Suzuki appointed interim state tax director

Gov. David Ige appointed Rona Suzuki as interim director of the state Department of Taxation.

Suzuki has served as a senior executive assistant at the department, managing the $60 million tax system modernization program that aims to replace most of the department’s technologies to improve operational efficiency and security.

Previously, Suzuki was executive director of the Office of Community Services at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. She was responsible for administering $30 million in grant programs for low-income individuals and families, immigrants and refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency, as well as other social service nonprofits.

In addition, Suzuki worked for more than a decade with private technology companies, managing technical projects, staff, contracts and budgets for Hawaii Resource Group, Pacxa, Century Computers, Ho‘ike Technology, and Computer Training Academy.

Suzuki has a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from Claremont McKenna College in California and a master’s in business administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Suzuki’s appointment is effective Aug. 1 and subject to Senate confirmation.