Leah Klaas Email & Phone Number

Portland, Oregon, United States

• I am passionate about promoting friendship and mutual understanding through facilitating exchange between Portland, OR, and Sapporo, Japan.
• Improved 60th anniversary delegation experience in Sapporo by volunteering consecutive interpretation services at local indigenous peoples museum tours, disaster response facility tours, and diplomatic banquets hosted.
• Brainstorm, produce, and host bilingual Japanese-themed events including rose garden picnic, 62nd-anniversary presentation, and Sapporo Snow Festival seminar. Serve as bilingual emcee.
• Ensure clear communication as Secretary by taking minutes, and managing PSSCA email, website, and Facebook.

Washington DC

DC

- Supported the Japan Chair with frontline research on Japanese defense and national security by drafting background memos and gathering supporting research. - Supported in-person and hybrid events

Washington DC-Baltimore Area

Tigard, Oregon, United States

• Ensured smooth daily operation by facilitating communication between Japanese management and local staff.
• Facilitated negotiation of a 2.4-billion-dollar contract between PNF and food processing manufacturer TetraPak via interpretation and email communication.

Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

• Interpreted for and escorted overseas dignitaries and Japanese officials including Palauan President Thomas Remengesau Jr., U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty, and IOC President Thomas Bach.
• Collaborated with a team of four to organize three international conferences for the World Winter Cities Association. Grew membership by 20% through outreach efforts including email campaigns, website development, and.
• Conducted over 30 educational seminars & presentations annually at schools and local organizations (bilingually).
• Analyzed Olympic bid plans of cities engaged in the 2026 Winter Olympics dialogue to assess Sapporo’s likelihood of success and submitted suggestions for improving Sapporo’s bid. (Research presented in Japanese)
• Translated and proofread over 300 documents annually.

• Designed and managed cultural orientation program for approx. 400 new refugees per year.
• Ensured timely completion of services such as family reunification petitions, insurance applications, and medical appointments.
• Oversaw collaborative program between Resettlement Program and a local church. Managed volunteer schedules and online platform, resolved emergencies as on-call contact, and acted as liaison between agency and church.

Forest Grove, OR

• Acted as the face of the university and first point of contact to welcome and assist conference attendees and organizers.
• Managed work orders for other CESS staff as Team Leader.
• Managed everything required to smoothly host and run conferences: cleaned and prepared residence halls, set up and monitored facilities, assisted clients with technology, provided information and tours of the.

Master Of Science - Ms, Foreign Service

Global Politics and Security (GPS)

Bachelor’S Degree, Japanese Language And Literature, Anthropology, International Studies

Summa cum laude Dean's List all semesters

Japanese Language, Literature, And Politics

Economics

120-Hr Advanced Tesol Certificate, Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/Esl Language Instructor, A (90%, Pass With Distinction)