Growth And Change

Floyd K. Takeuchi

We publish six (and soon seven) magazines at PacificBasin Communications. Four of those are monthly consumer publications, of which Pacific Magazine is one. It is also our most unique publication: Pacific Magazine reports on a region that covers one-third of the Earth's surface, keeps track of developments in more than 20 nations and territories and has to deal in multiple currencies and time zones. And we do all of this with the smallest staff of any of our major magazines.

So when we make a change in our staffing, it is a very personal process. We are announcing such a change with this month's issue. Our Sales Manager, Leah Ulep, is leaving us to join a sister publication, HONOLULU Magazine, as an Account Executive. We're excited and happy for Leah, as a major goal of our company has always been to give our staff an opportunity to take on new challenges and still remain a part of PacificBasin Communications.

But we're sorry to see her leave our corner of the company. Leah has done a great job over the past two years, all while facing some of the toughest market conditions in recent memory.

Leah has traveled in much of the region to meet with clients and potential clients, and formed friendships and acquaintances in islands large and small. We're fortunate that she'll only be on the other side of the office cubicle, so to speak.

It gives me great pleasure to report that we have appointed a replacement for Leah who joins us with special knowledge of the region. Our new Sales Manager, effective this month, is Florence A. Betham. Many will recognize her surname as one of the most prominent in the Samoas. That is indeed the case.

Leah Ulep (left) and Florence A. Betham Photo: Ronin Zilberman

Florence, or "Flo" as she likes to be called, was born and raised in American Samoa. She is the daughter of Ernest and Mili Betham of Tafuna, Tutuila. She earned her diploma at Faasao High School, with a B.A. received her associate's degree from American Samoa Community College and was graduated from Hawaii Pacific University. She's now completed requirements for a master's degree at that same university.

Flo joins us from a sister company, book publisher Watermark Publishing, where she was involved in all aspects of the firm's operation. She's had experience in media sales, and training in developing high-value sponsorship programs. Needless to say, we're extremely pleased that she's now a member of the team.

We've had other developments on the advertising sales side of our magazine that I'm happy to share with you.

It also gives me great pleasure to announce that Pacific Magazine is now represented for advertising sales in the important Japan market by Nikkei International, a unit of the huge Japanese media company, Nihon Kezai Shimbun, Inc. Nikkei International solicits advertising for foreign publications in the Japan market.

I had the pleasure of meeting with four members of the Nikkei International team in Tokyo earlier this year-Hideki Kume, Hirokazu Tsuji, Ken Machida and Kei Shigehara. They and their colleagues run a highly regarded operation and we count ourselves fortunate to be among the outstanding publications that are represented by Nikkei International.

I'm also happy to announce that Pacific Magazine is now represented in Australia by Presspak Pty Ltd. Presspak is one of the largest media sales representation firms in Australia, with offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of a larger firm, APN News & Media Company.

This is a significant development for Pacific Magazine as Australia plays the dominant regional leadership role in much of the South Pacific. That includes the presence of Australian firms, which are active in a wide range of commercial activities in many Pacific countries.

Leah and I earlier had an opportunity to meet with one of Presspak's senior managers, Andrew Warner, at his North Sydney office, and we came away impressed and excited by Presspak's services and its reputation in the Australian market. We're very pleased to announce our affiliation with Presspak.

Finally, I'm happy to announce that we've appointed two independent advertising sales and distribution representatives for Pacific Magazine to handle the American Samoa and Samoa markets. They are the husband-and-wife team of Vincent and Fa'aalu Iuli, who are based in Pago Pago. Vince is a marketing veteran, and has significant media experience, too. We expect Vince and Fa'aalu to have a big impact for us in that important part of the Pacific, and welcome them to the team.

Vince and Fa'aalu join our other independent sales representative, Edward Quitugua, who has done an outstanding job for us in the Guam, Saipan and Micronesia markets.

All members of our advertising team-Florence Betham in Honolulu, Ed Quitugua on Guam, Vince and Faaalu Iuli in American Samoa; the Nikkei International group in Tokyo, and the Presspak team in Australia-are committed to making sure our advertisers receive the finest client service from Pacific Magazine. I'm confident that our advertising team can and will do just that.