2023

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Phil Ting was elected to the State Assembly in 2012, representing the 19th Assembly District, which encompasses a large portion of San Francisco. Because of his experience in the financial sector and as the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder, Ting has become a leading voice on California’s finances. He now serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, leading efforts that brought record funding for public education and historic investment in the Asian American Pacific Islander communities to stop AAPI hate. He began his career in public service as the Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus, an organization founded in 1972 to advance and promote the legal and civil rights of the Asian Pacific Islander community, and once served as Community Relations Director at San Francisco State University. In 2005, Ting was appointed Assessor-Recorder of San Francisco by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, where he closed a five-year assessment backlog and brought in $290 million in unpaid property taxes to the city, created a program to increase rooftop solar installations, and spearheaded efforts to assist homeowners and tenants facing foreclosure.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

Phil ting

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi represents the 66th Assembly District, located in the South Bay and Harbor Area of Los Angeles County. A champion for public education, Muratsuchi serves as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee and previously served as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Funding. He is fighting climate change as former Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, authoring landmark legislation for California to achieve carbon neutrality and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The son of immigrants, Muratsuchi was born and raised on U.S. military bases overseas before arriving in California in 1982. Muratsuchi has dedicated his career to public service, working as an educator, civil rights lawyer, and Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice. Prior to serving in the California Legislature, he served on the Torrance Unified School District Board of Education, Southern California Regional Occupational Center Board of Trustees, and Torrance Planning Commission.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

AL muratsuchi

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Alex Lee represents California’s 24th Assembly District which includes the Alameda County communities of Fremont, Newark, and Sunol, and the Santa Clara County Communities of Milpitas and San Jose. Assemblymember Lee was elected in 2020 and became the youngest Asian American legislator ever elected and first openly bisexual state legislator in California history. He currently Chairs the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. In his first year in office, he was named “Legislator of the Year'' by the Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League (GMSOL) as well as the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ). Previously, he worked on statewide policy regarding public safety, climate change, and education for California State Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Evan Low. Lee has been a Bay Area resident since birth and called both San Jose and Milpitas his home for all his life. He is a graduate of Milpitas High School and the University of California, Davis, where he served as Student Body President.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

ALEX LEE

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California’s 25th District, which encompasses the majority of San José. He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022. Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Committee on Labor & Employment and also serves as a member on the Housing & Community Development, Judiciary, Transportation, and Water, Parks, & Wildlife committees. Assemblymember Kalra is Chair of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus to help guide a strategic, thoughtful approach to advancing a compassionate, inclusive agenda for Californians. He previously served on the San José City Council for eight years and was formerly a Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years, representing clients in dozens of felony jury trials. As a public defender, he represented indigent clients in both felony and misdemeanor matters, and a majority of his time was spent in drug treatment court where clients were given the opportunity to complete a rehabilitation program and turn their lives around.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

ASH KALRA

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 10th Assembly District. Assemblymember Nguyen served as the Executive Director of Asian Resources, Inc. (ARI) to ensure that all communities, especially the low-income, immigrant, refugee, limited English speaking youth, formerly incarcerated and undocumented, have access to support and services to help them get one step closer to self-sufficiency. She was elected to the Elk Grove City Council in 2017 and is the first Asian American woman in this role. The daughter of Vietnamese Refugees who fled the Vietnam War by boat, she grew up in Sacramento’s Little Saigon district. Assemblymember Nguyen currently serves on the Assembly Committees on Transportation, Public Employees and Retirement, Business and Professions, Aging and Long-term Care, and Accountability and Administrative Review. Assemblymember Nguyen has also been appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve on the Council of State Governments West Executive Committee as well as the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and to serve as an Alternate to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

stephanIE nguyen

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 35th Assembly District. Assemblymember Bains worked as a family doctor providing primary healthcare to families throughout the Valley. Dr. Bains also serves as a volunteer with Global Family, an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking and child abuse, on the San Joaquin Valley Air District’s Environmental Justice Advisory group, working to improve our Valley’s air and water quality, and on the Taft College Foundation, fighting to expand access to higher education. The daughter of immigrant parents from India, Dr. Bains, grew up in the Valley. After graduating from medical school, Jasmeet returned home and completed her residency at Clinica Sierra Vista in Kern County, choosing to work in underserved healthcare settings to increase access to healthcare.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

