Independent Business

The Independent Business Committee is a networking & information-based committee that also engages in entrepreneur advocacy positions. The IBC provides opportunities to develop relationships & mutual support among SMEs, thereby providing them new ideas & perspectives to their experience through thought-provoking events that grow their thinking, their acumen & their business.

Specifically, we do this by:

  1. Holding several conversation events with C-level executives where they present success stories that provide a means and a vision for those building and running an SME in Japan

  2. Holding 1-2 networking events per year to learn from and share experiences with others in Japan’s SME space

  3. Participating in activities with other organizations, external to the ACCJ, that also advocate entrepreneurship in Japan 

  4. Holding 5-8 speaker events per year. 

    We encourage anyone running, starting or considering to start a small or medium-sized business in Japan to join this committee.

Independent Business Leadership

Thomas 
Shockley
Co-Chair 

Steven Bleistein
Co-Chair

 

Annie Chang
Vice Chair

Jeff Crawford
Vice Chair

David Clement
Vice Chair