Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
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FAST FACTS HAWAII
Watts wins $46.5M contract
Honolulu-based
Watts Constructors LLC has won a $46.8 million contract to build a new Naval communications facility in Wahiawa.
The firm plans to hire between 100 and 150 workers within the next month for the project, which is expected to begin in about four to six weeks, according to company president Denny Watts.
The facility is expected to be completed by March 2010. The contract was competitively procured with 57 offers solicited and five proposals received by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific at Pearl Harbor.
Watts Constructors was also one of the contractors selected this week for a $100 million Navy multiple award construction contract for various Navy building projects throughout the state, Watts said.
FHB donated $3.7M in 2007
First Hawaiian Bank, the state's largest bank in terms of assets, and its foundation donated $3.7 million last year to more than 350 nonprofit organizations in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.
The bank said it was the largest corporate contributor to charities in the state.
"We financially supported and volunteered for agencies providing services in the areas of health, education, human services, sustainability, economic development and the arts and culture," said Don Horner, president and chief executive of First Hawaiian.
BRIEF CASE
DISNEY DEAL: Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. will team up with several Japanese companies to produce animated features in Japan, a Disney official said today. Disney will work with Toei Animation Co., Madhouse Co. and Jinni's Animation Studios.
PROFIT, CAUTION: Saks Inc. says profit almost doubled in the fourth quarter, helped by solid sales, cost controls and a one-time gain, but its CEO warned of challenging times ahead as even affluent shoppers are squeezed.
NEW HIRES / PROMOTIONS
» Waste Management of Hawaii has hired
Jesse Frey as market area engineer for the Waimanalo Gulch, Kekaha and West Hawaii Landfill sites. He will oversee all engineering and landfill improvement projects, including gas management systems, cell liner installation and quality control, leachate management systems, grade modification and weather systems. He previously served as a consulting engineer with EarthTech for three years, an engineering company contracted by Waste Management.
» Mobi PCS has named Alana Gaitley as senior marketing manager. She oversees sales channel support and marketing initiatives which include retail merchandising, Web site development, Internet marketing and market research. She was recently the over-the-counter program manager at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.
» KHNL/KFVE-TV has hired Kanani Tsugawa for its sales and marketing executive team. She was recently an account supervisor at the Harris Consultancy. » Roberts Hawaii has promoted Jesse Whittemore to product marketing and sales manager from account manager. He will develop and implement an annual marketing plan to increase tours and activities, while overseeing new and existing accounts. He joined the company in Aug. 2003 and has seven years experience in the travel and hospitality industries.
» Hawaii Theatre Center has named Sara Grove as assistant box office manager. She replaces Danel Verdugo, who relocated to New York City. Grove joined the theater in Oct. 2007 as a part-time member of the box office, serving as box office/tour manager. Her previous jobs include Honolulu Theatre for Youth in 2003, and Centerstage in Baltimore for five years.
» PCL Construction Services Hawaii district has announced the following promotions: Rick Crago to construction manager from senior project manager. He joined the company in Nov. 2005 and has 13 years experience in construction management. He is also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. George Burkards to construction manager from senior project manager. He will continue his duties overseeing the Residences and Ritz-Carlton Club at Kapalua Bay project on Maui. He has 11 years of service with the company, mostly with the Minneapolis district.
BUSINESS PULSE