Board of Directors

Naomi Yanagishita joined the Keiro NW board in November of 2021.

Originally from Hawaii, Naomi has lived in Washington State for almost 20 years and is active in the healthcare and senior communities. Currently, she is a program manager for a provider owned healthcare organization offering traditional health insurance, health benefit administration and traditional PPO program. She holds a bachelors from the University of Hawaii and a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Washington, School of Public Health.

Naomi is also bi-lingual and speaks Japanese with fluency.

Lee Field has served Keiro Northwest as an advisor and non-voting member of the Board of Directors since September 2020.

As founder of Senior Services of America, Lee Field’s experience with senior housing encompasses over 30 years in marketing and operations, acquisition, development and finance of senior housing and care service alternatives for the elderly.

Prior to the formation of Senior Services of America in 1999, Lee served as an executive officer of Alterra Healthcare Corporation and held a succession of executive positions including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Crossings Corporation until the Crossings Corporation merger with Alterra. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Lee was instrumental in the company’s growth and recognition as an early leader in the assisted living industry. Lee held the position of Vice President of Operations, held managerial positions in Marketing and Market Feasibility upon joining the company. Crossings Corporation was a developer, owner and operator of senior housings and assisted living projects with 1,500 units located throughout the Western United States.

A recognized advocate for the senior housing and elderly care service industries, Lee has been an industry speaker and has successfully lobbied for state legislation in support of the industry. He currently serves on the Board of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), as well as the Board of Washington Health Care Association (WHCA). He also serves as Chair of the Washington Center for Assisted Living Reimbursement Committee. Lee has previously served as the President of the Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association (NorALFA), served on the Board of the American Senior Housing Association (ASHA) and held the position of Co-Chairman for the organization. Lee served as a member of the National Advisory Committee for (CARF) the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission and as a member of the assisted living task force for the American Health Care Association (AHCA).

Lee has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and has continued studies in Geriatric Mental Health through the University of Washington.

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Jessica is a Division Director of Community Engagement with Avamere Living, a senior care company. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and lived there as a child before coming to the United States where she grew up on one of the largest koi farms in the nation. Being of half Japanese descent, Jessica understands both cultures and how important engaging multi-cultural communities is. She hosted the kingyo-sui booth at the annual Aki Matsuri Festival and continues to support her family’s koi business.

Jessica has over 15 years of healthcare experience working at both regional and national level. She’s focused on various health reform projects under the Affordable Care Act. Other efforts include the Partnership for Patients Initiative, Outreach and Enrollment Program, Health Literacy Campaign and quality improvement projects for the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Much of her work has focused on increasing access to care. She is a recognized subject matter expert on health literacy, rural health, and equity issues in care and is as member of the National Diversity Executive Leadership Program.

Currently, she directs community and provider engagement and leads diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts in post-acute care. Part of her work is focused on improving business development for senior communities. Jessica holds a BS in Health Administration and an MBA.

Nancy brings years of experience in the cultural arts space, long-standing relationships with SEA API organizations and civic leaders, and is a member of the Ayame Kai Guild. Her specific work experience encompasses a wide variety of skills including program development, grants writing, project management, special events, and community outreach. Her prior board experience includes Bumbershoot NW, NW Asian American Theatre, WC Chamber of Commerce, Eleventh Hour Poetry Productions, Trusted Advocate, and the Seattle Storytelling Guild.

John is originally from Hawaii but moved to Seattle in 1993. He and his wife (also from Hawaii) now consider Seattle home. John has had some connection to the JA community and is familiar with the ID as he served as Treasurer on the board of ACRS. He is very civic minded as he has volunteered at the UW Food Bank and gives back to his community by working as a bus driver for Seattle Public Schools. This demonstrates a long-standing commitment to community service.

In addition, due to his father’s affiliation with the 442nd, John has a connection to several Seattle Japanese American families who have lived at Nikkei Manor and therefore has an appreciation for the mission of Keiro NW. At the January 28 off-site Board retreat, John was asked why he chose to serve on the Board. His reply was simply, “I feel a sense of duty to be here.”

With a background in accounting and experience as an auditor, John will be an asset to the Keiro NW board. He served as a treasurer at ACRS and was part of the team that hired the new Executive Director, Diane Narasaki, at the organization. 20 years later, he is now part of Diane’s legacy as transforming ACRS into the largest non-profit organization in the Pacific Northwest serving the Asian Pacific Islander community. His role as a treasurer at a transitional time at the organization translates to the level of experience that he is bringing, in addition to his technical skills.

Beyond John’s finance and accounting experience, the Board found him to be a thoughtful, mission driven leader who has Nikkei cultural knowledge and personal connections with Keiro NW through former residents at Nikkei Manor.