ABOUT Teena

Teena M. Rasmussen
(partner)

Prior to co-founding Skog Rasmussen LLC in January 2019 with Jeanne Skog, Teena Rasmussen served as the Director of the Office of Economic Development for the County of Maui for eight years. During her tenure, she oversaw an $80 million portfolio of economic development grants, accomplished projects in energy, film, agriculture, tourism, workforce development, and business development.

Under her leadership, the Made In Maui County Festival, the Maui Energy Conference, the Hawai‘i Small Business Conference and the Molokai Business Conference were founded. Teena successfully led the County of Maui in participating in international events such as the Goyang International Horticulture Show in Goyang, South Korea, the Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, PA, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference in Honolulu in 2011.

Teena and her husband founded and operated a diversified agriculture company, Paradise Flower Farms, Inc., on the island of Maui. Over its 35-year history, the company grew to become the largest lei flower farm in Hawai‘i, spanning 50 acres and employing 33 people. It serviced the Hawaii market and shipped fresh flower lei throughout the mainland US and Canada. She and her husband sold the business in 2015.

During her 40+ years as a resident of Maui, Teena has generously given her time to nonprofits and education- based institutions, as well as dedicated a great deal of her expertise to business and industry advocacy.

Teena served on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents for four years in which she chaired the Community College Committee and was the UH representative to the national American Association of Community College Trustees from 2010-2012.

She has served as a member of the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the State of Hawai‘i for five years and as its chair from 2005-2006. She was appointed twice by the federal Secretary of Agriculture to the Farm Service Agency State Committee most recently serving as its chair. Teena has been a long-time member of the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Hawai‘i Tropical Flower Council, the Hawai‘i Floral and Nursery Association, and was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) for Lifetime Achievement in 2008.

Teena is a 40+-year member of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, having chaired various committees and serving as the Chair of the Board for 2 consecutive years.

She has worked extensively with the visitor industry and has participated in several travel trade trips with the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Maui Visitors Bureau. Teena has represented the County of Maui on official Mayoral trade trips to Japan and South Korea.

Teena served on the Small Business Administration Advisory Council for 10 years, the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council for 3 years, was Vice-Chair of the Maui County Salary Commission, and served as the Mayor’s representative on the Maui Economic Development Board for 8 years.

Her service to the Tri-Agency Board of Aloha House, Maui Youth and Family Services, and Malama Family Recovery spanned 10 years through 2017, and she chaired their signature fundraiser “Growing Dreams” for 7 years.

Teena has conducted or participated in high level search committees for the following positions: President of University of Hawai‘i, Athletic Director for University of Hawai‘i Manoa, Chancellor for UH Maui College, County of Maui Energy Commissioner, and County of Maui Film Commissioner.

Teena served on Hawaiian Electric Company’s Integrated Planning Process (IGP) Forecast Assumptions Working Group. She is currently a member of the Community Based Economic Development Advisory Council for the State of Hawaii.

Her depth of understanding about all sectors of industry in Hawai‘i’s economy was achieved through decades of interaction through her public and private sector experiences and with the network of community partners engaged in the work of economic development and advocacy.

Teena attended Washington State University, California State Fullerton, and Chaminade University studying business management and communications.