Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.

About Us

MEO provides the tools to help people and change lives with programs offered through five departments:

The BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER assists small business entrepreneurs with business plan training, credit assessment, and microloans for startup and expansion.
COMMUNITY SERVICES provides a wide array of services including rental subsidy, employment training and job placement, Enlace Hispano (Hispanic Link), weatherization and energy assistance, senior club coordination, prisoner reintegration, Hawaiian agricultural workshops, and more.
EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES provides quality infant care and early childhood education, offering toddlers a Head Start toward a better education and a better life.
The TRANSPORTATION Department provides rides to the doctor, to work, to school, to adult day care, for necessary shopping, and for other needs with both standard and wheelchair lift-equipped vehicles.
The YOUTH SERVICES Department provides youth with assistance to succeed in school and life through fun-filled opportunities to learn life skills, prepare for the workforce, and serve the community. The prevention of underage drinking, substance abuse, tobacco use, teenage pregnancy, and teenage suicide is consistently blended with youth program activities.

MEO is dedicated to providing tools for living, for earning, for self-reliance, and for community involvement. All programs are designed with the underlying belief that instead of giving people a fish, it is better to teach them how to fish for themselves.
MEO Organizational Chart

Management

Lyn McNeff, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 808.249.2990 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio: Lyn McNeff was promoted to CEO on January of 2011. Lyn joined MEO in 1993 and served as MEO’s Head Start Director for 12 years. During her tenure, the Head Start program received national recognition as an exemplary program and was the only Head Start in Hawaii to receive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She was promoted to Chief Programs Officer (CPO) in November of 2005. As CPO Lyn implemented and facilitated many best practices to help MEO retain its Agency of Excellence status. Lyn was selected for the Johnson and Johnson Management Fellows Program at the UCLA School of Business and holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Oregon State University. She was a federal reviewer for Head Start where she was a lead consultant for training and technical assistance in the areas of program design, management and management systems. Lyn has served as a president of the Head Start Association of Hawaii and Region IX Head Start Association Board and has served as a board member of the Maui United Way and Maui Non-Profit Director’s Association. She currently serves on the County of Maui Grants Review Committee where she has helped the committee refine its processes. Lyn is also on the board of directors of the Association of Farmworker Opportunities Program, and the Rocky Mountain HI association.

Debbie Cabebe, Chief Programs Officer

Phone: 808.249-2990 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio:Debbie Cabebe, SPHR was promoted to CPO, in January of 2011. Debbie began her career at MEO in January of 2000. She was the third HR professional hired in MEO’s history. During her 10 years with MEO she provided leadership in developing and executing human resources strategies to support the overall business plan and strategic direction of the MEO. Debbie developed and implemented numerous training programs, and designed and established a successful safety program. She previously worked for Liberty House stores in sales and management, and spent her last 10 years there working in human resources as the Assistant Human Resources Manager overseeing up to 500 employees in Maui County. Debbie is active with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Hawaii Educational Foundation, Maui District where she is the current past chair. She represents SHRM on the local Workforce Investment Board, and represents MEO on the Chamber of Commerce Business Education Committee. Debbie is a nationally certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, a trained mediator, and is active in the community volunteering her time as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, secretary for the Maui High School, School Community Council (SCC), and is the Chair-elect for Saint Theresa Church Parish Pastoral Council.

Debbie Lorenzo, Chief Fiscal Officer

Phone: 808.249.2980 Fax: 808.249.2979

Debbie Lorenzo, Chief Fiscal Officer Bio: Debbie Lorenzo graduated with BA in Accounting from Seattle University. She worked as a staff accountant for five years with Coopers and Lybrand where she performed compilation, reviews, tax returns, and assisted with audits. In 1991 she joined MEO as chief accountant and in recognition of her experience and skills, the title was changed to assistant fiscal director. After 16 years with MEO she was promoted to fiscal director in 2007. She is the treasurer of the Wailuku Junior Tennis Club where her children are tennis players.

Jennifer Okamura, Executive Assistant

Phone: 808.249.2990 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio: Jennifer Okamura joined MEO in September of 2007 as a HR Administrative Specialist. Her professionalism, diplomacy and attention to detail caught the eye of management. In February Jennifer was promoted to Executive Secretary, reporting directly to MEO Executive Director Sandy Baz. Prior to MEO Jennifer worked for 2 years at Maui Memorial Medical Center as a Obstetrics Health Clerk and for 9 years as a Tour/Rooms Coordinator for JTB Hawaii in Honolulu.

Executive Staff

Debbi Amaral, Early Childhood Services Director

Phone: 808.249.2988 Fax: 808.249.2989

Bio: Debbie attended Maui Community College, graduating with an Associates of Sciences degree in Human Services with emphasis in Early Childhood. She taught at private preschools in central Maui for ten years prior to being employed with MEO. She began her career with Head Start in June 1996 as the Education / Disability Specialist. In 2001, she was promoted to Assistant Director and to her current position in November 2005. Early Childhood programs provided by MEO include Head Start, Kahi Kamali’i Infant / Toddler program, Free to Grow ‘Ohana Strengtening program and the Free to Be program.

Donna Borge, Youth Services Director
Phone: 808.243.4311 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio: Donna Borge began her career as a Youth Advisory Assistant with the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii to help reduce drug abuse in Hawaii through awareness, education, and action for youth and adults. In 1998 Donna accepted a position at MEO as the AmeriCorps Coordinator, and successfully coordinated a nationally recognized AmeriCorps Environmental Program for Maui County. She worked with Federal, State, County and Private Agencies for the past 12 years to secure funding and assist youth and young adults in gaining valuable conservation field experiences and scholarships to further their education. She has contributed 15 years in serving the communities of Hawaii in making a positive contribution to keeping our youth and natural resources healthy.

