TOC Board of Directors
The Board of Directors FY 2026 - 2027
Left to right: Jonathan Sudler, Joan Gossett, Denise Soderholm, Jack O'Neill, Brenda Lam, Bobbie Romero, Whitney Bosel
[ Missing: Diane Harding, Maureen Murphy, Tyler Dang ]
Left to right: Jonathan Sudler, Joan Gossett, Denise Soderholm, Jack O'Neill, Brenda Lam, Bobbie Romero, Whitney Bosel
[ Missing: Diane Harding, Maureen Murphy, Tyler Dang ]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026
President: Diane Harding
Vice President: Maureen Murphy
Treasurer: Denise Soderholm
Secretary: Bobbie Romero
Advisor: Whitney Bosel
Advisor: Joan Gossett
Advisor: Jonathan Sudler
Director: Tyler Dang
Director: Brenda Lam
Director: Jack O'Neill
President: Diane Harding
Vice President: Maureen Murphy
Treasurer: Denise Soderholm
Secretary: Bobbie Romero
Advisor: Whitney Bosel
Advisor: Joan Gossett
Advisor: Jonathan Sudler
Director: Tyler Dang
Director: Brenda Lam
Director: Jack O'Neill
|
Diane Harding, President
Diane has served on The Outdoor Circle Board of Directors in various capacities since 2008, including as past Treasurer and past Branch Representative. She was born and raised in Kaneohe and now lives in Kailua, where she is currently serving as President of the Lani-Kailua Branch. Diane has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from MIT and is a retired software developer in the fields of geophysics and seafloor mapping. In that capacity, she travelled extensively to ports of call in the north western and north eastern Pacific, with a short foray in the North Atlantic off Canada. Diane also manages the Lani-Kailua Branch website through which she is actively involved in the online archiving of The Outdoor Circle’s rich history, and she serves as the “I Love Kailua” Town Party Chair. Maureen Murphy, Vice President Maureen moved to Hawai‘i after earning a BS in Ornamental Horticulture in 1978. In 1990 she started Horticultural Consultants International, a landscaping company that specializes in beautification projects, tree pruning and consulting. She is a Certified Arborist, a Registered Consulting Arborist, and a landscape contractor. In addition to a BS, she holds a Master’s degree in Horticulture and a degree in Fruit Science. Maureen was introduced to The Outdoor Circle in 1980 and has been involved ever since. She has held various positions in several different branches, depending upon where she was living at the time. In the mid 2000’s she served on the TOC Board as Vice President and is excited to be serving again. She also serves as the President of the Kaua‘i Branch. Denise Soderholm, Treasurer Denise grew up in Mesa, AZ and moved to Honolulu in 1992. She joined The Outdoor Circle Board in 2003 as Assistant Treasurer, and then served as Treasurer for 3 years, and Vice President for 2 years before becoming President in 2009. Initially, Denise joined the TOC Board at the urging of her late Mother-in-Law, Jane Morris, a long-time, active member of the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle. She remains committed because TOC represents a mission she believes in. She rejoined the Board in 2020, serving as Treasurer. Denise and her husband, Erik, own and operate Soderholm Bus & Mobility. They sell and service buses, wheelchair accessible vehicles and auto adaptive driving aids. Their two children, Gus and Gabi, who spent many afternoons in the TOC conference room, share a passion for environmental issues and work in the business with them. Bobbie Romero, Secretary Bobbie Romero has lived in Hawai‘i for over 50 years and is a long-time Kailua resident. She has lived on the Windward side for 20 years, where she raised two daughters. Her current hobbies include spending time with her granddaughter and growing orchids. Bobbie has an extensive background in Human Resources, Labor Relations and Mediation, having worked at Hawai‘i Pacific Health and Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu. Bobbie has also worked for law firms specializing in Employment law. She has been an active volunteer for the Lani-Kailua Branch I Love Kailua Town Party, and currently serves as an Advisor on their Board of Directors and Chair of their Signs Committee. Bobbie is looking forward to her role as Secretary on The Outdoor Circle Board of Directors. Whitney Bosel, Advisor Whitney is the outgoing TOC Secretary and also serves on the Manoa Outdoor Circle board of directors. She was born and raised in Honolulu. Whitney spends much of her free time digging in the dirt, and is passionate about architecture, conservation, urban planning, and design at all scales. Joan Gossett, Advisor Joan is President and Recording Secretary for the East Hawai‘i Outdoor Circle Branch. She was born and raised on Oahu, and spent 15 years with the North Shore branch, holding various positions on their board until moving to the Big Island in 2014. TOC is a critical organization in Hawai’i for advancing our knowledge of la‘au and its importance to our