391 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine SOCIAL SERVICES AND NONPROFIT Accumulating over 20 years of experience, Barbara HoustonShimizu excels as a civic-minded citizen within her community in Des Moines, Washington. For several years, she has served with numerous nonprofit organizations that are focused on providing underserved communities with nutritious food and other emergency resources. To this end, she acts as the executive director of the South King County Food Coalition and the associate director of the Des Moines Area Food Bank. In these roles, Ms. Houston-Shimizu is responsible for developing nutrition policies, overseeing local farms producing food designated for low-income areas, and handling other administrative tasks. As part of her commitment to civic advocacy, Ms. Houston-Shimizu also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity International. Adjacent to her primary professional duties, she often dedicates her time to the sport of judo. As a former competitor and instructor, she earned medals in several Pan American Judo Championships and a gold medal at the Judo World Masters. Furthermore, she is a five-time champion at the USA Judo Grand National Championship. Ms. Houston-Shimizu currently volunteers as an international referee with USA Judo. Prior to embarking on her vocational journey, Ms. Houston-Shimizu pursued a formal education, beginning with her time at the University of Washington, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies. She subsequently continued her studies at the Thunderbird School of Global Management (formerly the American Graduate School of International Management), where she achieved a master’s degree in international business in 1990. Ms. Houston-Shimizu naturally gravitated towards her career in nutritional wellness, having overcome her own medical conditions during her collegiate studies and wanting to help others do the same. In light of her accomplished career, she attributes much of her success to the guidance of her many mentors, who broadened her horizons and nurtured her skills. In the coming years, Ms. Houston-Shimizu hopes to expand her organization’s nutritional offerings to accommodate different cultures and increase funding through partnerships and cooperation with like-minded groups. Millennium Magazine Featured Listee BARBARA HOUSTON-SHIMIZU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR South King County Food Coalition Des Moines, WA
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