David Bulliment, I.T. Director

Phone: 808.243.4402 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio: David studied French and Sciences at Grand Valley State University in Michigan and Universite de Touraine in France before starting a career in the hospitality industry. He held positions in Hotel Accounting and Operations at various hotels within the U.S. before switching to Technology. David then joined Inter-Continental Hotels and held positions at their Corporate Offices and several hotels. He was deployed to install systems in new hotels and sent on assignment to South America and Europe. David eventually transferred to the Maui Inter-Continental Resort as MIS Manager where he remained until joining MEO in 2005

Gerry Lum, Community Services Director

Phone: 808.249.2970 Fax: 808.249.2971

Gerry Lum, Community Services Director Bio: Born in Honolulu, graduated from Damien Memorial High School, studied at University of Hawaii, Honolulu Community College and attained AS in Police Science. Employed with State of Hawaii and worked within various departments (Department of Social Services and Housing, University of Hawaii – Manoa). Moved to Maui from Honolulu in 1982 and continued with the State having worked for the Harbors Division and DLNR. During a seven-year period, while employed with the State, volunteered as a Reserve Police Officer with the Maui Police Department. Worked also with the Federal government and was in the employ of the Department of Treasury, U.S. Customs Service as a Customs Inspector. Since July 2002, worked at MEO, previously as a Loan Fund Manager, Program Administrator, Community Services, Maui-to-Work program, and Case Manager II.

Vernon Oato, Human Resources Director

Phone: 808.243.4339 Fax: 808.249.2979

Bio:Vernon Oato is a certified human resources professional with over 25 years experience in the human resources field. Vern began his career working for the State of Washington as an Affirmative Action compliance officer and EEO discrimination complaint investigator. His career growth and development began with Westin Hotels and Resorts where he spent the next 18 years working at hotels in Seattle, Kauai, and eventually Maui as Director of Human Resources. During this time, he assisted with the opening of Westin’s new properties in Vail, Denver, and Guam and also served as co-chairperson as management’s representative to the union’s pension trust fund. Vern subsequently worked at the Community Clinic of Maui as Director of Human Resources, updating and creating the human resources fundamentals for a growing community health care organization. Vern is a graduate of Seattle University with a degree in Economics and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Human Resources Certification Institute. Vern is a national member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and active member of the Maui chapter of the organization.

Kathy Parker, Grant Writer / Transportation Advisor
Phone: 808.243.4319 Fax: 808.249.2991

Bio: Kathy has significant experience writing and managing grants while serving as a Regional Manager, Executive Director, and Grant Writer for various nonprofit organizations in three states.

For over twenty years she has participated in various aspects of grant preparation, from initially providing proofreading and logistical support, to composing every section of the entire grant application, including developing the program of services to be funded, writing the narrative, generating the job descriptions, preparing the budget, and ultimately implementing and managing the program.

She previously served as Operations Manager, then Transportation Director for a nonprofit organization similar to MEO for nine years. During her tenure there she became a Certified Community Transit Manager. She was directly responsible for the administration and operation of the specialized transportation and ADA paratransit services offered throughout the four counties under her direction. She also became a certified trainer and provided FTA required training for all transportation personnel. In addition, she developed many of the operating and safety policies and procedures which governed the transportation program.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in management, having graduated from Big Bend Community College and Heritage University, both in the State of Washington.

George Reioux, Transportation Director

Phone: 808.877.7651 Fax: 808.871.2171

George Reioux, Transportation Director Bio: George Reioux joined MEO in 2001 as a driver in the Transportation Department. Two and one half years later he was promoted to Operations Manager, remaining in operations management until his selection to serve as interim Transportation Director in July 2011. George was a career Air Force officer and pilot, moving to Maui following his retirement from active service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from San Diego State University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University, and a master’s degree in Religious Studies from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. George is a Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Certified Safety and Security Manager (CSSM) and Passenger Service and Safety (PASS) certified trainer, and a certified American Red Cross First Aid/CPR instructor.

Yolanda Reyes, Molokai Branch Director

Phone: 808.553.3216 Fax: 808.553.3776

Bio: Yolanda Reyes was born and raised on Molokai. Following her graduation from Molokai High School, she spent three years working in Washington D.C. as a secretary for the General Investigative Division of the FBI. After returning from the mainland, she worked at Kaluakoi’s Sheraton Molokai Hotel for seven years as desk clerk, cashier, reservationist, operator, and night auditor. She spent the next 22 years working at Molokai Ranch; as their business grew, so did her management responsibilities -- from Bookkeeper to Supervisor, and from Office and HR Manager to Administrative Manager. She was responsible for overseeing the Kaluakoi Golf Course, Maunaloa Gas Station, water and lease billings, collections, and daily office operations and procedures, supervising 20 staff. Molokai has always been home for Yolanda, and she loves the fact that through MEO she can reach out and help where she can in the community that she calls “home”.

Craig Swift, MEO BDC Director

Phone: 808.243.315 Fax: 808.249.2991

Craig Swift, MEO BDC Director Bio: Craig has over 20 years’ experience in the field of finance, business, and economic development. The majority of Craig’s career was spent at Lokahi Pacific as a Loan Programs Manager and Business Analyst. He also has been a lecturer at UH-MC teaching a course in Small Business Management. Craig has his MBA from the University of Hawaii and undergraduate degree from the University of Washington.