DR. jasmeet bains

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Senator Aisha Wahab was elected in 2022 representing cities in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. In 2018 when she won her seat on Hayward City Council, Aisha made national headlines as the first Afghan-American woman elected to public office in the United States. As Mayor Pro Tempore & City Council Member of Hayward, Aisha has implemented policies that reduce economic inequality, expand homeownership opportunities, support small businesses, and strengthen safety nets for seniors, women, children and working families. Aisha and her family have struggled with the cost of living. Aisha previously served as the Chair of the Alameda County Human Relations Commission and a Board Member for the nonprofits Afghan Coalition, Abode Services, and Tri-City Volunteers. She has served as an Alameda County Public Health Commissioner, speaker at the Bay Area Women’s March, and was selected to join the White House Roundtable of Afghan-American Leaders. Prior to her career in public service, Aisha worked at non-profits, community organizing, and technology.

SENATOR

AISHA WAHAB

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Senator Janet Nguyen was elected to represent the 36th Senate District in 2022. Janet is a small-business owner, former State Senator for the 34th Senate District, former State Assemblywoman for the 72nd District, and a former Orange County Supervisor. She is the former Vice-President of Government and Public Affairs for a local Chamber of Commerce. As a State Senator, Senator Janet Nguyen was named Legislator of the Year by the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army and the Vietnam Veterans of America. She was named “Champion of Manufacturing” by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association for her work to protect jobs. Senator Nguyen received top ratings from California’s leading taxpayer groups and small business organizations, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and California Taxpayers Association. Senator Janet Nguyen is known for her “firsts.” With her victory to represent the 72nd Assembly District, Senator Nguyen was the first woman to represent the 72nd Assembly District, the first Vietnamese-American in the country to be elected to serve both the State Senate and State Assembly, the highest-ranking Vietnamese-American elected official in

California and the only Asian American woman Legislator in California. In addition, she was the first Vietnamese-American elected to the State Senate, was the first woman County Supervisor to represent the First District, the first Asian-American and the first Vietnamese-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, as well as the youngest Supervisor elected in Orange County history. During her tenure as the State Senator, she was the highest-ranking Vietnamese-American elected official in California and the highest ranking Vietnamese-American woman elected official in the United States.

SENATOR

JANET NGUYEN

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Tri Ta was elected to California’s Seventieth District in 2022. Previously, Tri served his first term on the Westminster City Council in 2006. Two years later, he was selected to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem. In 2012, Tri Ta made history and became the first Vietnamese-American elected mayor in the United States. Tri Ta is a husband and father to two daughters. Ta’s American Dream started when seeking political freedom, his family immigrated to the United States from Saigon, Vietnam. Within just a couple of years of arriving here, with hard work and determination, Tri graduated from Cal State Los Angeles. Tri believes in our country’s mission of uplifting the individual by expanding freedom and opportunity. California and the United States have given Tri so much, he believes it’s only right that in return he does his best to make them better for everyone. Tri is principled. He believes in fairness. He will always stand up for everyday Californians and their families. In the legislature, Tri will fight to ensure every Californian has these same opportunities… a fair shot… a level playing field. Tri is excited to serve the people of Orange County, and California in the State Assembly.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

tri ta

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Phillip Chen is a business owner and member of the California State Assembly. He represents the 59th State Assembly District, which encompasses portions of Orange and San Bernardino counties. He also served as an Adjunct Faculty Professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Chen won his first elected office in November of 2011 as a school board member to the Walnut Valley Unified School District. There, he established and maintained a basic organizational structure for the local school system. He helped turn the district’s budget deficit into a budget surplus and established a “rainy-day” fund. Chen worked as a health policy advisor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. There, he helped save tax dollars and improve delivery of services by fostering public-private partnerships. He investigated, reported and made recommendations for actions pertaining to health, public health, and mental health in Los Angeles County. Chen is a former LA County Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy. In 2009, he was recognized as the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station Reserve Deputy of the Year.

