MEET OUR COACHES
aloha and welcome
The Ground Higher acknowledges that being a business owner is not always easy. TGH leaders cultivate and maintain mentoring relationships and bring their energy, experience and commitment forth to provide guidance to those who are seeking a higher power. By reinforcing faith-based principles, TGH is here to help navigate both the spiritual and commercial world.
Norman Katayama
Norman has served nearly a decade in a local Christian church in Honolulu and has since been in the marketplace for over thirty-five years. He’s helped partner several “start-up” businesses and started seven of his own. His life-long calling is to mentor business owners so they can discover their life purpose and he is committed to walking with each of them through their life journey.
Norman’s legacy is his family because that is the only thing that you can take with you to heaven. Norman became a born-again believer on April 8, 1971. He married his high-school sweetheart on June 8, 1979. They have 3 amazing married children: Jonathan, Charlene, and Christy and they have produced five extraordinary grandsons and four exceptional granddaughters. All three of their children and their spouses are committed believers.
Craig Chong
Craig is a seasoned Master Coach, Master Consultant, and Master Facilitator. For over 20 years he has served as Trusted Advisor to over 100 Business Owners/ Ceo's & their Leadership Teams. He has extensive experience in the construction, retail, energy, healthcare, education, insurance, faith, & non-profit sectors. He has a proven record of transforming these businesses to become profitable, efficient, and fun.
Craig discovered his passion for executive coaching and strategic planning through his work with the church, which he was involved in prior to founding Fresh Leadership. He was mentored by Dr. J. Robert Clinton, the guru of Life-Long Leadership Development, while a full-time graduate student at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was also a part of the core church planning team with New Hope Christian Fellowship on Oahu from 1995 to 1999 in which the church grew from 0 to 6,000 in weekend attendance.
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Craig takes great joy in serving in the community as a YMCA Metro, Board Member; Salvation Army of Hawaii, Past Board Chair; and in his Church Blue Water Mission. Craig is also married to Sandy and they raise two beautiful daughters Sophie & SaraAnne.
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Dave asato
Dave is a proud graduate of Damien High School and went on to the University of Hawaii obtaining his BA in Sociology and Psychology. He is now retired after owning and running City Construction Inc for over 37 years. He dedicates his time to mentoring other Ground Higher members and serving on the board of Pearl Side Church. In addition to life experience, his coaching training from the Summit Trek Business Organization and his love of God, makes Dave an invaluable resource. His passion for helping business owners find their God called purpose keeps him motivated and aligned.
Dave has been married to his wife, Marsha, for 41 blessed years. He is the father of four children, fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. He proudly mentors two of his own sons in operating their own general contracting companies.