Pattaya Times Lists Most Influential People of the Last 10 Years 2000-2010 Part 1

Mr. Vittaya Kunplome
Chairman Chonburi Provincial Council

Vittaya Kunplome (pictured above) is the dynamic Chairman of the Chonburi Provincial Council. An avid sports fan and former Chairman of the Chonburi Sports Club which won the national football championship. Also the former member of the House of Representatives in Chonburi. He was involved in national politics until he decided to change to local politics. He is one of the Kunplome brothers helping Pattaya, Bang Saray, Laem Chabang Port, the Eastern Industrial Estates and all of Chonburi Province increase business and tourism.



Mr. Ittiphol Kunplome
Pattaya Mayor

Following education in the US and his experience as a Member of Parliament from Chonburi, Itthiphol came to help Mayor Niran as an advisor in order to stabilize the local government and obtain consensus to move infrastructure, transportation, tourism promotion and other vital projects forward. His leadership and organizational skills soon caught the attention of the local politicians and he ran for mayor in 2008 and has been doing a fantastic job in a troubling economy. Itthiphol is very popular and is a great example of the New Generation Thai as he is fluent in English and has a global perspective.



Mr. Sontaya Kunplome
The First Minister of Tourism and Sports

The first Minister of Tourism and Sports Sontaya Kunplome is the President of the Tourism Recovery Committee and the leader of the ‘Love Chonburi Love Pattaya’ project. He has been the leader in implementing the strategies and policies that will push Pattaya and Chonburi to be rich in tourism and infrastructure improvements. He and his brothers brought Chonburi FC and Pattaya United football teams to entertain us. He is the oldest brother of the new generation. His family helped settle Chonburi Province.



Mr. Sansak Ngamphichet
Former Deputy Minister of Public Health

Former Deputy Minister of Public Health Sansak Ngamphichet was granted an Excellent Order of the White Elephant from Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. He is best known as the previous owner of Grand Sole hotel. He was first elected as the Member of Chonburi Provincial Organization in 1980. He also served several terms as an MP of Chonburi from 1983-2000. He was appointed as the Advisor of Minister of Science, Technology and Environment. In 2005 he was appointed as an Advisor to the Foreign Affairs Commission, House of People’s Representative. In 2006 he was elected the sole Senator of Chonburi.



General Mr. Kanit Permsub
Deputy Aide-de-Camp for His Majesty the King

General Kanit Permsub is the Deputy Aide-de-Camp for His Majesty the King and has served at his side for more than 40 years. General Kanit has a home in Permsub Village in Pattaya and when he is not on duty helps with charity and helping local businesses with his wife in Pattaya.

General Kanit used to host Saturday luncheons at his Pattaya home with Patatya Mayor Pirot, Member of Parliment Chanyute, Pattaya Expat Club Chairman Drew Noyes, Pattaya Immigration Chief Somsak and the Pattaya Police Chief. The group would discuss the ways to help Pattaya be a more positive place to live and visit and join together in prayer and a meal with the wives included. These meetings helped all understand each other and was one of many reasons General Kanit has been influential in Pattaya.



Mr. Drew Walter Noyes
Publisher, Advisor and Expat Leader

Drew was the first chairman of the first Expat Club in Thailand then called the Pattaya Expat Club and later the Pattaya City Expats Club. Drew and his wife Wanrapa founded the Pattaya Times newspaper and operates PAPPA Legal & Visa Services. Drew publishes the Pattaya telephone book, the Official Maps of Pattaya and is a leading Thailand business advisor. Drew also founded the Optimist International Club of Thailand and based the first club in Pattaya. Drew was selected to help host the Pattaya visit of Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirantorn and was the Master of Ceremonies for His Majesty’s 80th Birthday party held at the residence of the Australian Ambassador and was the MC for the King’s 60th Year Ascension to the Throne party held at a Royal Family member’s residence.



Mr. Tawich Chaisawangwong
Long-Time Chairman of Pattaya City Council

Chairman of Pattaya City Council Tawich Chaisawangwong has been the Chairman of Pattaya City Council for over a decade involved with legislation in Pattaya City. He also helps gather city officials together to develop Pattaya. One of his recent accomplishments is he increased the pension fund for disabled, elderly and AIDs patients.




