Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
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FAST FACTS HAWAII
[ BRIEF CASE ]
MANDATORY VACATION: Chrysler LLC is requiring all employees worldwide to take a two-week vacation this summer. North American plants traditionally shut down as equipment is updated for new models. But this will be the first time that all employees will be affected.
OUT OF CONTROL: Investment in factories and other urban assets in China jumped 24.3 percent in January and February over the same period last year despite controls aimed at preventing runaway spending, China's National Bureau of Statistics says.
NEW HIRES / PROMOTIONS
» Summa Hawaii has announced the following hire and promotion:
Yvette Muta as the new head of purchasing. Her 17 years of interior design and purchasing industry experience include the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay renovation, The Lodge at Koele on Lanai, and other projects.
Kari Meyer to lead project manager. She will continue her duties in freight and logistics management, plus oversee mainland and international project sites.
» Polynesian Cultural Center has promoted Larie Manutai to sales manager for the Hawaii sales department. She joined the center in 1992 as a member of its food service department and later in its promotional team in 1998.
» PMK Development LLC announced the following new hires for Capitol Place:
Davie Felipe as general manager. He previously served as operations manager at Hokua for three years.
Ray DeSmet as operations manager. His previous jobs in hospitality and security for Kyo-ya Co. include the Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotels.
» Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass. has named Hawaii native Dr. Leslie B. Chun as director of health care quality and hospitalist. His previous jobs include medical director of clinical development at Health Dialog Analytic Solutions in Boston and hospitalist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital as an instructor in medicine.
» Outrigger Enterprises Group has named Paul Horner as general manager of the Keauhou Beach Resort. He replaces Gregg Enright, who recently transferred to Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa as general manager and regional director of condominium operations for Kauai. His experience in hospitality includes general manager of The Carneros Inn, a PlumpJack Resort in Calif. and 12 years with Castle & Cooke Resorts as general manager for Manele Bay Hotel and hotel manager for the Lodge at Koele.
» Hawaii Pacific University has named Jeffrey L. Philpott to vice president of student affairs and enrollment management as part of a series of strategic initiatives at the university, including the consolidation of the student affairs and enrollment management departments. He joined the university in 2005 as vice president of student support services. His 17 years of student affairs experience include serving as dean of students at the University of California, San Diego and Saint Xavier University in Chicago.
» Hawaii Central Credit Union has named Gwen Yamamoto Lau as president and general manager. Her 20 years of banking experience includes senior vice president and West Oahu region manager for Central Pacific Bank, and assistant vice president and sales manager at First Hawaiian Bank, Kapiolani Banking Center.
» Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has appointed Diane L.Y. Fujikami as head instructor of the company's new real estate school at its Windward office. She is a practicing real estate broker with more than 20 years experience.
» Starwood Vacation Ownership has named Denise Wardlow as general manager of The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. She will oversee operations and the management team in preparing for the new property's opening on April 11. Her 23 years experience with Starwood Hawaii include Sheraton Kauai Resort as director of operations from 2004 to 2007 and director of sales and marketing from 2002 to 2004, and positions within Princeville Resort, Sheraton Maui Resort and Sheraton Kauai Resort.
» Aloha United Way has hired Michelle Lovata as assistant vice president of campaign. Her experience includes working as a political labor coordinator for the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, the Hawaii State Legislature and Senator Daniel Akaka in Washington D.C.
BUSINESS PULSE