PHILLIP CHEN

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

MEMBERS

OF THE joint California AAPI legislative Caucus

Assemblymember Vince Fong was elected to represent the 32nd Assembly District, which encompasses parts of Kern and Tulare Counties. Vince began his career with Congressman Bill Thomas, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, working on international trade policy to open up markets for our nation’s farmers and small businesses. For nearly a decade, he served as the district director to House Majority Leader and Congressman Kevin McCarthy, where he managed public policy issues for the region, worked to create jobs, made commonsense reforms, and fought to improve the quality of life for our neighbors and families. Each day, Vince works with local leaders and organizations to put California’s job climate back on track. He has seen first-hand the burdens of bureaucracy and red tape. His efforts to lower taxes, reduce burdensome regulations and limit government overreach, remind elected leaders that free-markets and competition are the keys to a successful economy and good-paying jobs. Vince is a lifelong resident of Kern County. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and master’s from Princeton University. He serves on the boards of the Jim Burke Education Foundation and Honor Flight Kern County where he works to send WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans to Washington, DC to see their memorials.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER

VINCE FONG

TAMLYN TOMITA

CHAIR, CAPA21; ACTRESS, WRITER, PRODUCER

Tamlyn Tomita is perhaps best known for her role in “The Karate Kid, Part 2” which is enjoying its renaissance due to the popularity of “Cobra Kai” on Netflix. Other projects she is known for are the films: “The Joy Luck Club”; “The Day After Tomorrow”; “Come See the Paradise” and the TV shows: “The Good Doctor”; “The Man in the High Castle”; “Teen Wolf”; “How to Get Away with Murder”; “Glee”; and "True Blood". She will be seen next year in the upcoming series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender"; "Ultraman"; "Monarch:Legacy of Monsters" (Godzilla!), and "Dead Boy Detectives". #sagaftrastrong

A native Los Angeleno, specifically from the (818) and a proud AAPI embracing her Okinawan, Japanese, and Filipino heritages, she continually advocates for

stories to be told from a ‘golden’ perspective. She was recently named Chair of CAPA21, a California-based progressive political action committee with board members Dale Minami, Maeley Tom, and Ginger Lew. And most importantly, she is a proud and loyal UCLA Bruin.

DORIS MATSUI

REPRESENTATIVE, 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Congresswoman Doris Matsui has represented the city of Sacramento and its surrounding areas since 2005. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she serves as the Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee and as a member of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee. As Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Congresswoman Matsui is a national leader on technology and innovation policy. She also serves as Co-Chair of the bipartisan High-Tech and Spectrum Caucuses. Congresswoman Matsui is a Founder and Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Aging and Families. Congresswoman Matsui also serves as Co-Chair of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. She co-chairs the Nature and Oceans Task Force. She

currently serves as a Member of the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian. She is also on the Council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Council of the National Museum of American History. She has previously served on the National Symphony Board and the Arena Stage Board. Before joining Congress, she served as Chairwoman on

the Board for the KVIE public television station in Sacramento, and in leadership capacities for the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Children's Home, and the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra.

judy chu

REPRESENTATIVE, 28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

CHAIR, CAPAC

Congresswoman Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 28th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security, and Medicare. In that Committee, Rep. Chu is a member of the Subcommittees on Health, giving her oversight over healthcare reform and crucial safety net programs, Worker and Family Support, and Oversight. She also serves on the House Small Business Committee, which has oversight of the Small Business Administration, as well as the House Budget Committee. Chu was first elected to the Board of Education for Garvey School

in 1985. From there, she was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, where she served as Mayor three times. She then was elected to the State Assembly and then California’s elected tax board, known as the State Board of Equalization. In 2009, she became the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress in history.

TED LIEU

REPRESENTATIVE, 36TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Congressmember Ted W. Lieu represents California's 36th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his fifth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee; and Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making him the highest ranking Asian American to have ever served in House Leadership. Ted is a veteran, having served on active duty and then in the Reserves for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 with the rank of Colonel. Prior to becoming Vice Chair, Ted served as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee in the 116th and 117th Congresses. In that role, Ted helped to shape messaging around key Democratic priorities. In his first term in Congress, Ted was elected Freshman Class President by his colleagues. Ted has been a leader in Congress against ethnic and racial

profiling, including discrimination against the LGBTQ community and hate toward the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. He serves as Whip of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ

Equality Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Cloud Computing Caucus.

