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Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
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FAST FACTS HAWAII
[HAWAII INC.]
PROMOTIONS
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First Hawaiian Bank has promoted
Craig Avellar to senior vice president and division manager of BancWest Investment Services Hawaii. He joined the bank in 1995 and has more than 19 years of investment experience.
Joy P. Cabildo has been promoted to senior vice president and division manager of residential real estate. She joined the bank in 1993 and has extensive experience in the asset lending and residential real estate loan departments.
Laura-Lynn V. Dacanay has been promoted to senior vice president and region manager of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. She joined the bank in 1991 through the bank's Credicorp subsidiary as a branch manager.
Kent R. Lau has been promoted to senior vice president and team leader of main banking region. He joined the bank in 1986 and has over 20 years banking experience in the islands.
Mitchell Nishimoto has been promoted to senior vice president and Maui region manager. He has more than 20 years of banking experience.
» Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo has promoted three employees to associate. Benjamin Candari has been with the firm since 2005 and has worked on projects in China, Korea and Egypt. Alex Viernes joined the firm in 2003. He has over 20 years experience and previously served as a consultant on several projects. Tom Williams has been with the firm for six years and has worked on projects in Indonesia, China and Taiwan.
» Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii has promoted Jon Gersonde to general manager of the Royal Hawaiian hotel from hotel manager. He has over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry and has been with the company since 1998.
» A&B Properties Inc. has promoted Lillian Goo Rodolfich to controller from assistant controller. She will retain responsibility for accounting, internal controls and financial reporting. Before joining A&B in 1996, she served as controller for Island Heritage and senior auditor for Ernst & Young.
ON THE BOARD
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Hawaii Biotech Inc. has elected
Stephen J. Mento to its board of directors. He has 25 years of combined experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, serving in key management roles and on corporate boards. He has over 20 years of banking experience, working and managing several branches on Maui.
» Kailua Chamber of Commerce has announced its board of officers for 2007: Ken Saunders, president; Jim Mazzola, first vice president; Emi Espinda, second vice president; Pat Banning, treasurer; and Bill Stone, secretary.
NATION / WORLD
Striking Goodyear workers OK contract
AKRON, Ohio » The union representing about 14,000
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. workers approved a new contract that includes plans to close a Texas tire factory and creates a $1 billion health care fund for retirees, the United Steelworkers said early today.
USW union members from 12 plants in 10 states, including about 1,400 laid off and inactive workers, voted last night on the three-year agreement reached last week.
The contract was approved by a two-to-one margin, the union said. Exact totals were not released.
The world's third-largest tiremaker and the union reached the deal after both sides resumed talks in Pittsburgh last week. The strike began Oct. 5.
The contract would allow the tiremaker to close a plant in Tyler, Texas, but not immediately. It provides for a one-year transition period in which the workers will have the opportunity to take advantage of retirement buyouts. The plant employs 1,100 workers who make unprofitable wholesale private label tires.
J.C. Penney fires its new COO
PLANO, Texas » Department-store operator
J.C. Penney Co. said yesterday it fired its chief operating officer but gave no reason for the move.
Catherine West, 47, who also held the title of executive vice president, had been COO since July. She had no retail experience before joining Penney.
A two-sentence news release from Penney yesterday gave no explanation for West's firing, and the company declined to make Chairman and Chief Executive Myron E. Ullman III available for comment.
"Her dismissal has nothing to do with performance of the company or holiday sales," said Penney spokeswoman Darcie Brossart. She declined to comment further.
Penney posted impressive same-store sales gains above 8 percent in September and October, although November sales at stores open at least one year rose just 1.4 percent, below the 3.7 percent increase predicted by analysts and last year's November gain of 3.6 percent.
Deborah Weinswig, a Citigroup analyst who was briefed by Ullman, said in a note to clients that the firing "came as a result of Ms. West not being a good fit for the company."
CORRECTION
Saturday, January 13, 2007
» Hawaii Biotech Inc. board member Stephen J. Mento has 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry but has never been a banker. The "Hawaii Inc." column on Page C2 Dec. 29 gave incorrect information.
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BUSINESS PULSE
