THANK YOU CHRISTINE SATO-YAMAZAKI FOR 12 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP
Christine Sato-Yamazaki has been a guiding light for the Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC) for the past 12 years, first as executive director and most recently as president and chief executive officer (2008). She has seen the hard work and tenacity of the Japanese American WWII veterans in the final stretch of the Go For Broke Monument capital campaign and worked side-by-side veterans, volunteers and one staff member through the building and dedication of it in 1999. She was fortunate to be mentored by Col. Young Oak Kim when she first stepped into the role as executive director in 1999 after the former director fell ill and unable to continue.
Yamazaki helped start the organization's first and to this day most successful program, the Hanashi Oral History Program, boasting more than 1,000 oral histories of Nisei WWII veterans and others. And, when the veterans realized that they needed to do more to teach the story than build the Go For Broke Monument, she was instrumental in creating the American Story Teacher Training Program, which is now implemented nationally. She was also directly involved with transitioning the organization from the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation to the Go For Broke Educational Foundation, which today is the Go For Broke National Education Center.
She has seen this and so much more. With little fundraising experience, Yamazaki was able to sustain the organization and build it to where it is today. She helped to raise $1.5 million in State of California funds to establish the Educational Foundation and its programs in the early years. Together with staff and volunteers she lead annual fundraising campaigns, established the membership program, brought Hawaii's chefs and entertainers to Los Angeles through the Evening of Aloha gala dinner, the organization's most profitable fundraiser. She was highly involved in bringing 20 veteran organizations from around the nation together to form the National Veteran's Network – which held its first meeting in Los Angeles in 2008. Most recently, Yamazaki was instrumental in receiving a California Cultural Historical Endowment grant for $1 million and $5.5 million total from Congress for the future Education Center.
"When I was first introduced to the organization, it was to do something for my grandpa, a 442nd RCT veteran," said Yamazaki on the heels of her announcement that she will step down as president and CEO effective June 4. "I have committed so much of my career and personal time to GFBNEC because of my grandpa and the other Nisei WWII vets I call my adopted 'grandpas.' Though I will always believe in the mission, respect and honor the Nisei veterans' legacy and want to ensure their story lives in perpetuity, I feel it is time that new leadership take over and guide the organization through its next phase of growth."
To assist GFBNEC with the transition and national search for a new president and CEO, the GFBNEC board of directors elected Michael Ozawa, CPA, CIRA, CFE, senior managing director, Corporate Finance, FTI Consulting, as chairman. Second-term Alhambra City Councilman and board member Gary Yamauchi was appointed interim president/CEO.
"Go For Broke National Education Center has been fortunate to have had someone as dedicated to our mission as Christine," said Ozawa. "In the 12 years she has been with our organization, it has grown, developed and reached significant milestones. On behalf of the board of directors, we thank Christine for her excellent work and look forward to her continuing accomplishments and successes."
Bringing deep financial and management experience developed through work as a corporate consultant, restructuring organizations and establishing effective infrastructures, Ozawa demonstrated able leadership and strong commitment in his previous GFBNEC board role as vice-chairman. He was drawn to the GFBNEC mission and programs through two of his uncles, both Japanese American World War II veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Earlier in the year the board of directors and staff revitalized the mission and vision to bring it more in alignment with future goals. GFBNEC's enhanced mission is to educate the public about responsibilities, challenges and rights of American citizenship, using life stories of Japanese American soldiers of World War II.
To carry out this mission, GFBNEC will concentrate efforts on delivering programs set forth in its strategic plan that was adopted earlier this year, focusing on the Nisei veterans' stories and how their lives exemplify the spirit of American citizenship. Its teacher training, curriculum development, and Hanashi programs will integrate citizenship as one of the central national themes.
"Christine was instrumental in getting us to this point both locally and nationally, and we (the board) are committed to carrying out the mission and goals set forth," said Ozawa. Stephanie Lee, chief operating officer, will lead day-to-day operations, and Lisa Sueki, vice president, programs, will continue to build and lead the programs department. The Hanashi program will focus on rebuilding its volunteer base and outreach efforts nationally, while the teacher training program plans on conducting 2010 workshops/institutes in Hawaii and a new region, Texas.
"Again, we truly appreciate all the years of service, dedication, and sacrifice Christine has given GFBNEC over the years. Though her leadership will be missed we are confident that we will carry on and fulfill our vision to be a national leader in educating the public on values and responsibilities of American citizenship. We hope GFBNEC supporters, who have been loyal to the organization for so many of these years, will join with us as we embark on this ambitious and exciting next phase of growth," Ozawa concluded.
