Ronald E. Cannoles will retire as executive vice president and West Pacific region manager for Bank of Hawaii at the end of May after 29 years of service. Cannoles joined the bank in 1986 as a management trainee and has held a number of management positions throughout the organization with stints on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.

James “Hobbs” Lowson will succeed Ronald E. Cannoles as West Pacific region manager for Bank of Hawaii. In his 18 years with Bank of Hawaii, Lowson has held management positions in island communities including Pohnpei, Kosrae, Palau, American Samoa and most recently Saipan, where he is island manager. Lowson will relocate to Guam.

Rose Sumor, assistant vice president and service manager for Bank of Hawaii on Saipan, will succeed James “Hobbs” Lowson as island manager. Sumor has 33 years of experience with the Bank of Hawaii and widespread expertise in branch operations.

Al Yamada, First Hawaiian Bank vice chairman, chief financial officer, treasurer and chief administrative officer, will retire after 26 years as an executive at the bank. Yamada has served as president of International Savings & Loan Association Ltd. and as president and chief operating officer of Pioneer Federal Savings Bank, which merged with First Hawaiian Bank in 1997, when Yamada became the chief financial officer for the bank. Prior to his banking career, Yamada was a manager and audit specialist at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in Honolulu. A native of Hilo, Yamada earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Michael Ching, managing partner of the Hawaii office of Ernst & Young LLP, will succeed Al Yamada as vice chairman, chief financial officer, treasurer and chief administrative officer of First Hawaiian Bank effective June 1. Ching has worked for Ernst & Young since 1993 and was promoted to partner in 2007. He holds a bachelor’s in commerce and accounting from Santa Clara University and is a certified public accountant in Hawaii, California, Colorado and Guam.

Peter Valdez has been promoted from vice president and business banking officer of First Hawaiian Bank to vice president and team leader of the Maite Banking Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry and joined First Hawaiian Bank in 2001 as a business banking officer.

Penny Fernandez has been promoted from assistant vice president, Merchant Services Division, with First Hawaiian Bank to vice president and merchant supervisor for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands region. She has more than 25 years of banking industry experience and joined First Hawaiian Bank in 1998 as a merchant services representative.

The Consolidated Commission on Utilities voted on Feb. 24 to appoint Mark Miller the interim general manager of Guam Waterworks Authority. Miller has served 28 years at GWA and will replace Thomas F. Cruz, who served as interim general manager for seven months.

From Left to Right Dr. Anthony Mendiola, Dafne Shimizu, and Maureen Tellei Sablan

StayWell Insurance announced the promotion of Dr. Anthony Mendiola from director of provider relations and health management to vice president of medical management. Mendiola has been with StayWell for 14 years. In addition to Mendiola’s promotion, the company also announced that Dafne Shimizu has rejoined StayWell as vice president of finance. Also returning to the company is Maureen Tellei Sablan as vice president of business development.

Christopher L.C. Duenas has been promoted to chief financial officer of Triple J Enterprises Inc. Duenas has been with Triple J since 2012 when he joined the company as corporate controller. Duenas has held positions as vice president/chief financial officer and head of operations at ANZ Guam and as a financial analyst at Community First Federal Credit Union.

Ernie A. Galito has joined Atkins Kroll Inc. as its new marketing and communications director as of March 23. He was previously the director of business development for Baldyga Group. Galito is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a background in broadcasting, print, telecommunications, tourism and marketing.

Outrigger Resorts announced the promotion of Christina Judicpa to revenue manager for Outrigger Guam Beach Resort on March 24. Judicpa started at the hotel as a concierge in 2003 and went on to become front office supervisor and trainer and most recently the reservations manager.

Triple J Enterprises Inc. announced Nathan Taimanglo as the company’s new director of human resources for its Guam businesses. Taimanglo brings several years of experience in operations, financial management, accounting and professional services to the role. Prior to joining Triple J, Taimanglo held positions at ASC Trust Corp. as marketing and investment advisory manager and most recently at Cars Plus Guam as human resources manager. Taimanglo is an active member of the Guam Young Professionals, a committee of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, and was the 2013 recipient of the Reina Leddy Guam Young Professional of the Year Award. He is a graduate of Father Duenas Memorial School and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guam.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced on March 5 that its U.S. subsidiary, Hyatt Corp., has been named to Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, an annual ranking of companies based on workplace culture. Ranked 78th this year, Hyatt’s position on the list rose by 17 places from 2014.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Guam announced on March 19 its new president, executive vice president and vice president for the 2015–2017 term. Benson Au-Yeung, president of Benz Sign Supplies, was announced as president. Peter Chui, manager of Far Eastern Furnishings (Guam) Ltd., was elected executive vice president, and Jack Chan, owner of Home Mart Guam, was elected vice president.

Coast360 Federal Credit Union held its annual membership meeting and election for its board of directors on March 25. Incumbent Mathew P. Quinata, budget and management analyst for the government of Guam, was elected treasurer, and newcomer Raymond F.Y. Blas, director of the Department of Parks & Recreation, was elected as a board member. They were among the five candidates vying to attain the two available positions. They will each serve three years of volunteer service to the credit union.

Maj. Gen. Benny M. Paulino, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Medal — the second highest medal given by the Philippines secretary of national defense — at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines. The medal is a single-grade decoration of the Philippines and is awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as citizens of allied nations for distinguished or extraordinary achievement or service in the advancement of science or in socio-economic, technical or military fields related to national defense, or for public service of the highest order.

Re/Max Asyenda Realty in the Philippines was named “The Best Real Estate Brokerage Firm” of 2015 by the Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business Excellence based in Manila. The award was presented to Renie “Rey” Llaneta, president and owner of the Re/Max franchise, on April 11 at the Manila Hotel and marks the first time a Guam-based owner of a company has been recognized in the awards program. Criteria for the awards include innovative business practices, quality of products and services, value proposition and pricing, customer concern and engagement, a reputable and ethical business image and truthfulness in business management. The program is a joint undertaking of the Golden Globe Awards Council, National Data Research Examiner and Marketing Services Inc., Philippines Best Companies.Com Inc., SINAG News Magazine and SINAG Foundation Inc