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HAWAII

Dickies honors Hawaii worker

The Big Island's Alberto Aviles, of Volcano, was named the 2003 Hawaii Worker of the year in an annual award by Dickies Workwear.

Aviles, a firefighter for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was nominated by his wife, Colleen. Aviles, who started at age 16, has had his job for a decade. One national and 50 state recipients were selected from thousands of entries. Entrants were asked to write in 100 words or less why their nominees represent the "spirit of the American worker" and deserve recognition. The national award winner is Jerry Nix, a 49-year-old home-builder and small-business owner from Jakin, Ga.

Each winner will receive more than $500 in cash and prizes, while the national winner receives a Dodge Ram pickup truck.

NATION

Company layoffs on the horizon

Here's a sobering thought for the Labor Day weekend: If your company is still shedding workers, you're more likely to be laid off in the final third of the year.

The culprit is next-year planning, when tweaking budgets and business plans often dictates staffing levels, according to a review of job cutting data from 1995 through 2002 by Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., the Chicago-based outplacement and research firm.

Average monthly cuts were 80,858 jobs from September through December for those years, compared with 64,914 jobs in the preceding eight months.

But the data also point to an interesting, popular myth: If a company is downsizing, it's not hiring. In fact, some of the biggest job cutters could be among the most prodigious recruiters because of the need to fill revamped operations, Challenger, Gray noted.

"Many companies may pare workers in an unprofitable area of the company while hiring workers for another area that is assured of better results," said John Challenger, the firm's CEO.

Computer infections are common

Windows users have been treated to a steady stream of worms, viruses and other bugs exploiting the ubiquitous Microsoft Corp. operating system, even before the appearance of the "blaster" and "Sobig" viruses this month.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 adults, nearly a third had dealt personally with a computer infection in the past two years. Additionally, more people (43 percent) said they considered their work computers more secure than their machines at home. Only 17 percent said they were less protected from viruses and hackers at work.

The random-dialing telephone survey was conducted last month for Edelman, the international public relations firm based in Chicago and New York.

Armed forces help pay back loans

Student loans are a huge financial albatross for many people, way into their 30s or longer. That's hardly surprising, given the high costs of college tuition, tight labor markets and stagnant wages.

However, many people overlook one source of cash for retiring student debts: Uncle Sam. All branches of the armed forces, including the Coast Guard, offer programs for paying back college loans if you enlist after graduation. The Army, for example, will pay up to $65,000 for three years of service, according to the summer issue of Young Money magazine.

The Peace Corps will pay back up to 30 percent of Perkins loans. For other federal loans, backed by a bank or the government, service in the Peace Corps will allow you to defer repayment for as long as two years.

Another option, for teachers, lies in tight labor markets. Many states will repay or cancel loans in exchange for your service in a school system that needs teachers, the magazine said.

Vivendi Entertainment to merge with NBC

NEW YORK >> After months of haggling with more than half a dozen bidders, Vivendi Universal is near a preliminary deal to merge its entertainment assets with General Electric's NBC division, executives close to the talks said yesterday.

Vivendi has scheduled a special board meeting tomorrow in Paris, where it is based, to approve the outlines of a deal with NBC and begin exclusive negotiations with it on final details, the executives said.

Vivendi's American entertainment assets include film and television studios, the USA and Sci-Fi cable channels and an interest in the Universal theme park business. Those assets, known as Vivendi Universal Entertainment, include the Universal Music business, though the music company is not for sale.

Mitsubishi Motors taps Hyundai exec

DETROIT >> Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. said yesterday that it has selected Hyundai Motor America's leader, Finbarr O'Neill, as chief executive, replacing Pierre Gagnon.

O'Neill, 51, spent 18 years with Hyundai, where he is credited with orchestrating a turnaround following his promotion to president and CEO in 1998. O'Neill's appointment as CEO and co-chairman is effective tomorrow, Mitsubishi said.

O'Neill takes over as Mitsubishi Motors enters what it describes as a new phase of growth in North America, with sport utility vehicle and sedan introductions planned.

Hyundai had no information about O'Neill's departure.

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[ HAWAII INC. ]

New jobs

>> PacificNews.Net has named Spencer Toyama special events coordinator. He will oversee the management and promotions of its special-events division, which includes the Pacific CyberGames and statewide technology and Internet expositions.

>> CB Richard Ellis Hawaii Inc. has assigned Eric Yale to Bank of Hawaii as its account manager. He will oversee day-to-day operations, including client relations, real estate transactions and facilities management for the bank's nearly 100 branches in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and Palau. He was most recently CB Richard Ellis' managing director and account executive for the Avaya account in New York.

>> Hawaii Pacific University has hired Joe Salas as assistant director for graduate admissions in its Center for Graduate Studies. He most recently worked as the high school relations coordinator for a local business college. Glenn Hines has been named international graduate admissions coordinator. He most recently worked at Indiana University in a similar position.

Promotions

>> Park Shore Waikiki Hotel has promoted Dalton Brash to director of rooms, a new position, from front office manager, a job he has had since 1995. Brash has 25 years in the hospitality industry, all of them at the Park Shore Waikiki.