Julie Strong has been appointed Chief Fiscal Officer of Maui Economic Opportunity, one of Maui County’s largest nonprofit organizations.
She replaces Monica Takamura, who stepped down due to health reasons. She remains with MEO as Accounting Manager.
Julie has more than 20 years of accounting/finance experience. Prior to joining MEO, she was Finance Manager at DB Schenker, Inc., a third party logistics company for Proctor and Gamble in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and in Inwood, West Virginia. She managed the finances and budgets for both locations.
She also has experience as a Controller and Staff Accountant with companies in Buda and San Marcos, Texas.
With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Phoenix, Julie grew up in Ewa Beach, Oahu. She and husband, James, returned to the Islands in September 2024 after 21 years on the Mainland.
The CFO leads MEO’s Fiscal Department, which manages audits, grants, budgets and payroll, and works with nonprofit’s five departments on fiscal matters. With more than 200 staff on Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i, MEO operates more than 30 programs – including wildfire relief programs – with revenues of $22 million in fiscal year 2022-23.
“One of the strengths through MEO’s six decades has been its Fiscal Department and financial management,” said CEO Debbie Cabebe. “Julie will continue MEO’s tradition of clean audits and honest financial management, while allowing us to utilize modern fiscal tools to improve efficiency and reporting.”
*About Maui Economic Opportunity*
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., is a nonprofit agency that’s part of the national Community Action Partnership network, whose goal is to help low income individuals and families and disenfranchised people help themselves and transform their lives. Chartered in 1965, MEO offers more than 40 programs that assist low income people, kupuna, youths, persons with disabilities, immigrants and other disenfranchised individuals countywide. MEO runs the Human Services specialized transportation program for health and dialysis appointments, after-school and youth sports activities and more; and the Maui Bus paratransit system; Head Start preschools and Kahi Kamali‘i Infant Care Center; as well as programs that offer kupuna socialization and information; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; Spanish interpretation and translation; entrepreneurial and financial classes and support, including microloans; inmate reintegration into the community after release; youth drinking, drug, smoking, bullying and suicide prevention; and employment training and placement. For more information about the entire array of programs, visit meoinc.org or call (808) 249-2990.
