Candee Elsworth is the Executive Director of a Keahole. She brings more than 25 years of experience in conservation and nonprofit leadership, including grant writing, board development, fundraising, community outreach, and program development. Formerly a biologist, she has worked extensively in endangered species recovery, captive rearing and breeding programs, reintroduction projects, habitat restoration, and international conservation initiatives. She was instrumental in developing captive rearing protocols for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, served as a founding member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Butterfly Conservation Working Group, and held studbook keeper roles for the endangered Virgin Islands boa and Mona Island boa. Her experience includes work across a wide range of taxa and she is highly skilled in radio telemetry. She has collaborated internationally throughout the West Indies, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. She is passionate about biodiversity, especially within island ecosystems, and continues to advance conservation through nonprofit leadership, education, and community engagement.

Jeannik “Nikki” Littlefield is a high school senior at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy and the youngest members ever appointed to the Keahole Center for Sustainability Board of Directors. She is an award-winning environmental scientist and community advocate, Nikki brings a youth perspective to ocean sustainability and renewable innovation projects. She has represented Hawai‘i internationally at science fairs, research conferences, and global sustainability forums, and serves as a liaison between the Center’s educational outreach programs and local schools. Her passion for marine science, water sustainability, and community empowerment aligns with KCS’s mission to advance sustainable technologies and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. She is the founder and head of the Wai Kumu Program.

Ross Birch is now the Island of Hawaii's Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection as General Manager of Mauna Lani Golf. Ross Birch recently served as Executive Director of the Island of Hawai`i Visitors Bureau, and was responsible for overseeing IHVB’s marketing and associated programs impacting the island’s visitor industry. Serving as the lead liaison between the island’s stakeholders and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), he also oversees the development of relationships with community leaders, government officials and visitor industry marketing partners. Birch has over 25 years of hospitality experience on Hawai‘i Island. Affiliations: Class A Member of the PGA of America and currently serves on Marketing and Economic Development committees of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, and Incoming Chair – Past President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii and Board Director and Hawaii Golf Alliance.

A longtime Hawai‘i Island businessman, he is an owner of the custom apparel and graphics company Creative Arts Hawai‘i, and both the Parker Ranch Store and Aloha Grown retail operations. He graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a bachelor’s of business administration degree in Marketing. He is a board member and past president of the Rotary Club of South Hilo; director and past president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai‘i; board member with the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce; member of the Hawaii Health System Corporation’s East Hawai’i Regional Board, and a board member of the Hawai’i Island United Way. Randy is the former Deputy Managing Director for the County of Hawaii and served from 2008 – 2012 as the Director of the Department of Research and Development.

Tyler Dickinson is a Business Banking Officer at First Hawaiian Bank – Kona branch. Tyler graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2002 with a B.S. in Business with a major in accounting. He has worked in the Banking and Real Estate Finance industries for 15 years. Tyler and his wife Michelle Dickinson married in Connecticut and moved to Hawaii in 2011. Affiliations: Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, UH of Hilo Vulcan Boosters, and Keahole Center for Sustainability (formerly Friends of NELHA).

Jane now serves as Executive Assistant to County of Hawaii, Mayor Roth. She is the owner of her own public affairs consulting firm. She has worked in both government and regulated industries. As the Chief of Staff for the former Hawaii County Council Chair, she worked to draft and successfully pass tobacco legislation raising the age of tobacco sales in Hawaii County to age 21 – the first county to do so in the State of Hawaii. In her role as Community Consultant for Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO), Jane developed, implemented, and coordinated community and educational outreach programs across the island. Her vibrant, engaging personality and understanding of her community made her the ideal representative for the Utility. As a very active community volunteer, Jane serves on various boards and commissions, including as the Hawaii Island Commissioner to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, current president of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District, West Hawaii Community Forums and serves as an officer on the Keahole Center for Sustainability (formerly Friends of NELHA) board. Jane earned her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Cebu State University in the Philippines and immigrated to Hawaii in 1994.