The following individuals recently launched a business, were appointed to a leadership position or honored for their work in the business community: • Kauai Community Federal Credit Union announced the recipients of the 2008 semi-annual employee I SPY Great Service
The following individuals recently launched a business, were appointed to a leadership position or honored for their work in the business community:
• Kauai Community Federal Credit Union announced the recipients of the 2008 semi-annual employee I SPY Great Service Award in May. Grace Carveiro (Kapa‘a Office) was received the Welcome award; Terri Kaniho and Bruce Ten (Lihu‘e) were honored for excellent service; Lokelani Borrero (Lihu‘e) was honored for education; Linaka Bargamento (Waimea) and Taylor Shigemoto (Kukui Grove) both received honors for great service in the offer division.
Each recipient received one day of paid time off, a certificate of appreciation and special recognition by president and CEO Mel Chiba and the management staff.
• Neil Takekawa joins Hawaii Superferry as vice president of sales and marketing. He will oversee business development, community relations and customer experience operations. Takekawa most recently served as president of Roberts Hawaii.
“Neil’s extensive management experience in market development and building premier customer service organizations in the transportation industry here in the islands will be complementary to Hawaii Superferry’s management team,” President and Chief Executive Tom Fargo said.
Takekawa’s strategic planning and professional experience has also included serving as president and CEO of Segue Strategies and Hawaii Island Air. He was president of Aloha Island Air (now Island Air) from 1995 to 2004, and vice president of customer services for Aloha Airlines from 1992 to 1995.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai‘i with advance studies at University of Southern California and Stanford University. He serves on the boards of Central and Metro YMCA, Japan America Society of Hawai‘i and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, and is a member of the Hawai‘i Asia Pacific Association and Skål International.
• State Tax Director Kurt Kawafuchi received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ 2008 Outstanding CPA in State Government Award. The award recognizes CPAs working in state government who have made significant contributions to increased efficiency and effectiveness of government organizations and to the growth and enhancement of the profession.
Last month, Kawafuchi was recognized by the Hawai‘i Society of Certified Public Accountants as the 2008 Outstanding CPA in Government for his work to manage all aspects of tax administration for the state, including audits, collections, criminal tax investigations, legislation, administrative guidance, operations, taxpayer services and research and planning.
Programs implemented under his leadership — one-stop taxpayer support, faster refunds, “plain English” correspondence, automated 24/7 telephone support, improved implementation of legislative changes and audit selection tools — have generated a record $308 million in annual collections of unpaid taxes over a previous record high of $113 million.
