Helene Sam Shenkus

“Sam” Shenkus has over 30 years of marketing and retailing experience in the shopping center and tourism industries. Since joining Festival in 2007, she has led the strategic planning and implementation of marketing, advertising and social media, merchant communications, public, community and business communications relations for the Royal Hawaiian Center. Sam also heads marketing strategy for The Festival Companies, lifestyle and tourism retail portfolio.

Prior to joining Festival, her previous Hawaii positions included Marketing Director for Ala Moana Center and Aloha Tower Marketplace, Vice President of Marketing for Roberts Hawaii. She also held operational and marketing positions with the Dayton-Hudson / Target Corporation and The Center Companies/GGP.

Ms. Shenkus has a B.S. from Michigan State University, is an active member of ICSC and was the ICSC Hawaii State Director (2015-2019). Sam is the Co-Chair of the Aloha Festivals Board of Directors, serves on the Salvation Army of Honolulu Advisory Board, is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Ala Moana, was the 2014 recipient of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) District 13 Silver Medal Award and the 2018 recipient of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Hawaii Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award.