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 ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ 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 ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Wellstar College of Health and Human Services

    Master of Ceremonies:

    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Masako Racel, Associate Professor of History, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ 

    10:00am-10:30am: Opening & Introductions
    Sponsored by ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS)

    • Sha Huang, Asian Studies Director, Associate Professor of Chinese, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Michael Chen, Associate Dean, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Kazuhiro Chikayama, Associate Professor of English Education, J. F. Oberlin University

    10:30am-11:30am: Sponsored by ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ College of Architecture and Construction Management and ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s MS in Healthcare Management and Informatics

    SAUPO Panel #1: AI, Infrastructure and Healthcare

    Moderator: Doug Moodie, Professor of Management, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State University

    • Victor Osumi, President-Japan, Delta Air Lines; President, American Chamber of Commerce, Japan
    • Sweta Sneha, Executive Director, MS in Healthcare Management & Informatics, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Brian Moore, Chair of the Department of Construction Management, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ

    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 ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Office of Vice President for Research and
    ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Coles College of Business

    SAUPO Panel #2: Global Workforce Development

    Moderator: May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ

    • Alex Gregory, former President & CEO, YKK Corporation of America
    • Toru Ichikawa, Global Engagement & Partnership Division, Kanda University of Int’l 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 ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ 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 ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ 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, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Brian Olovson, Director of Modern Languages and Cultures, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ

    • May Gao, SAUPO Chair & Founder, Professor of Communication and Asian Studies, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Sanjeev Adhikari, Graduate Coordinator of Construction Management, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Michael Chen, Associate Dean, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • 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, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Toru Ichikawa, Global Engagement & Partnership Division, Kanda University of Int’l 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, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Brian Olovson, Director of Modern Languages and Cultures, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Victor Osumi, President-Japan, Delta Air Lines; President, American Chamber of Commerce, Japan
    • Masako Racel, Associate Professor of History, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ
    • Hiroshi Sekiya, President, Maintech Corporation, Japan
    • Sweta Sneha, Executive Director, MS in Healthcare Management & Informatics, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