Jim Lightner

Jim teaches in business and management courses focusing on the challenges of contemporary operations in Hawaii. He is Chair of the Hospitality Division, which consists of the Food Service and Hotel Operations programs in both Hilo and Kona.

After graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy in 1961, and serving 4 years in Hawaii, he was the owner and manager of a chain of retail fashion clothing stores for 25 years. A resident of Kailua-Kona since 1990, Jim was manager of Lanihau Center and a real estate broker in Kailua-Kona before becoming Hospitality Division Chair in 2001. He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii in December 2002.

He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Kona, Past Chair of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, and Past President of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health System Corporation which manages the 12 public hospitals in Hawaii.

James H. Ferguson, CHA

• Hotel Executive - 47 years retired
• Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council - Food Service Manager: Overseeing all food production of approximately 2,000 meals per day, Island wide.
• Hawaii Community College – Instructor - Hospitality Courses

PAST EXPERIENCE

• Hotel General Manager, LA Quinta Inn & Suites
• Regional Director, Cendant Corporation, Regional Director for Howard Johnson Hotels, west of the Mississippi, extending to Hawaii. Developed and maintained the relationship between the franchisees and the company. Trained the franchisees in operating and marketing and oversaw the Regional Operators Council.
• Director of Property Management, GM Development Inc. Responsible for three Condo resorts, one apartment building, 57 rental houses and three homeowners’ associations. Hired and supervised all management staff, housekeeping and maintenance personnel. Responsible for the budgeting and marketing, staff and Member relations. I ran the homeowners’ meetings with the board members. Responsible for preventative maintenance projects.
• RCI - Grand Vista Painted Mountain Timeshare Resort- General Manager
• Gold Canon Resort - Managed a full-service Resort with an 18-hole golf course.
• Choice Hotels- Quality Inns, Corporate Turn-a-Round Manager
• Kings Court Motel, Loveland, Colorado – Owner
• Hertz Car Rental, Loveland and Greeley, Colorado – Owner
• Hilton Hotels Corporation, I was the youngest sales manager in the company at that time. Denver Hilton Hotel 880 rooms.
• Developed and taught the Hospitality Management Program at: The American Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Taught Hotel Management at North American College, Phoenix, Arizona

Educational Background

• Paul Smith’s College – Business Hotel & Restaurant Management
• University of Denver – Business Hotel & Restaurant Management
• Education Institute – American Hotel Association, Certified Hotel Administrator
• Education Institute – American Hotel and Lodging Association - Instructor

• Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association
• Advisory Board member –East Hawaii Council –American Cancer Society
• Rotary Club of South Hilo, HI
• Rotary Club of Warm Springs, Fremont, CA – Past President
• Rotary Club Foundation – Treasurer
• California Hotel & Lodging Association – Board of Directors & member of the Education Committee
• Fremont Chamber of Commerce – Board Member, Sub-chair for Government Affairs
• Warm Springs Business & Community Association – Founding member and Past President
• Center Theatre Preservation Association – Board Member
• San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society – Past President
• Fremont Business Coalition – Board Member
• Newark, CA Chamber of Commerce – Head of the Ambassador Corps
• Colorado Motel and Lodging Association – Past President
• Loveland, CO Motel and Lodging Association – Past President
• Loveland, CO Chamber of Commerce -Tourist Board Chairman
• Loveland, CO Optimist Club – Past President

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