People: Dole Food Company Inc (DOLE.N)

The Hon. Elaine L. Chao is Independent Director of Dole Food Co Inc., since 2009. Ms. Chao was the nation’s 24th Secretary of Labor from 2001 to 2009, and the first Asian Pacific American woman in the country’s history to be appointed to the President’s cabinet. From 1996 to 2001, and presently, Ms. Chao was and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, an educational and research organization based in Washington, D.C. From 1992 to 1996, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America where she restored public trust and confidence to an organization tarnished by scandal. From 1991 to 1992, she served as Director of the Peace Corps. From 1989 to 1991, she was the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, the second in charge of a department with a budget of $30 billion and workforce of 110,000. Prior to that, she worked as Vice President of syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and Citicorp. Ms. Chao serves as a director of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and of Protective Life Corporation (NYSE: PL), both since 2011. Ms. Chao previously served on the Board of Directors of Dole from 1993 to 2001. She previously served on the Boards of Northwest Airlines, National Association of Security Dealers, Raymond James Financial, and C.R. Bard.