I hold deep appreciation and indebtedness to the Committee members who selflessly volunteered their resources, time, contacts, wisdom, and experiences to ensure the academic rigor and theoretical contribution of the dissertation. Thank you especially to Prof. Kiyohiko Ito, the Chair, for sharing the vision of the research and his tireless help in turning it into a reality from helpful comments on early drafts to his enlightened sanity checks that led to this dissertation's completion. I also thank Prof. John Butler, Chair of the Department of Management and sterling example of a Soldier (U.S. Marine)-Scholar, who as a combathardened veteran humbly bravely leads by example and readily shares his love of learning. I extend my warmest gratitude to my grandmothers Eleanor Holbye Thorson and Verna Lofquist Hildebrand who both crossed the veil while I was in Hawaii and who were great champions for education and personal growth. I also hold in appreciation my parents, brother, friends, and unexpected others who helped me on this journey to complete the process with ease and grace.

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