Business Leaders On The Move In Hawaii

Robert “Kui” Wright has been named Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year by Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and has earned a Na Poe Paahana Award. He is head bartender at the Mai Tai Bar in The Royal Hawaiian. Wright was selected to receive the lodging industry’s top annual award based on his exceptional professionalism, service on the job and outstanding community service.

Reg Bakeris the new executive vice president of Hawaii Medical Assurance Association. Baker will continue to lead HMAA’s value-added division, which includes Business Alliance Hawaii and Wellness Alliance Hawaii. He also will remain strongly involved in HMAA’s sales and marketing efforts on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands as HMAA seeks to engage members in its cutting-edge programs, such as HMAA Wellness for Life.

Michael Fairall has been named the 2012 Certified Green Professional of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders for his longtime advocacy of green and sustainable design, as well as his focus on increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and occupancy health. Fairall is the founder of MOKULUA High Performance Builder in Kailua.

Aya Nishihara has been hired as Hawaii Food & Wine Festival’s development manager. She now is responsible for providing production, marketing, public relations and sponsorship support for the annual statewide festival, happening this year Sept. 1-8. Previously, Nishihara was a restaurant manager at Roy’s in Hawaii Kai and an interactive marketing specialist responsible for developing the overall social media program for Roy’s Hawaii.

Keri Shepherd has been named vice president of marketing for Honolulu HomeLoans. She will oversee all marketing efforts, public relations, Realtor outreach, events, client care and budgeting. Previously, she was a loan officer and branch manager for Prospect Mortgage.