Esther Kia’aina was sworn in as assistant secretary of insular areas at the U.S. Department of Interior on July 11.

Kia’aina previously served as the first deputy director of the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kia’aina served for nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, as chief of staff to former U.S. Representatives Edward E. Case and Robert A. Underwood and as legislative assistant to former U.S. senator to Hawaii Daniel K. Akaka.

Kia’aina is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. She received her juris doctorate degree from George Washington University Law School in 1998 and holds a 1985 bachelor’s in political science and international relations from the University of Southern California.

She also attended the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.

The Northern Marianas College on July 9 announced it was granted Initial Accreditation for a period of six years, through June 2020, by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The college also announced that its proposal to offer a second bachelor’s in business management was approved by the Senior Commission.

Titan Imports announced changes and promotions to its team.

Minerva Tolentinois was promoted to finance manager. She joined Titan Imports in 2011; she has 14 years of experience in accounting management.

Tolentinois holds a 1987 bachelor’s of business administration in accounting from the University of Guam with a minor in management.

Ursula M.C. Cruz was promoted to logistics manager managing the company’s logistics (inbound and outbound shipments) and warehouse operations. Cruz was previously administrative executive for Titan and joined the company in 2011 as an administrative assistant, responsible for pricing and product qualifications. She has 10 years of experience in business.

Richard Y. Ybanez, was promoted to area sales manager for key accounts in Guam and Saipan. He has been with Titan Imports since 2012 as sales manager for Guam.

His previous positions include those in DFS boutique sales, at Hit Radio 100, FM 10-4, Sorensen Pacific Media Group as key account sales representative, Guam International Golf Country Club in sales and marketing, and Windward Hills Golf Country Club as general manager. Ybanez also oversees all Titan Imports golf activities and events. Ybanez attended Honolulu Community College and the University of Guam.

Tedson Timothy was promoted to area sales manager for key accounts in Guam and Saipan. In addition, Timothy oversees sales in Micronesia.

He was formerly senior sales supervisor for Guam, from 2010. He joined Titan Imports in 2007 as sales representative. He previously was sales representative at Mark’s Motors. Timothy attended the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei and the University of Guam.

Bank of Hawaii Corp. announced the election of Victor K. Nichols to its board of directors. Nichols will also serve on the bank’s audit and risk committee and will serve until the annual election of directors at the company’s next annual shareholders’ meeting. Nichols most recently served as the CEO of North America and president of Global Consumer Services for Experian.

Lt. Col.Romeo J. Delfin took command of the Guam Army National Guard at a change of command ceremony on June 7. Delfin was previously the commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

Delfin replaced Lt. Col. Michael A. Tougher, who moved to his next assignment at the U.S. Army War College as a national security affairs fellow at the Stanford University Hoover Institution.

Jeanette Suzuki has been announced as senior retail category manager. Suzuki joined IP&E (then Shell Oil Guam) 24 years ago with her most recent position in marketing.

Jonneane Sarmiento has joined IP&E as retail category manager. Sarmiento was previously with DFS Galleria Guam as assistant buyer and product manager and with GTA Teleguam as campaign manager and wireless product manager. She attended the Kapiolani Community College and is a graduate of the University of Guam.

Tiffany Tam is announced as marketing manager of IP&E. She will be responsible for managing all aspects of marketing activities and Shell brand compliance for IP&E in Guam, Saipan and Palau. Tam joined IP&E two years ago as fleet fuels manager.

Paul Blas has been promoted to regional manager for sales and customer service for Matson Inc. He will be responsible for sales and customer service-related activities throughout the Micronesia region.

Blas joined Matson in July 2013 as operations manager. He previously was a consultant and transition team member for Lotte Duty Free Guam.  Blas was formerly the general manager of Cabras Marine/Sea Bridge for 14 years and was with that company for 19 years.

Anita B. Enriquez has been named the University of Guam’s senior vice president of academic and student affairs. She was previously interim senior vice president and has served as the dean of the School of Business and Public Administration. She joined the university in 1995.

The University of Guam has also appointed John S. Sanchez as dean of the School of Education. He was previously interim dean of the School of Education. He holds a doctorate in educational psychology from Washington State University and a bachelor’s in secondary education and a master’s in guidance and counseling from the University of Guam. Sanchez joined the university in 2002 and has 29 years of experience in education.

