STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3607

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 544, 545

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 544 and 545, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators

 

G.M. No. 544

ROBERT S. SPETICH PE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012; and

 

G.M. No. 545

JODI M. YAMAMI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Robert S. Spetich, P.E. and Jodi M. Yamami to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Spetich's nomination was submitted by the Department of Health and five private individuals.

 

     Mr. Spetich received his Bachelor of Engineering Science degree in Bioengineering and his Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Cleveland State University.  His thesis was titled, "Investigation of ATP Pools in Escherichia Coli Grown in a Continuous System".  He currently serves as a General Manager for West Hawaii Water Company in Waikoloa after serving as a Project Manager for Aqua Engineers, Inc. in Lawai and Brown and Caldwell Consultants in Wailuku.  He has nine years of experience in the management of water and wastewater facilities, including rate making, and has more than twenty years of experience in design, planning, operation, and start-up of water and wastewater facilities.

 

     Mr. Spetich is a registered Chemical Engineer and is licensed as a Grade 4 Wastewater Plant Operator in Hawaii.  As a registered Wastewater Plant Operator, he understands what it takes to successfully operate a public water system, including the broad technical elements of water supply, treatment, and distribution.  Mr. Spetich's demonstrated commitment, motivation, chemical engineering background, education, and professional experiences will greatly assist the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators.

 

     Testimony in support of Ms. Yamami's nomination was submitted by the Department of Health.

 

     Ms. Yamami is a graduate of Punahou School and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles.  She currently serves as an Engineer for the Safe Water Drinking Branch, Environmental Management Division, Department of Health where she administers the drinking treatment plant operator certification program; recommends to the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators the certification or rescinding of certification of operators, the approval of continuing education units, and any regulation or procedure changes; and provides technical assistance in response to operator's requests.  She has over twelve years of engineering experience with Kaiser Electronics, which is a California company that designs and manufactures cockpit displays for military aircraft, and where she managed the major mechanical and optical subcontractors that manufactured the piece parts of the cockpit displays from product design to end item shipment.

 

     Ms. Yamami is nominated to serve as the member on the Board representing the state agency responsible for the State's safe drinking water program.  Ms. Yamami's demonstrated commitment, motivation, engineering background, education, and professional experiences will greatly assist the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair