Kitty Lagareta
Photo from Carol Nakagawa
There has been much going on in the life of Communications Pacific (CommPac) CEO Kitty Lagareta, and most exciting developments are her grandchildren Hayden (11) and Michael (8).
“It’s wonderful,” Lagareta says. “I adore my children, and I didn’t think they could bring me any more joy, but they have done that with grandchildren.”
When she isn’t visiting her children and grandchildren on the Mainland, Lagareta keeps busy with CommPac and her community service work. She serves on the boards of American Red Cross in Hawaii, Enterprise Honolulu, Boy Scouts and March of Dimes.
Also, from 2003-08, Lagareta served on the UH Manoa Board of Regents and held the positions of vice chairwoman and chairwoman. During her service, the board handled some heavy issues, such as the leadership of the university when the decision was reached to appoint Dr. David McClain president. The board also tackled tuition, moving forward with the implementation of UH-West Oahu, building a new dorm on the Manoa campus, expanding to four-year programs at Maui Community College and approving the College of Pharmacy at UHHilo.
While those years were busy for Lagareta, 2013 has new challenges and opportunities she plans to embrace.
“I don’t know if the economy is improving (this year) or not, but coming through the last four years, we’re a stronger company for having to go through all of that,” she says. “We’re in a good place for 2013 and looking forward to many opportunities.
“We’re in an exciting time,” says Lagareta, who notes that CommPac is celebrating its 44th anniversary this year. “We’ve been continuing to work with interesting clients like HECO, Safeway, Target and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. I think we have continued to be very engaged in a lot of the major issues going on around our state.”
Lagareta was featured on MidWeek‘s cover Oct. 11, 2000, with her Airedale, Rodman, who died in 2004.
“Shortly after, we got Helen and Serah (both Airedales),” she explains. “But I still look at the cover and miss Rodman.”
Despite all that Lagareta has on her plate, she still finds time to skateboard. Yes, skateboard.
With 2013 looking to be a busy year, she spent her recent three-and-a-half week RV road trip vacation with husband Roland and traveled 4,025 miles across the country to visit family.
In the near future, Lagareta hopes to “spend more time with my grandkids.”
