04/11/2010
Hawaii-Kauai–based Aqua Engineers has promoted Hugh Strom and Lyle Tabata. The growing wastewater management company, now Hawaii’s largest, was recently awarded the contract for the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant project and has two large military contracts. They will be holding a groundbreaking and blessing at the Waimea plant location this Friday.

Hugh Strom, has been promoted to Senior Vice President/business development, overseeing and supporting the Army Operations Manager, who is responsible for overseeing, coaching and developing the Army Operations Teams and implementing the policies and procedures for the Army contracts and projects.

Just prior to his promotion, Hugh was the Vice President of Aqua Engineers, responsible for  special projects, business development, growing Hawai‘i based operations and expanding services throughout the Pacific Rim. He joined Aqua Engineers in 1993 and has held various positions within the Company, including mechanic, Team Leader and Assistant Manager, which have all provided him with an in-depth understanding of the operations and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities. Prior to that, Strom was the Superintendent of the Aircraft Conversion Team for the U.S. Air Force at Hickam AFB in Hawai‘i where he worked for six years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Hawai‘i Pacific University and an Associate in Science Degree in Business Administration from the Community College of the Air Force. He also attended the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Academy at Wheeler Air Force Base in Hawai‘i and studied Aviation Technology at Lakewood Community College in Tacoma, Washington. He is a member of the Hawai‘i Water Environment Association, Water Environment Federation, American Water Works Association, and the Hawai‘i Chamber of Commerce.

Lyle Tabata, has been named the Kaua‘i Operations Group Manager for Aqua Engineers, Inc. He is responsible for overseeing, coaching and developing the Kaua‘i Operations Group Teams including Operations, Collections System Maintenance and Support Services.

Lyle was previously the Vice President and General Manager of Briant Construction, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aqua Engineers, Inc., where he oversaw all aspects of the mechanical contracting Company. He also managed A-Vac, LLC, a former wholly owned subsidiary of Aqua Engineers that specialized in sewer and storm system maintenance.  
Lyle also served as the Operations Manager of Aqua Engineers for four years. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of AMFAC Sugar on Kaua‘i where he worked for twenty-five years. Tabata holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Wilcox Hospital.