Dennis Teranishi | CEO & Chairman

Dennis Y. Teranishi is a distinguished leader whose career uniquely blends expertise in business management, international relations, agriculture and high technology innovation, with a proven track record of fostering cross-sector collaboration and driving transformative growth.

Since December 1, 2011, Mr. Teranishi has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR). Before joining PICHTR, he led Hawaiian Host, Inc. as President and CEO for 14 years, overseeing its growth as a globally recognized brand.

Prior to his tenure at Hawaiian Host, Mr. Teranishi was the Owner and President of North Shore Associates, Inc., a business consulting firm specializing in operational planning, international sales and marketing, personnel development, agricultural diversification, and new product innovation. Earlier in his career, he spent 19 years with AMFAC, Inc., where he advanced from research agronomist specializing in sugarcane to President of AMFAC Agribusiness, Inc., managing diversified agricultural operations.

Mr. Teranishi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science from California State Polytechnic University and a Master of Science degree in Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition from the University of Hawaii. He has also completed executive training programs at the University of Southern California, Stanford University, and the University of Hawaii. A recognized leader in his field, he was honored as an outstanding alumnus of the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in 1993. He also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, from which he was honorably discharged.

An active contributor to both local and international communities, Mr. Teranishi serves on the board of directors for PICHTR, Tradewind Capital, and The Carpet Shoppe. Currently, he is an executive advisor to Sun Noodle and UTP, a Tokyo-based cosmetic company. His contributions to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations have been recognized with the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation (2010) and the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun (2014), awarded by the Emperor of Japan on behalf of the Japanese government.