Hawaii nonprofit people in the news

Loretta Fuddy nominated to become health director

A Kaimuki native and Sacred Hearts Academy graduate was tapped on March 2 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie as the state's new health director. Loretta Fuddy, originally appointed as first deputy director, has been serving as acting health director since Jan. 26, after initial nominee Dr. Neal Palafox removed himself from the position. Fuddy, who must be confirmed by the Senate, was chief of the Health Department's Family Health Services Division. She holds degrees in sociology, social work and public health from the University of Hawaii and Johns Hopkins University. She has served as chairwoman of the Hawaii Public Health Association, president of the Association of State & Territorial Public Health Association, and treasurer and secretary of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs.

> Mental Health America of Hawaii has announced the winners of the Sixth Annual Mental Health Mahalo Awards, who will be honored at a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, at the Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu. To register, call 521-1846. The winners are: Alfred M.  Arensdorf, M.D., psychiatrist, mentor, leader and advocate for improving services for children and youth with emotional and behavioral problems; Michael Broderick, president and CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu, former Family Court judge and advocate for individuals and families with mental health challenges; Linda Appel of the Adult Mental Health Division, State Department of Health, a leader in improving services to adults with mental illness; Sunny Algoso, peer specialist and educator for the State Department of Health, facilitator of HOPE Impact support group, and host of "Hope in Recovery'"; Bailey Young of Hawaii Youth Helping Youth at Hawaii Families as Allies; and Troy Ogasawara, president of Geotech Solutions, Waipahu, who has hired more than 30 Clubhouse members, people with severe and persistent mental illness.

> Queen’s Medical Center named Andrea Fleig as director of office of research and development. She was previously an interim director for office of research and development as well as associate of director of research for QMC’s biomedical research. Queen’s also announced that Bethuel “Bong” Curameng has been named 2010 Employee of the Year. He has been the intake coordinator for the progressive care unit on Pauahi  5 since 2003.

> Hawaiian Homestead Technology is moving its headquarters from Oahu to its origins on Kauai this month, in response to the departure of its top executive, Jade Danner, hired by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka as his Policy Director for the next two years on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. HHT will be managed by its working board and production supervisor Kaui Aki from its Kauai business office.  The company plans to continue delivering data conversion product to its government and commercial customers, as well as its call center expansion plans in partnership with 10 tribal firms across the country.

> Dickie Nelson, president of the Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands and Michelle Kauhane, president of the Kaupea Homestead Association in Kapolei have been appointed to the board of the nonprofit Homestead Community Development Corporation, which builds community facilities and construction projects on Hawaiian home lands.

> University of Hawaii Foundation and University of Hawaii Alumni Association have announced the promotion of Janet Yoshida Bullard to vice president of marketing and communications-alumni and donor relations for the foundation. Bullard's experience includes being associate vice president of alumni relations at UH Foundation and executive director of UHAA.

> American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has named Bernadette H. Sakoda as state lead ambassador for Hawaii. Sakoda is executive vice president of Kauai Island Finance.