Employee Spotlight: Florence Lovell

Thirty-nine-year-old Florence Lovell—supervisor of the farm’s banana-packing house, tomato-packing house and of its vegetable growing operation—tells us she was a tomboy as a kid.

“I have two brothers,” she says. “I was the only girl, and I had no girls to play with. So I used to run around playing with my brothers and their friends, and it was kind of like I had to define myself, because I was the only girl in that crowd. That helped me be the person I am. I’m glad things turns out that way.”

Her job at Hamakua Springs entails a lot of physical work. That’s one of the things she likes about it, probably because of that outdoor, tomboy upbringing.

“I can do the stacking of the bananas, carrying heavy things,” she says. “I enjoy doing those things.” She has 18 or 19 people under her supervision now, other supervisors as well as employees.

When she’s not working, her focus is often on her new grandson. Kaimana, 5 months old, is her only grandchild so far. “I take him riding, play with him in the swimming pool,” she says. “I watch him for two or three nights, to have that time with him.”

“I enjoy time with my grandson, my husband, my brothers. I drink a little beer now and then,” she laughs. “I have those enjoyments.”

Flo started at Hamakua Springs five years ago when she was hired to pack bananas. After about a year, her employers asked if she’d be assistant supervisor in the banana-packing house. That evolved into her position as supervisor of the banana-packing house, then also of the tomato-packing house and of the vegetable growing operation.

She said it was a little overwhelming at first. “It happened so fast,” she says. “It was a chain reaction thing. I was never expecting to move that fast. But I enjoy it. I get up early, I’m here early. I enjoy doing my job, being able to do all the different things in the different areas.”

Richard Ha, the big boss, describes her position as tough and demanding. “But she took the responsibility and didn’t shy away at all,” he says. “She was game and accepted the job and has been doing a good job since. Kimo Pa, who is our farm manager, recommended Flo for her most recent promotion a little more than a month ago. I was aware from early on that he had a lot of confidence in her.”

June Ha recalls when she and daughter Tracy Pa were developing a system for packing their apple bananas into Harry and David gift boxes. “There was a real spark in the way Flo approached helping to organize the project,” says June. “She would always focus on how things could get done, rather than on why things couldn’t get done.”

“She’s a good example of someone working her way up through the ranks,” says Richard. “We’re really happy for her.”

It sounds like Flo knows that. She speaks equally well of her employers.

“They became not only my boss but they’re like a part of my family,” she says. “They made me feel welcome from the first time I started working here. Their personalities—they were nice. They appreciate what I do. That’s something you don’t see too much of.”

“I enjoy working here,” she says. “I plan to stay as long as I can.” — posted by Leslie Lang