RO KHANNA

REPRESENTATIVE, 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Congressmember Ro Khanna represents California's 17th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is serving his fourth term.Rep. Khanna serves on the House Armed Services Committee as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems (CITI), as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, a member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and on the Oversight and Accountability Committee, where he previously chaired the Environmental Subcommittee. As a leading progressive in the House, Representative Khanna is working to restore American manufacturing and technology leadership, improve the lives of working people, and advance U.S. leadership on

climate, human rights, and diplomacy around the world.

katherine tai

AMBASSADOR, OFFICE OF THE US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Ambassador Katherine Tai was sworn in as the 19th United States Trade Representative on March 18, 2021. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Ambassador Tai is the principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on U.S. trade policy. Prior to her unanimous Senate confirmation, Ambassador Tai spent most of her career in public service focusing on international economic diplomacy, monitoring, and enforcement. She previously served as Chief Trade Counsel and Trade Subcommittee Staff Director for the House Ways and Means Committee in the United States Congress. In this capacity, Ambassador Tai played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. trade law, negotiations strategies, and bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the recently re-negotiated United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Ambassador Tai is an experienced World Trade Organization (WTO) litigator. She previously developed and tried cases for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, eventually becoming the Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement. Before

transitioning to federal service, she practiced law in the private sector, clerked for district judges, and taught English in Guangzhou, China. Ambassador Tai earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She is fluent in Mandarin.

eleni kounalakis

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7th, 2019. She is the first woman elected to the post. From 2010 to 2013, Kounalakis served as US Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and in 2015 published her acclaimed memoir, “Madam Ambassador, Three Years of Diplomacy, Dinner Parties and Democracy in Budapest” (The New Press). Prior to her service, Kounalakis spent 18 years as an executive at one of California’s most respected housing development firms, AKT Development. Throughout her career, she served on numerous boards and commissions including California’s First 5 Commission, the San Francisco War Memorial, San Francisco Port Commission and the Association of American Ambassadors. Eleni Kounalakis graduated from

Dartmouth College in 1989, earned her MBA from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 1992 and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the American College of Greece. She is married to Dr. Markos Kounalakis and the couple has two teenage sons, Neo and Eon.

rob bonta

ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

As the People’s Attorney, Attorney General Rob Bonta has hit the ground running in his first few months — seeking justice and securing prosecutions against those who harm California. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice has secured arrests and convictions of sex traffickers, gun smugglers, and those who prey upon children. Bonta believes that law enforcement and first responders are essential to public safety. Bonta launched an initiative to help cities and counties reduce local backlogs in processing rape kits to more quickly get justice for victims and announced a new effort that increases the Department’s capacity to assist local law enforcement with toxicology needs. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice is also availing resources to support local law enforcement agencies combat organized retail theft and expanding resources to help fight hate crimes. At Bonta’s direction, the Department is putting more manpower into investigating and

prosecuting corporate polluters who violate California law and endanger our health, and the Department is battling multi-national pharmaceutical companies for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. As a Legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen

consumer and worker protections. Born to a proud Filipina immigrant, he is the first Filipino American to serve as California’s Attorney General.

TRAVIS KIYOTA

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD OF GLOBAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS, EAST WEST BANK

Travis Kiyota is the Senior Vice President, Head of Global Corporate Affairs for East West Bank. Mr. Kiyota leads the Bank’s public policy and governmental relations strategy, oversees corporate communications and brand management, and directs the Bank’s corporate security and crisis management. He also serves as the President of the East West Bank Foundation and the Treasurer of the East West Bancorp, Inc. Political Action Committee. Mr. Kiyota has broad and extensive experience in public affairs, strategic communications, corporate philanthropy, and crisis and risk management, spanning more than 25 years. Prior to joining East West Bank, he spent 17 years at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of the largest regulated electric and gas utilities in the nation, where he most recently served as Vice President, California External Affairs and Executive Director of the PG&E Foundation. Mr. Kiyota serves on the Boards of the Silicon Valley Leadership

Group, Bay Area Council, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, California Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), National Bankers Association, and National Bankers

Community Alliance. Additionally, he is a member of the Leaders Forum’s Corporate Advisory Council.

