Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• TOM SIMMONS has been promoted to vice president, power supply, for Hawaiian Electric Co. As such, he will oversee operations and maintenance of O'ahu's generating facilities; the Environmental, Planning and Engineering departments, and the Fuel and Power Purchase divisions. He is also a past electrical and senior planning engineer, and manager of the Generation Planning Department for the utility.

• Big Island eco-tourism company Hawai'i Forest & Trail has hired 20-year visitor industry accounting veteran ISAAC SYLVA JR. as company accounting and operations manager. Sylva previously was with Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.

• Former KHNL-TV veterans TAMMY SUMIDA and SU SHIN have been promoted by Joan Bennet and Associates Inc., public relations. Sumida, former KHNL producer, and former Joan Bennet account manager and supervisor, has been named vice president. Shin has been named new account supervisor, continuing her focus on health care and public policy communications for the company.

• DR. JAY T. KANEGAWA of the 'Aiea Family Dental Group has been elected to his second term as chairman of the board of dental benefits provider, Hawai'i Dental Service (HDS). Kanegawa is also former first vice-chairman, and has been an HDS board member since 1995. Other HDS officers include: first vice chairman, GABRIEL S.H. LEE, American Savings Bank, senior vice president, commercial markets; second vice chairman, DR. RANDALL S. CISLO; secretary, THOMAS K. SING, Graphic Communications International Union, Local 501M, business manager; assistant secretary, DR. NEIL B. FURUYA; treasurer, DR. KELVIN N. ASAHINA, and assistant treasurer, GREGORY DWIGHT DUNN, Hawai'i Nature Center executive director.

• EVA LAIRD SMITH, former executive director of Hawai'i's Plantation Village museum complex, has been named to head the Filipino community Center. As executive director, Laird Smith will oversee day-to-day operations, administration, program and events, and fund-raising for the center on the site of the former O'ahu Sugar Mill in Waipahu.

• CAROLYN K. GUGELYK, an expert in labor and employment law with the law firm of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel since 1994, has been named the firm's newest partner.

• VALERIE ISHIHARA, former administrator of Laser Eye Center of Hawai'i, has been named chief operating officer for the laser vision correction service.

• YOJI "GEORGE" NAKAMURA, general manager for Pacific Guardian Life Tokyo parent company, Meiji Life Insurance Co., has been named president and chief executive of the local subsidiary, effective April 1. He succeeds Hideaki "Hank" Hattori, who returns to Meiji as corporate marketing department general manager. Nakamura also has served as Pacific Guardian Life's regional vice president, international markets, in San Francisco.

• Architect WESLEY N. UJIMORI has been named an associate at architectural firm, Group 70 International. Ujimori also is experienced in construction administration and management of projects in Hawai'i and California.

• REBECCA FERNANDES has been named director of marketing and public relations for Saint Louis School. She also oversees design and development of the school's Web site and publications and organization of annual fund-raisers and special events.

• Big Island rancher HERBERT M. (MONTY) RICHARDS JR. is among three Hawai'i appointees by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The FSA supervises state FSA programs, keeps farmers informed of agency activities and resolves appeals and complaints. The other two members are PHYLLIS SUMIKO SHIMABUKURO-GIESER of Honolulu, a third-generation poultry farmer; and Maui flower grower TREENA MARIE RASMUSSEN.

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.