Published December 13, 2022

New President and CEO and Board Members Named to Continue Legacy of Caring for Older Adults in the Japanese American Community

LOS ANGELES, December 13, 2022 – The Keiro Board of Directors announced today the retirement of current President and CEO, Gene S. Kanamori, and the appointment of Beverly Ito as the organization’s new President and CEO. Additionally, Keiro named four community leaders and established professionals to its Board of Directors: Lisa Chao, Gerald Iseda, Chris Komai, and Yukari Roberts.

Over his 14-year tenure at Keiro, Mr. Kanamori was the Director of Human Resources for Keiro’s former facilities. Following the sale, he served as interim President and CEO, Vice President, and for the past three years, President and CEO.

“Gene Kanamori has provided dedicated, compassionate leadership while overseeing the creation of new programs, as Keiro shifted its focus to serving the thousands of older adults living at home and in the community,” said Board Chair Lynn Miyamoto. “He also safely guided the organization through an unprecedented pandemic, and we are incredibly grateful to Gene for his deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their loved ones.”

Following Mr. Kanamori’s notification to the Board of his intended retirement, the Board began its search for new leadership. 

“We are very pleased to announce Beverly Ito as Keiro’s new President and CEO. Beverly brings not only invaluable senior care expertise, but also a decades-long commitment to Keiro’s mission and the community we serve. We are confident that her strong background and experience in leadership will guide Keiro to new grounds, including continuing to explore a physical presence,” said Ms. Miyamoto.

Ms. Ito has over 40 years of experience in aging services, having worked for Keiro as a pharmacist at City View Hospital, assistant administrator at Keiro Nursing Home, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, and administrator of Keiro Intermediate Care Facility. Following the sale of the Keiro facilities in 2016, Ms. Ito stayed on as administrator of Sakura Intermediate Care Facility until its closure in August 2021.

“I am excited to be back at Keiro, which had been my ‘home away from home’ for many years,” said Beverly Ito, President and CEO-elect. “As each generation ages, Keiro will continue to be a resource and trusted asset to support and empower our older adults and caregivers to live healthy and fulfilling lives. I look forward to addressing the evolving needs of older adults in Our Community and exploring our options, by building off of Keiro’s existing partnerships and programs.

Gene S. Kanamori will remain President and CEO through the end of 2022. Starting January 1, 2023, Beverly Ito will take office as the new President and CEO.

Keiro also welcomes four new members to the Board of Directors, which is responsible for the governance of the organization, including mission, strategy, and goals. With the addition of its newest members, Keiro will benefit from broad expertise to support the organization as it plans for the future of aging in the community.

Lisa Chao is General Manager, Treasury, at Toyota Financial Services, where she is responsible for cash management, banking solutions, treasury services, and compliance. Originally from the South Bay, Ms. Chao has fond memories of volunteering at the former South Bay Keiro Nursing Home when she was younger.

Gerald Iseda recently retired as the Director of Supervisory Affairs for GE Capital, the financial services arm of General Electric. Prior to that, he worked for the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Iseda is the President of Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, where he oversees the temple’s senior programs.

Chris Komai is an active member of the Little Tokyo community, having previously served as the Public Information Officer for the Japanese American National Museum and the English Editor for the Rafu Shimpo. He is a past Board Chair and current First Vice Chair of the Little Tokyo Community Council.

Yukari Roberts brings extensive health care experience, as the former Administrative Director for Millennia Personal Care Assistance. Millennia has since merged with TheKey, a nationwide in-home care provider, where Ms. Roberts now works in operations. Ms. Roberts is also a board member of the Orange County Japanese American Association.

“Keiro is incredibly fortunate to have dedicated diverse individuals serving on our Board, who share a passion for caring for older adults,” said Ms. Miyamoto. “With support from Keiro’s new President and CEO and staff, we on the Board of Directors look forward to continue expanding our work to meet the changing needs of Our Community.”

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About Keiro
Founded in 1961, Keiro improves the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American community of Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. Keiro provides a range of culturally-sensitive programs and resources, in both English and Japanese, to meet the evolving needs of our aging community. In everything we do, we advance our mission through a person-centered, innovative, and collaborative approach. To learn more, visit keiro.org.