Mr. Chatchawan Suppachayanon
Managing Director of Dusit Thani, Pattaya

As a pro-active Chairman of the powerful Thailand Hotel Association Eastern Seaboard Chapter, Chatchawan has been an impressive leader and is a big reason why the Dusit Thani is a leading five-star resort in Pattaya. Many important events have been launchedthere including the first Hybrid car in Thailand, the launch of the Thailand Asset Management Corp. Public sale of properties and many fun events. His laid-back style helps put people at ease while accomplishing greatness.



Khru Yodthong Senanan
Muay Thai Master Teacher

Khru Yodthong meaning teacher Yodthong is the owner of a boxing school who has helped many needed people. He gave boxing lessons for free to people who wanted to learn. He also acts as the senior consultant to many local projects. He started the Sidyodthong Muay Thai Boxing Camp off of Siam Country Club Road which has produced many world champions and great bodyguards over the years.




Ms. Nunthinee Tanner
Managing Director of LBG

Nunthinee founded the first polo club in Pattaya and is an owner of the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, Pattaya. She is famous for being the first woman polo player in Thailand. Ever since then she has become a patron of ladies’ polo in Thailand. Her vision is to encourage children to discover the joys of polo.




Father Ray Brennan
Founder of Father Ray Foundation

Known warmly by many as Father Ray, this American Roman Catholic priest cared for many homeless and abandoned Thai children at the Pattaya orphanage he found 31 years ago. Father Ray joined the Redemptorists missionary and was ordained in 1959 then sent to Thailand.

After serving in the North of Thailand during the height of the Vietnam War, Father Ray was sent to Pattaya in 1972 as a temporary replacement for the parish priest.

Father Ray helped expanded and built many local schools and the Sotpattana School, a special school that teaches students who are deaf and mute, The Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled, the Redemptorist School for the Blind and the Father Ray Children’s Home.



Mr. Bunlhu Khunlawanit
Member of the Pattaya City Council

Member of the Pattaya City Council Bunlhu Khunlawanit was chosen to be part of the Pattaya City Council to be the voice of the people for many years. His work focuses on finding immediate solutions to emergencies such as floods, road accidents and other public utility problems.

He is the owner of the Singha beer distribution in Pattaya and his company has co-sponsored many events for the public in Pattaya.

Bunlhu has helped influence the private sector to become more active in Pattaya.



Mr. Ronnakit Ekkasing
Pattaya Deputy Mayor

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronnakit Ekkasing is in charge of the Pattaya Administrative Office Kho Larn branch, the Office of Pattaya Administrative Assistant for security and sea rescue. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronnakit Ekkasing has been doing his best to make Pattaya a safer place by organizing teams of police and armies to help reduce crime.



Mr. Weerawat Khakhai
Pattaya Deputy Mayor

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Weerawat Khakhai is in charge of Office of Public Health and Environment, and Office of Pattaya Administrative Assistant especially for tourism.

He has assisted with many issues in the past starting from the swine flu to the H1N1 flu as well as floods, the water sewage system and pollution. He has put his best efforts into making Pattaya a better place.



Mr. Fahruk Wongborisut
Member of the Pattaya City Council

Member of the Pattaya City Council Fahruk Wongborisut has been a member of the Pattaya City Council for many years. His work involves strengthening the relationship between Buddhists and Muslims. He hopes to make Pattaya a city full of different creeds and religions where everyone, no matter what their differences, is treated equally.



Mr. Poramet Ngamphichet
Former Member of Parliament

Poramet is the son of FormerDeputy Minister of Public Health Sansak Ngamphichet. He began as the member of the Pattaya City Council then later moved on to become a member of the Chonburi Provincial Government and then the MP representing Satahip. He is involved in many excellent construction developments.



Mr. Thanate Sopornsaharungsi
Managing Director of Sunshine Group

Former leader of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA), Thanate is kind, thoughtful and efficient. He works hard to include foreigners into the PBTA. He works closely with Pattaya City and helps attract tourists and new businesses to Pattaya. His family’s Sunshine Group of hotels boasts 7 properties including the Ravindra Beach Resort and Spa.



Ms. Wallaya Chirathivat
Executive Vice President, Business Development & Construction Management for CPN

Wallaya’s family is the largest retailer in Thailand and in Pattaya where they operate the Big C on Sukhumvit, Central Center on Second Road and Central Festival Pattaya Beach on Beach Road. She is Exec. VP Central Retail Corporation Ltd., Co-Chief Executive Officer, Tops Supermarket, MD, Central Supermarket, and VP Central Department Stores.



