2023 SAUPO

The 2023 SAUPO conference was held on Friday, April 7, at the KSU Center in Kennesaw, Georgia, offering a full day of networking and panel discussions focused on fostering Asia-USA partnerships. Distinguished speakers, including diplomats, industry leaders, and KSU faculty, gathered to explore key topics such as technology and innovation, global business trends, and post-pandemic economic strategies.

The event provided invaluable insights and opportunities for collaboration across industries and sectors, strengthening ties between the United States and Asia.

  • Friday, April 7, 2023 | 8:00AM-3:00PM
    KSU Center 3333 Busbee Drive
    Kennesaw GA 30144

    8:00AM-9:00AM | Breakfast & Registration

    9:00AM-9:30AM | Opening & Introductions | KSU Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences (RCHSS) 

    May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, KSU 

    Catherine “Katie” Kaukinen, Dean, Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences, KSU 

    Ivan Pulinkala,Provost and Senior VPAA, Kennesaw State University 

    Honorable Mio Maeda, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta 

    Honorable Andre Omer Siregar, Consul Gneral of Indonesia in Houston 

    Tyler Reinagel, Interim Vice President for Research, KSU 

    9:30AM-10:30AM | KSU Wellstar College of Health & Human Services 

    SAUPO Panel #1: Opportunities & Challenges in ASIA-USA Partnerships 

    Moderator: Monica Swahn, Dean, WellStar College of Health and Human Services, KSU 

    Moderator: Monica Swahn, Dean, Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, KSU

    DeAnn Golden, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HS Georgia Properties 

    Jessica Cork, Vice President, YKK Corporation of America 

    Steven Jahng, Director of External Affairs, SK Battery America 

    Jae Kim, Korean Practice, Aprio 

    10:30AM-11:00AM | Morning Networking Break | YKK Corporation of America 

    11:00AM-12:00PM | KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering & Engineering Technology AanseaCore 

    SAUPO Panel #2: Post Pandemic Technology & Innovation 

    Moderator: Ian Ferguson, Dean, Southern Polytechnic College of CEET, KSU 

    Nagendra Roy, CEO, AanseaCore

    Bill Strang, President, TOTO USA

    Dimitris Horiatis, Deputy Head of Business & Talent Attraction, InvestHK 

    Sumanth Yenduri, Dean, College of Computing and Software Engineering 

     
    12:00PM-1:30PM | Networking Lunch with Keynote Speeches  | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties (BHHSGA) 

    Honorable Matt Murray, U.S. Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperations (APEC), Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State 

    Honorable Jianying Zhao, Deputy General Representative, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); China Chamber of International Commerce 

    1:30PM-2:30PM | KSU Coles College of Business 

    SAUPO Panel #3: Trends in Global Manufacturing & Business

    Moderator: George Mui, Managing Partner, Global Consultants United 

    Allan (Yun-Chin) Lin, CEO, Winmate Inc. 

    John Rustin, Founder, Yereq Geo Energy 

    Mellissa Takeuchi, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development 

    Masae Okura, Partner, Taylor English & Duma 

    2:30PM-3:00PM | SAUPO Reception  | Sponsored KSU Journey Honors College & Weee Asian Groceries 

    Karen Kornweibel, Dean, KSU Journey Honors College 

    Cathy Peng, Founder, Cathy Fun Fitness 

     
    SAUPO 2023 goes from 8:00AM to 3:00PM, Friday April 7, 2023, in person

    • May Gao | SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, KSU
    • Catherine “Katie” Kaukinen | Dean, Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences, KSU
    • Ivan Pulinkala | Provost and Senior VPAA, Kennesaw State University
    • Honorable Mio Maeda | Consul General of Japan in Atlanta
    • Honorable Andre Omer Siregar | Consul General of Indonesia in Houston
    • Tyler Reinagel | Interim Vice President for Research, KSU 
    • DeAnn Golden | President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HS Georgia Properties 
    • Jessica Cork | Vice President, YKK Corporation of America
    • Steven Jahng | Director of External Affairs, SK Battery America
    • Jae Kim | Korean Practice, Aprio 
    • Nagendra Roy | CEO, AanseaCore 
    • Bill Strang | President, TOTO USA
    • Dimitris Horiatis | Deputy Head of Business & Talent Attraction, InvestHK
    • Sumanth Yenduri | Dean, College of Computing and Software Engineering 
    • Honorable Matt Murray | U.S. Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperations (APEC), Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State 
    • Honorable Jianying Zhao | Deputy General Representative, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); China Chamber of International Commerce 
    • Allan (Yun-Chin) Lin | CEO, Winmate Inc. 
    • John Rustin | Founder, Yereq Geo Energy
    • Mellissa Takeuchi | Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development
    • Masae Okura | Partner, Taylor English & Duma 
    • Karen Kornweibel | Dean, KSU Journey Honors College
    • Cathy Peng | Founder, Cathy Fun Fitness 
SAUPO 2023 Magazine