LARRY CHUNG

VICE PRESIDENT OF LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON , SCE

Larry Chung is vice president, Local Public Affairs, at Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. He leads the company’s organizational unit responsible for representing SCE before local and regional government officials and their staffs, including district offices of state and federal officials as well as local and regional business organizations. Most recently, Chung served as director of Global External Affairs and Government Relations for the Walt Disney Company, where he oversaw domestic and international policy and stakeholder engagement strategy across Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. He previously led philanthropic efforts and local strategic initiatives for Disneyland Resort, focusing on community engagement in Orange County, California. Chung formerly held senior agency roles and specialized in large-scale corporate legislative and public affairs campaigns. Earlier in his career, Chung worked in local and state

government in California, focusing on energy policy and promoting electric vehicle infrastructure installations statewide. Chung maintains his commitment to building strong communities through service on several local nonprofit boards, including Public Media Group of Southern California and APIs Mobilize. He is also a trustee for the University of California, Riverside.

TONY BUI

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF STATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CALIFORNIA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION

Tony T. Bui is responsible for planning and implementing strategy for legislative, regulatory and political issues for California Apartment Association (CAA). He serves as one of the Association’s legislative representatives and is a registered lobbyist. Bui also directs CAA’s political activities through its political action and independent expenditure committees and oversees all candidate support and recruitment programs. Prior to assuming his present role, Bui served as deputy chief of staff to various state legislators and then moved on to be director of public affairs for DeBoo Communications. He has also successfully managed numerous political campaigns. Bui studied political science at San Diego State University.

andrea cao

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY, CALIFORNIA ASIAN PACIFIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Andrea Cao is the Director of Public Policy for the California and Sacramento Asian Pacific Chambers of Commerce. She joined the chamber in early 2022 and is passionate about her work in policy and advocating for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Andrea graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science at the University of California, Merced and has previous experience working in the tech space. Andrea is a huge advocate for rescues and loves to support local shelters like the SSPA in Sacramento (check out their page of animals available for foster/adoption here).

ALICIA ISAACS-LEE

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF SPEAKER ROBERT RIVAS

Alicia Isaacs-Lee serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff and political advisor to Democratic San Fernando Valley Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. As Chief of Staff, she championed efforts to address California’s housing and homelessness crisis, protect children online, and reduce gun violence. Alicia has also served as the Executive Director of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus Leadership Foundation, where she worked to advance Jewish values and fight anti-Semitism, hatred, and bigotry against all Californians. Prior to these roles, Alicia served in leadership roles in both the Assembly and Senate. She has worked for a clean energy company, serving as Deputy Director of Policy & Electricity Markets, leading statewide legislative affairs and managing the company’s political agenda. Alicia has also consulted on and managed political

campaigns throughout California, with a special focus on the Central Valley. Alicia is an Equality California Board Member, HOPE Leadership Institute Alumnae, and former Chair of the California Latino Capitol Association. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis. She lives in Sacramento with her wife and three dogs.

LISA CHIN

APPOINTMENTS DIRECTOR, SENATE RULES COMMITTEE

Lisa Chin has served as Appointments Director for the Senate Rules Committee since December 2017. In the previous four years, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy Director in the Pro Tem’s Office, after serving as a Legislative Director in the Senate and Assembly since 2006. Prior to returning to the Legislature, Lisa worked for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council for five years as a Governmental Relations Advocate, as a Legislative Analyst for the Office of Planning and Research under the Governor Gray Davis Administration, and as a Research Analyst for the Industrial Welfare Commission at the Department of Industrial Relations. Lisa is from Richmond, California, and first moved to the Sacramento region to attend college. She has a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of California, Davis, and first

served the Legislature as a Senate Fellow in the office of former Senator Dede Alpert. She holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the UC Davis School of Law, and has been a member of the California State Bar since 2001.

