2014 Small Business Fair Keynote Speakers “Secrets to Success”

Posted on Aug 21, 2014 in News

Quan Nguyen – President, Papa John’s Hawaii

Image of Quan NguyenQuan Nguyen started working in the restaurant industry more than 27 years ago as a part time worker at a McDonald’s restaurant after school. Since then, he has worked his way up from a minimum wage pizza maker to President and Operating Partner of Papa John’s Hawaii.

Quan’s experience includes working in the retail and restaurant industries and he has held various positions, ranging from cashier, valet driver, pizza maker to President of Papa John’s Hawaii.

Besides work, he has served 2 terms as a board member for the Friends of Hickam and served as a steering committee member of the Diamond Head Classic. Believing that everyone must give back to his or her community, he has partnered with the Foodbank of Hawaii, Special Olympics, Wounded Warrior Project and has been an active UH Athletics sponsor for more than 10 years.

When not at work or spending time with his family, Quan is an avid fisherman and enjoys being out on the water.

Danene Lunn – Fashion Designer/Creative Director of Manuheali‘i

Image of Danene LunnFamous for producing amazing prints in distinctive combinations of joyful color, fashion designer Danene Lunn launched her line of contemporary clothing in 1985. It’s the love of feel-good clothing and all things beautiful that keeps Danene designing and re-designing.

Influenced by her mother and Popo, Danene picked up sewing as a young girl. Matching fabric swatches for patchwork garments developed her eye for color combinations, and selling Christmas ornaments door-to-door taught her supply and demand. Learning the ropes of the island fashion-show scene from mentors Nake‘u Awai and Allen Akina also proved to be invaluable.

Today, Manuheali‘i is a family-owned and operated business, which includes architect/graphic artist husband Pono, as well as their 3 sons and a daughter-in-law. They have two retail sites — in Kailua and Honolulu — and 16 employees. Celebrating the islands’ tropical style and rich culture, Mahuheali‘i hopes to inspire people to feel and wear “aloha.”

Find out more: Small Business Fair information