Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• Dr. Ellen M. Raney, former Honolulu acting chief of staff of the Honolulu Shriners Hospital, has been named the first female chief of staff in the Shriners Hospital system's 79-year history. In her new position, she will oversee surgical, medical and research activities at the Makiki facility. Among specific duties will be selection of patients, managing clinical research, and supervising the residency training program.

• Long-time member of the creative husband-and-wife professional team that has led marketing and advertising firm Murata Creative, ANNE MURATA has resigned to become group publisher in Hawai'i, for American city visitors' guides publisher, "Guest Informant." Also named at the publishing company was PATTI RUESCH, as Hawai'i sales manager. The new appointments coincide with a company restructuring following the retirement of publisher, JOLENE BROWN. Murata Creative continues with Michael Murata at the helm, and HEATHER PAYNTER, former editor of naval publications, hired as new creative account executive.

• Hawai'i Reserves Inc., which operates La'ie Water Co. and La'ie Treatment Works, has announced several reassignments as part of a company reorganization. R. ERIC BEAVER, newly named company president and chief executive officer, has promoted JACE McQUIVEY to vice president and general legal counsel, with oversight of the company's property management, engineering, utility and public relations departments. Beaver takes over day-to-day management replacing DANIEL T. DITTO, who now serves as vice chair for strategic projects. Beaver and McQuivey, along with executive vice president and chief financial officer, ERIC MARLER, form the company's President's Council. Under the new alignment, Marler oversees HRI's financial, planning and development, property and information systems operations. The company also oversees agricultural, conservation and commercial properties, and community infrastructure.

• Interior designer KAREN MURAOKA has been promoted to an associate in the architectural firm, Architects Hawai'i Ltd.

• RITA ORNELLAS has been named director of customer services for the Personal Insurance Division of Island Insurance Cos., with oversight of the Call Center and Personal Insurance Service Center.

• Former Wahiawa General Hospital chief financial officer, WILFRED "WIL" HIGASHI has been named manager of corporate audit for Kuakini Health System within the corporate administrative office. He will coordinate internal audit responsibilities for the company and subsidiaries. Higashi is former external auditor with Grant Thornton and internal auditor with Finance Factors. He was manager of business services for Kuakini in the 1980s.

• DOUGLAS A. AKIN has been promoted to claims manager of Hawaiian Insurance and Guaranty Co. Ltd., responsible for management of claims statewide. Akin was previously litigation manager.

Announcements of promotions and job changes can be sent to: Trade Winds, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or faxed to 525-6763. Photographs may be included but must be identified on the back.