PR for Startups Silicon Valley Style:
How to Grow Your Company
Thursday, September 5, 11:30-1:30 pm, lunch provided
Manoa Innovation Center: Training Room, 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 173
Learn how to think strategically about your startup’s communications, get the most out of PR at any stage of your company’s growth and work effectively with PR agencies during a lunchtime seminar designed for Honolulu entrepreneurs. Join panelists Darren Kimura, Lori Teranishi and Lauren Scherr, all Hawaii born and raised, for an interactive session moderated by Clifton Kagawa.
Lori Teranishi is Co-founder and Principal of IQ PR. Lori has provided PR counsel to emerging and Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries. She has experience developing Board communications, launching major thought leadership campaigns and leading crisis communications for high-profile issues. Prior to founding IQ PR, Inc., Lori was Vice President of Product Development with Visa U.S.A. In her seven years with Visa, Lori held a variety of positions including Chief of Staff to Visa USA’s Chief Operating Officer where she instituted a company-wide business planning process and assisted in negotiating major deals with Fortune 50 companies.
Lauren Scherr consults emerging and high-growth companies at LaunchSquad, a San Francisco-based firm that provides a full suite of public relations and social media services. Lauren has experience developing and executing tech, trade, gaming, business and consumer PR initiatives for clients across industries. Prior to LaunchSquad, Lauren supported global communications programs at Electronic Arts, a leading interactive entertainment software company.
Darren Kimura is an experienced technology executive and entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience across IT, energy efficiency and solar technology. Over his career, he has served in corporate executive positions leading key strategic initiatives such as preparing for an Initial Public Offering, Mergers & Acquisitions for companies and technology, organizing teams, intellectual properties, and strategic engagements with Fortune 500 companies. Darren is the founder of Sopogy, Inc. and Energy Industries Corporation.
Moderator Clifton Kagawa is Chairman and CEO of Venture Capital Communications and Broadband iTV. He is also a partner at Sennet Capital. Previously, Clif was in public relations and marketing consulting, from 1998-2000 as Chairman and Chief Executive for New York-based Burson-Marsteller’s Asia Pacific region, and as a member of the advisory board for parent company Young & Rubicam. From 1988-98, Clif was Chairman and Chief Executive for international public relations consultancy Hill and Knowlton’s Asia Pacific operations. In the mid-90s Clif also had management responsibility for ad agency Ogilvy Hawaii. Prior to that, Clif was majority owner and Chief Executive of Communications-Pacific, a Hawaii-based public relations firm and, at the time, one of the 50 largest independent public relations consultancies in the US. It was acquired by Hill and Knowlton in 1987.
(L-R) Greg Kim, Darren Kimura, Lori Teranishi, Lauren Scherr, Clifton Kagawa