Superintendent Pol. Col Mr. Athiwit Kamolrat
Commander of the entire Chonburi Immigration Bureau

Superintendent Pol. Col Athiwit Kamolrat in just one year rose to the rank of Commander of the entire Chonburi Immigration Bureau with all three stations under his leadership: Pattaya, Sriracha and Kho Sri Chang. The Pattaya Immigration station on Jomtien Beach Road Soi 5 is now the main office for all Chonburi Province immigration matters. A close friend of the Pattaya Police Chief, both men have brought the New Generation Thai cultural skills in combination with the I.T. and management training they learned in the West and apply their knowledge to help Pattaya City.



Pol. Col. Dr. Sarayoot Sanguanphokai
Pattaya Police Chief and Thailand's only PhD Chief

Pattaya Police Chief Pol. Col. Dr. Sarayoot Sanguanphokai is the Superintendent of Police at the main precinct headquarters on Soi 9, Beach Road. Some of his accomplishments are that he established an information center to serve people in Banglamung, set up a website to publicize information on varied topics and handle complaints, and put up an SMS system to improve the potential of police station communication as well as set up a network to store the information to improve the one stop service. His quick thinking during the Red Shirt march on the ASEAN meeting in Pattaya avoided any violence.



Ms. Alisa Phantusak
Assistant to the Managing Director of Tiffany Theater Pattaya

Ms. Alisa Phantusak, also known as Khun ‘Ja’, is the second daughter of Mr. Sutham Phantusak. Not only is she the Assistant to the Managing Director of Tiffany Theater Pattaya, she was also elected to be one of the select 100 members of the Constitution Drafting Council to rewrite the nation’s constitution. Last year Ms. Alisa competed to be the Mayor of Pattaya under her father’s support with the ‘Pattaya Fah Hmai’ campaign. Alisa is a great role model for women in Pattaya and is always working hard to help her family businesses and support her father. She organizes and oversees the Miss Tiffany Univese Contest and the Miss Tiffany International Queen Contest, both of which bring international media exposure and attention to Pattaya City.



Mr. Raywat Phonlookin
Vice Chairman of Chonburi Provincial Council

Raywat has served his position for many years helping Chairman Pinot and now Chairman Vittaya. He played a big role in organizing many tourism exhibitions in Pattaya and road shows. He is one of the people who is behind the continuous development of Pattaya and helps bring in new investors.



Mr. Wattana Jantarawaranon
Pattaya Deputy Mayor

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Wattana Jantarawaranon is in charge of finance and education. He helps to improve the education of local public schools to make sure that the students are given the same education and opportunities as students in private schools. He hopes that these students will grow up to become a better human in society and make Pattaya a better place.



Mr. Wutthisak Ruemkijjakarn
Pattaya Deputy Mayor

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Wutthisak Ruemkijjakarn is in charge of the Social Welfare Department and the Technical Department. He concentrates on helping the community as well as creating communities. At the moment there are 33 communities throughout Pattaya.



Mr. Harald Link
CEO of B Grimm Group

Harald is the co-owner of the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club. After receiving management responsibilities from his father, Harald diversified into other business opportunities, such as in the areas of Heath care, Engineering, Cosmetics Retailing and Real Estate. Different subsidiaries were established leading to the formation of B. Grimm Group of Companies which became known to the market as the leader in modern engineering technologies. They became involved and associated with projects for many reputable sites, such as Thai Wah Tower, Thai Airways International Head Office, The Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, The Dusit Laguna Hotel, Phuket, Siam Commercial Bank Headquarters, Charn Isara Tower, Thai Farmers Bank Head Quarter to name a few.

The Link Family is still very active today in several charities and foundations, following the initiatives of Mrs. Alma Link, namesake of the Alma Link building in Chidlom. Harald sits as the Honorary Member of two Foundations, The Siriwattana Cheshire Foundation (supporting five Homes for the Handicap), The Princess Mothers’s Charities Fund of Thailand (providing scholarships to Thai nursing students) and the family supports two schools in the rural area, which are B. Grimm School in Sa Keow Province and A.H. School in Petchburi Province. Both schools are being managed and run by the Ministry of Education.



Mr. Chanyut Hengtrakul
Former Member of Parliament

Chanyut was the Member of Parliament representing Pattaya and was the advisor to the first Minister of Tourism and Sports. He is the owner of Sophon Cable TV and operates many other businesses. Many older expats remember Chanyut as the owner of the first travel agency in Pattaya that spoke English!




