Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the delegation that will accompany him to Japan later this month. The governor will be joined by cabinet secretaries, business executives, state agriculture leaders and California tourism officials.
“I’m going to Japan to market and sell California, as I said I would. On the trip, I will promote California products, California-grown produce and tourism,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “One of the important things is to go out and to sell California, because we have so much to offer, and to let Japan and the rest of the world know that we are open for business and that this is a new California. We are going to promote California as pro-business, pro-environment and pro-workers.”
Members of the delegation will encourage Japanese consumers and businesses to purchase California grown produce and products, visit California as tourists and bring more jobs to the state.
The list of delegation members is as follows:
Charles Ahlers, President/CEO, Anaheim/Orange County Visitors Convention Bureau
Rick Anderson, Owner/Operator, California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns
Dennis Balint, President, California Walnut Commission
Barry Bergmann, National Sales Manager, United Airlines Tokyo
Bruce Berven, VP of Marketing, Harris Ranch
Claire Bilby, Vice Chair, California Tourism Commission
Larry Blagg, Tokyo Based Representative, California Raisin Administrative Committee
Paul Blaise, Owner, Blaise Media
Rene Boskoff, General Manager, Monterey Marriott
Josh D’Amaro, Director, Pacific Rim, San Francisco Convention Visistors Bureau
Lloyd Dean, President/CEO, Caltholic Healthcare West
Andy Fichthorn, Executive VP/GM, Sea World San Diego
Tom Fukuda, Asia Representative, The Disneyland Resort
Akitoshi Futasugi, Japan Representative, San Francisco Convention Visistors Bureau
Mike Gallagher, President, City Pass, Inc.
Ann Gallaugher, Vice President Tourism, Anaheim/Orange County Visitors Convention Bureau
Soichi Hamaoka, Market Manager, United Airlines Tokyo
Russ Hanlin, VP of Marketing, Sunkist
Bill Hauck, President, California Business Roundtable
Gail Kautz, Representative, Ironstone Vineyards
John Kautz, Chairman, Kautz Ironstone Winery
Tom Kiely, VP of Sales, Universal Studios
Robert Koch, President/CEO, Wine Institute
John Koeberer, President/CEO, California Parks Company
Mark Liberman, President/CEO, LA Inc - The Convention and Visitors Bureau
Patti MacJennett, Senior VP Marketing, LA Inc - The Convention and Visitors Bureau
Terry MacRae, CEO /Owner, Hornblower Cruises
John Marks, President/CEO, San Froncisco Convention Visistors Bureau
Richard Matoian, President, California Fig Advisory Board
Michael McCheane, Representative, Ironstone Vineyards
Tom McKernan, President, Auto Club of Southern California
Aaron Medina, Managing Director, Asia, Hertz
Dave Mering, President, Mering & Associates
Al Montna, Owner, Montna Farms
Julie Moore, Director Marketing and Sales, San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park
Jon Moramarco, President/CEO, Franciscan
Kathleen Nave, President, California Table Grape Commission
Mick Neshek, Special Consultant, Kikkoman
Bill Pauli, President, California Farm Bureau Federation
Pat Pineda, VP of Corporate Communications & General Counsel, Toyota
Reint Reinders, President/CEO, San Deigo Convention Visistors Bureau
Blair Richardson, President, California Tree Fruit Agreement
Joe Rollo, Director International Department, Wine Institute
Wade Rose, Representative, Caltholic Healthcare West
Herman Rowland, Chairman of the Board, Jelly Belly Candy Companies
Mike Rucier, Export Promotion Manager, California Cherry Board
Michael Rue, Director, California Rice Commission
Cynthia Schmitt, Senior Manager Travel Industry Sales, Sea World San Diego
Mark Schwab, Vice President Pacific, United Airlines Tokyo
Adam Silber, Representative, Edelman PR
Christina Simmons, Public Relations Associate Director, San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park
Mieko Sugimoto, Director of International Sales, San Francisco Marriott
Hisao Takeda, Tokyo Based Representative, California Tomato Comission
Robert Verloop, VP of International Sales, Sunkist
Alan Wayne, Manager, Government Affairs, United Airlines Los Angeles
Allan Zaremberg, President/CEO, California Chamber of Commerce
Governor Schwarzenegger will arrive in Tokyo on Wednesday, Nov. 10. On the evening of Thursday, Nov. 11, he will attend a “Taste of California” event promoting California’s agricultural products at the Grand Hyatt Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. That Friday, he is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and attend a reception for business leaders who provide many jobs in California. On Saturday, the Governor will attend an event promoting California tourism at the Outdoor Arena at Roppongi Hills. He will leave Japan later on Saturday, Nov. 13.
