Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

Small Business Regulatory Review Board
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2019

HONOLULU—The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Small Business Regulatory Review Board (SBRRB) has announced its officers for fiscal year 2019 to 2020.

Robert Cundiff, chair (Oahu) – Mr. Cundiff has been a board member since 2016; he was senior vice president of Rengo Packaging, Inc.

Garth Yamanaka, vice-chair (Hawaii) – Mr. Yamanaka works at Yamanaka Enterprises, Inc., in Hilo, specializing in residential and commercial sales, and property management. He has been an SBRRB member since 2015.

William Lydgate, second vice-chair (Kauai) – Mr. Lydgate, is the fifth generation of Lydgates from Kauai where his family first emigrated. He hosts regular educational workshops and chocolate tastings at his Lydgate Farm in Kauai which grows and harvests chocolate, coffee, tropical fruit, and vanilla.

Other board members are Harris Nakamoto (Oahu), Nancy Atmospera-Walch (Oahu) and Mary Albitz (Maui). New members are Jonathan Shick (Oahu) and James “Kimo” Lee (Hawaii).

“The SBRRB oversees the more than 128,000 small businesses in Hawaii for rules and regulations promulgated by state and county agencies. We appreciate the board members for giving their time and expertise to this program and for having accomplished a lot in the past several years,” said DBEDT Director, Mike McCartney.

“The board members serve on a voluntary basis and we are grateful that they are taking the time to help shape Hawaii’s small business community,” said SBRRB Administrator, Dori Palcovich. “I extend my sincere appreciation and wish them the best to fulfill their duties on this important board.”

About the Board:

The SBRRB was established on July 1, 1998 with the passage of the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act. The responsibilities of the SBRRB include:

1. Commentary on small business impact statements to the rule-drafting agencies;
2. Identification and commentary on business impact of existing administrative rules;
3. Recommendations to the Governor’s Office, State Agencies or the Legislature for the need for an administrative rule or legislative change;
4. Recommendations to the Mayors or County Councils regarding County rules; and
5. Review of small business petitions and complaints on business impact.

The SBRRB is comprised of eleven (11) members – ten current or former owners or officers of businesses from across the state, and the Director of DBEDT or the Director’s designated representative, who serves as an “ex officio” member. Three members are appointed by Senate President, three members by Speaker of the House, two members by the SBRRB, and two appointed by the Governor.

Further, the appointments reflect a representation of a variety of businesses in the state with no more than two members from the same type of business and at least one representative from each county.

About the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT)
DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawaii economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaii’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments, and promotes innovation sector job growth.

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Media Contacts:

Dori Palcovich
Small Business Regulatory Review Board
Phone: (808) 586-2594
Website: dbedt.hawaii.gov/sbrrb

Charlene Chan
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Phone: (808) 587-9006
Website: dbedt.hawaii.gov