Rika Terui

Technical Program Manager

Orange County, California, United States

About

Dedicated and resourceful Executive Assistant with 15 years of experience supporting senior leaders in fast-paced environments. Recognized for strategic calendar management, seamless travel coordination, event execution, and cross-functional collaboration. Trusted partner to executives, with a proven track record of handling confidential matters with discretion, maintaining composure under pressure, and consistently going above and beyond to ensure organizational success.

Experience

  • Taco Bell (4 yrs 8 mos)
    • Technical Program Manager
      Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Executive Assistant to Chief Digital & Technology Officer
      Jan 2022 - Mar 2026 · 4 yrs 3 mos

      • Strategically managed complex, high-volume calendars for the Chief Digital & Technology Officer and Digital & Technology Leadership Team (4 VPs and 1 Sr. Director) in a rapidly changing environment, aligning priorities with organizational goals. • Coordinated with executives, senior leaders, and administrative staff to balance competing demands while ensuring availability for mission-critical meetings. • Proactively safeguarded executive time by anticipating, communicating and resolving scheduling conflicts. • Arranged domestic and international travel, creating detailed itineraries and overseeing logistics for seamless execution. • Planned and executed leadership offsites, team gatherings, and company events, ensuring alignment with our leadership team on business objectives and budgets. • Cultivated strong, trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders as well as our franchisees. • Partnered with other executive assistants to ensure leadership coverage, alignment, and consistency across our team, other departments, and sister brands. • Coordinated and tracked cross-functional projects, initiatives, and organizational priorities, ensuring timely follow-through. • Mentored and supported administrative colleagues, providing guidance and contributing to career development.

    • Administrative Assistant
      Nov 2021 - Jan 2022 · 3 mos

  • Soka University of America, Graduate School (Aliso Viejo, California, United States)
    • Administrative Coordinator to the Office of the Graduate School and Institutional Research & Assessm
      Jul 2018 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs 6 mos

      • Provide and coordinate administrative support for the MA Program in Educational Leadership and Societal Change, faculty, and the Dean of the Graduate School. • Coordinate travel, trainings, and other onboarding processes for new faculty, guest speakers, and distinguished guests. • Support the Institutional Research & Assessment team with university accreditation review and assessment. • Supervisory role to the administrative assistant to the Graduate School.

    • Administrative Assistant to the Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
      Sep 2011 - Jul 2018 · 6 yrs 11 mos

      • Provide general office and administrative support to the Office of the Provost and VP for Academic Affairs. • Prepare, edit, and submit financial documents and keep track of departmental budget. • Coordinate and support student affairs activities for graduate students. • Collaborate with different departments to coordinate graduate student arrival and Welcome Week orientations.

    • Administrative Assistant to the Graduate School
      Aug 2010 - Aug 2011 · 1 yr 1 mo

      • Provide general office support to the Office of the Graduate School and English Language Program staff and faculty in a highly fluid environment. • Work with confidential and sensitive issues requiring the exercise of confidence, tact, patience, and courtesy. • Prepare, edit, and print documents for the English Language Program. • General office duties – answer phones, take messages, check voicemail, order office supplies, and operate office machinery. • Use various software programs to complete university forms, compile reports, and archive documents.

  • English Language Programs Assistant Program Coordinator at Soka University of America, Graduate School
    Dec 2009 - Apr 2010 · 5 mos

    • Assist with all duties, functions, tasks or projects as delegated by the ELP Director. • Support and prepare all aspects of the registration process. • Coordinate, support and/or facilitate various student activities including orientation and co-curricular activities and projects outside of residential halls and off campus (weekend trips, etc.). • Create, print, and distribute promotional ELP brochures and packets. • Support and/or coordinate timely processing and archival of student visas and health forms. • Act as liaison between ELP students and various departments at SUA, educational testing services, Soka Women’s College, and other local institutions to coordinate cultural exchanges.

  • Bridgeport Products, Inc. (Global-Imports) (Mission Viejo, California, United States)
    • Senior Account Manager
      Jun 2008 - Apr 2010 · 1 yr 11 mos

      • Process orders from domestic retailers and issue purchase orders to international factories. • Communicate with factory and production managers overseas to ensure production is correct and on time. • Data entry of purchase orders and maintaining spreadsheets. • Tracking production from initial concept through bulk production. • Communicate with buyers via email and phone to ensure all details of order are taken care of. • Handle all shipping and freight matters and coordinate shipping schedules for all orders. • Prepare and schedule payments for account payable. • Process accounts receivable payments and bank reconciliations • Work closely with President/CEO.

    • Administrative Assistant
      Feb 2008 - Jun 2008 · 5 mos

  • Child Care Leader at The Learning Connection (SVUSD)
    Mar 2004 - Mar 2008 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Coordinate fun and creative art projects and design artwork for classrooms. • Greet parents and answer incoming phone calls. • Work closely with site coordinator and assistant site coordinator.