state and the world in our fight against climate crisis. Our planting and caring of trees for carbon sequestration and to cool and beautify our environment continues to have lasting beneficial effects for us all. Additionally, she believes the public, our counties and the state all enjoy the rewards from our outreach efforts to limit signage proliferation. Jonathan Sudler, Advisor Jonathan has been a TOC member since 2017, and a past Outdoor Circle board member. He was the former Secretary for the Arborist Advisory Committee to the Mayor’s Office, Hawai‘i County. He is a designer and corporate event planner, holding an MFA in Sculpture with a minor in religious studies and a strong interest in Art History. Jonathan is in constant search of creative solutions to many professional challenges. He considers that, “The Outdoor Circle is a positive reaction to the many environmental challenges we face here in Hawai‘i and abroad. As we care for our trees, they care for us.” Tyler Dang, Director Tyler was born and raised in Kaimukī. Following 13 years at Punahou, then 4 years at the University of California, Berkeley earning a degree in Integrated Biology. Tyler’s worldview grew to encompass perspectives similar to The Outdoor Circle’s values and mission. He finds great excitement in learning what dynamic and connected communities can do. Aiming specifically to contribute towards the future growth of TOC and collaborate more deeply on the development and public affairs side. Outside of TOC, Tyler works as a Program Manager at Stanford Medicine, enjoys free-dive spearfishing and paddling, and often takes his grandmother Norma (who was previously a long-standing Outdoor Circle member) to the KCC Farmer’s Market on the weekends. Brenda Lam, Director Brenda was born and raised in Manoa valley, and has been in the landscape industry, in both design and commercial construction for over 40 years. She attended Punahou School, and received BAs in Art History and Pre-Landscape Architecture from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and a Master of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning from Utah State University. She moved to Kona in 1979 and founded Pacific Kona Landscaping Inc., the first woman owned design/build landscape company in Hawai‘i. While in Kona she served on the boards of the Kona Outdoor Circle and Habitat for Humanity where she was the building chairperson. “It was rewarding keeping Kona clean, green and beautiful and at the same time building low-income housing for deserving families.” She moved back to Honolulu in 2019 and lives in the house she grew up in. Brenda is a licensed landscape architect who loves native Hawaiian plants and volunteers growing and planting them. Jack O’Neill, Director Originally from Long Beach, New York, Jack fell in love with O‘ahu’s unique blend of city life and tropical beauty. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Buffalo State College and currently serves as a System Analyst for the State of Hawai‘i, Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, where he develops and manages secure, efficient systems that support Hawai‘i’s public sector workforce. Jack and his wife, who met and married in Hawai‘i, are committed to growing their roots here and giving back to the community that has given them so much. With a strong background in IT infrastructure, security, and strategic problem-solving, Jack is passionate about helping organizations operate smoothly and responsibly. He looks forward to supporting The Outdoor Circle’s mission to keep Hawai‘i clean, green, and beautiful for generations to come. |
Our Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers all working towards the best interests of The Outdoor Circle. They help to ensure the organization is well-managed, well-funded, and satisfies its mission to keep Hawai‘i clean, green, and beautiful.
The Board is elected by the members of The Outdoor Circle every year at its Annual Meeting held in the Fall. The Nominating Committee accepts and reviews potential nominations to the Boards and recommends a slate of candidates to the membership. If you are interested in being considered for a position on the Board, please click here to send us a cover letter explaining your interest in serving on the Board and your resume detailing your experience and areas of expertise. You must be a member of The Circle to serve on the Board of Directors.
The Board is elected by the members of The Outdoor Circle every year at its Annual Meeting held in the Fall. The Nominating Committee accepts and reviews potential nominations to the Boards and recommends a slate of candidates to the membership. If you are interested in being considered for a position on the Board, please click here to send us a cover letter explaining your interest in serving on the Board and your resume detailing your experience and areas of expertise. You must be a member of The Circle to serve on the Board of Directors.