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Isle office part of Sylvan deal

Sylvan Education Solutions, a company that provides supplemental education and support services to schools, has acquired Tampa-based Progresses Therapy Inc.

The acquisition will broaden Sylvan's services into the special education market, said Jeffrey H. Cohen, president of Sylvan.

Progressus Therapy, which maintains a regional office in Honolulu, provides speech-language, occupational and physical therapists to schools and communities nationwide.

Michael McBurnie, president of Progressus Therapy, said while Progressus clients will see new offerings as a result of the transaction; they won't see changes in services.

"The children, families, and schools that currently use our services will see no change at all -- we will continue to provide the same high-quality therapy to students across the country," McBurnie said.

Electrical workers vote today

More than 1,100 workers employed by electric utilities on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island will vote today on whether to ratify their new contract.

Hawaiian Electric Co. reached a tentative agreement with the union representing workers on Oahu and its neighbor island subsidiaries after a marathon negotiating session that began Friday night and lasted into Saturday morning. The contract between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260 and HECO and its subsidiaries expired at midnight Friday. Terms of the proposed new contract won't be released publicly until union members ratify it, officials said.

A week ago, the IBEW said it was looking for improvements to wages, retirement and health benefits, as well as other contract items covering things such overtime, holidays and vacation and per diem rates. Workers covered under the contract are employed in a wide range of jobs that include clerical workers, linemen and power plant personnel.

Hawaii is finalist for golf award

Hawaii is one of 10 global finalists for this year's "Established Golf Destination of Year," one of three annual awards given by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.

Hawaii, with more than 80 golf courses and ideal year-round weather, is vying with places including Florida, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Arizona, California and Costa Del Sol, Spain. Past winners include Northern Ireland, the Lisbon Golf Coast in Portugal and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The association also recognizes "undiscovered" and "emerging" golf destinations.

Disability workshops set for Oahu

A free conference and exhibit on products and services for helping those with hearing, speech and visual disabilities will be held Nov. 18 at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The "Communication is Key" workshops will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. and a reception will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Advanced registration is required for the workshops.

The event is sponsored by the state Disability and Communication Access Board, Sprint Relay Hawaii and the Pacific Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessible Information Technology Center.

For more information, call 586-8121.

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[Hawaii Inc.]

NEW JOBS

>> Aston Hotels & Resorts Hawaii has named Mark DeMello Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel general manager. He will oversee all hotel operations, including food and beverage outlets and retail stores. He has 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, including experience as general manager of Waikiki Parc Hotel. He also was general manager for the former Aston properties Park Shore Waikiki Hotel and Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point.

>> The Queen's Medical Center has hired Dr. Kenric Murayama as director of The Queen's Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. His primary responsibilities are overseeing the planning and implementation of the department, which consists of two integrated operating suites and an inanimate skills laboratory. He also will be responsible for marketing advanced minimally invasive procedures and developing a comprehensive weight management program to include treatment of morbid obesity.

PROMOTIONS

>> Marriott Resorts Hawaii has promoted Pattie V. Herman to area market director of sales, international & U.S. leisure. She will supervise 15 associates in the North America and Far East divisions and conduct day-to-day business with more than 25 leisure travel wholesalers in the U.S. Westbound market in order to sell high volumes of rooms in the leisure segment. She was previously with Sheraton Hotels Hawaii and Hyatt Resorts Hawaii.