Wistar Kay

Current

Sales & Marketing at Steamer Virginia V Foundation
Special Projects at enterpriseSeattle
Marketing & Meeting Implementer at Meeting & Event Management Services

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Past

Event Director, Pacific Health Summit at National Bureau of Asian Research
Executive Director at Stellar International Networks
Business Development Manager at Washington State Trade Office

volunteer at WSA
International Meeting Planner at Independent contractor (Self-employed)
Hospitality Manager at The Workshop
Executive Director at Japan-America Society of the State of Washington
International Sales Manager at Bell Harbor International Conference Center
Marketing Director at American Cultural Exchange
International & Travel Industry Sales at The Westin Hotel, Seattle
International Sales Manager at Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle

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8 more...

Education

Mount Holyoke College
Universite Aix-Marseille
Kansai Gaidai University

Eckerd College

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1 more...

Recommended

10 people have recommended Wistar

Connections

258 connections

Industry

International Affairs

Websites

Wistar Kay’s Summary

Wistar Kay has had an extensive career in international event management, business matchmaking and marketing in diverse fields ranging from non-profit organizations to the hospitality and software industries.

She has organized conferences, events, trade shows and trade missions for the World Trade Organization Seattle Host Committee, the Quadrilateral Trade Minister’s Meeting, the Washington State Governor’s office, Stellar International Networks, as well as many prominent Washington State corporations. She has managed events in China, Japan and Korea and events in the Pacific Northwest for visiting delegations.

She developed the Information and Communication Technology program for the Washington State trade office and worked closely with ICT companies advising them on their international business development strategy. As Executive Director of the Japan America Society for the State of Washington, Ms. Kay organized several trade missions to Japan focused on wireless application development. She has also conducted numerous intercultural communication training workshops and seminars on doing business with the Japanese.

Wistar Kay’s Specialties:

International trade and policy meetings, B2B matchmaking and facilitation, travel and logistics management, Japanese and French language ability, hotel and meeting contract management, conference content and format development

Wistar Kay’s Experience

Sales & Marketing

Steamer Virginia V Foundation

(Non-Profit; Hospitality industry)

August 2009 — Present (5 months)

The Virginia V is the last operating wooden steamship in America. It is an historic landmark moored on Lake Union in Seattle available for dockside parties and chartered sailings. She gracefully accommodates 100 for a sit down dinner and 150 for a reception. Contact me for details on a memorable time in the heart of Seattle's maritime history!
Special Projects

enterpriseSeattle

(Government Relations industry)

February 2009 — Present (11 months)

enterpriseSeattle's mission is to be a "difference-maker" in the community by growing the jobs and tax base in King County, its 39 cities and the greater Puget Sound region. It accomplishes its mission through a customized client services program focused on business retention, expansion and recruitment. It's objective is to become the premier economic development organization in the US.
Marketing & Meeting Implementer

Meeting & Event Management Services

(International Affairs industry)

January 2009 — Present (1 year )

I am a free agent in the meeting and event management field with expertise in senior level international trade and government delegations. I also have a passion for the performing and visual arts and an extensive network of contacts throughout the Pacific Northwest of the US and in Japan and China. I speak Japanese fluently and read and speak French.
Event Director, Pacific Health Summit

National Bureau of Asian Research

(Non-Profit; Think Tanks industry)

September 2008 — 2009 (1 year )

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution dedicated to informing and strengthening policy in the Asia-Pacific.
Executive Director

Stellar International Networks

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; International Trade and Development industry)

March 2007 — April 2008 (1 year 2 months)

A women's leadership network providing international travel and conference programs to top level women executives from around the world.
Business Development Manager

Washington State Trade Office

(Government Agency; 201-500 employees; International Trade and Development industry)

January 2002 — March 2007 (5 years 3 months)

Wistar developed and managed the Washington state trade office program focused on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector to assist software and telecommunications companies with finding partners and making sales in Asia, Mexico and Europe.
volunteer

WSA

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

2002 — 2006 (4 years )

3 years as International SIG chair, 2 years served on Wireless Conference committee
International Meeting Planner
Independent contractor (Self-employed)

(Self-Employed; 1-10 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)

June 1999 — January 2002 (2 years 8 months)

As an independent meeting planner, Wistar was the Guest Services Manager for the World Trade Organization conference in Seattle. She has also been part of the Seattle event management team for the grand opening of the W Hotel, The Seattle Boat Show, and Paul Allen's Experience Music Project.
Hospitality Manager

The Workshop

(International Affairs industry)

1999 — 2000 (1 year )

Wistar managed a team of 150 volunteers to provide guest services at the opening reception and Ministerial dinner events for the WTO meeting in Seattle.
Executive Director

Japan-America Society of the State of Washington

(International Trade and Development industry)

1997 — 1999 (2 years )

The Japan-America Society in Washington State is one of the oldest non-profit membership organizations in the US promoting cultural understanding and rewarding business relationships between Japanese and US citizens and companies.
International Sales Manager

Bell Harbor International Conference Center

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Events Services industry)

January 1996 — August 1997 (1 year 8 months)

Wistar was the International Sales Manager for the construction and opening years of the Bell Harbor International Conference Center built by the Port of Seattle.
Marketing Director

American Cultural Exchange

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; International Affairs industry)

1989 — 1995 (6 years )
International & Travel Industry Sales

The Westin Hotel, Seattle

(International Trade and Development industry)

1987 — 1989 (2 years )
International Sales Manager

Four Seasons Olympic Hotel Seattle

(Hospitality industry)

1983 — 1986 (3 years )

Wistar Kay’s Education

Mount Holyoke College

BA Cum Laude , Art History, Japanese, French, Latin , 1974 — 1976
Universite Aix-Marseille

French Language 1973 — 1974
Kansai Gaidai University

BA , Japanese cultural history and language , 1973 — 1973
Eckerd College

BA , Latin, French, Japanese, Philosophy , 1971 — 1973

Additional Information

Wistar Kay’s Websites:

Wistar Kay’s Interests:

Boating, gardening, dancing Zydeco, Salsa & Swing, snorkeling &scuba diving.

Wistar Kay’s Groups:

Wokai Advisor, WA State China Relations Council, Global Games Summit Advisor, Washington Technology Industry Association, AeA, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, Japan-America Society, WA Council on International Trade, U.W. Early Entrance Program Advisory Group