Executive Officer
Jodi Endo Chai is executive officer at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
PUF: What is your role here?
Jodi Endo Chai: I help Jay [Griffin, Chair] by overseeing the organization's administrative and operational matters, as well as strategic planning.
PUF: What is your background and what are you trying to bring to this organization?
Jodi Endo Chai: I spent twenty-two years at the Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA), the largest labor union in Hawaii, and in September 2018 took an early retirement. I began in communications and advanced to deputy executive director.
I took an early retirement because I wanted to do executive coaching and leadership development. Also, I was on the high-speed train at HGEA. It was a demanding and high-pressure position that took a toll on me.
I reached that early retirement milestone and had been talking with my boss. I told him, all the signs are telling me, now's the time - take the early retirement and pursue leadership consulting, which is what I wanted to do for my second career.
I did, and it was going well. I was still helping HGEA with strategic planning and leadership development, but also getting certified to do executive coaching. A few months later a good friend of mine and I were having coffee, and he said, the real reason why I asked you to get together is because I think there's a great job opportunity for you.