Seminar Speaker Biographies

A must-attend event of the year to hear in-depth presentations on growing human resource-related trends that are often overlooked. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask complicated HR questions to the panel of experts and receive immediate feedback to your most pressing topics. Contact the Chamber’s Events Department at tfetui@cochawaii.org or call (808) 380-2611.

Key Note Speaker: Governor Josh Green, M.D.

Governor Green’s 20 years of experience as a physician has given him firsthand knowledge of the healthcare needs of the people of Hawaii. As chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, he has been proactive in addressing critical health issues, including advocating for the well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and implementing regulations to protect youth from tobacco and e-cigarettes. His dedication to finding housing solutions for vulnerable populations, such as unsheltered veterans and elderly individuals, demonstrates his commitment to addressing pressing social issues. Governor Green’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown his ability to navigate complex challenges and prioritize the health and safety of the people of Hawaii.

Key Note Speaker: Seema Wadhwa

Seema Wadhwa is Executive Director of Environmental Stewardship for Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.5 million members.  She has spent the last 15 years focused on the connection between environment, climate and health – while also focusing on engaging large healthcare non-profits to take action. Her background as a civil engineer helps her bring a technical lens to her passion.  Seema started her career building roads and neighborhoods and now works to create pathways to a healthier and more equitable communities.

 

Vik Acharya

Vik Acharya is the Chief Executive Officer of Cloudwell Health. In this role, he manages all aspects of the company, including operations, finance, marketing, strategic planning, business development and Information Technology. Mr. Acharya has over fifteen years of senior level experience as a Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President and service line administrator at some of the nation’s preeminent healthcare organizations. This includes: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, Stanford Children’s Health, The University of Chicago Medicine and Tower Health. Mr. Acharya has a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Stanford University and currently sits on the Investment Committee of Blue Ivy Ventures. He also serves as Volunteer Clinical Faculty at The University of California, San Francisco Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership master’s program (MS HAIL).

Greg Carlson

Greg Carlson is the executive director of information technology service and delivery at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Maui Health System.  In this role he is accountable for all IT products and services delivered to the Hawaii region and MHS.  Greg has over 30 years of IT experience and joined Kaiser Permanente in 2008 as a director for regional application delivery in the Colorado region. Since then, he has held a number of operations and leadership positions including director of offshore vendor management, and chief of staff to the senior vice president of Kaiser Permanente’s regional IT operations organization. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, he was a senior manager at Accenture and programmer and development lead at PacifiCare. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Pat Sullivan 

Dr. Patrick Sullivan founded Oceanit in 1985, a self-funded “Mind to Market” company
that produces technology from home-grown research, development and engineering,
which employs over 160 scientists, engineers and professionals that provide innovative
solutions in the fields of aerospace, energy, engineering, information technology and life
sciences. He received his Ph.D., in engineering from the University of Hawaii and his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Mae Lynn Swoboda

Mae Lynne Swoboda is a Clinic Administration Manager at Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i with 10 years of experience supporting members as they make critical lifestyle behavior changes. Prior to this, Mae Lynne worked for the Los Angeles Times newspaper and the America Cancer Society where she provided support and options for healthier worksites and communities.  Mae Lynne and the Community Vaccination Team were honored with the 2022 David T. Lawrence Community Service Award, for their work implementing pop-up COVID vaccination clinics in hard-to- reach communities.

Bryan Talisayan

Bryan is Executive Director of Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi, the state’s leading mental health education and advocacy organization that promote wellness through education, advocacy, and service. The agency works to also reduce the stigma of mental illness and improve the overall care, treatment, and empowerment of those with mental illness. Prior to joining the MHAH ʻOhana, Bryan spent nearly 25 years in an executive capacity at several Hawaiʻi Federally Qualified Community Health Centers, including Waikīkī Health and Koʻolauloa Health Center as Chief Operations Officer. 

David Tumilowicz 

David is senior director of marketing and community health for Kaiser Permanente.  He has served in a variety of positions including director of account management, director of sales operations and strategic market planning, and director of business engagement.  David was formerly publisher of Hawaii Business and Hawaii magazines, and as vice-president at PacificBasin Communications, Hawaii’s largest magazine publishing house.  At Hawaii Business, he founded Hawaii’s largest conference for businesswomen and community leaders, the Wahine Forum.

 

 

Diane Winter Brookins

Dianne is a partner in Dentons’ Honolulu office and leader of the Honolulu healthcare practice group. As a commercial litigator, Dianne fights to protect her clients’ interests in court, in arbitration and before administrative agencies. As a trusted adviser to health plans and healthcare providers, she helps to identify and avoid problems before they arise using her in-depth understanding of their business and the complex healthcare regulatory environment in which they operate. Dianne began her legal career as a judge advocate in the Marine Corps, then spent several years litigating insurance coverage and other complex commercial disputes in Seattle and Honolulu.