Susan Furuta promoted to chief operating officer
Helping Hands Hawaii (HHH) promoted Susan Furuta (Mānoa, BS Human Dev, '13) to chief operating officer from vice president, Human Resources.
Furuta is now responsible for operations, recruitment, employment, benefits, patient confidentiality, safety, management training systems, facility maintenance and direct supervision of the Bilingual Access Line. Additionally, she will share supervision of the Human Services programs, advising on personnel, staffing and other operational duties. She serves as the agency’s Safety and HIPAA Privacy officers and participates in the agency’s Health and Wellness committee. Susan has more than 20 years of experience in Human Resource Management, including organizational change and systems and program development in retail, hospitality and non-profit industries. She has been with Helping Hands Hawaii for over 16 years as the VP, Human Resources.
Furuta was born and raised on the historic Ewa plantation and is a graduate of James Campbell High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In 2013, Susan was recognized as an emerging leader in the nonprofit sector by Hawaii Community Foundation, and in 2014 she was honored by Helping Hands Hawaii’s management and Board of Directors with the Mau a Mau Na Lima Hana award.
About Helping Hands Hawaii
Helping Hands Hawaii (HHH) was founded in 1974 and connects individuals, families and organizations with essential human and material resources. Through a variety of programs, it provides a full continuum of care and helps people overcome obstacles, like homelessness, mental illness, substance use and language access. Strong partnerships with local social service providers and innovative approaches strengthen the community by helping people to help themselves. To learn more about HHH, its programs or services, visit www.helpinghandshawaii.org.