SEATTLE, February 2, 2008 — Nakea, LLC. announced today the formation of its new Board of Advisors. The Board of Advisors provides Nakea management with strategic counsel and guidance. Nakea’s board is composed of regional experts from the media, marketing, finance, and technology industries, who all have a strong background in entrepreneurial activities and early-state ventures.
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 Kunath
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.