Meet the newest 10 local companies joining mana up's cohort 9!
Co-Founder
Meli James is cofounder at Mana Up and president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. Prior to Mana Up, Meli's career path led her to Silicon Valley where she cofounded her first company, Nirvino, a #1 ranked wine app, an Apple Platform Top 100 App, and Top Ten Lifestyles App in 2007. She later moved back home, bringing her experience to Hawaii accelerators Blue Startups and the University of Hawaii’s Venture Accelerator. Meli has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of five Women to Watch and as one of eight Women Leaders Who Are Disrupting Entrepreneurship. She serves on the board of UHA Health Insurance and board of regents for Chaminade University. Meli is a graduate of and entrepreneur in residence at Cornell University.
Co-Founder
Brittany Heyd is cofounder of Mana Up. Before Mana Up, Brittany was cofounder and managing director at 1776 where she grew the organization from idea to global business including a $12.5 million venture fund, five locations, events in 75 cities across the world, and a software platform called Union. Brittany also held positions at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Latham & Watkins, and Mark IV Capital. In 2020, she was recognized by Hawaii Business Magazine on its 20 for the Next 20 list and in 2021, she was named by Pacific Business News as an honoree of its annual Women Who Mean Business Awards. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund (University of Hawaii) and the Hawaii Pacific Export Council. Heyd holds a Juris Doctor / Masters of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor's of Arts from the University of San Diego.
Gifting Sales Manager
Susan Havens is the gifting sales manager. Over the last 20 years she has worked in Hawai‘i’s hospitality industry with a concentration in corporate resort group sales, and most recently was with Fairmont Orchid on Hawai‘i Island. Susan is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Agriculture. Susan oversees Mana Up Gifts, helping to manage and grow our curated personal and corporate gifting programs.
Susan also enjoys spending time with her husband & two kids playing golf, riding bikes and being in the ocean.
Favorite Product at House of Mana Up: Big Island Coffee Roaster Espresso Bites
Content & Marketing Manager
Growing up O‘ahu, she moved to the Pacific Northwest where she graduated from the University of Washington, graduating with B.A. in Communications and a concentration in Journalism. Courtney began her career as PR Coordinator at Neiman Marcus Honolulu. She later went on to build ultra-luxury multichannel campaigns and cultivated new brand partnerships as the Director of Marketing at Modern Luxury Hawai‘i.
Favorite Product at House of Mana Up: ua body ‘Iliahi Dry Oil
Program Manager
Craig Perkins-Shiraishi is the Program Manager at Mana Up, bringing an abundance of experience and skills to support entrepreneurs on their journey. Originally from South San Francisco, CA, Craig began his career in the facilities and human resources departments at companies such as GoPro and Amazon. His background in operations and project management has equipped him with the tools to guide and empower entrepreneurs through various programs.
When Craig is not working, he loves cuddling with his labrador and reading the latest celebrity memoirs.
Account Manager
Shelbie Woods is the Account Manager at Mana Up. She leverages her background as the former project coordinator to ensure a seamless and enjoyable gifting experience for our corporate clients. She is based on Maui and holds a B.S. in Religion with a cognate in Leadership from Liberty University.
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Lindsay Henriksen is the Digital Marketing Coordinator at Mana Up, where she crafts online strategies and marketing content for both Mana Up and House of Mana Up brands. Holding a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in Criminal Justice from Liberty University, Lindsay brings a blend of knowledge and creativity to her role.