STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1203

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 579

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 579, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Comptroller of the Department of Accounting and General Services

 

G.M. No. 579

CURT T. OTAGURO,

for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Curt T. Otaguro for service as the Comptroller.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Curt T. Otaguro from the Governor; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Health; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Agriculture; Department of Public Safety; Department of Transportation; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Finance; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Office of Environmental Quality Control; State Office of Veterans' Services; Stadium Authority of Aloha Stadium; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP; Building Industry Association-Hawaii; SanHi Government Strategies LLLP; American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association; Ralph S. Inouye Co., Ltd.; and sixty-two individuals.

 

     Curt T. Otaguro is currently the acting State Comptroller of the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Prior to his appointment by the Governor, Mr. Otaguro worked for First Hawaiian Bank for over thirty-seven years, where he spent most of his career in various positions of increasing responsibility.  Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President and Division Manager of the Digital Banking Division of First Hawaiian Bank from July 2015 to December 2018.  Mr. Otaguro has also served, among other positions, as Executive Vice President and Division Manager for the Personal and e-Banking Division; Executive Vice President and Regional Manager of the Retail Banking Group; Executive Vice President and Group Manager of the Card Services Group; Senior Vice President and Division Manager of the Information Management Group and Operations Research and Development Division; and Vice President and Department Manager of the Research and Development Department.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Otaguro is a graduate of Iolani School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Redlands in California.

 

     Your Committee believes that Mr. Otaguro, with over thirty-seven years of diverse business background and managerial experience, possesses the qualifications to serve as the Comptroller and lead the Department of Accounting and General Services.  More particularly, his invaluable business acumen and management experience from the private sector will serve him well as Comptroller.  During Mr. Otaguro's professional career, he has dealt with personnel issues, product development initiatives, communication challenges, and large-scale collaboration projects covering multiple areas.  These experiences have enabled him to understand large global issues and encourage the teamwork necessary come up with a viable solution to satisfy financial institutions, and given him a valuable working knowledge and experience in strategic planning, problem solving, and execution and delivery.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Otaguro will be able to apply this knowledge and experience as he fulfills his role as Comptroller.  Testifiers commented on Mr. Otaguro's nearly forty years of private sector banking experience that will benefit the Department as it tries to improve efficiency and fill employment vacancies.  Furthermore, his private sector management experience will be especially helpful when directing and coordinating the various activities of the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Mr. Otaguro's knowledge of the banking and financial services industry will also ensure that the State has the highest standard of financial reporting and accounting operations.

 

     Your Committee notes from Mr. Otaguro's personal statement that his vision for the Department of Accounting and General Services includes emphasizing a culture of collaboration, prioritizing the repair and maintenance of existing facilities, improving management of existing facilities through tracking and reporting, and developing a better working relationship with the Department of Education to support the Governor's early education initiatives.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

____________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair