Our community
Each gravitates toward Maplopo for reasons uniquely theirs.A Maplopo Experience is a journey each of us crafts based on our own dreams, strengths, challenges and desired outcomes.
Visit with a few of the Maplopo learners, alumni, guests and staff who make our community special. For each of our guests (and later in 2026), you can read more about their backgrounds, what makes them special, and what makes them all Maplopers.
Andrew Foord '25
Japanese language instructor and former NHK London producer | England
Josephine Kirkland '25
English language educator and JET Program Alumni 2017-2023 | Japan
Ryan Bedford '25
Acting Director of the Tokyo Agricultural Trade Office and JET Program Alumni 2007-2010 | Japan
Reiko Kane
CEO & Co-founder | Japan
Doc Kane
COO & Co-founder | Japan
Lorin Davis '25
Compliance specialist in the automotive industry and JET Program Alumni 2018-2023 | Japan
Tuan Do '25
Global HR ethics executive, 20-year veteran of The UN and JET Program Alumni 1991-1993 | Japan
Stephanie Napier '26
Operations leader and PMP in the life sciences sector | Japan
Saskia Rock '25
Japan-focused Human Resources consultant, entrepreneur and JET Program Alumni 1997-1998 | USA
Kate Davis '24
VP, American Association of Teachers of Japanese and veteran K-12 Japanese language educator | USA
Yuma Do '25
Associate localization producer in the gaming industry for SEGA and JET Program Alumni 2021-2022 | USA
Emily Schwaner '24
Interpreter and translator in the Japanese automotive industry | USA
Cesar Pineda '25
English educator, e-commerce entrepreneur and JET Program Alumni 2018-2023 | Japan
Mayumi Takashima
Conversation Pro | Japan
Tracy Pollard '25
Veteran K-12 Japanese language teacher in the state of Michigan and JET Program Alumni 1993-1996 | USA
Shae Arlands '24
East Asian studies graduate student focusing on education surrounding the Ainu in Japan| Finland
Bukky Adejobi '24
Product support manager and entrepreneur | Japan
Callista Milligan '24
Account manager in the entertainment industry | USA
Isabella Arenz '24
Purchasing specialist in the food and beverage industry | The Netherlands
Kaoru Slotsve
Wyoming's sole K-12 Japanese Teacher and co-author of Colloquial Kansai Japanese | USA
Chris Keeffe '25
Communications professional in the pharmaceutical industry and JET Program Alumni 1996-1999 | Japan
Alana Baxter '26
Japanese tourism industry professional, language specialist and JET Program Alumni 2006-2008 | Japan
Masako Kan
Conversation Pro | Japan
Steven Horowitz
JetWIT founder, lecturer of legal English at Georgetown University, and JET programme alumni 1992-1994 | USA
Kenji Shinohara
Conversation Pro | Japan
Aaron Eastwood '24
Project manager in the visual merchandising industry | USA
Virgina Montiel '25
Cultural affairs advisor with the Consulate General of Japan in Miami and JET Program Alumni 2016-2020 | USA
Mike Penny
Japanese language grants specialist at The Japan Foundation, and accomplished Tsugaru shamisen player | USA
Gaby Jacobs-Alarcon
Strategic partnerships intern | USA
Fatima King '25
Private Japanese language instructor and JET Program Alumni 2025 | USA
Maria Andrews '26
Reimbursement program manager in the MedTech industry | USA
Daniel Lowe '26
Intercultural consultant, Japanese language entrepreneur and JET Program Alumni 2011-2013 | USA
Laura Ann Pueringer '24
Reinsurance treaty professional, entrepreneur and JET Program Alumni 2018-2020 | USA
Alicia Levey '25
People operations professional in the Ed-tech industry and JET Program Alumni 2006-2007 | USA
Michelle Guo '24
Operations analyst in the consumer packaged goods industry | USA
Erika Abbott '26
Graduate student in sociology at Cornell University | USA
Ryan Bedford '25
Acting Director of the Tokyo Agricultural Trade Office and JET Program Alumni 2007-2010 | Japan
Josephine Kirkland '25
English language educator and JET Program Alumni 2017-2023 | Japan
Stephanie Napier '26
Operations leader and PMP in the life sciences sector | Japan
Tuan Do '25
Global HR ethics executive, 20-year veteran of The UN and JET Program Alumni 1991-1993 | Japan
Kate Davis '24
VP, American Association of Teachers of Japanese and veteran K-12 Japanese language educator | USA
Shae Arlands '24
East Asian studies graduate student focusing on education surrounding the Ainu in Japan| Finland
Lorin Davis '25
Compliance specialist in the automotive industry and JET Program Alumni 2018-2023 | Japan
Emily Schwaner '24
Interpreter and translator in the Japanese automotive industry | USA
Tracy Pollard '25
Veteran K-12 Japanese language teacher in the state of Michigan and JET Program Alumni 1993-1996 | USA
Callista Milligan '24
Account manager in the entertainment industry | USA
Aaron Eastwood '24
Project manager in the visual merchandising industry | USA
Bukky Adejobi '24
Product support manager and entrepreneur | Japan
Andrew Foord '25
Japanese language instructor and former NHK London producer | England
Cesar Pineda '25
English educator, e-commerce entrepreneur and JET Program Alumni 2018-2023 | Japan
Yuma Do '25
Associate localization producer in the gaming industry for SEGA and JET Program Alumni 2021-2022 | USA
Virgina Montiel '25
Cultural affairs advisor with the Consulate General of Japan in Miami and JET Program Alumni 2016-2020 | USA
Alicia Levey '25
People operations professional in the Ed-tech industry and JET Program Alumni 2006-2007 | USA
Chris Keeffe '25
Communications professional in the pharmaceutical industry and JET Program Alumni 1996-1999 | Japan
Fatima King '25
Private Japanese language instructor and JET Program Alumni 2025 | USA
Isabella Arenz '24
Purchasing specialist in the food and beverage industry | The Netherlands
Michelle Guo '24
Operations analyst in the consumer packaged goods industry | USA
Erika Abbott '26
Graduate student in sociology at Cornell University | USA
Maria Andrews '26
Reimbursement program manager in the MedTech industry | USA
Alana Baxter '26
Japanese tourism industry professional, language specialist and JET Program Alumni 2006-2008 | Japan
Kaoru Slotsve
Wyoming's sole K-12 Japanese Teacher and co-author of Colloquial Kansai Japanese | USA
Steven Horowitz
JetWIT founder, lecturer of legal English at Georgetown University, and JET programme alumni 1992-1994 | USA
Mike Penny
Japanese language grants specialist at The Japan Foundation, and accomplished Tsugaru shamisen player | USA
Reiko Kane
CEO & Co-founder | Japan
Doc Kane
COO & Co-founder | Japan
Andy Foord
Kami Sama | England
Kenji Shinohara
Conversation Pro | Japan
Mayumi Takashima
Conversation Pro | Japan
Masako Kan
Conversation Pro | Japan
Gaby Jacobs-Alarcon
Strategic partnerships intern | USA