dan klein

LECTURER, STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & DEPARTMENT OF THEATER AND PERFORMACE STUDIES

Dan Klein teaches improvisation full time at Stanford University where he is on the faculty of the drama department, Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), and teaches at the Stanford d.school. In 2009, Dan was named Stanford Teacher of the Year by the Student’s Association. At Stanford GSB he co-teaches with Professor Deb Gruenfeld, “Acting With Power” which explores the use of status behaviors to increase organizational effectiveness. Dan and Deb also do a version of the class for executive education programs like the Executive Program for Social Entrepreneurs. His work at Hasso Platner Institute for Design involves teaching workshops on Improv and Design for interdisciplinary graduate students studying Design Thinking. The Hasso Platner Institute for Design is a graduate program that uses design thinking to drive multidisciplinary innovation. Beyond Stanford, Dan has lead similar workshops custom tailored for various groups, including the High Performance Leadership program at IMD Business school

in Switzerland and the Kauffman Fellows Program helping to train global leaders in venture capital. Dan has also partnered with Stanford Professor Carol Dweck to create interactive workshops on her breakthrough research on Mindset. Dan’s other clients include Cisco, Oracle, Nestle, Visa, ING, Barclay’s Global Investments, Randstad, Nobel Biocare, and many more.

PAPIA GAMBELIN

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UNITED AIRLINES

Papia Gambelin is a nationally recognized executive in business, community, and government leadership. Prior to joining United Airlines to manage West Coast government relations, Mrs. Gambelin was president of Platinum Advisors’ Silicon Valley division where she led political strategy and public affairs initiatives for respected Fortune 100 brands. With her strong versatile and technical knowledge, she has developed political strategies, brokered partnerships between private firms and nonprofit associations, advised public agencies on communications plans, and represented developers and companies to gain approval of land use projects from local and state governments. In 2009, the Silicon Valley Business Journal named Mrs. Gambelin among the 40 most influential people in the region under the age of 40, and in 2014, the YMCA of Silicon Valley honored her with the organization’s Trailblazer Award. Her participation on boards throughout the Bay Area aligns with Mrs. Gambelin’s passion to serve diverse communities and create healthy, prosperous places to live and work. She is a Senior Fellow of the American

Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley, and a member of the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation. In 2021, Mrs. Gambelin was named a Power Player by Silicon Valley Magazine in the publication’s most prestigious annual issue.

JODI HICKS

PRESIDENT AND CEO,

PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF CALIFORNIA

A long-time health care advocate, Jodi Hicks is the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC). PPAC is the statewide public policy office for Planned Parenthood in California, representing and supporting California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates in their provision of high-quality, expert sexual and reproductive health care across more than 100 health center locations. Hicks led legislative strategies to get security funding for health centers that offer abortion services. A longtime health care advocate and lobbyist, Hicks has worked with numerous health care organizations, using her decades of experience to advise clients on government relations and policy. Hicks served as Acting CEO and President starting June 2019 and swiftly championed the role starting September 2019. She has previously served as a lobbyist for PPAC and sat on the board of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. Prior to joining PPAC, Jodi was the co-chair of Mercury LLC, an international public strategy firm, where she advocated on behalf of health care, energy, and social justice

issues. Jodi was previously a partner in the lobby firm DiMare, Brown, Hicks & Kessler, LLC and has also served as the Vice President of Government Relations at the California Medical Association. Since 2012, Jodi has been recognized in “Capitol Weekly’s Top 100” legislative advocates in California. She has been continually recognized for her work in the public health sector, including her successful

advocacy on landmark legislative victories such as tobacco control legislation, increased California Medicaid provider rates, and the school children immunization requirement.

JENNY MING

CO-FOUNDER & FORMER PRESIDENT, OLD NAVY; BOARD DIRECTOR, KAISER PERMANENTE & LEVI STRAUSS

Jenny J. Ming is a veteran retail CEO with extensive board experience. A frequent speaker on the future and evolution of digital, omnichannel retail, and consumer behavior. Ms. Ming was the President and CEO of Charlotte Russe., a fast-fashion specialty retailer of apparel, footwear and accessories for young women from 2009 to 2019. During her 20 years at Gap Inc., Ms. Ming was co-founder of Old Navy in 1994, a $8 billion brand in the portfolio, and served as the first President of Old Navy from 1999 to 2006. Ms. Ming joined Gap Inc. in 1986, serving in various executive roles in the San Francisco and New York headquarters. Ms. Ming served on the public boards of Levi Strauss & Co since 2014, Poshmark since 2019 and Affirm since 2021. Serving on the private board of Kendra Scott since 2021 and Rothy’s since 2022. Previously, Ms Ming was on the Board of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plans from 2007 to 2014, and rejoined the Board in 2021.

