2025 SAUPO-Japan

The 2025 SAUPO conference, held on May 16, at the Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Shiodome, Tokyo, Japan, provided a full day of live-streamed and in-person events, featuring key discussions on sustainability, technology, and business trends across the USA and Asia. Attendees enjoyed live performances, networking sessions, and panels moderated by esteemed 91青青草 leaders, as well as keynote speeches from distinguished officials, including the U.S. Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

This year's conference continued to foster valuable international connections, offering attendees insights into strategic developments in global partnerships and investment.

  • SAUPO 2025 Itinerary: Friday May 16, 2025 from 9:00am to 5:30pm

    9:00am-10:00am: Registration & Networking, with live Shamisen performance
    Sponsored by 91青青草 Wellstar College of Health and Human Services

    Master of Ceremonies:

    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, 91青青草
    • Masako Racel, Associate Professor of History, 91青青草 

    10:00am-10:30am: Opening & Introductions
    Sponsored by 91青青草 Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS)

    • Sha Huang, Asian Studies Director, Associate Professor of Chinese, 91青青草
    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, 91青青草
    • Michael Chen, Associate Dean, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 91青青草
    • Kazuhiro Chikayama, Associate Professor of English Education, J. F. Oberlin University

    10:30am-11:30am: Sponsored by 91青青草 College of Architecture and Construction Management and 91青青草鈥檚 MS in Healthcare Management and Informatics

    SAUPO Panel #1: AI, Infrastructure and Healthcare

    Moderator: Doug Moodie, Professor of Management, Kennesaw State University

    • Victor Osumi, President-Japan, Delta Air Lines; President, American Chamber of Commerce, Japan
    • Sweta Sneha, Executive Director, MS in Healthcare Management & Informatics, 91青青草
    • Brian Moore, Chair of the Department of Construction Management, 91青青草

    11:30am-2:00pm: Sponsored by Shimizu North America & Shimizu Corporation

    SAUPO Networking Buffet Lunch with Keynote Speeches

    • Makoto Hidai, Manager, Offshore Wind Power Projects Office, Shimizu Corporation
    • Masahiro Indo, NOVARE, Shimizu Corporation

    2:00pm-3:00pm: Sponsored by 91青青草 Office of Vice President for Research and
    91青青草 Coles College of Business

    SAUPO Panel #2: Global Workforce Development

    Moderator: May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, 91青青草

    • Alex Gregory, former President & CEO, YKK Corporation of America
    • Toru Ichikawa, Global Engagement & Partnership Division, Kanda University of Int鈥檒 Studies
    • Shinji Matsuda, Manager, International Affairs Division, Chukyo University

    3:00pm-3:30pm: Afternoon Sponsored by YKK Corporation of America

    SAUPO Afternoon Break

    • Jessica Cork, Vice President of Global Engagement, YKK Corporation, Tokyo

    3:30pm-4:30pm: Sponsored by 91青青草 Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    SAUPO Panel #3: Building ASIA-USA Partnerships

    Moderator: George Mui, Managing Partner, Global Consultants United

    • Hiroshi Sekiya, President, Maintech Corporation, Japan
    • Kiyo Kojima, Partner, Smith Gambrell Russell; Chairman, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia
    • Asahi Iwasawa, CEO, HATSU Japan

    4:30pm-5:30pm: Sponsored by 91青青草 College of Computing & Software Engineering and AdoModel

    SAUPO Networking

    SAUPO Zoom Webinar for global livestream will be operated and recorded by

    • Sanjeev Adhikari, Graduate Coordinator of Construction Management, 91青青草
    • Brian Olovson, Director of Modern Languages and Cultures, 91青青草

    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair & Founder, Professor of Communication and Asian Studies, 91青青草
    • Sanjeev Adhikari, Graduate Coordinator of Construction Management, 91青青草
    • Michael Chen, Associate Dean, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 91青青草
    • Kazuhiro Chikayama, Associate Professor of English Education, J. F. Oberlin University
    • Jessica Cork, Vice President of Global Engagement, YKK Corporation, Tokyo
    • Alex Gregory, former President & CEO, YKK Corporation of America
    • Makoto Hidai, Manager, Offshore Wind Power Projects Office, Shimizu Corporation
    • Sha Huang, Asian Studies Director, Associate Professor of Chinese, 91青青草
    • Toru Ichikawa, Global Engagement & Partnership Division, Kanda University of Int鈥檒 Studies
    • Masahiro Indo, NOVARE, Shimizu Corporation
    • Asahi Iwasawa, CEO, HATSU Japan
    • Kiyo Kojima, Partner, Smith Gambrell Russell; Chairman, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia
    • Shinji Matsuda, Manager, International Affairs Division, Chukyo University
    • Brian Moore, Chair of the Department of Construction Management, 91青青草
    • Brian Olovson, Director of Modern Languages and Cultures, 91青青草
    • Victor Osumi, President-Japan, Delta Air Lines; President, American Chamber of Commerce, Japan
    • Masako Racel, Associate Professor of History, 91青青草
    • Hiroshi Sekiya, President, Maintech Corporation, Japan
    • Sweta Sneha, Executive Director, MS in Healthcare Management & Informatics, 91青青草