Nakea's Board of Advisors

Mike Flynn
Mr. Flynn retired as publisher of Puget Sound Business Journal in 2006 after 24 at the helm  During each of his last two years there The Business Journal was named one of the “five best business journals in America,” (an award determined by panels of business journalists from around the country, representing both daily and weekly publications).

After leaving The Business Journal Flynn formed Mike Flynn & Associates, LLC to focus on creating bridge-building business relationships across the state and across business segments through consulting and emerging-companies involvements.

In 2007, Mr. Flynn received The Governors Award for Lifetime Achievement in Economic Development.  Currently, he is on the Executive Committee of Junior Achievement of Washington (past chair), and the boards of the Downtown Seattle Association (past chair), Seafair, and the National Board of Advisors of the WSU College of Business.

Ken Hatch
Ken Hatch is CEO of Hatch Enterprises, Inc. which he founded in 1997 to provide organizational and communications consulting for corporations in transition or crisis.  He served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of KIRO, Inc., a division of Bonneville International Corporation, from 1980 to 1995. He was elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of KIRO Inc. in 1987.

Hatch has served on numerous boards of directors, including for Ecova, a biotechnology firm with the School of Public Health at the University of Washington; Olympic National Bank and Mortgage Company; Northern Life Insurance Company; Coco Plum Corporation; Bear Creek Development, Inc.; CashPoint Inc.; and Advanced Biometrics, Inc.  He also served on more than 30 non-profit boards.

Gene Juarez
The name itself stands for talent, inspiration and excellence, elements that have made Gene Juarez one of the most successful salon owners in the nation. In three decades, Gene Juarez has created eight full–service salons and spas, two cosmetology schools, and the Gene Juarez Advanced Training Salon.

Juarez mastered his cosmetology career in Seattle’s most distinguished salons. In 1971, Juarez ventured out on his own and opened the first modern–fashion beauty salon in the Northwest. Soon after, he opened a salon in the original Downtown Seattle Nordstrom and continued rapid growth while capturing the attention of the Northwest residents and the local media with his high energy and fashion–forward inspirations. Juarez was recognized as the 1992 Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Inc. magazine.

S. Michael Kuanth
Michael Kunath is a portfolio manager and principal of Kunath Karren Rinne & Atkin.  Prior to creating KKRA, Kunath was a founding partner of Sirach Partners in the early 1980s and a vice president of institutional sales for Bache Halsey Stuart Shields and Piper Jaffray.  Kunath was also a vice president and principal of Herron Northwest in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  He began his career in the investment department of Peoples National Bank in 1965 following three years of military service, retiring with the rank of captain.

Buzz Leonard
Buzz Leonard is a seasoned business leader with broad skills as a problem solver, negotiator, strategic marketer, product evangelist, and team builder in a key role, driving revenue growth, developing teams and delivering solutions. His 22-year career includes running a public company and managing several early-stage entities. Buzz has extensive experience in operations and financial organizational structures across a broad range of industries, with specialization in technology, banking, manufacturing and distribution. He has implemented and overseen regulatory reporting and compliance audits and operational audits, as well as conducted numerous risk control self-assessments. His experience in business process engineering, business continuity planning and information, and systems security and real-world perspective on implementing successful operational strategies.