In 2020, Ms. Ming joined ExCo Leadership, as an Executive Mentor/Coach to CEOs and Senior Executives. Ms. Ming has been honored in Business Week’s Top 25 Managers, Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and Wall

Street Journal’s 50 Women in American Business and The New York Times. Ms. Ming received her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising from San Jose State University. In 2012, San Jose State University presented her with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

ANDREA CHERNG

CHIEF BRAND OFFICER, PANDA RESTAURANT GROUP

As Chief Brand Officer, Andrea Cherng leads the growth and development of the Panda family of brands through strategy development, menu and concept innovation, marketing, and quality assurance. Andrea has a lifelong connection with the company, which has fostered a deep sense of stewardship for the Panda brands and its family of associates. Her first formal leadership position at Panda was in establishing and leading the Digital Business team and the creation of the company’s digital marketing strategy, social media and e-commerce platforms. Her career path has also included successful stops as vice president of a Silicon Valley marketing consulting firm, as an attorney at global law firm Morrison & Foerster and work in the not-for-profit and public sectors focusing on disconnected youth and human rights. Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts in

sociology and Asian American studies, graduating magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, a law degree with honors from Duke University School of Law and a Master of Business Administration concentrating in marketing and strategic management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

TANI CANTIL-SAKAUYE

CHIEF JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA; PRESIDENT & CEO, PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA

Tani Cantil-Sakauye is president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California, where she holds the Walter and Esther Hewlett Chair in Understanding California’s Future. From 2011 to 2022, she served as the 28th Chief Justice of California and led the judiciary as the chair of the Judicial Council—the constitutional policy and rule making body of the judicial branch—the first person of color and the second woman to do so. Before she was elected statewide as the Chief Justice of California, she served more than 20 years on California appellate and trial courts and was appointed or elevated to higher office by three governors. Earlier in her career she served as a deputy district attorney for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and on the senior staff of Governor Deukmejian,

first as deputy legal affairs secretary and later as a deputy legislative secretary. She holds a BA and a JD from the University of California, Davis.

jason chan

DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AT&T; BOARD SECRETARY, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES

Jason Chan is Director of External Affairs for AT&T, where he leads AT&T’s national Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) engagement, and serves as Chief of Staff to Ken McNeely, AT&T’s President of the West/Midwest Region. He also leads ongoing development of the team through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and works with the President to plan high-value team building meetings. With over a decade of experience in AAPI advocacy, Jason has been instrumental in developing the company’s investment in the community, which has included workforce development, career readiness programs, digital media, and entertainment employment opportunities. Prior to joining AT&T, Jason held multiple government appointments with the City and County of San Francisco including Appointments Secretary for Mayor Gavin Newsom and served as the Political Director for the Ed Lee for Mayor Campaign. Jason currently serves on the board of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional

Studies as well as Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. Jason has previously served on the California 1a District Agricultural Association, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown.

courtni pugh

PARTNER, HILLTOP PUBLIC SOLUTIONS

In the dynamic political arena of California, Courtni Pugh stands out as one of the most sought-after political consultants in the state. She helped lead the charge for "Yes on Proposition 1," securing a Constitutional right to abortion and contraception, and countered the controversial "No on Proposition 30," known as the "Lyft grift." Long before the whirlwind of the 2022 midterm elections, Pugh had already made her mark by running a Mayor's race in the second largest city in America and serving as a Senior Advisor on the crucial "Stop The Republican Recall" campaign. Her pivotal role from 2014 to 2017 as Caucus Director for the California State Senate Democratic Caucus marked a historic achievement—the first two-thirds majority in that house. She lent her expertise as a consultant and senior staff member to numerous presidential campaigns, including Biden-Harris 2020, Bloomberg 2020, Kamala Harris 2020, Hillary Clinton 2016, John Edwards 2004, Kerry-Edwards 2004, and Gore-Lieberman 2000. Currently, Pugh serves as an Advisor to prominent figures like Katie Porter for US Senate, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Rob Bonta. Before her consulting career took flight, Pugh played pivotal roles within the labor movement, working directly for SEIU and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. In 2010, she spearheaded the groundbreaking "Cambiando California" campaign—a statewide, multifaceted $5 million independent expenditure effort in support of Governor Jerry Brown. Pugh served as Western Regional Political Director for SEIU International, Political Director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was elected as Executive Director of SEIU CA State Council, and elected as Executive Director of SEIU Local 99. While in these roles, Courtni was nominated and subsequently elected to leadership including the California Labor Federation Executive Council, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Board and the SEIU International Executive Board (IEB). Her in-language media work across TV, radio, print, and digital platforms for campaigns like THE 2020 Biden-Harris Presidential campaign, Bloomberg for President, the DCCC, Yes on Prop 1, and For Our Future Nevada garnered national acclaim. Her remarkable track record secured her repeated ranking in Capitol Weekly's Top 100 Influencers in California since the list's inception in 2009. From her contributions to electing the first female and AANHPI United States Vice President in Kamala Harris to her pivotal role in the “Stop the Republican Recall” campaign, Courtni Pugh's strategic prowess propelled her into an exclusive circle—one of the first and often the only woman of color amongst California's elite political power players.

