Entrepreneur networking meeting
A free entrepreneur meetup networking group will meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hawaii Civic Center, council chambers, 74-677 Kealakehe Parkway. Guest speaker Alex Matsuyama, Matsuyama Food Mart/Island Sushi. Great opportunity to meet and share with others. Contact Jason@hiplan.biz for more information.
Mailhot to lead Kailua-Kona CPB branch
Central Pacific Bank (CPB) has appointed Brandon Mailhot to AVP and branch manager of the Kailua-Kona branch.
In his new position, Mailhot is responsible for leading, coaching, and inspiring the Kailua-Kona team to consistently meet and exceed the specific financial needs within the community. He will also be accountable for achieving sales, service, growth, retention, and profitability goals.
Mailhot has over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. Originally from Brainerd, Minnesota, Brandon obtained a BS in finance from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Most recently with Bank of Hawaii, he held key roles as a residential lending officer, personal banking officer, branch manager, and assistant branch manager.
Pacific Current appoints Valentino as president
HONOLULU — Pacific Current, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI), announced the appointment of Scott Valentino as its new president.
In his previous position as vice president of finance at AltaGas, a Canadian diversified energy infrastructure company, Valentino oversaw the finance, commercial, market assessment and strategy functions for the company’s U.S. Power business, including its new energy storage business. For 10 years, he served in financial, strategic and business development roles at NRG, a leading power industry company, where he was involved in a variety of projects, including a potential waste-to-energy project in Hawaii.
Valentino’s new role at Pacific Current will include building and maintaining the company’s portfolio of sustainable infrastructure projects in Hawaii and partnering with local developers and others in the community to bring new projects to fruition.
Homes for Heroes now available
KAILUA-KONA — Homes for Heroes, comprised of affiliate real estate and lending specialists across the country, is available on Hawaii Island.
The program teams with local and national businesses committed to provide Hero Rewards, which are easy ways for heroes to save significant money on a home. When working with Homes for Heroes real estate and lending specialists specifically, heroes are able to receive significant savings when they buy, sell or refinance a home.
Heroes include firefighters, law enforcement, military (active, reserves and veterans), health care workers, EMS and teachers.
“I am committed to giving back, serving and saying thank you to our local community heroes because they do so much to make our great community what it is today,” says Kimi M. Hammonds, R(S) local Homes for Heroes specialist and Realtor with Windermere C and H Properties on the Big Island of Hawaii. “The best part is there truly is no catch and no red-tape.”
Info: Kimi at (808) 987-8699 or by email at kimi.hammonds@windermere.com.
Quickbooks workshop Wednesday
The West Hawaii Small Business Development Center will be offering a workshop, “Basic Quickbooks, Desktop Version: Hands On” 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at Hale Iako, 73-970 Makako Bay Drive, Kailua-Kona, on the NELHA (OTEC) Campus.
This workshop is an informal, introductory, hands-on session on QB basics using your own company and sample companies. Bring in your laptop – QB Desktop version required, either Mac or Windows. We will set up a chart of accounts and subaccounts, classes, items, customer and vendor lists, make deposits and problem solve. As space is limited, pre-registration is required.
Registration is $20 and space is limited. Register online at www.hisbdc.org, click on the Events/Workshops link on the homepage, or call 333-5000.
Masset named executive chef at Hilton Waikoloa Village
WAIKOLOA – Hilton Waikoloa Village hired Arnaud Masset as its new executive chef. Masset will oversee key dining outlets at the resort including Kamuela Provision Company, Kona Tap Room, Nui Italian, Lagoon Grill, Boat Landing Cantina and more.
With 28 years of culinary experience, Masset most recently served as the executive chef at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas.
There he set a revenue record, implemented new menus for all outlets, reduced labor costs and food waste significantly, and established new standard operating procedures to improve overall efficiency in back of house operations.