Donna Lee Siple
Executive Director

Donna Lee’s experience in Japan began shortly after graduating from Geneva College with a double major in public relations and communications. She first traveled to Japan in 1986 to manage a group of native English teachers for a university in Osaka. Then, in 1988, she relocated to the San Francisco area where she worked as Director of New Business Development for a Japanese consulting firm. There she helped to negotiate opportunities for businesses to enter the Japanese market through direct marketing avenues. She also spent time continuing her studies of the language and made several business trips to Japan. Donna Lee moved back to the Kansai region of Japan in 1992, where she began an English Academy, Jack & Betty, named after the first English primer used in Japan, which her Uncle Jack wrote. Donna Lee returned home to Pittsburgh in 1998 to work for Hiland Presbyterian Church and subsequently the Beaver Valley Youth Network and Eden Christian Academy.

In addition to her professional experiences, for the past twelve years Donna Lee has been actively involved in JASP as well as the Japanese community in Pittsburgh in general. She has volunteered for and participated in various activities and events such as the Japan Bowl, the JASP golf outing, the Japan in the Schools program, Saitama Sister City program and the G-20 Summit.

Kelly Costello
Operations Manager

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Kelly Costello was first introduced to Japan in Japanese 101 at Grove City College where she graduated with a degree in International Business and a minor in French. After working at News America Marketing, a sales and marketing firm in downtown Pittsburgh, she started her own business, Puppy Cake LLC, manufacturing cake mix for dogs, where she continues to work part time.

Katsuko Shellhammer
Education Outreach Coordinator

Katsuko joins us after 17 years of experience with Sony Electronics, Inc. as their coordinator of international human resources. Although Katsuko grew up in Japan, she has spent most of her adult life with her family in Westmoreland County, PA. She is looking forward to beginning a new chapter at the JASP.