Name: D. Richard Loero
Age: 37
Position: Production manager, Kaanapali Estate Coffee
First job: Ranch hand in Argentina
Pastimes: Family and ocean activities

"We're real happy with the crop this year," Loero said. "In the factory, we have on-going expansion with new drying facilities. (And) we've just finished upgrading our warehouses."

Loero expects more expansion as the maturing coffee crop's yield increases from 150,000 pounds this year to an estimated 900,000 pounds annually by 2000.

Pioneer is a division of Amfac/JMB Hawaii Inc.

Loero has more than 15 years of experience in the production, processing, marketing, export, and research of tropical and sub-tropical crops. His career began in 1982 as a coffee plant manager for a corporation in Lima, Peru.

He moved to Hawaii in 1989 and worked three years at Waialua Sugar Co. He also spent one year at Brewer Environmental Industries Inc.

Loero earned his master's degree in horticulture at the University of Hawaii.