Staff - Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, HI

As President and CEO, Wendy Laros is motivated by the mission of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce to provide leadership and advocacy for a successful business environment in West Hawaiʻi. With over three decades in Kona, Laros understands the issues and finds purpose voicing the business community’s views. She believes in the power of working together as a community to seek solutions.

Prior to joining the chamber staff, Laros was an active Kona-Kohala chamber member and served as the chair of the Education and Workforce Development Committee. She strongly believes in the power of education having earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island as well as a Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology from the state's flagship campus, UH Manoa, a research university.

Service:
- Western Association of Chamber Executives Board of Directors
- Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi Board of Directors
- Island of Hawaiʻi Chamber Hui Founding Member
- UH Hilo Community Advisory Board
- Hawaiʻi Community College Advisory Council
- Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Hawaiʻi Island Destination Management Action Plan Steering Committee
- U.S. Army Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) Advisory Council
- Hawaiʻi Island Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee
- State of Hawaiʻi House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness
Associations:
- Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.)
  - W.A.C.E. Academy Graduate
  - W.A.C.E. Academy Steering Committee
- Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Hawaiʻi Economic Association

Lydia Hoeppner joined the Chamber staff in 2017 with a friendly smile and welcoming nature. As our Accounts and Membership Services Manager, Lydia is in the perfect position to help our members get the most from their membership.

Naturally gifted with ‘attention to detail’, Lydia applies her skills in managing the Chamber's nearly 500 membership accounts. Her past experience with information systems, tracking parts, and assisting engineers in engine development at Toyota Racing Development (TRD) translates well to her current Chamber administrative details. Look to Lydia to update your member profile, pay dues or register for events.

As Membership Services Manager, rely on Lydia to help you with KKCC services such as Member Marketplace, Member Spotlight and advertising in The Source - the Chamber's annual business magazine and member directory.

What does Lydia like most about the Kona-Kohala Chamber? She states, “I like the diversity of the membership and the events that we do. I’m really enjoying getting to know our members better everyday.”

Lydia is a strong advocate for dog rescue and volunteers with KARES – Kohala Animal Relocation Education Services – to foster and take dogs to adoption events.

Chamber Staff