Hilo Medical Center accredited, Brinkman COO
Hilo Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals.
The three-year accreditation award recognizes the center’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s standards. Hilo Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey Jan. 28 through 31 when a team of commission surveyors evaluated the center for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.
The center has also named Dan Brinkman as chief operating officer.
Brinkman, who joined the hospital in 2007 as the chief nurse executive, will provide operational guidance as the center pursues its mission of improving community health through exceptional and compassionate care.
Prior to joining Hilo Medical Center, Brinkman was the assistant administrator of interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery at Vanderbilt University’s Medical Center.
Waimea designer wins Houzz award
Trans-Pacific Design of Waimea and its owner and principal designer Sue Moss have been awarded “Best Of Houzz” by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 23-year-old residential and hospitality design firm was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.
The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the users on Houzz, who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site and apps. Winners receive a “Best Of Houzz” badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence.
Resort introduces signature wine
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu recently introduced its signature ULU Chardonnay.
Available exclusively at ULU Ocean Grill &Sushi Lounge, the wine is a collaboration of Steve Clifton of Brewer-Clifton Wines and the Four Seasons’ culinary team.
Naturally fermented, the chardonnay is produced in neutral oak barrels, and reflects a crisp medium-bodied wine perfect for the seafood-centric cuisine of ULU. The resort also offers signature custom wines at its Beach Tree restaurant, as well as a custom olive oil blend.
Bank of Hawaii top performing bank
ABA Banking Journal, a leading national trade publication, named Bank of Hawaii the top performing bank in the nation for 2013 among the largest public banks and thrifts. Bank of Hawaii rose from its No. 2 ranking in 2012.
The rankings were published in the magazine’s April edition.
ABA Banking Journal reviewed the performance of federally insured domestic depository institutions with total assets of $10 billion or more as of Dec. 31, 2013, and ranked them by return on average total equity. Bank of Hawaii had assets of $14.1 billion and ROAE of 14.78 percent.
The rankings are based on SEC filings for public institutions and regulatory filings for nonpublic and foreign-owned institutions, and are prepared by Capital Performance Group, Washington.
Chong offers estate planning workshop
Warren Chong, an independent associate with LegalShield, presents a free basic estate planning workshop beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 24 at Suite Possibilities, Suite 102, in the Chamber of Commerce Building in Kailua-Kona. He will provide information and distribute a “Will Questionnaire” to get participants started in this process.
Space is limited. For more information or to register for the workshop, call Chong at 325-1060.
Real estate firm opens Hilo office
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers recently expanded its Big Island operations with the opening of an office at 500 Kalanianaole Ave. in Keaukaha.
The Hilo-area location marks the third office on Hawaii Island for the firm, which also has offices in Kailua-Kona and Puako. Of the firm’s 65 agents islandwide, 17 will work out of the new office.
In February the firm announced the expansion of its headquarters in Princeville, Kauai and last week announced plans to open a second office in Wailea, Maui.
Heiman in running for PBN honors
Elizabeth Heiman, owner of Regarding Sales &Marketing, is a finalist for the 2014 Pacific Business News Businesswoman of the Year.
Heiman has been a member of the Rotary Club of Kona for six years and is currently its president-elect. Her company assists businesses locally, nationally and internationally to strengthen their business through effective sales and marketing practices. Heiman was nominated by Hazel Beck of the Small Business Development Center and received letters of support from Vivian Landrum of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Ed Harris, of PA Harris.
Pacific Business News recognizes outstanding women in for-profit and nonprofit organizations throughout the state, who demonstrate exceptional leadership, possess business acumen and display a strong commitment to making Hawaii a better place through their hands-on approach to community service.
PBN will hold its 16th annual Women Who Mean Business Event on Thursday to recognize and honor the Business Woman of the Year and Women-to-Watch in the for-profit and nonprofit categories.
Foundation honors architect
Historic Hawaii Foundation has named architect Glenn Mason, AIA, the recipient of the Frank Haines Award for historic preservation. The award honors lifetime achievement, dedication and devotion to the field of historic preservation.
Mason is president of Mason Architects Inc., known for its work to preserve historic buildings and sites. Among the notable preservation and interpretive projects the firm has undertaken are Hawaiian Hall (Bishop Museum), Iolani Palace and grounds, Lunalilo Tomb and Hulihee Palace.
PISCES lists hires; launches new website
Elliot Sanders of Hilo has been selected for Pacific International Space Center for Exploration System’s part-time senior technologist position.
Sanders will lead the engineering and research for the center’s 3-D laser printing project. The goal is to be able to construct small objects such as space tools out of Martian dirt.
Sanders brings 25 years of experience in research and development, integrating expertise in mechanical engineering, material science, biology and chemical engineering processes which have led to advances in spinal, cardiovascular and neurovascular medicine.
Max Kerr, a Hilo High graduate and a computer science major at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, has been chosen for the part-time robotic technician position at the center. He will work directly under Rodrigo Romo, a robotic village project manager.
Kerr will help select hardware and software needed for the center’s newly acquired rover, as well as programming. His expertise stems from his time with the Hilo Viking Robotics Club, where he was in charge of programming and wiring robots for various competitions.
The center also announced the release of its new website, pisces.hawaii.gov.
Sleep Train deal in works
Sleep Train has agreed to acquire America’s Mattress in Hawaii. The acquisition includes nine America’s Mattress stores, including stores in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. The deal is expected to close April 23.
Sleep Train, the parent company to Sleep Train Mattress Centers, Sleep Country USA, Mattress Discounters and Got Sleep?, has opened 30 stores over the last 15 months. The acquisition of America’s Mattress brings the enterprise’s store count to more than 300.
Chris Eldridge, CEO and Founder of America’s Mattress, Hawaii, as well as the other America’s Mattress employees, will remain with the company, bringing Sleep Train’s employee owner count to more than 1,600. Financial details of the deal are not being disclosed.
By local sources