Tillamook County Community Action Resource Enterprises, Inc (CARE). is proud to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Asahi Sato as its new Executive Director, bringing extensive nonprofit leadership, operational expertise, and deep commitment to community-centered service. Ms. Asahi Sato has devoted her career to the nonprofit sector, serving as an Executive Director, Human Resources Director, Operations Director, and Nonprofit Consultant. Her leadership spans organizational development, workforce leadership, and systems change, with a consistent focus on strengthening missions that serve people experiencing hardship.
“I have devoted my career serving nonprofit organizations,” said Asahi Sato. “Over the years, the constant that draws me back is the heart and spirit of the staff who serve 501(c)(3) organizations. CARE Inc. impressed me not only because of its commitment to healthier, more resilient communities, but because it hires people from lived experience that understand the rigor, challenge, and suffering of surviving on the streets. The staff at CARE Inc. have a special heart for the clients we serve.”
CARE Inc.’s Board of Directors actively recruited Asahi Sato to join the organization. We recognized that “Elizabeth has many strengths. She brings a thoughtful, steady leadership style and a deep understanding of the complexities facing our community,” said Marie Miller, Board Chairman. “Her experience and values align closely with CARE Inc.’s commitment to effective, compassionate, and accountable services. We recognize how fortunate we are to have Elizabeth as our leader,” said Miller.
“Our Board is exceptional,” Asahi Sato noted. “Each member genuinely wants to engage proactively with partners and make a meaningful impact for those without shelter or a warm place to live. With the Board’s passion and the staff’s commitment, I believe CARE Inc. will set a precedent not just for best practices, but for the most humane and compassionate level of care for human beings.”
Ms. Asahi Sato brings a strong background in Indigenous community partnership and leadership. She is the Founder of Rise to Excellence LLC, through which she has worked closely with Indigenous communities, tribal governments, and tribal nonprofit organizations nationwide. She was elected by her peers to the Board of Directors of the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA), a national organization serving more than 2,000 members and over 400 tribes, with a mission to support tribal sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and self-governance.
Asahi Sato shared her appreciation for serving in Tillamook County, acknowledging the Indigenous history of the region. “I invite every neighbor across Tillamook County to connect with CARE Inc.; we welcome you to ask questions, to learn what we do, and to explore this new chapter with us. We are entering a season of revival: renewing hope, strengthening partnerships, and recommitting to the dignity and well-being of every person. Our doors and our hearts are open, and we welcome the community to be part of what comes next. Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar shared her enthusiasm about Asahi Sato’s appointment to lead CARE, Inc. “Elizabeth brings significant leadership and fundraising experience and will be a valuable asset to our community,” Commissioner Skaar said.
Ms. Asahi Sato is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and a recipient of O Magazine’s Eighty Emerging Leaders recognition, as well as the Southwest Washington Woman of Achievement award. She holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from Portland State University’s Mark Hatfield School of Government, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and is currently completing her PhD at Columbia International University. Her dissertation, “A New Way to Lead: Kokorozashi and Steward Leadership,” explores culturally grounded leadership models that bring out the best in future leaders.
As Executive Director, Elizabeth Asahi Sato will guide CARE Inc.’s strategic direction, strengthen community and partner relationships, and advance the organization’s mission to address hunger and houselessness with dignity, accountability, and compassion. CARE Inc. also extends an invitation to business colleagues, partners, and affiliates across Oregon, from the private sector to nonprofit and public-benefit organizations, who have worked with Elizabeth Asahi Sato along the way: join us in this next chapter. We welcome you to be part of a growing movement to care for our houseless neighbors through partnership, resources, and shared responsibility. Connect with CARE Inc. to inquire, explore ways to engage, and help strengthen a community where dignity, stability, and belonging are possible for all.