Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Friday announced the reappointment of David O’Neal as well as the appointment of Melinda Wood to the State Ethics Commission. The appointments are effective immediately.
O’Neal, a resident of Waipahu, Oahu, has more than 20 years of experience as a general manager, president and entrepreneur for multiple local businesses and associations, including Shop and Ship Hawaii LLC, Healthcare Directive Partners LLC, Hawaii Dental Partners/Akamai Dentals, Hawaii Dental Group, Hawaii Family Dental Centers, and Hawaii Medical Service Association, according to the governor’s office.
Since 2011, O’Neal has served as general manager for the Mililani Town Association. He has also been president of the Waipahu Community Foundation since 2009. He has also participated in various volunteer projects, committees and councils on Oahu.
O’Neal holds a bachelor’s degree in health administration and a minor in accounting from the University of Hawaii at West Oahu.
Wood, a resident of Honolulu, currently serves as the grants development specialist at the East-West Center. She has worked in the field of higher education for nearly 40 years, specializing in international relations and academic affairs. Wood is a former president and board member for Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, current board member and former chairwoman of Planned Parenthood of Hawaii Action Network, and a volunteer at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in applied communications from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The State Ethics Commission administers and enforces State of Hawaii governmental ethics and lobbying laws. The commission’s duties include issuing advisory opinions, investigating and considering charges of alleged violations of the ethics and lobbying laws, and educating state government officials and employees and the citizenry on matters relating to ethics in government.