San Francisco, CA–Floyd Mori announced his retirement from the position of National Executive Director for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) at its national board meeting held here last month.

Mori served as interim National Executive Director in late 2006, when ill health forced John Tateishi to leave the post. He was appointed as Tateishi’s replacement in January 2007.

Previously, Mori served four years as JACL National President, and four years as JACL national board VP. Mori said he intends to spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests. He plans to leave before year’s end.

Moving in 2005 from Utah where he was born and raised, Mori came out of semi-retirement as an international business consultant to become JACL Director of Public Policy in its Washington, D.C. office.

The JACL has gained more visibility and credibility on the national level in recent years. Mori was instrumental in starting the JACL Gala in the nation’s capital. He is credited with an aggressive outreach to the victims of Katrina and the BP oil spill, and promoting relationships with communities impacted by the hysteria of the 9-11 tragedy.

He has strengthened ties with Japan. He led a successful partnership with Direct Relief International in raising funds for the March 11 earthquake and tsunami relief effort. He formed more partnerships with other organizations. He also developed corporate relationships, which have been financially beneficial to the JACL.

He has enjoyed working with other civil rights and Asian American leaders and groups in the D.C. area and nationwide. He served as chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), is on the Executive Committee of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR), and is a member of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) and OCA. He has also appreciated working with members of Congress and the White House.

Mori was a mayor and city councilman of the City of Pleasanton, California, as well as a State Assemblyman and Director of the Office of International Trade for the State of California. He taught Economics at Chabot College in Hayward, California, and was in private business in Utah for many years.