MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the following appointments:

• Michael Champley as commissioner to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
• Barbara Krieg as Director of the Department of Human Resources and Development (DHRD)
• David Sakamoto as Deputy Director of Health of the Department of Health (DOH)

Michael Champley begins serving on the PUC on an interim basis immediately. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Mr. Champley has over 40 years of experience analyzing, integrating and managing complex economic, public policy and technical issues confronting an evolving regulated energy utility industry. Mr. Champley, 63, is currently a Maui-based senior energy consultant focused on clean energy resource integration in Hawai’i supporting clients including the Blue Planet Foundation. Prior to re-locating to Hawai’i, Mr. Champley was a senior executive with DTE Energy, a major electric and gas energy company where he held various executive positions including Senior Vice President-Regulatory Affairs and Senior Vice President-Power Supply. Mr. Champley holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton and a MBA from Indiana University with emphasis in Finance and Public Utility Economics and Regulation.

Barbara Krieg will serve as Interim Director of the Department of Human Resources and Development (DHRD) effective September 16, 2011. She replaces DHRD Director Sunshine Topping. Ms. Krieg, 53, is currently DHRD’s Deputy Director. Her appointment to Director is subject to Senate confirmation.

David Sakamoto, M.D. will start as Deputy Director of Health on October 10th. Dr. Sakamoto, 61, was recently a co-researcher on the Hawai’i Physician Workforce Assessment project at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; and administrator for the State Health Planning & Development Agency. Other positions previously held include Vice President of Quality Management at St. Francis Medical Center – West and Risk Manager at Wahiawa General Hospital. Dr. Sakamoto received his medical degree from the University of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine. He holds a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana and a MBA from the University of Hawai’i.