News Release From www.hawaii.gov/gov

Honolulu –  Four more positions within the Administration were appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie.  These positions include the Director of Office of Youth Services, the Executive Director of the Office of Aging, the Deputy Tax Director, and the Deputy for the Department for Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).

Bert Matsuoka (Director of Office of Youth Services) has over 20 years of public service. He began working for the State of Hawaii in 1980 as an investigator in the Department of Human Services and has worked in the Office of Youth Services as the Youth Gang Project Coordinator and Executive Director. Most recently, Mr. Matsuoka is the contract manager for Securitas Security Services where he oversees the administrative functions for the Hawaiian Electric Company’s security contract. Mr. Matsuoka holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and BA in Sociology from UH-Manoa.

Wesley Lum (Executive Director of the Office on Aging) is a longtime advocate for Hawaii’s aging community. He is involved with several organizations, including the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Kokua Council, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, St. Francis Hospice and The Caregiver Foundation. Now an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work, Dr. Lum previously worked in the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii as director of government affairs and a legislative analyst in the state House of Representatives Majority Staff Office. Dr. Lum has a Ph.D. in Sociology, MA in Sociology and Master’s of Public Health degree from UH-Manoa. He is also a graduate of Creighton University with a Bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.

Randy Baldemor (Tax Deputy) is President of DiscoveryBox, Inc., a software company. He oversees the company’s operations, including investor relations, sales, marketing and product development. Prior to that, Mr. Baldemor was Assistant Vice President of Claims at Island Insurance Companies and a partner in Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel. Mr. Baldemor has a law degree from the University of Washington and a BA in Political Science from the University of Florida.

Everett S. Kaneshige (DCCA Deputy) has been involved in Hawaii’s real estate and technology industries for more than 20 years as an attorney, businessman and entrepreneur. Mr. Kaneshige was previously an attorney with Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, Deputy Attorney General specializing in technology and business promotion programs, Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Properties and President and Chief Executive Officer of Pocket Real Estate. Mr. Kaneshige is a graduate of University of Hawaii and the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

The selections come after a process that began with applicants submitting their resumes through the transition website, www.NewDayHawaii.org.  The process, led by Transition Director Bill Kaneko, includes collecting input from the community and several rounds of interviews before Governor Abercrombie makes the final decision.

The Governor has appointed a total of 16 directors including the Attorney General, which require State Senate confirmation.  Governor Abercrombie has also announced 17 deputy directors and one executive director.  Several deputy positions remain to be appointed at the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Human Resources Development, and Department of Public Safety.

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