JEANETTE OTSUKA CHANG, PRESIDENT: Born in Oahu to Ruth & Wallace Otsuka, one of the founding fathers of Otsuka’s Furniture & Appliances, Jeanette followed in the footsteps of her father 64 years later as its’ President. An honor graduate of both Punahou School and the University of Hawaii, Jeanette majored in Elementary Education and did post-graduate work in math and science. Following graduation, Jeanette married Adrian Chang, a nuclear engineer at Pearl Harbor and remained at home to raise their three children, Kristi, a real estate broker in Los Angeles and proud mother of the Changs’ grandson Charles Bradley (one more is on the way), Arin, an entrepreneurial electrical engineer in San Jose who recently started his own company, and Keri, a mechanical engineer who works in Honolulu.

While at home, Jeanette began Kristin’s of Hawaii, a company specializing in clothing design and manufacturing. Ten years later she began her 21-year employment with Punahou School, the alma mater of both herself and her 3 children. However, in 1999 following the death of both her brother and father Jeanette returned to Kauai to take over the helm of Otsuka’s. She presides also as the first Vice-President of Kauai Petroleum, another company founded by her family. She is a member of Kauai United Way, Zonta International, an executive women’s group, board of director of Puako Homeowners Association, and recently named one of the most influential women on Kauai.

With her gifted, multi-talented general manager Baltazar Manibog, Jeanette has catapulted Otsuka’s into the 21st century with their “out-of-the-box” business practices. On any given day, you can enjoy the ambiance of the Otsuka’s experience - offers of refreshments, lunch, and a place to “rest your feet” in a cordial, friendly, no-pressure atmosphere. The foundation on which they’ve built the business is to “listen to the heartbeat of their customers while building relationships”, bring new and exciting products never before experienced by Kauaians, bring Otsuka’s to the people via an outside salesperson and virtual store, and initiate complimentary in-your-home visits by spatial planners/design consultants. These innovative practices have been instrumental in capturing for the company Kauai’s Retailer of the Year and Best Furniture Store on Kauai.

BALTAZAR MANIBOG, GENERAL MANAGER, CONTRACT CONSULTING: Born in the Philippines, Balty came to Hawaii as an infant. His father was a laborer for Lihue Plantation Sugar Company and his mother worked at the Hawaiian Fruit Packers Pineapple Cannery. He attended and graduated from Kapaa High & Elementary School. Following high school, Balty went on to attend the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

Balty started working at Otsuka’s in 1964 while still in high school delivering furniture and appliances. He also worked at the gasoline station also owned by the company. After graduating from college, he went to work for Puget Sound National Bank in Tacoma, Washington and was its Assistant Branch Manager at the South Tacoma Way Branch when he was enticed by Wallace Sr., Otsuka’s founding father, to return to Kauai and work for Otsuka’s again. Following the long-term illnesses and deaths of both Wallace Jr. and Wallace Sr. in 1999, Balty was the sole support and leader of both Otsuka’s and Kauai Petroleum in their absence until the arrival of Jeanette Otsuka Chang.

Balty and his wife, Nancy, formerly from Puyallup, Washington, have four children. Chandra resides in Boston, Massachusetts, Andrea lives in Richland, Washington, Christofer works for Otsuka’s as its delivery supervisor, and Curtis who also resides on Kauai. Balty and Nancy are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren, Corey, Tyler and Bryanna.