Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• PETER APO, cultural tourism development consultant; and former Bishop Estate trustee, OSWALD "OZ" STENDER, are among new members of the board of directors for Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC). The nonprofit organization works to raise the profile of Pacific Islanders in public broadcast programming. Also among the new members is PEDRO ADA, president, Ada's Trust and Investment Inc., a Guam real estate development and management company; and TAUA USO, vice president of sales for Outrigger Entertainment. Currently, Stender is a state Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and consultant to real estate-related business clients; Apo is a musician, director of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and city special event planner. Among existing board members are CATHERINE CRUZ, of KITV; CORBETT KALAMA, of First Hawaiian Bank, and SAVEA TAMA MAX SWORD of Outrigger Enterprises Inc.

• DENNIS HIGASHIGUCHI, a former training director for Bank of America/Honfed, has been named manager of residential loan division sales for Finance Factors Ltd., as the company marks its 50th year of service. Higashiguchi has also served as president of SMS Training Inc.

• Two officer appointments have been announced at First Hawaiian Bank's money-management subsidiary, Bishop Street Capital Management: Ten-year investment veteran, DALE T. KOBAYASHI, was named vice president and senior investment officer; and DAMIAN L. GILBERT was named vice president and senior equity analyst.

• VERNA MAYNARD, a certified public accountant with more than six years experience in the distribution industry and 12 years experience in the retail industry, has been named controller of Booklines Hawaii, overseeing the book wholesaler's accounting department.

• Veteran automotive journalist, BILL MALONEY, has been named director of automotive programming for Honolulu-based Broadband iTV (BBiTV), an interactive cable channel offering on-demand videos and shopping information about local products and services. The channel is offered by Oceanic Time Warner digital channel 326. Maloney, a veteran of more than 30 years in advertising, marketing and television production, has worked on Pontiac, Chrysler and Dodge advertising campaigns, produced television programs for MotorTrend magazine, and written new car reviews for Cox Communication Web sites.

• RONALD VILORIA, most recently pastry chef at the Pacific Beach Hotel, brings 12 years of experience in Guam, Japan, Korea and Taipei, to a new position as pastry chef of the new Tiki's Grill & Bar in the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel.

• ROY MORIHARA, who's been with the Honolulu office of Grant Thornton for more than 35 years, most recently partner in charge of the Honolulu Assurance Department, has been made new managing partner for Hawai'i. Grant Thornton is an international accounting, audit, tax and management consulting company.

• Developing new food products to complement Starbucks beverages will be among duties of JACK PITCHER, named by Coffee Partners Hawai'i to the new position of food manager for Starbucks retail stores in the state. Pitcher will also oversee standards training and quality implementation. He is a past Chambers & Chambers Wine Merchants sales representative and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant manager.

• ALEX McGEHEE, a former executive producer for KHNL-TV, has been promoted by Communications Pacific from director to vice president. The holder of two Emmy awards, McGehee supervised KHNL's news programming launch, and affiliation switch from FOX to NBC. McGehee has also worked for KHON-TV, and was program writer for FOX-TV's "America's Most Wanted."

Also promoted by Communications Pacific is former senior account executive, ABIGAIL WADE, named account supervisor. As member of the firm's public affairs group, Wade has worked extensively on projects involving civic issues, and has assisted with business, government and community communication.

• PALO LOPEZ, who was part of the management team that restructured 21 Outrigger properties to the newly formed 'Ohana Hotels, has joined Marc Resorts Hawai'i, as director of operations. He will oversee the company's 15 hotel and condominium properties statewide. Lopez has also been director of operations for Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno, Nev., and has worked with Sheraton Hotels.

• BANK OF HAWAII has promoted three vice presidents to senior vice president status:

• RALPH M. MESICK, Commercial Real Estate Loan Division deputy manager, overseeing lending activities to real estate developers and investors, and assisting in division sales and servicing coordination. He will supervise a staff involved in underwriting, analytics, loan documentation and portfolio management.
• JAMES C. POLK, senior commercial real estate lender, serving as sales manager for the Commercial Real Estate Loan Division.
• ROBERT M. WHEELER, senior credit administrator, in the Wholesale Credit Division.

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