MidWeek.com

Business Leaders On The Move In Hawaii

June 01, 2005
By Linda Dela Cruz

Andrew Yagami has been appointed restaurant chef for the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Village Steak & Seafood Restaurant. Yagami was previously a sous chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. He began his culinary career in 1995 as a cook at the Genki Restaurant in Yokohama, Japan.

Linda S. Komatsu-Wong has been promoted to vice president of business development for Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. She will oversee and grow business development through the use of the Internet.

Sue Sakai has been appointed as a member of the executive council of AARP Hawaii. Sakai is vice president and director of planning for Belt Collins Hawaii.

Leigh-Wai Doo has been appointed to the executive council of AARP Hawaii. He is chief executive officer of the Palolo Chinese Home.

Marshall Mower has been promoted to partner for Prudential Locations. He is a Realtor and in 2003 earned several designations, including Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate Realtor Institute.

Michael Nelson was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer of Ko Olina Resort Marina. He previously worked as a consultant to Ko Olina Resort for six years.

Minatsu Suzuki has joined Peter Vincent & Associates as an interior designer. She has more than six years of design experience in the hotel/resort, retail, office and residential arenas in Hawaii.

Michael C. Miller has been appointed sales manager of Tiki’s Grill & Bar. He will oversee the sales, marketing and public relations functions for the restaurant. He has more than 17 years of experience in sales and marketing.

James Wong has been promoted to senior audit manager from audit manager for Nishihama & Kishida. Wong joined the firm in 1995 as a staff accountant and received his CPA designation in 1998.

Yuko Nakayama has been promoted to tax manager from tax supervisor for Nishihama & Kishida. She received her CPA designation in 2001. Nakayama, who is fluent in Japanese, uses her bilingual skills to work with the firm’s nonresident clients.

Jean Suh has been promoted to audit supervisor from audit senior for Nishihama & Kishida. She joined the firm in 2002 as a staff accountant.

Cynthia Emoto has been named editor of the publishing division of Obun Hawaii Group. She previously edited educational research documents at Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL).

Jean Panoncial has been named account executive of media and print sales of Obun Hawaii Group. She has 10 years of sales experience.

Peter C. Thoene has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the Wailea Marriott Resort on Maui and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort on the Big Island.

Rebecca Deren has been hired as the new marketing director at Kukui Grove Shopping Center for CB Richard Ellis Hawaii. She will coordinate promotional events.

Richard E. Velazquez has been named general manager of AAA Hawaii. His past employment includes working for AAA in Grossmont La Mesa California.

Gwen S. Yamamoto Lau has been promoted to senior vice president and sales and quality administrator at Central Pacific Bank. Yamamoto Lau is an 18-year veteran of the banking industry.

Patty B. Martin has been appointed senior vice president and director of human resources for Central Pacific Bank.

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