Regent

Teena M. Rasmussen

Paradise Flower Farms vice-president and co-owner Teena Rasmussen joined the Board of Regents in 2008.

In addition to operating the 56-acre, 25-employee company with her husband Craig, Rasmussen donates time to many non-profit, educational, business and government organizations. She served on the board of Maui United Way and chaired fundraisers for Maui Youth and Family Services. She was charter president for King Kekaulike High School PTSA, board chair for Haleakala Waldorf School and member of the Maui Community College Provost’s Advisory Board.

Rasmussen was a state committee member on the Farm Service Agency for 8 years and served as chairman of the board of the Agribusiness Development Coporation. She has previously served as vice chair of the Maui County Salary Commission, chair of the Small Business Administration Regional Advisory Board, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Maui Economic Development Board, chair of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, board member and treasurer of the Hawai‘i Tropical Flower Council and a founding member of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s Hawai‘i Seal of Quality program. A tireless proponent of locally grown produce and flowers, She has traveled with Hawai‘i Visitor’s Bureau to promote Hawai‘i flowers and lei.

Among her recent honors are the Outstanding Community Service and Achievement Award from the Maui Agricultural Foundation 2005, Entrepreneur of the Year for 2000 from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and Island Business magazine, Hawai‘i State Farm Bureau’s 2004 Most Outstanding Farm Family and 2005 Small Business Champion of the Year from the National Federation of Independent Business.

Rasmussen has studied communications and business administration at Washington State University; California State University, Fullerton; and Chaminade University. A resident of Kula, Maui, she has two grown daughters.