Ron Porter, PhD

Chair

Ron is the CEO of Tailored Capital, a company that smooths the integration of new capital into businesses for optimal value creation.

Creighton Chang

Treasurer

I retired in May of 2016 as a Department of Defense Navy Civilian, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. As a nuclear engineer, I have expertise in reactor maintenance, operations & testing, nuclear quality, radiological controls, organizational learning & change, and project management for submarine overhaul, maintenance, upgrades & repairs. I volunteer for Achieve Zero, New Hope Central Oahu, and my wife, Deb. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I love to surf, swim, walk, eat chocolates and ice cream. Hence, my need to surf, swim, and walk. I am a life-long learner and a proponent of being on the edge of your comfort zone, though I dislike every minute while there. I don’t consider myself a senior citizen unless there’s a discount or an advantage. I am always willing to allow you to buy me lunch while I listen to your story. Try me.

Michael North

Director

Michael works with growing companies in the fields of finance, marketing, business development, alliance development, telecommunications and technology. He is active in venture capital, private equity and royalty financing, with local projects in Hawaii, across the U.S. mainland, and in greater China.

Anina Quaranto

Secretary

Anina is a partner at Locations Hawaii Realty and is very active in their philanthropic arm, Locations Foundation. Anina sees joining the board of AZ as building a strong partnership between AZ and the Locations Foundation for “putting people in homes” across the entire spectrum.

Nicky Winter

Executive Director

Passionate advocate for those experiencing homelessness. Works hard, plays harder. Shameless dreamer of impossible dreams and unrelenting warrior in the fight to end housing inequality. Problem solver. Leader. Changemaker and innovator. Values driven survivor with a strong sense of honor, respect and excellence. Someone who finds opportunity in chaos and still believes that with humility and kindness, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish as a people. Because together with aloha, we can.

Keith Yabusaki, PhD

Programs Director

Local Boy. Local values. Hatched at Wahiawa General Hospital in upper Waianae Uka ahupuaa. Leilehua High School mule and University of Hawaii alumni: Soil Physics Ph.D. Minor Hydrology. Worked 27 years for the State Departments of Agriculture, Labor & Industrial Relations & Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Champions for our houseless brothers and sisters and often learned things the hard way via the school of hard knocks. His 19 previously feral cats give him permission to reside in the house with them. He salivates at sashimi & sushi and treasures Hawaiian ethnic & cultural collectibles. Appreciates life, his job, helping others, & giving back to community and has two wonderful daughters. Lived life with partner Kruger for over 31 years and still visualizes Kruger happily flying with angels over rainbows. His tumultuous journey thus far could be seen as a “Life with lemons.” But he likes to think that at times lemons can be the main ingredient in life, sweet & savory.

Liane Fujishige

Accounting Generalist

Mom to one awesome football-loving tweenager, 3 sweet shih tzus, and one kolohe chinchilla. Just an old soul who has been there and done that...and probably touched the stove one too many times just to make sure that it was hot. Living proof that not all who wander are lost. Trying every day to be the best version of myself. Loves anything fluffy, sparkly, and pink...or all of the above!
Achieve Zero has restored my faith in humanity and softened me to have more compassion for those who need us most. We all help each other where we can. Super excited to be on board to see how much our humble team can positively impact the communities that we live in.

Taylor Hoeppner

Outreach Case Manager

Transplant from sunny Florida. Came for 3 years, stayed over 6. Love the food, the atmosphere, and the community. I have my AS in Health Professions, Bachelors in Social Work, and finishing Masters in Social Work with a focus in Military. Career has taken me to all kinds of fields - Customer Service, Healthcare, working with children, and much more. I have a history working with homeless individuals through the Housing First Approach and believe everyone deserves a place to call "home". It's always nice to think outside the box and if there isn't an immediate solution, we can come up with one together. We can all be a team player for the better of ourselves and the community and we can put our heads together and make anything work. If there is a problem, there is a solution and we can make it there together. Open-mindedness is important because sometimes the best thing isn't the most obvious. I look forward to meeting new people and helping on the road to success.
Word that best describes me: AmbitiousSpirit Animal: Spectacled Bear

Christinalynn Ledward

Outreach Case Manager

I'm a diverse local girl residing in Waianae who enjoys local food, all genres of music, karaoke, laugher, and we can't forget, my Ohana. Faith based and grounded in my mission to serve the way I'm called to, my heart of gold and love for the people landed me where I am today. My skills and knowledge allow me to serve our communities respectfully. On my way to completing my Business Associates degree, I've also studied at Hawaii Medical College for Medical Office Administration. My model is to "work smarter, not harder". Each individual I meet I ensure to make a difference in their life. Ho'omau-encouraged to carry on; persevere.

Shirley Yamauchi

Outreach Case Manager

Born in Hilo, raised in Puna for seventeen years, this rural farm girl left behind the country lifestyle, catchment water tanks and an erupting volcano for the metropolitan city of Honolulu back in 1992. For the past twenty three years, Shirley was a public school teacher and served as the former HSTA Leeward Chapter President (2018-2021). She also has been a background thespian since 1998 and is a current member of SAG-AFTRA.
When Shirley’s not chauffeuring son Taizo around to his weekly Chinese lion dance practices and performances across the island of Oahu, she dreams of ONE DAY of vacationing in Iceland and Thailand. Other interests include extreme couponing, and binge watching CNN and true crime shows on ID TV.
Spirit Animal: Eagle
One word description: Resourceful
Favorite musical band: Linkin Park
Food sustenance: boxes of natto

Tori Yuen-Carvalho

Outreach Case Manager

Kulia I Ka Nu’u; a firm believer in striving for excellence. I’m very passionate about helping others. I’m a 13 year attendee of the “BEST” Kamehameha School Kapalama Campus. I chose to continue higher education at University of Phoenix. I received my Bachelors degree in Science for Business Management, while working in the field of Social services for the State of Hawaii and City & County of Honolulu for the last 14 years. I’m currently working as a Community Service Specialist with the City and County of Honolulu, as well as an Outreach Case Manager with Achieve Zero. My goal each day is to make a positive difference in those I serve within the communities.

Caroline D Decherong

Outreach Case Manager

Born in Honolulu, Hi I was raised in Kalihi. Went to Kuhio elementary school but completed my intermediate and high school education in Kalihi by graduating from Farrington High School. I am mother of 10 kids and have 11 grandchildren. My family and I were homeless in 2006 in Waianae. With the assistance of many agencies and my determination we were housed. Wanting to give back to our communities and their families I worked for 8 years assisting and helping homeless individuals and families to become financially independent and in their own homes. I worked with Goodwill Industries for 9 years assisting families referred by DHS to help address barriers to becoming self sufficient by helping them obtain education, gain employment ready skills and case management support.

My spare time is used to spend time with my family, my children and my grand babies.
Spirit Animal: Bear
One word description: Compassionate
Food sustenance: anything