Sawyer will lead a team of 13 managers and business specialists at the Hawaii and Guam offices. The district territory includes Hawaii, as well as American Samoa, Guam and other affiliated Pacific islands.
Tropical Fruit Growers meeting Monday night
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the University of Hawaii Experiment Station in Kainaliu across from Aloha Theatre. Nonmembers are welcome to attend.
The meeting will feature Ken Love’s discussion on the potential for growing dates in Hawaii and report on the Riverside, Calif., citrus collection and date growing in California.
For more information, contact Brian Lievens at 895-8753 or greenwizard@hawaii.rr.com or Love at 323-2417 or kenlove@kona.net.
Small business agency opens office in town
The Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network has opened a West Hawaii office in the Kuakini Tower building, Suite 209, Kailua-Kona.
The West Hawaii center offers development services for preventure and start-up businesses, as well as expanded services for existing businesses. It will work with clients to help them meet business challenges such as: development/re-tooling of business plans; development/refinement of new or existing strategies to meet current business challenges; re-alignment or freshening products or service offerings; focusing on key issues and developing action plans; assessment of future personnel requirements; and process/work flow optimization.
There are no charges for consulting services as they are underwritten by federal and state funding.
De Reus honored by Architectural Digest
Mark de Reus, founder of de Reus Architects on the Big Island, has been honored with inclusion in Architectural Digest’s new AD 100, its 2010 international listing of the world’s top 100 designers and architects.
American Institute of Architects Northwest and Pacific Region recently bestowed the firm with a Citation Award for Kukio Golf Club, its most recent resort amenity at Kukio. The project won an award of excellence in 2008 from the Honolulu Chapter of the AIA.
Farmers Insurance now at Wal-Mart
Farmers Insurance Hawaii celebrated its official name change with a blessing and unveiling of its new signage Friday at the company’s branch office located in the Kona Wal-Mart at 75-1015 Henry St.
Pastor Micah Sutton officiated at the blessing in front of the agency’s employees.
SBA taps Sawyer for Hawaii office
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the selection of Jane A. Sawyer as the new director of its Hawaii district office. Sawyer, a 16-year veteran of the Hawaii office, succeeds Andrew K. Poepoe, who retired in early January 2009. Karen Sakihama, normally the deputy district director, has served as acting district director the past 11 months.
Sawyer will oversee all activities of the federal agency, from loans and lending relations with financial institutions, to small business training and counseling assistance through SBA resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers, Service Corps of Retired Executives and Women’s Business Centers. In addition, she will work to ensure small businesses get their fair share of government procurements through the use of SBA’s contracting programs and certifications.
Sawyer will lead a team of 13 managers and business specialists at the Hawaii and Guam offices. The district territory includes Hawaii, as well as American Samoa, Guam and other affiliated Pacific islands.