Posted on: Monday, December 11, 2006
Trade Winds
Advertiser Staff
Former television personality DONALYN DELA CRUZ, press secretary to U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, has accepted a job with Honolulu marketing and communications firm PMCI Hawaii effective Jan. 1. The former KHON reporter will join the Honolulu-based strategic marketing and community relations consulting firm as principal associate. She is also a past communications director of the Hawai'i Democratic Party. She is making the move to return home to Hawai'i and be closer to family.
SMG Hawaii last week announced a restructuring of the management team responsible for marketing and operating the Hawai'i Convention Center.
Randall Tanaka has been promoted to assistant general manager, responsible for overseeing event management, operations (including capital improvement programming), and the sales and marketing department. The 31-year hospitality industry veteran was previously the director of business development and industry relations. Hired in 1996 as director of sales and marketing, he was one of the center's first employees.
Michael Polovcin becomes senior director of operations and capital improvements. He will oversee all major capital improvement projects — including the new, annual $3 million capital improvements program budget — as well as security and engineering department, and other responsibilities. Hired in 1997 as director of operations, the 21-year engineering and operations veteran anchored the operations department prior to the building's opening and established most of its operating policies.
June Matsumoto is now director of international sales and will be responsible for further development of the center's international attendance building program, one of the center's newest initiatives. Prior to her promotion, she served as associate director of sales — international markets, where she worked to build attendance from international markets for U.S. conventions booked at the center. She was hired in 2003 as sales manager for the Asia-Pacific region.
Ron Adams, senior director of sales and marketing, will continue to direct the national sales team.
Joe Davis, SMG general manager, Hawai'i Convention Center, said he would "continue to remain deeply involved in sales and marketing, focusing primarily on the development of new initiatives that make Hawai'i and the center stand out in the increasingly competitive marketplace."
MARK A. ROSSI will join Bank of Hawaii in February as vice chairman, with responsibility for legal, regulatory and other administrative areas. He becomes a member of the bank's managing committee. Ross is president of Lane Powell PC in Seattle, Wash., an 180-attorney law firm with offices in Washington state, Oregon, Alaska and London. His practice has focused on banking, bankruptcy and creditor rights, commercial litigation and real estate. He is a former 13-year officer with First Interstate Bank, most recently as senior vice president and general counsel for the northwest region.
Sea Life Park has named JESUS BRAVO general manager of the park, which was acquired last year by Dolphin Discovery. Previously, Bravo was general manager of Dolphin Discovery's Cozumel, Mexico, facility, in charge of the park's reconstruction after Hurricane Wilma. Dolphin Discovery, founded in 1994 and ranked among top dolphanariums worldwide, operates parks in Cancun, Cozumel, the Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta and on the Caribbean islands of Tortola, Antigua and Anguilla. Sea Life Park is its first investment in the U.S.
LLOYD FUJIE has been promoted to Hawai'i Pacific University senior vice president for operations and chief financial officer. He was previously vice president and chief financial officer. His priorities will be long-range university planning, developing a decentralized budgetary system for HPU; providing oversight of subsidiary Oceanic Institute, and continuing stewardship of HPU's financial health. He will also oversee HPU's advertising and public relations, campus maintenance, security, human resources and information technology departments. Fujie came to HPU in January this year, after 32 years with Deloitte & Touche LLP, including a decade as managing partner in Hawai'i.
Management for Outrigger Enterprises Group's $535 million Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk vacation ownership property has been announced. Grand opening for the eight-acre property was held Dec. 1. The management team is composed of new and veteran employees of Outrigger Enterprises Group, which is managing the property. Joining the property's general manager, Gary Mano, are:
Neil Murakami, new assistant general manager: Murakami, former front office manager for the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber hotel, will be responsible for managing overall resort operations, including the front office, bell and housekeeping departments.
Ismile "Smiley" Espaniola, new chief engineer: The 18-year hospitality industry veteran held that position at several resorts in California, the Big Island and most recently as maintenance supervisor/acting director of engineering for Fairfield Ocean Walk Resorts, Daytona, Fla.
Marsha Kapu, hospitality manager: She will oversee the creation and operation of the resort's activities programs and special events, as well as hosting the weekly owners' reception. The 11-year Outrigger Human Resources Department veteran has also acted as Ho'okipa Consultant.
Sharon Pudiquet, executive housekeeper: She is a 19-year veteran of various positions at the former Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, now the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber, including as PBX operator, front office agent, accounting clerk, assistant director of housekeeping and most recently assistant housekeeper.
Rie Burson, guest service manager: Burson will be responsible for all aspects of the front desk, rooms control and night audit procedures for the property. Burson has more than 13 years of hospitality experience at various properties worldwide, including Hilton Tokyo Bay; Munich City Hilton International; Caneel Bay Resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Hawaiian Regent Hotel, and most recently, front office manager/assistant manager at the Hilton Grand Vacations Co. Honolulu.
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 dbutts@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment. Hard copy, color mug shots are preferred.
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