Meet The Team
Next Step Foundation was created from a group of like minded individuals who want to dedicate time to uplifting the community and spread aloha. See our founders below.
Jose M. Jimenez
As a young child I ran away from home at the age of 14 and never went back. From there, I didn’t have a place I could call home so, this led me to sleeping at the boat docks near Hawaii Kai Town Center, a Christian home, and with drug dealers. I went from being cold, worried, stealing food and being lost in life, to recognizing and feeling God’s love, blessings and favor on my life. All these things and more has inspired me to give back to the community. I continued as a “lost” individual for a long time after that, even after “finding God”. It was when I met my wife Maribel, that she somehow built a desire in me to be more than I was. I got a degree in accounting, became a financial advisor, created a construction company, created a real estate company and this foundation. When I met my wife in our 20’s we started feeding homeless with just one loaf of bread and tuna sandwiches and would just walk down the street in Mexico City passing out half sandwiches, because that’s all we had. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by people like Maribel, my children, and my partner Eddie Sua and his wife Joanne Sua. We are all likeminded, each with our own personal struggles. But all of us have a deep desire to help people in need. In any case we have gone from making a loaf of bread to feeding hundreds of people full meals, toiletries, providing counseling for sexually abused and drug addicts, work place integration and reformation of previously incarcerated individuals, support for foster children and children born with AIDS, helping widowed and elderly with handy man work that they would otherwise not be able to afford, cleaning up beach parks, community parks, etc. Overall, I have been very blessed, and I just want to be a testimony for others in life to let them know that anything is possible. Just do your best, lead with love, keep family close and let God figure out the rest.
Maribel Jimenez
I grew up in Mexico City where poverty in some areas are very extreme. This has given me an opportunity to see need and struggle in a way most people have not. This has given me a strong desire to help people, and believe it or not, sometimes just a smile can get someone through something. I feel that every day is an opportunity to give, support or help someone. We created Next Step Foundation for like minded people to get together and pool our resources and acquaintance to support underprivileged people right here in Hawaii. There are so many people who could become great, but just need a little help. Join us in our goal of building a more loving Hawaii.
Eddie Sua
Co-Founder
Found guilty of drug trafficking and conspiracy. Eddie was sentenced to 336 months which is 28 years of federal incarceration. He was also previously charged for many things including violence. He served 21 years of his 28 and was released in July of 2018. Eddie Sua was a very high-profile inmate as he had been in the system since childhood. He went from gangster on the street, to boys home as a teenager, to federal prison as an adult. He quickly learned how to dominate in prison as he did out of prison. Being a shot caller (Which means the boss in prison) and constantly moved from prison to prison, in an attempt to deter his growth in power at each prison. Eddies life was a life the average person would never survive. But Eddie didn’t have a survival mode lifestyle. His outlook has always been to dominate and succeed. He doesn’t know the word failure. After a few years out of prison he joined Next Step Roofing & Contracting LLC. He started as an office helper and with his record and background nobody really knew how or what he would do. On his first day he already showed his desire to succeed and started getting friends to fix all sorts of things from mechanical issue with the trucks or fixing the door nobody bothered to care about, managing the warehouse, etc. He soon started offering assistance in sending the crewmen out, then tracking their time, figuring out efficiencies, etc. Eddie then moved on to learning estimates and pushed his way into sales. He did all this and more in just a few short months. In less than a year his heart and dedication toward the success of not only the company but everyone around him. From providing discipline to the men to encouraging and pulling them up, Eddie quickly learned many facets of the company, that many people never learn, even after years of experience. Most people get stuck on task and just try to build off that and never really see the big picture. Eddie is definitely a big picture kind of guy. He quickly became a co-owner of the company with Jose. Eddie heart is not only invested in the workplace, but everywhere his positive outlook on everything even the negative situations are evident every day. He currently serves as Vice President and co-founder of Next Step Foundation Inc. He spends his days off with Jose planning homeless feeding, gifts for sick kids, kids with AIDS, Shriners kids, foster kids and public-school speaking engagements, encouraging previously e=incarcerated individuals to become more, and just finding way to lift up other individuals from whatever walk of life they come from. He believes in everyone and their capacity to be more. He adds to both companies in ways that only Eddie can. So unleashing Eddie on the community to lift it up only makes sense. If anyone can do it Eddie can.
Joanne Sua
Treasurer
Living in a household where addiction was prevalent had a lasting effect on my mental health and self-esteem. I witnessed the destructive behaviors associated with alcoholism and drug use, which affected me and my siblings. This environment fostered feelings of hopelessness and despair, leading me to seek solace in substances myself as a way to escape the harsh reality of life.
My path took a drastic turn when I found myself incarcerated for eight years. This time in my life forced me to confront my demons head on. Inside those prison walls, I began to understand the importance of self-identity and personal growth. It was during this time that I embraced my true self as a woman, shedding the layers of pain and confusion that defined my upbringing.
Prison offered me unexpected opportunities for reflection and education, I was able to get my diploma and get my certification in culinary, I learned how to weld, landscape and became the facilities baker for 4 years. I have never felt a sense of purpose until I was able to meet professors and teachers that cared about inmates that did not deserve a second chance. I was also rehabilitated at a two-year program that was provided.
Upon my release from prison, I faced the task of reintegrating into society, my journey led me to work for a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping individuals such as myself who faced the same struggles. This organization played a pivotal role in reshaping my future by providing a support system that encouraged personal development and community engagement, I learned skills I never knew I had
Eventually I transitioned into working for a roofing company, a field that may seem unrelated at first glance but has allowed me to apply many skills learned throughout my job journey. This trade is different from any other job but my drive to learn is continuing to hone my skills in many different aspects of my life.
I am finally part of the solution instead of the problem. I work towards healing on a daily basis, not saying that I don’t have problems but today I’ve learned to use my tools to deal with life situations.
Now I am not only part of the integration program but help new people trying to integrate into society. I believe I am very effective since I have traveled the same path. The quote below comes to mind
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
You see I use the path as an anchor, but I never stop trying to find new paths, to find new ways for other people and not just myself. When transitioning out of prison or a lifestyle, many people digest and learn information in so many different ways. I guess you could say I want to forge a path like an upside down tree, where there are many roads and opportunities we can lead other on, but they will all end up on a common path toward self worth, empowerment, and giving back.
Let Us Help You Get a New Start
Contact us to discover how you can support our mission and help transform lives. We’re eager to connect with you and discuss ways you can make a real difference.
