Board of Directors
Charlene Nishida – President
Charlene joined the WHMC Board in July 2022. She brings 15 years of experience working at non-profits in San Francisco, the Big Island and Oahu including the San Francisco Bay Girl Scout Council, Hospice of Kona and the American Cancer Society. She has also served as a board member on several Big Island non-profits. She is a small business owner and a Certified Real Estate Appraiser for the past 15 years. The Nishida clan lives in Kamuela and include her husband, three children and numerous animals. As a former recipient of services of the West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center, she looks forward to expanding awareness of the benefits of mediation services to our West Hawaiʻi community. She can personally attest to the positive impacts that mediation services provide.
Stephanie Beeby – Vice President
Stephanie is a seasoned Leadership Development and Business Strategist, with a background in Organizational Psychology and Founder of ‘In Flow CEO Consulting’. She specializes in working with progressive, everyday entrepreneurs to clarify, energize, and optimize their business systems, ensuring alignment between their actions and overall business strategies. Stephanie has collaborated with leaders from renowned organizations such as Disney, Toyota, TaylorMade Adidas, Boeing, Petco, Inc., Four Seasons, various start-ups, and non-profits.
Nelson Hairston Jr. – Secretary
Nelson has lived in Waimea since 2019 when he and his wife moved here after he retired from his position as Professor of Environmental Science at Cornell University with an expertise in the ecology of lakes and streams. On Hawaiʻi Island he is studying the ecology of endemic ‘opae’ula (shrimp) in anchialine pools along the Kona-Kohala coast and invasive crustaceans (copepods) in local farm ponds. Nelson was introduced to WHMC by his neighbor and previous Board VP, Niel Thomas, and joined the Board of Directors in March 2022. He is currently a member of the Science Advisory Board of a freshwater research institute in Berlin, Germany, and in the past has served as Chair of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Senior Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell, as well as on the Cornell Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the Earth/Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, New York. Nelson and he wife are grateful to live on the Big Island with its many wonderful people, and thankful for the water they receive from Kohala Mountain.
Paul Darr – Treasurer
For the past 15 years, Paul has worked in the field of Banking and Finance. Paul started in operations with Bank of America. Soon after his role expanded into leadership. In the pursuit of development he obtained his licensing, and navigated the world of Financial Advising with Merrill Lynch. His heart for connecting with and better serving the community brought him to his current role as Branch Manager for Hawaiʻi USA Federal Credit Union.
Sean Duim – Director
Sean has served on the Board of Directors for the West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center since 2020. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.S. in Business Administration Finance. During his time at UNC, he worked in the Office of Student Life, leading new student orientations and coordinating the biannual Student Involvement Fair. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, serving as the head of new member education. He also served as Scholarship Chair, overseeing member’s academics and finding scholarship opportunities. He has moved back to his hometown of Kailua Kona with his wife and baby daughter. Now being home, he hopes to further give back to his community that has given him so much. He currently works for his family business as a Real Estate Appraiser. During his free time, he enjoys being in the ocean and spending quality time at the beach with his family.
Kyla Livingston has been a volunteer mediator with WHMC since 2019. Mediating in court inspired her to attend law school in 2020, and she graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s William S Richardson School of Law in 2023. After working in immigration law in New York City for two years, she moved back home to Kona, where she was born and raised, and became a public defender. She’s thrilled to continue serving the community and the West Hawaiʻi Mediation Center in a new capacity on the Board.
Terra Laverty Haehn is an active member of the West Hawaiʻi community with a strong history of service and leadership across a wide range of organizations. She is currently and has previously been involved with community groups and boards including BNI, ASSP, SpraySafe, Farm Bureau, church leadership, Ironman, and Relay for Life. Terra is passionate about connection, collaboration, and solutions that strengthen individuals and communities. She strongly aligns with the mission of West Hawaiʻi Mediation and values the opportunity to contribute to an organization that promotes understanding, resolution, and positive outcomes. Terra is proud to serve on the board and be part of such a dedicated and impactful organization.
George Winchell – Advisor
George has a son living in Honolulu. He has a second home in Michigan where he spends 3-4 months each year. He re-retired June 30, 2018. He spends his time enjoying Hawaiʻi, reading, learning to be an ukulele luthier, and visiting his son.