Left, center photo: Stephanie Garnica; Right, upper photo: Brandon Shepherd (left) & James Fukazawa; Right, lower photo: John Hayato Branderhorst
JASC looks to deepen Colorado Japan relations in 2025 with two new officers and two new directors.
Denver, Colorado: Last week JASC welcomed new leadership as a new president and executive vice president stepped into their roles. The organization also added new board members. Visit the staff and board members page to see all officers and members of the board of directors: www.jascolorado.org/staff
Stephanie Garnica announced as President of the Board of Japan America Society of Colorado.
Stephanie is the Interim Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Global Engagement at Denver’s Economic Development & Opportunity Office. In this role, Stephanie leads efforts to attract, retain, and grow businesses in the city and oversees the city’s international strategy building Denver’s reputation as a global hub of innovation and collaboration. She brings a wealth of economic development and community leadership experience to the job and is known as an inclusive, thoughtful partner. Stephanie has vast experience both leading delegations to Japan and hosting delegations from Japan. She is involved with many globally focused initiatives in the Denver Metro area including the Biennial of the Americas, World Trade Center Denver, and StudyColorado.
John Hayato Branderhorst announced as Executive Vice President of Japan America Society of Colorado.
John is Managing Director at JHB Consulting and Director of Operations at btrax, a San Francisco- and Tokyo-based design and marketing firm. In these positions, John helps companies navigate successful market entry between the United States and Japan. Drawing from his JET Program experience and entrepreneurial background co-founding Tabe Ramen, John frequently speaks at events like Boulder and Denver Startup Week, sharing insights on both cross-cultural business development and community engagement strategies. John spent 20 years living in Japan and now calls Colorado home where he enjoys getting outside and spending time in the mountains.
Japan America Society of Colorado announces election of two new Directors to the Board.
Brandon Shepherd is Director of Innovation at Inspired Functional Brands, an innovative company developing cutting edge functional beverages targeting the immune system and gastrointestinal health. Brandon is a founder of Mile High Food Science where he developed groundbreaking products and collaborated with major brands across the U.S. and Central America. Brandon spent time living and teaching English in Japan and brings his passion for Japanese culture to all aspects of his life.
James Fukazawa is an attorney at Sherman & Howard/Taft, the oldest law firm in Denver. Working in the Real Estate practice group, James helps clients accomplish their transactional real estate goals by navigating complex local, state, and federal legal and regulatory landscapes. James spent four years living and teaching in the Kanto region of Japan before returning to attend law school at the University of Denver. Outside of the office, James enjoys cooking, motorcycling, and skiing.
JASC is eager to welcome these new perspectives into the organization as it looks ahead to programs and activities in the coming year. The Japan America Society of Colorado is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding people to people relationships between Colorado and Japan by serving as a bridge to connect via business, education, and cultural opportunities. To learn more, visit our website at www.jascolorado.org
