Amy Hennessey, APR

Amy Hennessey, APR, is the director of communications for Ulupono Initiative, which is a social investment firm that is working to improve the quality of life for island residents in three areas: more renewable energy, more locally produced food, and less waste.  She is also a lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, teaching public relations strategies.  Previously, she was the director of foundation communications for Hawai‘i Pacific Health, primarily focused on supporting the capital campaign to rebuild Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.  Prior to that Amy was vice president at McNeil Wilson Communications for nearly 13 years where she provided counsel to clients in multiple sectors of business spanning travel and tourism, corporate, nonprofit, labor, government, utilities, real estate, retail and transportation.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations and a minor in marketing and management from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. An active, accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America – Hawai‘i Chapter, Amy currently serves as the professional liaison to the University of Hawai‘i’s student chapter. Previously, she was chapter president in 2005 and chaired the annual PRSA Hawai‘i Koa Anvil Awards program for four consecutive years. Amy is also the recipient of PRSA Hawai‘i’s 2002 Young PR Professional of the Year award and numerous Koa Anvil and Hammer awards for her work.

She is an alumna of the Pacific Century Fellows class of 2008, and was named as a finalist for the Pacific Business News 2007 Forty Under 40 which honors young business professionals for their career and community achievements.  Hennessey has also served on a number of community boards focused on education, building nonprofit strength, and public health.