Spotlight!
USO Okinawa Staff Spotlight - Meet Mari
By
USO Okinawa June 5, 2024
Mari Velasquez and Meghann Blochowski
USO Okinawa June 5, 2024
Mari Velasquez (USO Okinawa)
Position/Title: Center Operations Manager
Time worked at USO: Since October 2022
Center/Office location: USO Camp Hansen
Tell Us About Yourself!
Mari, Marine Corps veteran and a lover of all things coffee, is the Center Operations Manager at USO Camp Hansen. Born and raised in Okinawa, Mari frequently traveled between Japan and the United States as her father was an active-duty Marine. Shortly after high school, Mari followed in the footsteps of her father and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Post active-duty service, Mari obtained her degree in Business Marketing from California State University San Marcos. Mari loves the popular pastime of Karaoke and enjoys bringing her love of singing to the USO Camp Hansen center for their monthly programming.
1. Why do you love working at the USO?
I love working at the USO because each day brings something new and exciting. From surprising events to heartfelt moments, there is always an opportunity to create a home away from home for our patrons. We have the unique opportunity at USO Camp Hansen to support unit events as well as help someone feel comfortable and welcome. My coworkers and our volunteer team are amazing and help make every day a blast; we often share laughs, smiles, and create a warm environment for our service members and patrons. I am so excited to what new surprises and opportunities await us at USO Hansen and with my awesome team, anything is possible!
2. What is your favorite memory of working at the USO?
My favorite memory of working at the USO is planning and hosting our winter/holiday programs! Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, many service members miss home, so we do our best to create a cozy, home-away-from-home atmosphere for them. We want them to have a place where they can relax and celebrate the holidays together. To keep the holiday spirit alive, we host fun activities like Cookies and Cocoa, where we serve delicious homemade cookies with a cup of hot coca to service members visiting our center. We even host a holiday decorating event, where service members can stop by the center and help us decorate for the upcoming holidays. My favorite holiday program is our Holiday Meals-to-Go; our team hand delivers festive meals to service members who are on duty, bringing a little holiday cheer directly to them. We want them to know that no matter where they are, the USO is right there with them ensuring they feel connected to their homes and families, especially during the holidays.
FEATURED PROGRAM:
We are all about Karaoke at USO Camp Hansen and host a monthly Karaoke Night for service members!
They love to come to the center with their friends and showcase their amazing talents-- it’s always a fun evening filled with laughter and music. Our next Karaoke Night will be Friday, June 21st at 5pm! Grab a friend and join us for the fun.
Another fantastic program we offer is our monthly Themed Japanese Class. This program is a great introduction for anyone new to Japan and wants the opportunity to learn about local customs and traditions. It’s the perfect way to dive into the culture and get a taste of what makes Japan so unique and fascinating! Be sure to follow our Facebook page, @USOHansen, for the most up-to-date news!