Prior to joining the Chamber, she was events manager for ESPN Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. She has lived in several major cities, including Tokyo, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and London, working for a wide variety of companies, such as Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Estee Lauder Company, Elton John Production, as well as for the Hawaii State Legislature, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and the Executive Office of the United States President. 

She currently serves on numerous boards including the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JAIMS Foundation, and Move Oahu Forward. Nationally, she serves the board for the U.S. Chamber, Council of State Chambers, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, including its Executive Committee, and the U.S. Chamber Committee of 100.

Sherry earned a certificate in expanding impact in advocacy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education. She received her juris doctorate degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and her MBA from the Shidler College of Business – both at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also pursued graduate study in public administration at the University of Southern California and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Hilo, where she graduated from Waiakea High School, Sherry is married to John McNamara. She is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys golfing, traveling and spending time with her husband and dog, Kuma-chan.

As the Program Manager of Hawaii is Hiring, Katie is responsible for seeking innovative, new ways to engage Chamber members, Hawaii’s broader employer community, public sector leaders and job seekers with the multi-channel tool designed to connect Hawaii residents to employment, training and education opportunities. She also works closely with the Chamber’s Sector Partnership and other work-based learning efforts.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Katie worked with the YMCA of Honolulu and the UH System. Especially passionate about criminal justice and prison reform issues, Katie completed internships with the Honolulu City Council and the Oahu Office of the Public Defender, where she saw firsthand the socioeconomic inequities faced by minority and underrepresented individuals in Hawaii. She firmly believes that access to quality education is a necessary part of the foundational structure in achieving both personal and professional excellence.

Her experience also includes serving on the Board of Managers for the Atherton YMCA and the Board of Directors for the Honolulu FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association. A member of the Chamber’s Young Professionals group, Katie sits on the communications committee and also serves as a member of the advocacy committee for YWCA Oahu. She holds a BA in justice administration from UH West Oahu and is currently pursuing graduate studies.

Lori Abe is responsible for managing the Chamber’s communication and marketing strategies, events and membership programs, and for engaging stakeholders.

She previously served in a variety of capacities for the Chamber in communications and operations. Her 30-year career in communications has included senior marketing and communication positions in Hawaii including with the Anthology Marketing Group, Hawaii Community Foundation and University of Hawaii Foundation, as well as on the mainland, including serving as PR director for Aquent, a Boston-headquartered consulting company, and PR manager for Tupperware Worldwide at its Orlando, FL headquarters.

Lori serves on the board of After-School All-Stars Hawaii and the Kukui Children’s Foundation and is a proud Honolulu Marathon finisher.