Business Development Center Director David Daly was named Maui Economic Opportunity’s Employee of the Year at a staff holiday gathering on Dec. 19 at MEO in Wailuku. Photo courtesy MEO

Maui Economic Opportunity named Business Development Center Director David Daly as the nonprofit’s Employee of the Year at its holiday gathering Dec. 19.

According to MEO, Daly was selected from the pool of Employee of Month winners for 2025, who were nominated by fellow staff members and selected by the administrative team. Daly was recognized as MEO’s Employee of the Month for March.

Daly was nominated by longtime receptionist Kai Oliver, who saw his interactions with staff and the public before she retired from the role. Oliver, who passed away this summer, said Daly was “always warm and friendly” with clients and “an excellent listener.”

“His natural character with customers and employees of MEO shows compassion, understanding and fairness to all,” Oliver said in her nomination. “One of his greatest gifts he has is his funny and humorous sayings for expressions that really and truly make you smile for the rest of the day.”

As the director of the Business Development Center, Daly leads a five-person department that offers general business micro grants and agricultural grants, as well as the business planning and teen and adult financial literacy classes, and credit counseling.

Daly joined MEO in March 2009. He received a cash award and an extra day off.

MEO Employee of the Year David Daly poses for a photo with Chief Administrative Officer Maggie Batangan (left) and CEO Debbie Cabebe. Photo courtesy MEO