Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced last week her appointment of Lori Tsuhako as director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns. Mayor Tavares’ Senior Executive Assistant and Housing Commissioner, Jo-Ann Ridao, was also selected last week to fill the deputy director’s position. Tsuhako, a native of Maui, is a licensed social worker and has worked extensively with programs that provide services to children and families. Ridao, also a native of Maui, is the former managing director for Lokahi Pacific, a nonprofit organization that develops housing projects and provides loans to small businesses. Ridao, a graduate of the Weinberg Fellows Program, joined the Tavares administration in 2006 as the housing commissioner, responsible for facilitating the implementation of the Residential Workforce Housing Policy. “Both appointees have experience and skills in collaboration and management of human service programs—critical abilities needed to lead a large department that provides important services to our county’s families, senior citizens, children and immigrants,” said Mayor Tavares. “Since joining my administration last year, each has consistently demonstrated her commitment to serving the public and developing partnerships to help find solutions to our county’s housing needs.”