Ken G Kabira Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Rockford, Illinois Area

Recruited by the Japan-based Global CEO to oversee the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in North America. Narita is a leading manufacturer of critical parts for the passenger rail car industry. It is well known for designing and manufacturing 100% of the gangway for Japan’s famous ultra-high-speed bullet train. In North America, Narita currently supplies the doors for the next generation passenger rail cars to the largest public transits in the US.

Hesston, Kansas, United States

Hesston College, a higher education institution of the Mennonite Church USA, educates and nurtures each student within Christ-centered community, integrating though, life, and faith for service to others and the world. Served as the chair of the Presidential Search Commitee in 2016.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Serving on the Executive Committee as an Executive Vice President, and on the Nominating Committee. Past member of Program Committee. The Japan America Society of Chicago creates and promotes friendship between Japan and the United Stats. We do this through business, social, educational, and cultural activities.

Greater Chicago Area

The head of a management consultancy that helps clients uncover their brands' functional and emotional dimensions in order to articulate their customer experience. We then help our clients develop and execute enterprise-wide plans that improve their customers experience so that revenue and profit will increase. The firm’s approach has helped clients increase their revenue and EBITDA as well as employee engagement for consecutive years.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Brought on by the owner/CEO to serve as the lead person to develop and track the execution of the annual strategic plan. Served as the CEO’s chief of staff to ensure that dots were connected and gaps were filled. Led large scale cross-functional projects such as the planning and design of the new corporate headquarters, R&D Center and manufacturing plant. Functionally managed HR and IT to ensure that the company had the right people and tools to effectively serve customers and achieve its strategic vision.

Greater Chicago Area

Appointed as the Associate Executive Director for Member and Public Engagement in order to turn around the operations that were in disorder. Responsible for Membership, Marketing, Communications, Events Management, Business Development for Certification Programs and other revenue-generation activities. Led a team of 12 staff.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Showa Boston, and extension campus of Showa Women's University in Tokyo, Japan, is a higher education institution that provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and character to become global citizens. Served as a member of the Presidential Search Committee in 2014.

Oak Brook, Il

Recruited by the Executive Director/CEO to integrate and upgrade core mission functions: Membership Programs, Humanitarian Service Programs, and Communications. Lions Clubs is the world’s largest volunteer-based community and humanitarian service organization. It was founded in 1917 and now has over 1.3 million members in 208 countries. The Group was focused on helping members form new clubs, recruit and retain members; developing and executing humanitarian service programs that have both local and global impact; and telling compelling stories about what the Lions are doing around the world. Above all, the team’s purpose was to empower our volunteer members and to improve their experience. During my tenure LCI increased membership and member engagement every year. Led a team of 51 professionals.

Greater Chicago Area

Recruited by the president as the agency’s first CMO and was responsible for $600M in system-generated revenue. Designed a management process that is focused on customer experience improvement while maintaining sound fiscal policy. Was responsible for Transit Planning & Development, Customer Communications, Real Estate & Advertising Sales, and Business Development. Successfully implemented a fare increase that resulted in both revenue gain and increase in ridership for the first time in over a decade. Led a staff of 135 professionals.

Greater Chicago Area

Served as the first practice head of our firm's branding, integrated marketing, and advertising services. The firm is the nation's leading full-service communication agency dedicated to serving the nonprofit sector. Launched Lipman Hearne Brand Platform, an integrated brand development and activation process which leverages both the functional features and emotional benefits of the client’s brand. Led a staff of 21 professionals.

Reporting to the president, managed marketing communication, enrollment, admissions, registrar, public affairs, strategic research, and strategic planning for this private, nonprofit university founded in 1886.

Oak Brook, Il And Tokyo, Japan

Led McDonald’s Japan’s 43-person Marketing Department with a budget of $190 million. Reversed 11 consecutive quarters of negative comparable store sales and produced positive figures in the 2003 4th Q. Increased net income eleven-fold in first half of 2004 versus previous year. Responsibilities included marketing strategy and calendar, brand management, field marketing, sales promotion, in-store merchandising and product development. Instituted a disciplined process of developing a sound business case for all marketing initiatives. Developed and implemented a turnaround plan around the critical 5 P’s: People, Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. In 2004, produced 3 advertising that ranked in the monthly top 10 for recall and likability (CM Index that measures more than 5,000 TV commercials each month).

Battle Creek, Mi And Tokyo, Japan

Rose through the ranks to be seconded on the 5-person Kellogg Japan senior executive team. Drafted to take over leadership and execute turnaround strategies for the Marketing Department supporting the $100 million, 130-employee ready-to-eat cereal business. Initiated strategies and tactics to restore department order, establish coherent prioritization of projects, and arrest alarming sales declines. Headed a 9-person team and $29 million budget with full authority for all business planning, brand management, market research, new product development, and consumer and public affairs.

Greater Chicago Area

Advanced through a series of cross-functional positions to ultimate position of managing all marketing analyses for the $1 billion automotive market segment and serving as primary liaison to Nippon Steel, the company’s Japanese joint venture partner.

Greater Chicago Area

Provided Japanese/English translation service to businesses and government agencies. Career highlights included serving as the translator for Chicago’s Mayor Harold Washington’s visit to Japan in August 1985.

Newton, Kansas

Served as a nurse aide at an outpatient and inpatient psychiatric hospital affiliated with the Mennonite Church. Supervised patients in their daily living routines and insured that the treatment plans were being followed. This was a great first job for me as I learned so much about life from the patients.

Mba, Marketing

Activities and Societies: University of Chicago Velo Club

Ba With Honors, Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa

Activities and Societies: University of Chicago Velo Club

Aa, Liberal Arts

Activities and Societies: President, International Students Club

Diploma