Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• TOM BROWER has been named director of development for Sisters Offering Support. The Hawai'i-founded organization works to free women and children from the effects of commercial and sexual exploitation. Brower was previously director of development and community relations for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawai'i.

• BLAIR THORNDIKE, editor of Best of O'ahu magazine, has been named editor of the seven magazines and three hardcover books making up the Hawai'i Hotel Network of publications. The books are provided in rooms of a number of hotel chains, including Outrigger, 'Ohana, Hilton and Sheraton properties statewide. Thorndike will continue his Best of O'ahu responsibilities.

• ROBERT "MICK" MINICOLA, general manager of the 'Ohana Hotels' Maui Islander, has been elected to the board of directors of the Lahaina Town Action Committee. The group works to promote the historical, social, commercial and cultural significance of the Maui tourist destination.

• GEORGE WONG has been named a management executive at Hawaiiana Management Co. Ltd. He comes to Hawaiiana from Certified, where he oversaw six residential high-rise and townhouse projects.

• Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar Hawai'i has announced appointments:

• KAREN MOLINA has been named corporate executive chef, with responsibility for operations at the Kapalua and Honolulu restaurants and future restaurants. She was executive chef at the Sunset Terrace Restaurant in the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel.

• KEITH ENDO, executive sous chef, has been promoted to executive chef. He was an executive sous chef at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant and has been at Sansei's Kapalua location.

• TOM SELMAN has been named executive chef at Sansei Kihei, to open in February on Maui. He was executive chef at the Valley Isle's David Paul's Lahaina Grill.

• SANDY FUSHIKOSHI was named corporate comptroller, responsible for financial operations. She is former assistant comptroller for the Ritz-Carlton Maui and the Maui Marriott.

• Island Insurance Co. Ltd. has promoted Beverly C. Ament from assistant vice president and surety bond manager to vice president and surety manager.

• As the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort embarks on a $60 million property modernization, the resort has named SHERYLENE ALFARO as director of revenue strategy. In the newly created position Alfaro will focus on hotel revenue strategies and establish marketing plans for each area of the 1,308-room hotel. She also will oversee the hotel's reservations department. Previously she was area director for the Irvine cluster of Marriott hotels in South Orange County, Calif.

• Also, RICK MOAD, Mariott International's former senior sales manager for Hawai'i area sales, was named director of group sales for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. The scope of his duties includes military, government, corporate and education clients, sports programs and catering.

• Jocelyn Lee, media planner/ buyer for Starr Seigle Communi-cations, has been chosen president of Ad2 Honolulu for the second consecutive year. Vice presidents Jeela Ongley and Song Choi will lead Ad2 Honolulu's annual public service efforts. Also on the executive board is Celeste Chikamori, treasurer/secretary. The 2002 board includes Tom Nauwelaerts, Megan Riggs, Chris Mabuni, Komo Low, Jon Muranaka, Cory Mitsui, Bobbie Ihnen, Sean Morris, Jennifer Stewart, Tina Campbell, Amee Domingo, Gavin Nakamura, Brendan Wright and Brian Lopes. Ad2 Honolulu is an affiliate of the Hawai'i and American advertising federations.

• LEE ANN MATSUDA, Aston Hotels and Resorts controller, received dual honors recently from the Na Kilohana O Wahine Chapter of the American Business Women's Association: She was elected chapter president and selected by members as the Top 10 Business Woman of 2001. She goes on to national competition with nominees from approximately 2,000 chapters nationwide. The chapter also selected FRAN HAMASAKI, independent consultant of Noevier USA, as Woman of the Year 2001.

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.