Honolulu, Hawaii—Pacific Business News honored Kimberly Fujinaka, PacRim Marketing Group Integrated Marketing Services Director, as one of Hawaii’s “best and brightest young business leaders,” as it named its 15th annual Forty Under 40 Class of 2014 at the Hawaii Convention Center last night.
The “class” was selected based on business excellence, contributions to overall success of a business, standing out amongst peers and colleagues, and volunteer work in the community. “It was a tough selection process — the 40 were chosen from among nearly 120 nominations, all of whom are standouts in their fields,” according to Pacific Business News editor-in-chief, A. Kam Napier.
Fujinaka’s leadership skills, enthusiasm, and excellence in her role as Director of Integrated Marketing at PacRim Marketing Group, distinguished her as an outstanding business executive.
“Uniquely, her interest and experience in Asian cultures, global business, and cross-cultural communications contribute to her success in understanding clients and helping them increase business from Asian International Travelers,” said Dave Erdman, president and chief executive officer of PacRim Marketing Group. “Joining PacRim Marketing Group 6 years ago, Kim has shown business acumen beyond her years, providing a fresh perspective and becoming a dependable leader who has helped with business development and corporate strategy.”
At PacRim Marketing Group, Fujinaka oversees a team of seven full-time professionals, successfully integrating dynamic talent from Japan, Korea, and China with account executives, multimedia specialists, and student interns. She and her team develop and implement integrated marketing programs targeting Asian International Travelers for premier clients like Ala Moana Center, Ala Moana Hotel, Estee Lauder, Neiman Marcus, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Waikiki Beach Walk.
She is responsible for a host of services including media relations, public relations, advertising, social media, multimedia production, travel trade relations, and cooperative partnership development.
Fujinaka excels in the community through volunteer work as well. A former contestant and court member of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Cherry Blossom Festival, Kim represented Hawaii, traveling throughout the U.S. and Japan, promoting cultural preservation and international friendships across global businesses and governments. She continues to support this organization of young professionals and is an active member of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce and other charities, including the Going Places Network by Walmart, a program of the YWCA of Oahu and Dress For Success Honolulu.
Fujinaka’s desire to return home after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in Marketing from Loyola Marymount University reflects an increasingly important choice shared amongst her peers. Her passion in strengthening Hawaii’s economy and connection to Asia, which includes professional and volunteer activities, shows her dedication to bettering the world through the support of women, the Asian American community and community at large, as well as positively representing the Hawaii and the United States internationally.