Name: Christina Kemmer
Age: 48
Position: Managing director, Hill and Knowlton
First job: Set up childhood center, Chicago.
Hobby: Paddling

The public relations firm is high on Kemmer, noting her background in community service, marketing and government relations.

"From the time of my first position establishing an early childhood center in Chicago, it's all required community relations work, government relations, public-private partnerships and the like," Kemmer said.

Among numerous civic involvements, Kemmer has been chairman of the Waikiki Improvement Association, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, and board member in People Attentive to Children and the Young People's Support Center.

She joined the company early this month after two years with the city - and a long-awaited vacation in Italy. "I love to travel," she said. "It's one of my favorite things to do because I like to meet and experience other cultures."