Ulupono Initiative Welcomes New Communications and Community Specialist

Aug 28, 2024

The Ulupono team is pleased to announce the addition of Summer Begnaud as its new communications and community specialist. In the role, Begnaud will spearhead digital communications, including social media strategy development and implementation as well as website management and optimization. Additionally, she will oversee sponsorship coordination and play a key role in supporting Ulupono’s overall communications strategy.

Begnaud brings a strong background in digital communications to Ulupono, having most recently served as a digital media specialist for the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization (OER). At OER, she played a pivotal role in managing social media campaigns, maintaining the office’s website, and publishing the Small Business Newsletter. Begnaud also contributed significantly to establishing and creating a brand identity for the O‘ahu Business Connector program.

Prior to OER, Begnaud co-founded a boutique creative agency in Austin, Texas, where she worked with nonprofits, small businesses, and women- and queer-owned businesses to launch and grow their brands. Her extensive experience in branding, marketing, social media management, and website design has equipped her with the skills needed to help organizations effectively communicate their messages and engage with their audiences.

“Summer’s expertise in creative branding and her commitment to impactful community engagement make her a perfect fit for our team,” said Murray Clay, president of Ulupono Initiative. “Her ability to craft compelling stories and build strong community connections will be instrumental in amplifying Ulupono’s mission."

Begnaud earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a minor in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. She was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, and enjoys creating ceramics in her free time.