Born and raised in Honolulu, Doreen is the oldest of four siblings. She graduated from Maryknoll High School in 1970 and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, graduating in 1974 and later receiving her Professional Diploma in Special Education in 1976.
While attending classes at the University for her BE in Special Education, she began working in the stockroom of Villa Roma, a contemporary women’s apparel store at Ala Moana Shopping Center. During her 22 years with the company, she rose through the ranks as the Assistant Business Manager/Office Manager eventually becoming the Business Manager in 1981 until she left in 1993. In 1992 and 1993, she was also the Company’s Corporate Secretary and Treasurer.
During her early years with Villa Roma, she realized that the “business side” of the operation appealed more to her than her college major. Much of her knowledge and skills are due to the support and training received from those she had worked for and with over the years.
From 1993 through 1999, she handled the business operations for Seafood Hawaii, Inc., a local wholesaler and retailer in the Kewalo Basin fish auction building. Talk about being anal, one of her responsibilities was to track the sale of fish sold locally as well as to the mainland and to Japan. Occasionally this involved tracking parts of fish sold to more than one customer.
“I thrive on balancing to the penny and making sure everything is in its proper place. If you do it right the first time, you don’t have to worry about having to do it over again” says Doreen.
Doreen is responsible for the integrity of the Company’s financial data. She and her staff occupy offices at both King Street and Ala Moana Center locations. She juggles her time between both operations.
