Name: Ruthann S. Yamanaka
Age: 44
Position: Sen. V.P., People Services, Hawaiian Airlines
First job: Librarian assistant
Pastimes: Family time, needlepoint, travel
Hawaiian Airlines has hired Ruthann Yamanaka in a new senior vice president position in charge of personnel programs. A focus on potential
She will be handling benefits, hiring, employment contracts and other human resource activities for the company's staff of 2,500.
"I view my job as focusing on Hawaii's greatest asset -- our people -- and to maximize the potential in all the people," Yamanaka said.
Yamanaka earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in public health-nutrition from the University of Hawaii in 1978.
She worked as a nutritionist with Head Start and the Waimanalo Children and Youth program before joining Bank of Hawaii. She most recently was senior vice president and assistant director for human resources at the bank.
By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin