Oahu Meeting
“Business Transition Planning: To Transfer or Sell?”
Speakers: Ethan Lee, CPA, ABV, CFF at Pacific Business Valuations, and Craig Chong, President & CEO of Fresh Leadership
About Ethan Lee:
Ethan has specialized in business valuation and litigation support services since 2006. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in California, and holds the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credentials through the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). He has performed business valuations for litigation, business transition, due diligence, tax planning, and other purposes. Ethan has also provided consulting and expert services in connection with divorce, business ownership disputes, bankruptcy, and business and personal economic damage matters. He has testified as an expert witness in federal court and family court. Industries served include retail, wholesale, healthcare, professional services, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, import/export, hospitality and tourism, transportation, and technology.
Ethan is currently a member of the AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Executive Committee and serves as the AICPA’s ABV Champion for the State of Hawaii. Locally, he serves as a mentor through the Brigham Young University – Hawaii “MentorConnect” program and is an active member of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council. He has also served on the Young CPA Committee of the Hawaii Society of CPAs. Ethan is a co-founder of the Hawaii Business Exit Advisory Board. He is a previous board member of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council and Business Valuation Section of the California Society of CPAs.
Ethan has presented on numerous business valuation and forensic accounting topics at various venues, including the national AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, the San Francisco office of the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA), the Litigation and Family Law Sections of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Hawaii Health Workforce Summit, and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. He has been a guest lecturer at Sonoma State University and Brigham Young University – Hawaii.
About Craig Chong:
Driven by a desire to help Hawaii succeed in the 21st century by preparing the next generation of the state’s leaders, Craig founded Fresh Leadership to share nationally recognized best practices in executive coaching, strategic planning and leadership. Craig is a protégé’ of Master Strategist Tom Paterson, whose strategic planning and leadership coaching processes have been used at global companies such as IBM, Disney, McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, RCA, Estee Lauder & OtterBox. His knowledge of the Paterson Processes, as well as his credentials as an International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coach, Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara Master Coach, and Sr. Birkman International Consultant have allowed him to become a trusted advisor CEO’s and Senior Executive teams in mid-sized and large business such as: Kamehameha Schools, City Mill, JN Automotive Group, HMSA, and the Hawaiian Electric Companies.
Craig discovered his passion for executive coaching and strategic planning through his work with the church, which he was involved in prior to founding Fresh Leadership. He was mentored by Dr. J Robert Clinton, the guru of Life-Long Leadership Development, while a full-time graduate student at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was also a part of the core church planning team with New Hope Christian Fellowship on Oahu from 1995 to 1999 in which the church grew from 0 to 6000 in weekend attendance.
Craig takes great joy in serving in the community as a YMCA Metro, Board Member; Salvation Army of Hawaii, Board Chair; and in his Church Blue Water Mission. Craig is also married to Sandy and they raise two beautiful daughters Sophie & SaraAnne.