Get to know our staff…
Dave Tuites
President
Aya C. Ibarra
Program Director
Keiko Suzuki Lopez
Membership / Communication Manager
Toshiko Nagai
Database Manager
Kazuo "Ken" Takada
Community Liaison
Dave Tuites
President
David Tuites, the President of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, has strong experience in nonprofit management and lived in Japan for six years. He served as the Director of Development at La Jolla Country Day School prior to assuming his duties with the Japan Society. He holds a Master’s degree from Duke University and has over 27 years of experience as an educator, serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator in North Carolina, Arizona, Japan, and California. His strong background in nonprofit management and international culture are now helping the Japan Society to build needed programs in the community that, in turn, bring new people, businesses, and cultures to the Society. He utilizes his leadership skills to effectively manage all Japan Society programs and activities and has created an efficient and effective organization with professionalism and energy.
Origin: Upstate New York (where they make real Buffalo Wings!)
Japanese Accent: Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Education: Duke University (Master's) and St. Lawrence University (Bachelor's)
Aya C. Ibarra
Program Director
Aya has been the Program Director at the Japan Society since February, 2005. Before that, she was a JSSDT member who enjoyed attending Japan Society events and volunteering at a variety of educational non-profits.
Aya has spent most of her life in Chula Vista and feels fortunate to be able to serve the local community through the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana.
Hometown: Chula Vista, CA
Birthplace: Yokohama, Japan (she even says "jan" at the end of her sentences like a Hamakko)
College: University of San Diego
Keiko Suzuki Lopez
Membership / Communication Manager
Keiko, who is a mother of two children just joined JSSDT in October 2008. She has a variety of work experiences and has devoted her life to the education and cultural connection. She feels this job opportunity at JSSDT is her calling and is excited to be a part of the organization.
Hometown: Yokohama, Japan
College: Meiji University
Toshiko Nagai
Database Manager
Toshiko has been a volunteer at the JSSDT since May 1999. She is an unique, cheerful, sincere, and "weird" Japanese. If you have any questions about your membership at the JSSDT, she's your person!
Hometown: Koriyama, Japan
Kazuo "Ken" Takada
Community Liaison
A retired Kyocera executive, Ken has been actively involved with the quality of life of Japanese families in San Diego for decades, playing key roles in the development of the Japanese Friendship Garden and Minato Gakuen. He volunteers at the Japan Society office several times a week and teaches at Minato Gakuen.
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
