Philana Bouvier, 35, has spent the last two decades transforming herself from a teenage runaway to a woman who is running up the corporate ladder.
As the newly named general manager and executive vice president for Young’s Market Co. Hawaii, Bouvier aims to empower the company, which is the No. 2 wholesale distributor of wine, spirits and selected beverages in Hawaii, to break all the barriers, too.
"We’ll be the best distributor in the state of Hawaii; we will own the market share and have the best service and give our competitors a run for their money," Bouvier said.
Since Bouvier took over Young’s Hawaii operations in October, she’s increased the Hawaii staff by 11 percent and is adding more.
YMCH operates six facilities in Hawaii with a workforce of 185. In Hawaii the company represents a portfolio of more than 250 suppliers and 1,500 brands, including Bacardi, Grey Goose, Jack Daniels and Kendall Jackson Estates.
"If we find the right people, we’ll grow our workforce to 200 or so," Bouvier said.
Bouvier said she plans to grow Young’s market share for wine and spirits in Hawaii to more than 50 percent from its current share of 35 percent to 40 percent.
"I would like to get there overnight. We’re not there yet, but I hope to be there in a year," she said. "We want to be on every wine list and cocktail list in Hawaii. And, of course, every single mai tai has to come from us."
In the past year YMCH’s sales have risen by 12 percent, the company said.
Bouvier also initiated a $2 million makeover of the company’s Oahu facilities and its technology. On Friday top VIPs from Young’s Market Co., YMCH’s parent, were in town to celebrate the distributor’s rebirth in Hawaii at a blessing at its headquarters in Waipio.
"So much of what is happening in Hawaii is about Philana," said Ted Simpkins, executive vice president of Young’s Market Co., which is the fourth-largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States and in addition to Hawaii has operations in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.
"She’s an American success story. She’s got all the right stuff," Simpkins said.
While Young’s Market Co. has long been dedicated to the Hawaii market, Bouvier is behind its recent reinvestment, said Chris Underwood, CEO of Young’s Market Co.
"She doesn’t take no for an answer," Underwood said. "She will knock on doors until she gets to the decision maker. She will knock down doors until she gets to the decision maker, and she will not stop until she gets her way."
Bouvier said she is used to working her way up from the bottom.
"I didn’t go to Harvard. … I was a runaway teenager and just came here to get away at 17," she said. "I didn’t have any money."
Bouvier said shortly after arriving in Hawaii, she took a job waiting tables at a restaurant on Kuhio Avenue and lived in her car. A chance meeting with the director of marketing for Anheuser-Busch led to a job passing out key chains and marked the start of Bouvier’s now 12-year career in the beverage and spirits industry.
"She has incredible energy and she doesn’t give up," Simpkins said. "She’s infectious. I think that she inspires people, which is what leaders do."
Bouvier also worked for Southern Wine & Spirits in Hawaii and became co-founder of Waiwera Water prior to joining Young’s Market Co. in Los Angeles in January 2011 as vice president-director of regional accounts for Southern California.
"We approached her," Underwood said. "I’m not afraid to put in a woman in a position like this. But, first and foremost, we’ll hire the most qualified individual."
Less than a year later, Bouvier was back in Hawaii.
"She was very successful in California, but we are happy to have her home," Simpkins said. "We believe that she is going to make Hawaii one of our company’s very best states."