Mr. Sanga Kitsamret
Vice Chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association

Mr. Sanga Kitsamret is the Managing Director of S.K. Pattaya Construction Development Co., Ltd with over 30 years in housing development experience. He also plays a big role in the Table Tennis Association of Thailand by hosting competitions as well as trying to make Table Tennis a professional sport.



Ms. Nittaya Patimasongkroh
President of YWCA

As President of YWCA Nittaya has helped organize many activities to help children and women, and supports the family institution. She focuses on helping the disabled and those who are less fortunate. She received an award for her work at YWCA from Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali and Social Council of Thailand under the Royal Patronage. Not only that, she is also a Director of Pattaya Sports Club and serves as an assistant to the Charity Chairman. She owns a Gold shop called Thanthong and is well experienced in the property business.



Mr. Surat Mekavarakul
CEO of the Mike Business Group

Surat heads Mike Business Group consisting of Mike Department Store, Mike Shopping Mall, Mike Hotel, Mike Beach Resort, and Mike Orchid Villa. He also plays a big role in society by being the Chairman of Banglamung Cultural Council, Vice Chairman of the Chonburi Chamber, Managing Director of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Former Chairman of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association. Surat has
run for Pattaya mayor before.



Mr. Somnuk Changate
Banglamung District Police Chief

Formerly the Chief of Police for Pattaya Somnuk is now in charge of the Banglamung District Police Staion.



Mr. Pracha Taerat
Former Governor of Chonburi

Former Governor of Chonburi Pracha Taerat served as Governor of Chonburi after Mr. Pisit Katepasuk. One of his many successful projects was the ‘Fund to help tourists’ project. This project came in handy when Suvarnabhumi airport closed down and money was needed to give stranded tourists accommodation, food, and transportation. This project also helped tourists who are injured from accidents and robberies.



Mr. Sutham Phanthusak
CEO of Tiffany Theater Pattaya and President of the Woodlands Hotel and Resort

Mr. Sutham Phantusak is the CEO while his daughter Ms. Alisa Phantusak is the Assistant to the Managing Director of Tiffany Theater Pattaya. Mr. Sutham Phantusak started off as the hotel and tourism guru in Pattaya. He is also the President of the Woodlands Hotel and Resort. Thirty years ago he started a transgender cabaret show business called the Tiffany show which is now world famous and the Miss Tiffany Universe competition is also well known across the globe.



Mr. William Ellwood Heinecke
Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Minor Group

American William “Bill” Heinecke bought the land where the Royal Garden Shoppoing Plaza is many years ago when Pattaya was still a small fishing village. He built the biggest and best shopping mall in the Eastern Region and added a Marriott Resort and Spa, Pattaya on the coastline. The Pizza Company, Swensens, Sizzler, Dairy Queen and Burger King franchises fall under the umbrella of the Minor Group. They also operate hotels under the Four Seasons and Anantara and other brands in Thailand, Vietnam the Maldives and the Middle East.

Bill has never forgot how he got his start by believing in Pattaya and returns here often, most recently for the launch of his new Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in Royal Garden Plaza.



Ms. Yuwadee Chirathivat
President Central Department Store, Ltd.

Yuwadee is the President of Central Department Store, Ltd. and also own Powerbuy, Supersports, B2S, Homework, Office Depot, Tops Supermarket, Robinsons, the Thailand Western Union franchise, Muji, Build–A–Bear Workshop TM(Thailand) and ZEN Department Stores. Her family is the largest retailer in Thailand and the largest retail business in Pattaya where they operate the Big C and Homeworks on Sukhumvit, Central Center on Second Road and Central Festival Pattaya Beach on Beach Road.



Mr. Niran Wattanasassatorn
Pattaya Deputy Mayor

Niran is one of our top picks for the most influential people in Pattaya. Never one for glory, he has worked long and hard to make Pattaya a better place. Deputy Mayor Niran was Deputy Mayor under former, four-term Mayor Pirat Sutitumrongsawat. Then he served as Pattaya Mayor of four years. Now he is the Deputy Mayor under the current Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome. He has always worked hard to include the foreign community in Pattaya City sponsored events.



Mr. Peter Malhotra
Owner and Managing Director of Pattaya Mail

Peter statrted the first English language newspaper in Pattaya in 1993 and also publishes the German Pattaya Blatt. As Past District Governor of Rotary Internation in Thailand Peter lives the principles of Rotary.