Jay R. Shedd has taken the position of president, chief operating officer and investor of Sorensen Media Group. Shedd assumes the operating duties previously held by Rex Sorensen, who continues as chairman and CEO. Shedd previously served as the president and CEO of Docomo Pacific.

Mary A.Y. Okada, president of Guam Community College, has been announced as the Pacific Colleges Representative to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The ACCJC accredits community colleges and other associate degree granting institutions in the Western region of the United States. It is one of seven regional accrediting commissions authorized to operate by the U.S. Department of Education. Okada was elected by fellow members of the Pacific Postsecondary Education Council to serve as the ACCJC Pacific College Representative from July  through June 2017.

David Beaver, vice president and wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch Guam, achieved the certified portfolio manager credential from the Academy of Portfolio Managers at Columbia University in New York.  Beaver concurrently holds the certified investment management analyst and the certified private wealth advisor designations. Beaver has more than 15 years of experience in wealth management throughout Micronesia.

Kathy C. Sgro, chairwoman and executive vice president of Pay-Less Supermarkets, was awarded the “Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery Award” in the Senior Level Executive category. The Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery awards program recognizes leading women across all areas of the food industry.

Monica Miral has been appointed marketing representative at Xerox Guam. Miral holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Guam. She previously was duty manager for the United Services Organization. She has more than six years of experience in sales.

Jessie Rosario has rejoined Graphic Center Inc. in the role of vice president of sales and marketing. Rosario spent the past three years with Inspire, an ad agency he opened after 17 years of working with Graphic Center Inc.

Joseph Pereira has been promoted to vice president/senior project manager of the Bank of Guam. Pereira holds a 2006 bachelor’s in engineering from Arizona State University. He joined the Bank of Guam in 2011 as assistant vice president/project manager.

Roy Abraham has joined the Pacific Star Resort & Spa as general manager. Abraham joins the team with more than 35 years of experience as a hotelier, previously working as an expatriate of Marriott International. Abraham is a graduate of the University of Madras in India.

Edward Cho has joined the Pacific Star Resort & Spa as director of sales and marketing. He brings 20-plus years of experience in the tourism industry including the past 12 as a hotelier. He has held various positions throughout Guam, Saipan and the Philippines. He holds a bachelor’s in Japanese linguistics and Asian studies from the University of Oregon.

Robert Hedges has joined the Pacific Star Resort & Spa as front office manager. Hedges has a background in finance and hotel management. He holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s degree from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Keiko Hiraohas joined the Pacific Star Resort & Spa as sales manager. Her background in sales and marketing includes employment with Royal Orchid Hotel Guam and Santa Fe Hotel Guam. She is a graduate of the University of Seitoku, Japan.

Kristel de Guzman has been promoted to events manager at the Pacific Star Resort & Spa. She started at the Marriott Resort & Spa as a front desk supervisor. She holds a bachelor’s in business management from the San Pedro College of Business Administration in the Philippines.

Keisha Guerrero has joined the Pacific Star Resort & Spa as assistant events manager. She has a background as a technical writer and marketing specialist and holds a bachelor’s in communications from Florida State University.

Cathleen Moore-Linn was appointed the interim executive director of the board of directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Guam on Aug. 8. Moore-Linn has been employed at the University of Guam since 2002 and served as the director of professional and international programs and as director of integrated marketing communication. She holds master’s in English and writing from Long Island University Southampton (NY) and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Hawaii. She expects to complete her master’s in business administration from the University of Guam in 2014.

Carlos Taitano has been appointed acting director of the Professional and International Programs unit at the University of Guam. Taitano has been with the university for three years and formerly held the position of associate director at the Professional and International Programs. Taitano earned his master’s in business administration from the University of Guam and a bachelor’s in business from the University of Portland.

Nissan Motor Corp. in Guam received the Global Award from the Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, for its outstanding performance in 2013. The Guam dealership was chosen out of more than 120 national sales corporations in its group. In addition to last year’s recognition, Nissan Guam also received the Global Award in 1999 and 2008.

Triple J Auto Group announced 10 newly certified master technicians. AgapitoSalalila, GerrardoImasa, Ron Quintanilla, Ren Escalante, Ray Lagman, Fernando Fredeluces, Errol Adonay, Roger Melencio and Lito Flores received certification as Ford Master Technicians.

Leroy Leon Guerrero received certification as a Honda and Acura Master Technician.