MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced appointments for the following positions: Chief Negotiator, Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) Deputy Director, and Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control.

Neil Dietz (Chief Negotiator) has 30 years of labor experience and will be leaving his post as a Port Agent for the Seafarers International Union in Honolulu where he is currently responsible for daily operations of the largest maritime union in the state.

Dietz implemented regular labor-management meetings between workers and management at NCL America and implemented the first comprehensive grassroots political program in Hawaii’s maritime community. He is also the current Vice-Present of the Hawaii State AFL-CIO.

He is a former chairman of the State Apprenticeship Council, and former member of Oahu Workforce Investment Board.

He attended St. Henry’s Preparatory Seminary, Creighton University, and Parkland College. In 1985, Mr. Dietz was the recipient of the Regina K. Polk Scholarship for Labor Leadership.

Gary Hooser (Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control) is a former State Senator from Kauai. He served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2006 to 2010 and was Vice-chair of the committees on Education, and Energy and Environment.

Prior to the Senate, Hooser served on the Kauai County Council from 1998 to 2002. He was the Founder and Partner of H&S Publishing Magazine and Internet Publishing, and Founder and Principal Broker for Waioli Properties, Inc.

Hooser received recognition for his business background including being named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Kauai Chamber of Commerce in 1995, and in 1997 Businessman of the Year by the Kapaa Rotary Club.

He received his B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii, West Oahu and is a 1972 graduate of Radford High School.

Barbara Krieg (DHRD Deputy Director) is an attorney who represented employers in all aspects of employment and labor law, including litigation involving claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, and breach of contract.

Krieg worked as Counsel Attorney at Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing in Honolulu, and Brayn Cave LLP in California. From 1995 to 1997, she was an Associate Attorney at Riordan & McKinzie in Los Angeles.

Krieg is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and Society for Human Resource Management. She is currently the Editor and Contributing Author of The Pacific Employer.

Krieg received her law degree in 1995 from the University of California, L.A.; and holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from the University of Notre Dame.

The selections come after a process that began with applicants submitting their resumes through the transition website, www.NewDayHawaii.org