and European large-scale retailers; prospects for other non-Japanese retailers and developers, and how Japanese retailers are coping with the influx of the new brands. The conference, "Merging Markets in the Pacific Rim," is scheduled Wednesday to Friday. Information: (646) 728-3648.

• HAWAII KAI JAYCEES Fishing Night get-together, 6:30 p.m., makai side, Kaka'ako Waterfront Park (look for banner). Information: Stan Fichtman, 295-4630.

UPCOMING

• The deadline for companies looking for investors and interested in participating in the upcoming FIFTH ANNUAL INVESTORS CHOICE INTERNATIONAL EQUITY CAPITAL CONFERENCE has been extended to July 21. The conference is scheduled Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Turtle Bay Resort. A Salt Lake city conference is scheduled for February 2004. Companies participating in the first three years of the Hawai'i conference have gone on to raise more than $100 million. Information: Brad Bertoch, (801) 595-1141.

• The Federal Women's Council — Hawai'i, 2003 CAREER ENHANCEMENT SEMINAR, "Are You Ready," will be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 30 at the Hale Koa Hotel, Fort DeRussy. Fee. Registration deadline: Friday. Information: Saadia Wiley, 564-5016.

• EDWARD JONES investment firm has a number of upcoming workshops and seminars at their various offices: Retirement planning (4 p.m., tomorrow, 320 Ward Ave. Reservations: 596-0076); stock investing strategies (6:30 p.m., tomorrow, Windward Community College, Hale 'Akoakoa, 45-720 Kea'ahala Road, room 101. Reservations: 247-0743), and investing for women (6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 1360 S. Beretania St., Suite 304. Reservations: 543-6034).

Business meetings of general interest are listed in the "Coming Events" column each Monday. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance. By fax: 525-6763. By mail: Coming Events, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. By e-mail: business@honoluluadvertiser.com.