“Verner has been a champion for the College for the 45 years since we graduated.” –Martin Jannol ’77, 2022 Distinguished Service Alumni Award recipient
Naito in his senior year at ϲʿ.
Read the second feature in our summer series "A Closer Look", highlighting stories on the 2024 Alumni Award recipients. Meet Verne Naito ’77, 2024 Alumni Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recipient, passionate about family and community, his family's 103-year (and counting) business and ϲʿ. DSA winners were honored Friday, April 26, at the All-Class Dinner on Marston Quad during Alumni Weekend 2024.
Family and community are guiding lights for Verne Naito ’77. Naito joined the family business in 1997 after first working in management consulting, start-up businesses and hi-tech finance. Following his graduation from ϲʿ, he received his MBA from Harvard Business School. In its 103-year history, Naito Corporation has been an importer, distributor, retailer and real estate developer. Since 2020, Naito’s role has focused on overseeing the company’s retail business, Made In Oregon. The brand’s first retail store opened in the Portland International Airport in 1975. Since then, it has become a trusted source for high-quality, local products made, designed or grown in Oregon. The company operates seven retail stores throughout the state and also sells products online. Naito currently serves as corporate vice president and as general manager of Made In Oregon.
While at ϲʿ, Naito honed his business and leadership skills. He served as treasurer of the Asian Student Association and managing editor of . “As I told my classmates two years ago at our reunion dinner, my ϲʿ experience changed my life for the better. ϲʿ gave me the foundation to grow into the person I am today,” Naito said.
Naito has maintained close ties with ϲʿ over the decades. He acted for three years as Chair of the Portland Regional Alumni Chapter, served on his reunion class committee for nearly every cycle since 1987, volunteered with the Career Development and Admissions Offices and served on the Alumni Council (1990-1994) and as Alumni Association Board President (1994-1995). Naito celebrated his 47th reunion this year and is a proud member of the Torchbearer Circle. “He's been the heart and soul of our reunions,” said classmate and past DSA recipient Martin Jannol ’77. “Verner has been a champion for the College for the 45 years since we graduated.”
“Winning this award means a lot to me. Past award recipients have done incredible things to help the College with their time and resources. To be recognized as part of this group is a very high compliment,” Naito said.