The 40+ Year Journey of Darlene Hunn

Great stories often begin in the most unassuming places. For Darlene Hunn, the story of Imperial Sprinkler Supply began in a warehouse when she was only sixteen years old. The office came much later.

Darlene's career began in a delivery truck when she was sixteen. She spent those years mastering parts and driving delivery trucks. An office desk was still years away. Every role in the building served as a lesson. She learned how the business functioned by working nearly every job in the building, from the warehouse floor to the payroll ledgers. She didn't just manage Imperial. She knew the company from the ground up because she had done the work herself.

That perspective wasn't something she read in a manual. She earned it one shift at a time.

Building a Legacy

Darlene was twenty-four when she opened the second location in Escondido. She used SBA funding to bankroll the expansion she knew was possible. Her certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) opened doors to major public infrastructure projects with CalTrans and local school districts. One store eventually became twenty-five branches spanning the state. Alongside the rest of the Moriel Family, Darlene helped build a legacy across California by showing up every morning for forty-two years. There was no quit in her.

The Heart of the Business

Revenue alone didn't drive the company. Darlene hired people who eventually became her inner circle. She kept her standards high while looking out for every person on the payroll. This personal touch created the environment everyone at Imperial came to value. Her legacy lives in the shared success of her team and the friendships that outlasted the business. It was about the people in the building, not just the square footage of the branches.

Retirement now marks the end of a forty-two-year run. Darlene's career shows the raw effort it takes to build something from nothing. She proved that a teenager in a delivery truck can eventually lead an entire industry.

Tributes to a Leader

From Bill Payne:

"When Darlene returned to Imperial, she and I truly complemented each other within the company her parents had built. Her focus on the company's vision and her genuine care for every employee were exactly what was needed at that time. Darlene helped define the culture we all came to know and value at Imperial. From the very beginning, Darlene was fully committed, working long hours, early mornings, and doing whatever it took to support the organization. She had big shoes to fill, and she embraced that responsibility with dedication to all of us. Watching her grow and transform into a strong, confident leader was truly inspiring and a privilege to witness. Darlene didn't just rise to the occasion for the Moriel family. She rose up for the entire Imperial family as a whole."

From Jeff Demming:

"Darlene, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciated working with you. You were a wonderful and dynamic leader, and your sensitivity, values, and high standards left a lasting impact on me. Thank you for the guidance, the example you set, and the way you inspired everyone around you. I'm grateful for the time we worked together. Happy and Well-Deserved Retirement."