Our Team

Meet the dedicated team behind Go For Broke National Education Center.

Mitchell T. Maki, Ph.D.

President and CEO

Dr. Mitchell Maki is nationally recognized as a leader in the Japanese American community. He is the lead author of the award-winning book, “Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress,” a detailed case study of the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. Dr. Maki has spoken nationally and internationally to groups interested in the redress movement and is recognized as one of the leading scholars on the historic campaign.
He has been an active member of the Japanese American community and has served on the board of governors and scholarly advisory councils of the Japanese American National Museum and Go For Broke National Education Center. He is a sought-after presenter on issues ranging from the Japanese American redress movement to contemporary community issues.

Janis M. Tanji Wong

Vice President of Development and Strategic Initiatives
Prior to coming to GFBNEC, Janis was the Principal of JMTW Consulting, specializing in helping nonprofit organizations effectively lead their strategic growth, establish capacity building activities, increase revenues and maximize impact. With over 28+ years of cross-functional leadership and management experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Janis applies her unique background in strategic planning, marketing, communications and development to ensure that organizations effectively and efficiently fulfill their mission and deepen their impact. Her clients included City Scholars® Foundation, the Japanese American National Museum, Inspire Charter Schools and WECO Aquatics. Janis also served as the Director of Membership Development for Town Hall Los Angeles, and organized major events such as the DWP & Griffith Park Light Festival, LA Technology Venture Forum, and the Southern California Fast 50, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hillsides, City Scholars Foundation and the San Marino-Pasadena Philharmonic Committee.

Our staff

Erin Sato
Operations Manager
Joyce Kwon
Communications & Engagement Manager
Hwal Lee
Programs and Education Manager
Gina Nieto
Development Administration Manager
Christina Tatsugawa
Development and Events Manager
Diane Wilson
Database Specialist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Tanaka

Chairman

Head of Japan Practice, U.S. Bank

Jeffrey Koji Maloney

Vice-Chairman

Councilmember, City of Alhambra

Mitch Nishimoto

Secretary

Vice Chairman (Retired), First Hawaiian Bank

George Henning

Past Chair

President and CEO, Pacific Global Investment Management Company

Nikki Kodama

Northrop Grumman Corporation, Program Director

Rick Shinto

Executive Chairman and CEO, InnovaCare Health

Kendra Motoyasu

Events Sr. Associate, Pacific Investment Management Company

Mylissa Magallanes

LA County Program Manager, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools

Emiko Kranz

Student, New York University

Dan Nishikawa

Founding Principal, West Wai Capital LLC

Kim Tachiki-Chin

Community Relations Manager, LA Metro

Staci Toji, Esq.

Estate Planning Attorney, Toji Law, APC

Roy Yamaguchi

Chef & Owner, Roy’s Restaurants

Marshall Ozawa

Product Team Lead, City National Bank

Spencer Taira

Software Development Engineer, King’s Hawaiian Bakery

David Ono

TV News Anchor, ABC7 Eyewitness News

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

David Ono
TV News Anchor, ABC7 Eyewitness News, Chairman
Paul K. Abe
Director and Bank Manager, Union Bank
Corinne Akahoshi
National Supply Chain Manager, Toyota Logistics Services, Inc.
General David A. Bramlett (Ret.)
General, US Army (Retired)
Douglas Goto
Insurance and Finance Advisor
Alan Hayashi
Retired Director of Public Relations & Policy Advocacy
L. Stuart Hirai
Retired, US Government-Department of the Interior
Neil Horikoshi
Consultant
Carol Kawamoto
educator, JACL National Educ. Committee Chairperson
David Kawamoto
Attorney, Japanese American Citizens League Board
Donovan Koki
Vice President, Bank of Hawaii
Major General Robert Lee
Major General, US Army (Ret.)
Jeff MacIntyre
Owner, Content Media Group
Chip R. Y. Mamiya
Senior Business Developer Ethos Lending, LLC
Dyanne McMath
Niece of Col. Young Oak Kim
Hon. George Nakano
Former Assemblymember, California Legislature
Michael M. Ozawa
Managing Principal Restructuring Solutions LLC
Bill H. Seki Esq.
Attorney at Law, Seki, Nishimura & Watase
Ken Shimabukuro
Aviation Consultant
George H. Takei
Actor
Donna Tanoue
President, Bank of Hawaii Foundation
Arthur A. Velarde
Retired Educator, LAUSD
Craig Yahata
Producer, Director and Cinematographer
Hon. Gary Yamauchi
Former Mayor, City of Alhambra
Kristi Yamaguchi
Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder, Always Dream Foundation