AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAWAII PACIFIC Dianne Simmons brings her financial expertise to bear in advocating for the American Cancer Society, Hawaii Pacific.

Cancer society chair
gets fiscal house in order

Dianne Simmons >> New job: Newly installed board chairman of the American Cancer Society, Hawaii Pacific. >> Previous positions: Financial planner for two Honolulu insurance companies; Navy personnel manager who hired 800 members a year for 11 vessels operating in Pacific waters. >> Other new board officers: Chris Pablo, vice chairman and chairman-elect; Carol Kotsubo, immediate past chairwoman; Brian Issell, president; Jonathan Cho, vice president/president-elect; Robert Wilkinson, immediate past president; Kim Kuulei Birnie, secretary; and Joseph Wikoff, treasurer. >> Cancer facts: About 5,000 men and women are diagnosed with the disease each year in Hawaii; and 1.3 million people in the United States. About 1,700 Hawaii residents die each year of cancer, with approximately 5,900 males and 4,500 females in the state dying of the disease during the six-year period of 1995 to 2000. It is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of all deaths in Hawaii.

What is happening now with the American Cancer Society, Hawaii Pacific?

I am the newly elected chairman of the board and this is kind of an exciting time for us because the American Cancer Society was incorporated in New York state and we come under the not-for-profit laws of New York state. For the last two years, we have been working on revising our bylaws and governance procedures to comply with New York regulations. We approved new bylaws in August and the governance procedures in January. This is very important to us because we want to be very credible to the public.

So what exactly does that mean?

We have within the last month developed 11 different monetary procedures of how we are operating so our board of directors will be totally informed. Then we can say to the public that we are performing how we said we would.

Why did you decide to get involved with the American Cancer Society?

I have a friend who's been involved in the American Cancer Society here in Hawaii for over 30 years and she sits on our national board of directors. When I moved (from Oahu) to the Big Island and went into semiretirement, she felt I needed something to fill my days. I've always been interested in the management of nonprofits because I have an MBA. I also have an interest in income development, or fund-raising.

Have you had a history of cancer in your family?

My grandfather and two of my aunts passed away from cancer.

Is there a correlation between your position with the American Cancer Society and being a financial planner?

Serving on any community board requires many different skills. I just happen to have a background in finance. I can understand budgets and I can do financial forecasts, Those were skills that were needed at the time I joined the board. I and other board members signed a conflict-of-interest statement that we don't mix business with our volunteer activity. If people knew I was active in financial planning and came up to me on their own, I would talk about the need for everybody to have their will in order.

Can you tell me about your former job with the Navy?

I worked for a defense contractor for the United States Navy. I worked for two different contractors who had the contract to operate TAGOS. I was the personnel manager for the contractors who held that contract. One company lost the contract and another company won the contract and came in and hired the office personnel. TAGOS are war surveillance vessels.

How long have you been on the board?

I first went on the board six years ago as the chairman of income development, or fund-raising. I did that four years and then I was chairman-elect for a year and now I'm chairman.

How large is American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific?

We have eight units within Hawaii Pacific. The units are on Guam; Kauai; Maui, which includes the island of Molokai and Lanai; east Hawaii, which is Hilo and the east side of the island; Kona, which is west Hawaii; and on Oahu, there is a Honolulu metro unit; a central Leeward office in Aiea; and a Windward unit based in Kailua.

What do you see as the function of your agency?

I think we are a primary agency in advocating for early (cancer) detection. We are there to support patients through different programs during their recovery and we are very interested in the quality of life of survivors.

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Inside Hawaii Inc. is a conversation with a member of the Hawaii business community who has changed jobs, been elected to a board or been recognized for accomplishments. Send questions and comments to business@starbulletin.com