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Machiko Yamada, President
Alice Wells, President-elect
Sharon Fisher, Secretary/Treasurer
Leigh Wintz, Executive Director

Machiko Yamada, President
Machiko Yamada of Kudamatsu-shi, Yamaguchi, Japan, began her one-year term as president on September 1, 2007. As the president, Yamada will oversee strategic planning and program development for the organization.

Yamada first joined Soroptimist International of Tokuyama in 1976. She chartered Soroptimist International of Kadamatsu in 1993. As a Soroptimist, she has held several leadership positions, including region governor and treasurer, and has served as president of both her Tokuyama and Kadamatsu clubs. Yamada is the director of Crescent Vert Yamada, Yamada Oil Co., Ltd. She also serves as chairperson of the board of the Yamaguchi Mutual Cooperative Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan.

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Alice Wells, President-elect

Wells first joined Soroptimist of The Kachinas, Arizona, in 1980. Since then, she has held various Soroptimist leadership positions, including club president, Golden West Region governor, secretary, district director, and Fund Development Council chair. Alice is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the International Reading Association.

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Sharon Fisher, Secretary/Treasurer
Sharon Fisher of Western Canada began her one-year term as secretary/treasurer on September 1, 2007. As the secretary/treasurer, Fisher will will prepare minutes for board meetings and conventions, as well as oversee Soroptimist's funds and financial accounts.

Fisher has been a member of SI/The Langleys, British Columbia, Canada, since 1986. She has held several leadership positions, including club president and region treasurer. She is currently the director and chief financial officer of a crime-prevention software company.

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Leigh Wintz, Executive Director
Leigh Wintz has served as executive director for Soroptimist International of the Americas since 1991. She is responsible for the overall operation and services provided by Soroptimist headquarters. Hired to implement a new organizational strategic plan, Wintz assisted in the total restructuring of Soroptimist International of the Americas' governance system.

Her expertise includes international structure and governance issues, program development, development and international meetings. She has traveled the globe sharing ideas on how women can help other women; discussing issues such as domestic violence and pay inequity; and speaking about Soroptimist's Women's Opportunity Awards. As a member of the Soroptimist International of Center City, Philadelphia, club, she also participates in local projects that improve the lives of women and girls.

Prior to joining Soroptimist, Wintz served as president of Health Management Resources, Inc., in Falls Church, Virginia. Her background also includes serving as executive director of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in Washington, D.C., and as administrative director of patient services for Prince George's Hospital in Cheverly, Maryland. Wintz received a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

In 1992, Wintz earned designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). ASAE later honored her as a member of the 1997 of Fellows, one of the highest honors bestowed upon association executives.

Wintz recently served as chairman of the board of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). She also volunteers for several volunteer organizations, such as the Easter Seal Society, the General Federation of Women's Clubs and Operation Smile.

Wintz has published work in journals including Non-Profit World, Governance & Management of the Non-Profit Organization, Journal of Nursing Administration, Wingspread Journal and The Nursing Spectrum. She has received honorary mentions in 2000 Notable American Women, Outstanding Young Women in America and Who’s Who in Professional Nursing.

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