District 19 Leadership

When I walked into the Eagle’s Voice Toastmasters fall open house in 2015, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. To be honest, I did not even believe the demonstration meeting I witnessed was for me. It took another three months and a coworker who would not give up getting me to join. I never imagined after the final “dude, you really need to join” conversation that I would end up here, your Club Growth Director.

By nature, I am an early adapter. I love to say I tried it first, I owned it first or just in general I was first. Which is why when the call for Pathways Guides in the district came up, I jumped on the opportunity. That chance to be first into Pathways would ultimately be the first of many opportunities that has brought me to leadership today.

If there is one thing that I am continually reminded along my leadership journey, it is that I have not done this alone. I have had so many people help me along the way. That is the focus that I want us all to have throughout our next year. While we are all have different destinations, our journeys are best travelled together. Working together is what will give us the best club and member experience.

Outside of my Toastmasters time I enjoy spending time biking and, near, in or on the water (fresh, salt or frozen).  I spent 12 years in the television news industry as a photojournalist and producer before making the transition to a corporate communications role five years ago. While there are plenty of days that I miss news, I can say with certainty I do not miss the 2:00 AM house fire calls. I currently reside in Des Moines with my wife Mackenzie and son Graham.

I first learned of Toastmasters in 2012 through a member of District 19. I was still in college and still finding my own footing. There was no way I was going to join at that time. That was true. It was not until August 2018 that I joined Hy-Vee Toastmasters after seeing my friend, Cindy Irvin, speak. Between the connections I have made and the opportunities I have had, this organization has changed me for the best.

I dove headfirst into leadership with Hy-Vee Toastmasters as our Sergeant at Arms, followed quickly by serving as Area 64 Director. Next came a year as Public Relations Manager before I chose the right moment to run for Club Growth Director. I say headfirst into leadership, but it always feels like I fall backwards into it, surprised at how quickly I love to serve our members.

We have so much strong potential in District 19, so many spaces we can fill with new faces and empowered leadership. I hope to be the candle that reflects that desire to do more with District 19 Toastmasters.

Outside of Toastmasters, I enjoy visits to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden as an amateur botanist. When I am in better shapes, I take on 5K’s monthly and love the sports of rugby and tennis. An Iowa born guy, my goals of inclusion of all groups to Toastmasters comes from the many people I met attending the University of Northern Iowa for my degree in Accounting and Economics.

 Saeko is an experienced and strategic leader with building high-performing teams and delivering results.  Saeko joined Toastmasters in 2016 and belongs to the Heritage Toastmasters club.  She obtained her DTM in 2019.  She has served in the District Leadership role as Division X Director, Club Extension Chair, and Public Relations Manager.  She was humbled to receive the Division Director of the Year Award for TM 2020-2021.   She has also served as various officers such as President, VP of Education, and VP of Public Relations for her club.  When she was the President, she spearheaded helping the Heritage Club achieve the President Distinguished in 2018-2019 and 2021-2022.  She is excited to serve and continuously grow District 19!

Other than Toastmasters, Saeko serves as a President of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Eastern Iowa Chapter.  This is her 4th year as the President and has held various board positions since 2015.  PMI is an international non-profit organization and has over 680,000 members globally.  The Eastern Iowa Chapter serves over 300 members in the Corridor.  Along with its board members, her focus has been to increase member satisfaction, recruit new members, and retain existing members.

Saeko has over 20 years of project management experience in the healthcare, insurance, and aerospace industries.  Saeko works as the Director of Strategic Execution for Buchanan County Health Center.  She is responsible for executing the organization-wide strategic vision and leading core and adjacent business growth and transformation.

Saeko is a Japanese national, who used to work for Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Tokyo, Japan, and has been working in the U.S.A. since 1997.  She once lived in Cambridge, England, and took ballroom dancing classes along with her European friends in addition to going to school.  She also lived in Honolulu, HI, and worked for Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health maintenance organizations in the U.S.A., for 8 years.  Throughout her career, she has experienced interacting successfully with diverse individuals at all levels and from different countries.

She is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP^®) and a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Professional (CLSSBL).  She received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) from Hawaii Pacific University and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Upper Iowa University.  She lives in Marion with her husband, her 16-years old daughter, and a male Yorkie named “Cocoa”.