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Pacific Business News Publisher and Market President Tammy Mencel announced Thursday that she will be stepping down. Her last day will be Feb. 16.
Mencel has been with American City Business Journals since 1999, when she joined Minneapolis Business Journal as an advertising account executive. She became advertising director of MSPBJ in 2005 and its publisher in 2007. In November 2015, Mencel moved to the Islands to become PBN's publisher and market president.
"I want to share my sincere gratitude for the incredible 25 years I have had the privilege to work at American City Business Journals," said Mencel. "It has been a rewarding journey that started in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and brought me here to the place I love to call home. I am grateful for the opportunities, experiences and most of all the friendships I have been blessed with during my time here. I am proud of what we as the PBN ohana have accomplished as a team over the past eight years that I have been publisher and market president of PBN."
Among those accomplishments, Mencel and PBN expanded the brand through in-person Neighbor Island events, deepening its relationships with Maui, Hawaii Island and, soon, Kauai; introduced the PBN Dialogue video podcast; and launched the annual Business of Pride event. The Pineapple Awards, honoring success in the visitor industry, were launched in 2016 and will return as an in-person event this year. Mencel also brought in the Kapolei Magazine partnership and event.
She launched Power Leaders two years ago, adding a people dimension to the annual Book of Lists — be sure to look for her at her last event, the Power Leaders-Book of Lists celebration on Jan. 25.
Most recently, Mencel launched Most Admired Leaders, with the event scheduled for Nov. 7 this year.
Along the way, she led PBN to two Eagle Awards, in 2021 and 2022, an ACBJ honor for markets exceeding their business goals.
“I’d like to thank Tammy for her many contributions to ACBJ both in Minneapolis and Honolulu and wish her much success in the future,” said Mike Olivieri, ACBJ executive vice president and president, local markets.
Mencel will be staying in Hawaii. "It's now my home," she said. "I'm looking forward to new opportunities to connect and make a positive impact in our community."
All of us at PBN wish her all the best.
A search for a successor is underway.