minh nguyen

PARTNER, LEFT COAST STRATEGIES

Minh Nguyen is an accomplished political and social impact strategist with over 20 years of experience managing political, labor, and corporate campaigns in more than 30 states nationwide. Minh advises Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood studios, labor unions, private donors, and candidates at the federal, state, and local level in campaign management, coalition building, issue campaign advocacy, and crisis management. In 2022, Minh oversaw nearly $40 million in campaigns and independent expenditures across the nation for SEIU, AFT, Democratic Association of Secretary of State, Arizona Wins (Democratic House and Senate IE), American Beverage Association, Communities United, individual donors, and others. In 2020, Minh served as a Senior Strategist with the Elizabeth Warren for President campaign, advising on overall political, communications, and field strategies and overseeing political organizing and outreach to stakeholders, communities, and coalitions. He has also held senior political and organizing roles with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the national AFL-CIO, and the California Democratic Party. The son of Vietnam War refugees, Minh grew up in Ventura County, California, and graduated from the University of California at Davis.

RON WONG

FOUNDING PRESIDENT & CEO, IMPRENTA COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

FOUNDER, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

Ronald W. Wong is a respected and renowned business, political and community leader. He is the founder and creator of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation (APALF), the preeminent training and civic engagement program for APAs. Through APALF, Mr. Wong produced an award-winning documentary, The Race Epidemic. He also serves as President and CEO of Imprenta Communications Group, Inc. an award-wining public affairs, campaign and ethnic marketing firm, Mr. Wong oversees a multi-million dollar business. Previously, Mr. Wong served on the staff of some of the country's most prominent elected officials including California Governor Gray Davis, Speaker of the Legislature Willie Brown, State Senator Art Torres, L.A. County Supervisor Ed Edelman, and as a political appointee in President Clinton's Administration at the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Services (CRS). From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Wong served as the chief deputy appointments

secretary to California Governor Gray Davis. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Wong served as founding partner of Lang, Murakawa & Wong (LMW), one of the nation's very first Asian Pacific American (APA) owned strategic communications, political campaign, and public relations firms.

cheryl hori

FOUNDER, PACIFIC CAMPAIGN HOUSE

Cheryl Hori is an awarding-winning digital strategist nationally-recognized for her work innovating targeting and messaging tactics, especially for diverse communities. In 2022, Congresswoman Grace Meng called her work: “The type of messaging that we have been waiting for.” Over the last decade, Cheryl has pioneered data-driven digital initiatives to increase AAPI, Hispanic/Latino, and African American cultural competency for Democrats. And in 2020, Cheryl was named one of the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics & Public Affairs “Top 40 Under 40” Political Strategists. Cheryl has also trained hundreds of political activists, community leaders, and candidates in 15 states and counting. She is also a regular speaker at political and non-profit conferences as well as a frequent contributing writer to Campaigns and Elections, the preeminent “how-to” journal of politics, focused on the tools, tactics, and techniques of the political consulting profession. Prior to founding Pacific

Campaign House, Cheryl was the Deputy Digital Director for Priorities USA Action, the pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC. With a digital budget of $42 million spread across 4,800 pieces of creative, Cheryl managed creative teams in what was the largest political digital program in electoral history.

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