Name: Richard M. Lau
Age: 51
Position: Vice president, Queen's Health Systems
First job: Supermarket
Favorite pastime: Fishing and travel

"This is the first time there will be a corporatewide human resources function," Lau said. "It is a long-range plan that will take several years (to complete)."

The Queen's Health Systems consists of the Queen's Medical Center and 17 other health care related companies.

Lau previously was vice president for human resources at Dole Packaged Foods Co., based in Westlake Village, Calif. He also held other senior human resources positions at Dole Packaged Foods, working out of Salem, Ore., and San Francisco. He started out working at Dole's Hawaii operations in 1968 and in 1972 was asked to transfer to Dole operations on the mainland.

Lau earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Hawaii.