A Legacy of Leadership & Innovation

Meet Our Founder

Gordon James Bruce

With nearly five decades of leadership in the tech industry, Gordon has transformed organizations and driven innovation across public and private sectors. While his professional accomplishments are vast, his greatest pride lies in his family. Now a great-grandfather, Gordon’s legacy of excellence and community impact continues to inspire future generations.

Journey Through Time:

Career Highlights

Gordon James Bruce’s passion for technology and innovation began early in his career when he entered the industry in 1972. Arriving in Hawaii in 1979,  he was recruited by the Bank of Hawaii (BOH) in their Information Services Department. One of his notable early achievements was being on the team responsible for setting up the  ATM machines. At this time his responsibilities included establishing the communications systems between the ATMs and the Bank of Hawaii Computer Systems.

Education has always been a cornerstone of Gordon’s professional journey. His commitment to lifelong learning was evident early on and led him to earn a Master of Business Administration with honors from Hawaii Pacific University, where he also received the prestigious Paul C.T. Loo Award. His problem-solving mindset and dedication to continuous improvement have been central to his career and influenced his approach to overcoming challenges.

Gordon’s career continued to evolve as he embraced leadership roles across various industries. He served as the Director of Information Technology at The Queen’s Medical Center (1979-1987), where he made significant contributions to healthcare IT. During this period, he and his team pioneered the deployment of the first PCs and an in-house email system. They also implemented one of the earliest electronic medical record systems and upgraded outdated financial and human resource systems.

His extensive experience also includes his role as CIO and Vice President of Administration for the Estate of James Campbell (1987-2002). In this capacity, Gordon was part of the executive team that transitioned the estate from a family-owned trust to a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. In his involvement he was part of the master planning for the City of Kapolei, which included overseeing the development of its technology infrastructure. Some additional endeavors Gordon was part of in this time was implementing one of the first voice and data communications systems on a single wire, establishing a remote overseas communications system between their offices in Kapolei and San Francisco that allowed communication with both voice and data concurrently, launching a telemedicine project between Guam and Kapolei via satellite, and developing one of Hawaii’s first websites.  He was also responsible for the design and construction of the Campbell corporate headquarters in what is now downtown Kapolei.

From 2004 to 2012, Gordon served as the Director of the Department of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for the City and County of Honolulu. Under his visionary leadership, the city embraced state-of-the-art programs and operations, resulting in numerous prestigious awards, including:

  • Digital Cities Surveys Winner 2011 (Honolulu ranked Number 1 in the Large City category)
  • The Sunny Award for transparency
  • The Best Fit Integrator Award
  • The KPMG Global 100 Award for Innovation

Gordon’s transformative work with the City and County of Honolulu included the migration of outdated systems and public safety programs to modern, efficient technologies, showcasing his commitment to technological advancement and excellence. In fact, Gordon was named one of the “Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers” that included then Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger in the United States by the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology.

Following his impactful tenure in the City and County of Honolulu, Gordon was Chairman and CEO of Pacxa from 2012 to 2015. Under his leadership, Pacxa grew into one of Hawaii’s largest IT companies, generating $30 million annually and serving over 600 clients. The company’s success and recognition as one of Hawaii’s top companies in 2015 underscore Gordon’s significant impact on the tech industry.

In 2015, Gordon founded GJB & Associates LLC, where he applied his unparalleled expertise in cybersecurity, executive management, and infrastructure development. His leadership roles and innovative contributions reflect a career dedicated to driving growth, technological advancement, and excellence.

1978-1979

Held positions for Bank of Hawaii

1979-1987

Served as Director of Information Services for the Queens Medical Center

1987-2002

Served as the CIO and Vice President of Administration for the Estate of James Campbell

2004-2012

Appointed Director of the Department of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for the City and County of Honolulu

2012-2015

Served as Chairman and CEO of Pacxa

2015

Founded GJB & Associates LLC

Beyond Business

Community Engagement

Gordon’s commitment to the community transcends his professional achievements. Since relocating to Hawaii, he has wholeheartedly embraced the island’s values, dedicating himself to both local culture and the well-being of future generations. Gordon has devoted much of his life to making Hawaii safer and better through his involvement on various boards, collaboration with local organizations, and volunteering his time for numerous initiatives.

And let’s not forget one of the most heartwarming aspects of his community service: for ten years, Gordon took on the role of Santa Clause during the holiday season. With the help of volunteer motorcyclists, he arrived at the event and spent an entire day spreading holiday cheer. He took professional photos at no cost with about 700 families each year, creating festive memories and sharing the joy of the season with the community.

The people of Hawaii have always been good to us. For me, Hawaii is the Piko (Belly Button) of the world. It gives back exactly what you give – Aloha – An ethic of care and respect for all people and all elements of the land that are wrapped up in Aloha; it is a way of showing connection and reverence. Queen Lili’uokalani is known to have said, “Aloha is to learn what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable.” I cannot thank the people of Hawaii enough for what they have given to us. We will continue to share Aloha through the Mana Ka ‘Ike Bruce Ohana Foundation for generations to come.

Pride in

Family and Connection to Hawaii

While Gordon Bruce’s career is marked by numerous accolades and achievements, his greatest pride is his family. Upon Arriving in Hawaii with his family, Gordon embraced the island’s culture and lifestyle. This vibrant environment, so different from his own upbringing, deeply resonated with him and profoundly influenced his perspective.

Later in life, as his daughter grew a family of her own, Gordon’s appreciation for the values and heritage of Hawaii grew as well. As a grandfather to three grandsons, Gordon takes great pride in their growth and achievements. Their involvement in Native Hawaiian programs and their education at Kamehameha Schools have been a source of pride for him. Gordon has been actively involved in their lives, celebrating their milestones and supporting their development with dedication and love.

In recent years, Gordon proudly partnered with his grandson, Kory Rasmussen, to take GJB & Associates to a new chapter. Together, they expanded and diversified the company’s services, showcasing a successful intergenerational collaboration. With Kory at its forefront, Gordon has since retired, enjoying the opportunity to mentor his grandsons and see the family legacy continue to flourish.

As a great-grandfather, Gordon’s commitment to family has only deepened. He has instilled in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren the values of hard work, lifelong learning, and giving back to the community. His life, characterized by dedication and selfless giving, continues to inspire and guide future generations, ensuring that the legacy of the Bruce family endures through their collective contributions and achievements.