Friday, June 27, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:30 pm (Doors open at 4:30pm)
Venue: Port of Seattle, West Atrium and Deck (2711 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98121)
*Validated parking is available at the Republic Parking – Bell Street Pier Garage (9 Wall St, Seattle, WA 98121 (Google Map Link))
Ticket: FREE for JASSW Members
Bonus: Every member can bring one non-member guest for free!
*Invite a friend or colleague who may be interested in becoming a JASSW member in the future and let them experience the spirit of our community.
Join us for a special evening at the Port of Seattle’s West Atrium and Deck, featuring stunning waterfront views. This free, members-only event offers a great opportunity to connect and unwind with complimentary drinks and Japanese buffet-style appetizers.
Attendance is limited to current JASSW members through corporate or individual membership. As a special benefit, each member is welcome to bring one additional guest at no cost. For membership details, please visit: https://jassw.org/join-us/
General Timeline
4:30 PM – Doors Open
5:00–5:30 PM – JASSW Activity Reports
5:30–6:00 PM – Motivational Conversation with Howard Behar
6:00–7:30 PM – Networking
7:30 PM – Event Closes
Motivational Conversation with Howard Behar
JASSW is honored to welcome Howard Behar, founding President of Starbucks International, to this special members-only reception. Join us for an inspiring conversation as he shares his leadership journey and insights on the Servant Leadership model. The conversation will also cover his pivotal role in Starbucks’ global expansion, including leading the team that opened the first international store in Ginza, Tokyo. As part of these efforts, Starbucks became a JASSW corporate member in 1987 to strengthen ties with Japanese businesses.
About Howard Behar
Howard Behar’s career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer-oriented industries across several sectors. He retired from Starbucks Coffee after 21 years, where he led the domestic business as President of North America and was the founding President of Starbucks International. During his tenure, he helped grow the company from 28 stores to over 15,000 stores across five continents. He also served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for 12 years before retiring.
Behar is currently a Trustee of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation and serves on the advisory board of Anthos Capital. He previously served on the boards of Starbucks, GAP, Shurgard, the University of Washington Foundation, and IDTech, among others. Behar is deeply committed to the development and education of future leaders and has been a longtime advocate of the Servant Leadership model. He is the author of two books on leadership: It’s Not About the Coffee and The Magic Cup.