The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recognized Michiyo Hoshizawa, USGC program and administrative manager in Japan, for 25 years of service at its 20th International Marketing Conference and 63rd Annual Membership Meeting in February.
Hoshizawa began working with the Council in 1997 as the administrative assistant for the Japan office. Her interest in the role stemmed from a previous position she held.
“I was interested in trade at that time I applied, as I had some trade affairs experience with U.S. pharmaceuticals in my previous work.”
Since then, Hoshizawa has been able to shift her focus to include more program management for the Council.
“Currently, I work as the administrative manager, as well as the program manager mainly for food promotion using sorghum and barley,” she said. “I had been trained as the administrative assistant by a senior colleague for many years, plus I had bank experience in the past, so when I took a management position, it was a very smooth transition. As a program manager for food promotion, I plan and coordinate media exposure, tradeshows, seminars and manage and maintain the Japan office’s food sorghum website.”
Looking back, Hoshizawa’s favorite memory came from spending time with other Council colleagues.
“There are many good memories with the Council, but if I pick one, I’d say it was the International Accounting Conference I attended for the first time in 2009. It was held in the D.C. office and was such a great opportunity to meet my accounting colleagues and D.C. colleagues. I also enjoyed traveling to Vienna last September for the most recent international accounting conference,” she said.
Along with working with her Council colleagues, Hoshizawa enjoys the opportunities she has had to meet people across Japan through her work.
“I enjoy my administrative and accounting work in the office, but thanks to my food promotion and ethanol public relations duties, I have been able to meet and gain inspiration from many talented and interesting people, including everyone from food dietitians to members of parliament.”
To close out her interview with Global Update editors, Hoshizawa expressed her gratefulness to the people she has worked with daily for 25 years.
“I would like to thank my fabulous bosses, Tommy Hamamoto, Helen Elmore, Cary Sifferath and Ryan LeGrand for their generosity and support. Last, but not least, I am truly thankful to our members for giving me this great opportunity to the work with Council for 25 years.”
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.