Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• The Business Advisory Council of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE in Washington, D.C., has named a local business leader its Businessman of the Year. J.W.A. "DOC" BUYERS, former longtime head of C. Brewer & Co. Ltd., was among top business leaders from the country who supported Republican issues such as tax cuts and debt reductions. Buyers' career has included an active business and Republican career in Pennsylvania; and in Hawai'i from 1975. He is currently chairman of the board for C. Brewer. The award was given in ceremonies last week in Washington, D.C.

• Junior Achievement of Hawai'i has added three local business leaders to the 49 members of its Hawai'i Business Hall of Fame, so honored for their entrepreneurial and civic activities, and contributions to Hawai'i. They are: EDDIE FLORES JR., president and founder of the L & L Drive-Inn chain; CHATT G. WRIGHT, president of Hawai'i Pacific University, and the late HENRY A. WALKER JR., retired president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Amfac Inc.

• The Queen's Medical Center has announced the appointment of two vice presidents:

• BERNADETTE L. MERLINO has been promoted to the newly-created position of vice president, professional services, overseeing 400 full-time employees in the areas of diagnostic imaging, cardiac care, and the post-acute rehabilitation disciplines of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and the 28-bed Skilled Nursing Facility or Progressive Care Unit. She has been with the center since 1984.
• BRYON CROFT, veteran of hospital management and leadership roles, has been selected vice president, surgical services. He will oversee 13 hospital areas, including the main operating room and same-day surgery, outpatient oncology, urology, anesthesia and the post-anesthesia care unit. Croft was previously administrative director of surgical services of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.

• WENDY LAM, director of the Travel Industry Management program at Hawai'i Pacific University and a 20-year veteran of food manufacturing with airline and hotel retail experience, has been elected secretary on the board of directors of the Hawai'i Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association. The group is composed of sales and marketing professionals in the hospital, travel and tourism industries.

• LYNNE NISHIURA has been promoted from assistant vice president, director of human resources, for Island Insurance Companies to vice president of human resources. Before joining the company, the 10-year industry veteran was human resources manager for C. Brewer & Co. Ltd.; and before that, with Kuakini Health System.

Also promoted was JOAN E. MENDOZA, from commercial lines senior rater to assistant underwriter in the Commercial Insurance Division.

• Following a reorganization of Big Island operations to recognize West Hawai'i growth, The Gas Company has announced branch managers for both a West Hawai'i branch in Kona, and East Hawai'i branch in Hilo: MARVIN G. MIN and LANCE LAM, respectively. Min, a 17-year-industry veteran, was most recently the company's senior account executive for the Big Island. In his career, he has managed numerous Big Island combined heat and power projects, including at the former Orchid at Mauna Lani and the Regency at Hualalai. Lam comes to his new position from O'ahu, where he was The Gas Company's O'ahu manager of LPG supply and distribution.

Also promoted to branch manager of the company's Maui County operations, overseeing operations on Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i, is MUSTAFA "MUS" DEMIRBAG. He succeeds GEORGE LEE, who has relocated to Honolulu to assume the position of manager, new service installations and asset management.

• After a national search, The Kamehameha Schools has named school controller MICHAEL P. LOO vice president for finance and administration. Before joining the school in 2001, Loo was vice president, controller and treasurer for Hawaiian Airlines. In January, Kamehameha Schools announced a realignment of executive officers, and naming of chief executive officer HAMILTON MCCUBBIN as chancellor and CEO of the Kamehameha Schools system. The realignment also changed the titles of chief financial, education, and investment officers to vice president of their respective groups.

• WILLIE WU, former manager of the Kailua Taco Bell, has been named general manager of the new combined Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Express outlet on the makai street-level side of Ala Moana Center.

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.