In brief | Island Inc. | 8-25-14

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Water management to be discussed at tech series

Water management to be discussed at tech series

The West Hawaii Tech Pau Hana series presents a talk on water management from 5 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Energy Center.

Kona Labs owner Richard DeVerse will discuss technologies and methods for managing water and detecting leaks in distribution systems and in homes. The event includes time for questions and answers, as well as networking opportunities and a potluck. Bring pupu and nonalcoholic beverages to share, as well as reusable plates and cups.

The program is part of a monthly pau hana series for people interested in technology in West Hawaii.

For more information, contact Rod Hinman at rod@auroraresearch.com or 989-0977.

PetFirst insurance available at Safeway

PetFirst, the nation’s fastest growing pet insurance company, will showcase its pet insurance plans through Safeway’s Priority Total Pet Care brand.

Safeway customers can expect benefits such as next day coverage for accidents with illness coverage that begins on the 15th day; up to 90 percent reimbursement based on their vet bill as opposed to a fee schedule; and coverage on hereditary, congenital and breed-specific conditions. Safeway customers who are members of the just for U program receive a 5 percent policy discount.

Plans offered through the program will insure cats and dogs of all ages, including senior pets. More information is available in the Safeway pharmacy, at prioritypetinsurance.com or by calling 855-508-7387.

11 West Hawaii small businesses named fastest growing in the state

Eleven West Hawaii businesses were named to the Pacific Business News Fastest 50 + 15 list this year.

The listing indicates the fastest growing small businesses in the state, based on the percentage growth in revenue for the last two years.

Of the 65 companies honored, 17 were from Hawaii Island. West Hawaii businesses and their rankings are:

• White Sands Construction Inc., Waimea, 6th;

• Big Island Electric Inc., Kailua-Kona, 8th;

• Tiki Shark Art Inc., Kailua-Kona, 10th;

• Big Island Abalone, Kailua-Kona, 15th;

• Kona Coast Vacation, DBA Kona Coast Property Management, Kailua-Kona, 18th;

• Plumbing Strategies Inc., Kailua-Kona, 20th;

• Island Thyme Gourmet, Kailua-Kona, 36th;

• Precision Auto Repair Corp., Kailua-Kona, 52nd;

• Hula Moon Boutique, Waimea, 60th;

• U&T Inc., Waikoloa, 64th;

• Pacific Boats and Yachts, Kailua-Kona, 65th.

— MOVERS &SHAKERS —

Hawaii Gas appoints Mossman as human resources vice president

Albert Mossman is the new Hawaii Gas vice president of human resources. His predecessor, Ken Yamamoto, will retire at the month’s end after 43 years of service and will assist in the transition.

Mossman will be responsible for talent management, labor and employee relations, diversity initiatives, employee recognition and human resource technology and analytics.

Prior to joining Hawaii Gas, Mossman served as the director of labor and employee relations at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii, where he provided leadership, strategic planning and direction in all areas of human resources for more than 4,000 employees. Before that, he served as the labor and employee relations manager at Hawaii Pacific Health, where he was part of the human resource leadership team that managed the merger and acquisition of Kapiolani Health Systems, Straub Clinic &Hospital, and Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Mossman holds an MBA from the University of Hawaii and is a graduate of the Kaiser Permanente Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. He is an alumnus of Kamehameha Schools.

Schultz, Scott join Atlantis Adventures

Atlantis Adventures has appointed Jennifer Schultz as operations trainer and Mike Scott as sales representative.

Schultz is responsible for developing and administering training programs for front-line Atlantis employees in all departments. She brings to Atlantis more than 10 years of teaching experience in adult education, much of which was done to support Armed Forces members and their dependents in the Navy and Marine Corps.

Before joining Atlantis, Schultz served as a program specialist for A-Team Solutions in Hawaii, which included working with National Guard and Army Reserve members to improve their job preparedness skills. An Army veteran, Schultz earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master’s degree in adult education from Central Florida University.

Scott is responsible for the sale of Atlantis’ tour offerings and special packages to Armed Forces members and their families, and providing sales support to the westbound travel market.

A lifelong participant in ocean sports, Scott’s work experience includes owning and operating Hawaii Adventure Sport in Kailua, Oahu, which sold and rented kayaks and kite boards. He also served as an instructor in kite boarding, wind surfing and surfing for Hawaiian Watersports. Scott was a member of the University of Hawaii sailing team while earning a bachelor of arts degree in health and wellness.

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii announces 2 appointments

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has promoted Keenan Porter to director of membership sales and accounts responsible for overseeing the membership team’s efforts in developing and retaining members, as well as marketing the chamber’s membership services. He most recently served as the chamber’s senior account executive and previously worked as an account executive with Pacific Business News.

Jennifer Domaloan joins the chamber as controller and office Manager. She will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial operations, human resources and office administration. She most recently worked as the human resources manager with Ganir &Co. Pacific Rim Commercial Services and, prior to that, as operations manager with PKF Pacific Hawaii LLP. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco in accounting and master’s degree in business administration from the San Francisco State University.

Kuikahi Mediation Center board announced

Kuikahi Mediation Center has elected its board of directors. Attorney, arbitrator and orchid enthusiast Sandra Song was re-elected for a second three-year term. Jeri Gertz is the newest board member.

Gertz is a member of American Association of University Women, volunteer for the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, owner of Hilo’s only singing telegram service, Singin’ In The Rain, and co-director of Harmony On Tap, a women’s chorus that performs benefit concerts for charities and social service agencies.

Board officers elected were per diem judge Andrew Wilson as president, land use planner Jeff Melrose as vice president, attorney Bruce Larson as secretary, and retired HELCO human resources administrator Norman Kawabata as treasurer.

Directors include Aaron Brown, CFO and project manager for Sig Zane Designs; Nancy Cabral, owner/manager of Day-Lum Rentals &Management and Coldwell Banker Day-Lum Properties; attorney Lea Cooper, legal assistant at The Law Offices of Robert Marx; attorney Cody Frenz, founding partner of the law firm Laubach &Frenz; John Petrella, owner of Local Hawaii Real Estate; and Romy Saquing, owner of a consumer-direct product and distribution business.

Kuikahi Mediation Center empowers people to come together — to talk and to listen, to explore options, and to find their own best solutions. It offers mediation, facilitation, and training to strengthen the ability of diverse individuals and groups to resolve interpersonal conflicts and community issues. For more information, call 935-7844 or visit hawaiimediation.org.

Pearring joins PISCES team as robotics technician

Pacific International Space Center For Exploration Systems announced the addition of its latest staff member, Casey Pearring.

Pearring is the new PISCES robotics technician who is working with Project Manager Rodrigo Romo to outfit the center’s planetary rover. A Hilo native and Hilo High graduate, Pearring served as the lead programmer for the Hilo Vikings Robotics Club and now attends the University of Hawaii at Hilo as a computer science major. He will be responsible for the installation and programming of the command and control systems on the rover, as well as the navigation system and time delay emulator which mimics the signal delay that occurs between Earth and outer space.

Pearring is filling the position held by Max Kerr, who is leaving Hawaii to study at Vanderbilt University after being awarded a merit-based scholarship. Pearring began on June 24.

By local and wire sources