Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business /2005/04/20/

[ FAST FACTS HAWAII ]

Aloha Air mechanics accept concessions

Aloha Airlines' mechanics and inspectors ratified a new retroactive labor pact late yesterday ahead of a bankruptcy hearing tomorrow that could have left them without a contract.

All five of the carrier's unions now have ratified contracts.

The new contract, proposed by Aloha, includes a 10 percent pay cut, the outsourcing of heavy-machinery work and the freezing of the pensions of the mechanics and inspectors. The pact, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, runs until April 30, 2007.

No vote total was disclosed. The employees previously rejected two tentative contract agreements and the company's "final offer."

"This decisive action by Aloha's mechanics and inspectors brings to a close an important chapter in our reorganization," Aloha President and Chief Executive David Banmiller said.

A hearing on Aloha's motion to impose a contract on the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 142 was delayed earlier this month until tomorrow after a union attorney said some of the 250 union members didn't know they could lose their contract if they rejected the company's proposal. Union members had thought the contract only could be modified.

Isle company offers new DVD storage product

A local start-up that develops picture archiving and communication systems has created a DVD burner for hospitals and imaging centers to comply with new security rules governing health information.

The product, DVDCopy, allows hospitals to keep archived copies of imaging studies in off-site storage.

Connect Imaging Inc., incorporated in 1999, is based in Honolulu and has assembly, testing and tech support facilities in Pennsylvania.

Finalists named in UH contest

Seven teams have advanced as finalists in this year's University of Hawaii business plan competition, beating nearly 60 other groups.

The finalists will present their business plans Tuesday at the UH School of Architecture Auditorium. At stake are a total of $80,000 in cash prizes. They are Hoku International LLC, Carbon Diversion, Professional Nurse Recruiters', Paradise Export Co., Risk Assessment Laboratories, EQ International Inc. and Mixed Plate.

Intel raises forecast, says profit jumped

Intel Corp., the world's biggest computer-chip maker, said first-quarter profit rose 25 percent after demand surged for its Centrino laptop chips and the company boosted production.

Net income rose to $2.15 billion, or 34 cents a share, from $1.73 billion, or 26 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 17 percent to $9.43 billion, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel said yesterday in a statement. Profit and sales beat analysts' estimates.

Chief Executive Craig Barrett sped up output to tap demand for products such as the Centrino package. Intel said it will increase spending this year after investing $33 billion in seven years under Barrett, who steps down in May. Faster output made each chip less costly to produce, allowing Intel to beat its quarterly margin forecast and raise its 2005 estimate.

Intel boosted its forecast for 2005 gross margin to 59 percent, plus or minus a couple of points, from a previous prediction of about 58 percent.

[Hawaii Inc.]

NEW JOBS

» Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has appointed Chris Luedi Hawaii regional vice president. He will be responsible for overseeing the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui and the Fairmont Orchid. He has over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

» The Gas Co. has hired Neal Kadooka as an account executive. He will be responsible for commercial and residential sales and coordinating new customer installations. He previously owned and operated an international express courier service franchise and a property asset management company.

>> Servco Pacific Inc. has hired Alan Young as Servco Lexus group vice president and general manager. He will be directly responsible for day-to-day operations of the Honolulu office and will oversee operations for Maui. He has over 10 years of automotive dealership management experience here and on the mainland.

» The Grand Wailea Resort has hired Steve Cohen as senior catering and conference service manager. He has spent the last six years as a freelance meeting planner for various companies. He has over 24 years of experience directing resort/hotel/convention management and property openings.

» Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Waipouli Beach has appointed Andrew Cooley sales and marketing director. He will be responsible for leisure and group sales in Hawaii, North America and the Far East.