Asako joined IYF in 1991 in Battle Creek, Michigan as Assistant to the Managing Director. Since 1996, she is responsible for overall office management, benefits, human resource and personnel related functions. Prior to joining IYF she taught a Conversational Business Japanese course at a community college in Jackson, Michigan. She is a native of Okinawa and is fluent in Japanese. She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification through the HR Certificate Institute (HRCI) / Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).