Company Biography and Resumes
Exsell Sales Associates was incorporated in January 1986 by Stanley Kubota and Shirley Ann Kubota, primarily for the purpose of selling data, telecom, & fiber optic equipment and supplies, targeting the Southern California and Hawaii territories. The name Exsell was derived from “Excellence in Sales and Marketing”.
The company grew to include six outside sales engineers, one inside technical sales support person, one telemarketing specialist, a sales secretary, bookkeeper, with Stan Kubota as President and Sales Manager and Shirley Ann Kubota as Secretary/Treasurer and Office Administrator.
In October of 1989, with a merging of product lines represented along with staff, between Exsell, A Datacom Solution (ADS)and Ward/Davis Associates, a new company was created called Ward/Davis Communications. Ward/Davis Associates provided top management and sales management functions. At this time Exsell continued on with a smaller staff to provide continued support to existing customers and changed its direction toward a distribution/VAR organization.
The change included Shirley being named President and a stronger focus on fiber optic equipment and supplies along with supplying various LAN and WAN type of equipment sales. In addition, other services were offered such as fiber optic splicing and testing, training, and consulting services on fiber optic projects.
Presently there are 4 full time staff members on board, with other former employees on call as needed for fiber optic projects. Shirley is responsible for the entire administration of the company, and handles all inside sales functions including pricing, purchasing, vendor negotiations, and all day to day operations. Stan is responsible for outside sales and classroom training.
Paul Raine joined Exsell at the end of December 1995, and Kevin Kubota in March of 1999 (he had previously worked part time on installation projects for Exsell). Other former staff members who have extensive fiber optic backgrounds with over 10 years of experience, are also available for technical consulting services and special projects on our fiber optic training, testing and splicing projects. Ed Marg joined the company as a sales representative in 2002. Joe Los Banos has joined in 2023 and brings strong customer service to our clients in the telecom industry. He received his Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Certification and works closely with companies we represent to ensure our customers get equipment that fulfill their needs. Joe has a graduate degree in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii and hopes to bridge the technology gap for the State of Hawaii.
Background Information on Key Personnel
Shirley Ann Kubota
A high school graduate with one year at the University of Hawaii, Shirley has continued her education with on the job training as well as various courses over the years to add to her capabilities in managing her own business. Her work experiences from dental assisting and bookkeeping for 4 years from the age of 16 in Honolulu, HI to handling millions of dollars in cash, negotiable bonds, stocks, and issuing checks to clients as cashier for Walston & Co., a stock brokerage firm in 1965-1966.
She left her job to move to California with Stan and spent the next several years raising their two children. During this time, Shirley worked for the West Covina Unified School District from 1969 through 1975 as a Parent Education Aide, at the same time working for Stan in building and developing Interface Technology, Inc.
She was responsible for the entire bookkeeping, secretarial, and office administration for the company. The company grew to a point where a replacement was hired to allow Shirley to pursue other interests. Shirley was hired as a Credit Union Branch Manager for Cutter Laboratories in West Covina, CA. and served from 1978 through 1982.
She retired to spend more time with her daughter who was involved in school activities that required constant transportation and parent participation. She served on the Board of Directors for many non-profit organizations including Jr. All American Football, Youth Baseball, Girl’s Basketball League, ESGV Japanese Community Center (over 8 years) and assisted many of them by implementing procedures and re-organizing their finances.
In 1984, a business management franchise for Orange County was purchased and Shirley assumed the President position and became involved with managing the staff. During this same period a software marketing company, Softnet Systems, was started and Shirley also managed its staff. The software company was closed in 1985 while the business consulting franchise continued on till 1987.
Shirley assisted in the formation of Exsell Sales Associates in 1986, and was primarily involved in the entire office management. She continued to increase her capabilities with her quick learning ability and has become very knowledgeable in fiber optics technology through numerous technical staff training, plant visitations, and projects.
Stanley Kubota
Over 35 years in the electronic industry in test and measurement with the last 14 years primarily focused in the “communications” arena of data, telecommunications and fiber optics.
A 1966 graduate of the University of Hawaii witha Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Stan left Honolulu to work for the Federal Governmment as a project engineer at the Pacific Missile Range in Point Mugu, CA from 1967 through 1969, developing black box technologies used in Navy radar systems.
He left to begin working with Honeywell Marine Systems Center in West Covina, CA from 1969 through 1976. He quickly moved into a supervisorial position in the development engineering group, where digital systems for radar, sonar, and flight simulator products were developed.
Stan co-founded Interface Technology, Inc., a manufacturing company with products in digital testing in 1976. The company was sold in 1980 to Dynatech Corporation. Stan continued on board as VP of Sales and Marketing, bringing the sales of the division up to $15M before leaving to start Exsell Sales Associates at the end of 1985.
Stan has continued his growth of technical knowledge through his constant material research and training. He possesses an exceptional ability to combine his technical knowledge with problem solving and people oriented capabilities and fitting the proper products to a customer’s requirements.
He has supported and contributed many of his skills by volunteering his services to many community organizations. He was one of the co-founders of the LA Youth at Risk Program and supported their fund raising activities by traveling and doing financial fund events for the Breakthrough Foundation for many years, as well as, running the LA Marathon to raise funds. Stan served on the Board of LEAP (Leadership for Asian Pacifics) which brought educational programs to the minority communities. He also served on the Board for the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center for several years.
Stan has also kept his hands in other endeavors attempting to kick start other entreprenurial efforts. In 1994 he was one of the co-founders of Pacific Information Exchange, Inc. an Internet Service Provider company based in Honolulu, HI. He co-founded Pacific DirectConnect, Inc., a high speed wireless and DSL full service Internet company also based in Honolulu in 1999. In 1998 along with Shirley and Exsell he also fostered the partnering with Honolulu Electronics (Mel and Geri Teruya) to form Hawaii Technical Representatives, Inc. (HITechRep).
Paul Raine
Over 17 years with GTE, California, starting in 1978 as a fleet maintenance technician, installation and repairman, and cable splicer. Beginning in 1984 he was trained to work as a fiber optic splicer and tester. In 1989, he was selected to work on GTE’s “Fiber to the Home” Project, in Cerritos CA. This was the first project of it’s kind in the USA.
Paul’s responsibilities included working with all vendors to develop, install, and maintain the fiber optic cabling and systems for the Cerritos Project. He was responsible to field test many major manufacturer’s prototype equipment for evaluation prior to being sold as a product out to the general industry.
He has provided hands-on training and technical support on fiber optic products that have gone through GTE’s tough standardization processes. He has been awarded many GTE company award and certificates for his technical skills and capabilities. Paul has also studied and passed the California State Contractor’s Licensing examination on behalf of Exsell and now holds a valid C7 Low Voltage Wiring Contractor’s License.
Paul has and is serving his community as a high school advisor for Youth Activities at his church, organized and is coordinator of the adult and youth sports programs for the community churches, Member of the Board of Trustees at Lakewood Community Church, volunteers his services by providing technical assistance for installation of sound systems, telephone systems, computers, etc. for a number of churches in the community.
Kevin Kubota
Joined Exsell full time in March of 1999 and had his training as a part time employee for Exsell since 1997. He is a 1987 graduate of UC San Diego, Revelle College, with a Bachelors degree in Communications. He is a member of the Film Workers Union and has been working in the film industry as a production sound technician for over 12 years. While his film credits are numerous, he is skilled as a fiber optic splicer and test technician. Kevin is also honing his skills in the PC and local area networking arena for Exsell.