Promotions and career moves by the people you know — and those you should
Reluked
The Micronesia Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association has appointed its board of directors for the 2023-2024 year.
They are Kadoi Ruluked, managing director of the Palau Visitors Authority, chairman; Mark Manglona, marketing manager for North America & the Pacific of the Guam Visitors Bureau, vice chairman; Rita Pangelinan Nauta, managing director of Guampedia, secretary; John J. Rivera, director of human resources and corporate development, Citadel Pacific Ltd., treasurer; Annette Taijeron Santos, alternate board member; and Paula Monk, senior sales manager for Guam and Micronesia for United Airlines, immediate past chairwoman.
Concepcion
The Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors announced the appointment and return of managing director Christopher A. Concepcion.
Previously, Concepcion served as deputy director at the Northern Mariana Islands Office of Planning & Development from June 2019 to May 2023. He was formerly managing director of MVA from April 2016 to April 2019. Concepcion has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Idaho.
Ruszala
Triple J Saipan Inc. appointed Brad E. Ruszala as marketing manager for its group operations in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Ruszala was previously the communications consultant at Commonwealth Communications, a self-owned company,
from June 2021. He formerly was public affairs specialist at Joint Region Marianas since 2017. Prior appointments were as director of Sports, Entertainment and Activities for Pacific Islands Club Saipan and before that, public information officer for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Ruszala was also an anchor/reporter for KSPN2- Flametree TV in 2015.
Thompson
Coffman Engineers Inc. announced two new shareholders in Guam and Hawaii among 12 group wide.
Shareholder Scott Thompson is vice president and operations manager for Coffman’s Guam office. After relocating from the Alaska office more than 11 years ago, Thompson opened Coffman’s doors on Guam as vice president and general manager at the Guam office. He formerly was senior project manager from 2007 with Coffman in Alaska. He holds a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
Dow
Jeremy Dow in Coffman’s Honolulu office is also named a shareholder. Dow is the electrical principal and was previously the electrical engineering department manager in the Hawaii office from 2014 until April of 2023. Formerly, he was a project engineer at MOSS Engineering Inc. from 2010 to 2014. In 2003, Dow holds a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Seattle Pacific University.
Koshiba
Caryn Lkong Koshiba was recently appointed interim CEO at the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Koshiba will serve as interim CEO until the search for a new CEO has been completed. She joined PICRC in 2022.
Previously, she was the accounts receivable manager for Surangel & Son’s Co. She was formerly chief of the Division of Finance & Accounting of Palau’s Ministry of Finance from 2013 to 2019. From 2011 to 2013, Koshiba was a junior auditor with the ROP’s Office of the Public Auditor. Koshiba holds a 2006 bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Guam. She is a member of the Ngarchelong State Planning Commission whose task is to develop the master plan, land use control laws, and amendments for Ngarchelong State.
Leon Guerrero
The University of Guam has appointed Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero as the director of publishing for the UOG Press. Leon Guerrero holds a 2008 master’s of fine arts from Mills College of Fine Arts and a 2004 bachelor’s in politics from the University of San Francisco.
Leon Guerrero has worked at UOG for more than 10 years, starting in 2009 as an instructor of English composition. She also taught creative writing and women and gender studies courses at the university. In 2015, Leon Guerrero was hired as a program coordinator to revive the University’s publishing house, UOG Press. Leon Guerrero has more than 20 years of experience as a published author, editor and educator. Leon Guerrero was formerly involved in the local decolonization movement and worked as a member of the CHamoru coalition. In 2006, she testified at the United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee.
Community First Federal Credit Union recently promoted two officer trainees after they completed the credit union’s 20-month post-graduate officer training program.
Della Cruz
Nathaniel Della Cruz was promoted to member business loan credit analyst after he completed the program. In January 2021, Della Cruz began as an intern at the Community First Student Run Credit Union. While he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentration in finance and economics, he completed his internship at the credit union. After he graduated, he began the officer training program in July 2021.
Pangilinan
Neo Christian Pangilinan was promoted to assistant
manager of the Community First Student Run Credit Union in Mangilao after he completed the officer training program. He became a part of the student run credit union in July 2018 as an intern. After two semesters and earning an associate’s degree in marketing, Pangilinan worked as a part-time member service representative before he was promoted to member service representative I prior to beginning of the officer training program in July 2021.
Meno
Triple J has appointed Bruce R. Meno as parts and service director.
He formerly was director of operations for G4S Security Services Guam Inc. and previously was emergency manager for Marine Corps Camp Blaz.
He holds a 2016 bachelor’s degree in crisis, emergency and disaster management from the American Military University, and has more than 20 years of experience in operations and training.
