Victorino joins King Auto Center • Ron Victorino Jr. recently joined the King Auto Center Sales Team, bringing 24 years of sales experience and a degree in sales and marketing to the job. Ron was general manager for Otsuka’s Furniture
Victorino joins King Auto Center
• Ron Victorino Jr. recently joined the King Auto Center Sales Team, bringing 24 years of sales experience and a degree in sales and marketing to the job.
Ron was general manager for Otsuka’s Furniture and Appliances. Prior to that he was an account manager for Hopaco on Kaua‘i.
Santos named employee of the year
• Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course named Ivy Santos its 2006 employee of the year. The merchandise assistant has been with Poipu Bay since 1991.
Merchadise manager Mac McAtee nominated Santos.
“Ivy’s job performance is truly outstanding in all aspects,” he said in a press release. “She has a great talent for merchandise presentation. She displays a great sense of pride when performing her daily duties, and she brings a very high energy attitude to work, which provides a positive attitude for other employees to emulate.”
Santos was the employee of the quarter for the fourth quarter of 2006. Other employee of the quarter honorees in 2006 were Lily Millare, first quarter; Tommy Cox, second quarter; and Buena Saniatan, third quarter.
Poipu Bay’s quarterly employee awards are based on nominations made by department supervisors, commending employees in the areas of attendance, conscientiousness, attitude, efficiency, innovation, guest service and aloha spirit.
Hilton Kaua‘i and Aloha Beach Honor Outstanding Employees
• The Hilton Kauai Beach Resort and the Aloha Beach Hotel Kauai, sister resorts that are both owned and managed by Anekona Properties, recently announced their Employee of the Year awards.
The Hilton named Luz Sanchez employee of the year and Jaye Gayagas-Youn manager of the year for 2006. Sanchez, a room attendant, has worked at the hotel since 1986 and was described as having a great positive attitude. The Hilton acknowledged her growth and acceptance of many new responsibilities throughout the year.
Gayagas-Youn, senior sales manager, was recognized for his versatility, for actively seeking out growth opportunities and for adapting well to the changing standards for the resort this past year. John Kiszla, director of sales and marketing, called her “the star of the sales department.”
The 2006 employee of the year for the Aloha Beach Hotel is Phil Carvalho, and manager of the year is JoJo Tsukamoto. Carvalho, a front desk clerk, was recognized for helping to guide others in his department and being an example to his colleagues.
Tsukamoto, the executive housekeeper, was commended for working in various capacities within her department, keeping her department running smoothly and offering to take on added responsibilities so her employees can attend hotel-sponsored events.
Employees of the quarter during 2006 were also recognized during the awards program. For Aloha Beach Hotel, those employees are Jeanette Ridings, Edgar Desamparado, Phil Carvalho and Lorna Montero.
For the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort, the quarterly award winners were Christina Medina, Nelson Batalion, Kunie Olivas, Shayda Marciel, Debbie Llacuna, Loel Mawae, Luz Sanchez and Mercy Tapec.
The Hilton Kauai Beach Resort made special award presentations to Sharolyn Kawakami-Lizama, Oliver Navalta and Jaime Valdez for their outstanding contributions to the conversion of the hotel to the Hilton brand in 2006.
The awards were presented at the hotels’ annual holiday party by Rob Gunthner, General Manager of the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort, and Ron Kikumoto, Resort Manager for the Aloha Beach Hotel.
Don and Sylvia Leutz Licensed Hawai‘i Real Estate Brokers
• Don and Sylvia Leutz of Century 21 All Islands in Princeville became licensed Hawai‘i real estate brokers this month.
Hawai‘i requires that broker candidates be full-time real estate agents in Hawai‘i for three of the last five years, complete 80 hours of real estate law course work and pass the Hawai‘i State Broker’s Exam.
Don Leutz, one of the top agents at Century 21’s Princeville office, received the Century 21 Centurion Award in 2005, the Ruby Award for sales excellence in 2004 and is a managing member of QEB III, LLC, developer of Ka‘iulani of Princeville.
The National Association of Realtor Accredited Buyer Representatives are graduates of the Realtor Institute and are designated Century 21 luxury and fine home specialists. The Leutz’s are also licensed real estate agents in California and Nevada.
Don is a graduate of UCLA, Sylvia graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. The couple built and operated their own FM radio stations in the California Sierra Nevada region for 15 years before they retired from broadcasting and began their careers in real estate.
L&L: 160 and counting
• L&LHawaiian Barbecue’s brand of plate lunches is expected to reach 200 outlets by next year, according to Eddie Flores Jr., president and chief executive officer. The expansion continues to focus on the West Coast, including California, Oregon and Washington state. A store will also open in Dallas, the first in the area.
Currently there are 160 L&L restaurants in nine states. Flores’ plan will put three-times the number of stores on the Mainland than can be found in Hawai‘i.
“Our Mainland growth continues to be strong,” Flores said. “Our national success continues to show that there is an incredible opportunity for Hawai‘i-based businesses in the Mainland.
The first L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Texas will call for some adjustments to the menu, Flores said in a press release. Texas tastes call for more starch options in addition to the white rice and macaroni salad, the press release said. A thicker barbecue sauce will also be used.
