Agenda

SAUPO Day: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Friday April 12, 2024, saupo.kennesaw.edu
KSU Center: 3333 Busbee Dr., Kennesaw GA 30144
The face-to-face SAUPO 2024 will be live-streamed and recorded by KSU EventAV.

SAUPO 2024 Itinerary
Friday April 12, 2024
8:00am to 4:30pm

8:00am-9:00am: Registration & Breakfast with Live Guzheng Music Performance | Sponsored by KSU Office of Vice President for Research

9:00am-9:30am: Opening & Introductions
Sponsored by KSU Radow College of Humanities & Social Sciences

  • Sha Huang, Associate Professor of Chinese, Asian Studies Coordinator, KSU
  • May Gao, SAUPO Chair, Professor of Communication & Asian Studies, KSU
  • Catherine “Katie” Kaukinen, Dean, Radow College of Humanities & SS., KSU
  • Karin Scarpinato, Vice President for Research, Kennesaw State University
  • Sheb True, Associate Vice Provost, Professor of Marketing, KSU
  • Kiyo Kojima, Chairman, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia

9:30am-10:30am: Sponsored by KSU WellStar College of Health and Human Services & KSU College of Architecture and Construction Management 

SAUPO Panel #1: Sustainability Strategies
in USA and ASIA

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

  • DeAnn Golden, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HS Georgia Properties
  • Hazem Rashed-Ali, Dean, College of Architecture and Construction Management 
  • William Strang, President, TOTO USA
  • Tomohiro Hamaoka, Executive Vice President, Calpis America

10:30am-11:00am: Sponsored by YKK Corporation of America

Morning Networking Break

11:00am-12:00pm: Sponsored by KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology 

SAUPO Panel #2: AI, Technology and Innovation

Moderator: Ian Ferguson, Dean, KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

  • David Kirk, President & CEO, Murata Electronics North America
  • Jessica Cork, Vice President, Digital Strategy, YKK Corporation of America
  • Michael Caldwell, Mayor of Woodstock, Georgia
  • Chris Cornelison, Interim Associate VP for Innovation and Commercialization, KSU

12:00pm-2:00pm: Sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties 

SAUPO Networking Lunch with Keynote Speeches

  • Honorable Matt Murray, U.S. Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (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
  • Honorable Joann Hill, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary, MBDA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce

2:00pm-3:00pm: Sponsored by Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

SAUPO Panel #3: Trends in Business and Investment

Moderator: Tyler Reinagel, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, KSU

  • Rick Walker, President & CEO, Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association
  • Huraiyah Ahmed, President, Atlanta International Language Institute
  • Vanessa Hardiman, CEO, Boss Kidz Inc.
  • Stella Xu, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development

3:00pm-3:30pm: Sponsored by Atlanta International Language Institute

Afternoon Networking Break

3:30pm-4:30pm: Sponsored by the City of Woodstock

SAUPO Networking Reception with
Live Japanese and AmericanJazz Concert


SAUPO 2024 goes from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Friday April 12, 2024, in person.

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