Board of Directors

With over 20 years of active membership and board service at both local and national levels, Rose continues to leverage her leadership experience to guide the organization in all capacities as the President of the NAAAP Chicago chapter.

Rose was instrumental in establishing a leadership program for Asian American women in the workforce, which has since gained national recognition as Women in NAAAP. She also founded the Asian American Group Leaders Program, a consortium that now includes over 40 corporate employee resource groups and affinity groups. In 2005, Rose co-chaired the NAAAP Convention in Chicago, pioneering an event that featured three C-level executive keynote speakers for the first time: Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo), Sanjiv Anand (Hewitt), and Rohini Anand (Sodexo). She continued her leadership efforts by spearheading programming when the convention returned to Chicago in 2017.

In her professional capacity, Rose serves as the Fundraising and Development Manager for the Muslim Civic Coalition, a civic justice organization that unites over 250 influencers, leaders, and organizations within the broader Muslim community. Her career spans more than 20 years and includes experience in diverse sectors such as fundraising, real estate appraisal, IT consulting, non-profit management, and market research.

Rose holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management with a minor in Labor Relations and Workforce Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Mike is Treasurer and board member for NAAAP Chicago.  Mike served the Chicago Chapter as Director of Corporate Relations (2005 -2007); Director of Affinity Groups (2007 – 2008), Treasurer (since 2009) & Board member (since 2012).  Mike also served as Chief Business Development Officer with NAAAP National from March 2015 – December 2021.

Mike was drawn to NAAAP through his involvement with his company’s ERG as he was involved in the creation of the “Asian Leadership Business Resource Council” at Northern Trust Company and served as its president from 2004 – 2015.  It was that involvement that also led to the creation of the Asian American Group Leaders of Greater Chicago (AAGL), a NAAAP sponsored program with over 35 corporate ERG/BRGs throughout the Chicago & Suburban area participating together to host up to two events each year, i.e. The Asian Heritage Month Celebration and the Corporate Leadership Conference.

Mike holds a B.A. from Elmhurst College and an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School.  He retired from the Northern Trust Company as a Vice President in Personal Financial Services.  Mike is married to Karen Valdez and has two sons, Ethan & Harrison and lives in Crystal Lake, IL. 

Kevin Cooper is currently a residential real estate broker with eXp Realty and a triathlon coach. He has previous experience working with both higher education institutions and large enterprises consulting on selecting IT services and equipment.
 

Kevin is passionate about both helping people and endurance activities like running and racing triathlons. He has served as a triathlon coach for both Team In Training and Team Brightside which both fundraise for cancer research. He also has gone on multiple Habitat for Humanity Global Villages.
 

Kevin is excited to join the board for NAAAP-Chicago and bring his passion for growth and helping people to the organization.

Tyng brings with her over 15 years of professionalism in multinational corporations, start-ups, and higher education institutions.  Tyng built her career in brand marketing managing market leading consumer brands at Global Fortune 500 Companies, such as L’Oreal Group and Colgate-Palmolive, where she collaborated with international teams in many new business development initiatives. 

Sarah is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in strategy, brand management, and cross-functional leadership for global brands. She holds an MBA from Booth, where she concentrated in General Strategy, Behavioral Sciences, and Economics. During her tenure at Nike, Sarah played a crucial role in both the North America Business and primarily in Chicago, driving marketing strategies across multiple sectors such as Women's, Running, and Kids. Her collaborative efforts and innovative approaches were pivotal during major projects like the Chicago Marathon. Transitioning into consulting, Sarah is excited to join Bain & Company full-time, where she will work across various industries and functions, leveraging her extensive experience to deliver impactful strategies and solutions. Being part of NAAAP allows Sarah to support its mission to enhance career and leadership development in the Asian American community.

Liana O'Grady is a skilled professional with a strong foundation in effective communication and marketing strategies. She holds a Master Degree in Global Strategic Communication from Loyola University Chicago. Currently serving as a Marketing Communications Coordinator for a major food distributor, Liana leverages her expertise to drive brand awareness and support business growth. Prior to her current role, Liana gained valuable experience working at the district office for a U.S. House of Representatives member. Liana joined NAAAP Chicago to connect with like-minded individuals and grow in her social media skills. She has a passion for developing leaders in the workforce and is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. Outside of NAAAP Chicago, Liana volunteers at her local animal shelter.

Dr. Elizabeth 방실 Smith (She/Her/They/Them) is a Korean-Irish Licensed Clinical
Psychologist in the state of IL and IN. She received her PsyD in Clinical Psychology
from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a focus in trauma and family
systems. She currently works in an outpatient group private practice where she conducts
neuropsychological assessments and works with individuals, groups, and families, many
of whom have struggles with anxiety, mood, traumatic experiences, are members of the
LGBTQA community, and/or been identified as neurodiverse (those with head trauma,
ADHD, Autism, etc). Much of her work includes play, expressive art, and pop culture,
which are utilized to help facilitate healing and comfort as she aids individuals and
families navigate a variety of stresses and developmental challenges throughout the
lifespan. Elizabeth immigrated to the US at age 5 and her parents inspired her work ethic
and service to the community; her father is a disabled US army veteran and her mother is
an independent business owner that refuses to retire. Her volunteer experience includes
national and local crisis hotlines, hospice, homeless shelters, community cleanup,
advocacy, and marketing/social media for NAAAP-Chicago. She enjoys cooking, baking,
knitting, running, reading, art, music, dance, comics, and cosplay. She is an avid Hello
Kitty and Tokidoki collector and has spoken on several panels at C2E2, Wonder Con, and
San Diego Comic Con to advocate for diversity inclusion in media and the use of pop
culture in therapy.

Doreen Viloria serves as Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant for Bank of America’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Organization.   In this role, Doreen leads the strategy and design of the operational governance model, leader onboarding, and multiple technology platforms for the firm’s global Employee Networks (aka ERGs).    Bank of America has 11 Global Employee Networks, consisting of over 325 chapters and over 5,000 Employee Network leaders running these chapters for the firm’s 202,000 employees.    Doreen also leads process design for the firm’s enterprise Women Ready to Lead program.  Most recently, Doreen’s role has expanded and she serves as the human resources partner for the Iowa market.

Tram Alisa Vo has volunteered for the past eight years with the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Her journey with NAAAP began when she took on the Employee Resource Group (ERG) chair role for her company. This experience propelled her to significantly contribute to the organization, leading to her positions on the Board of NAAAP Chicago and as Chair of AAGL (Asian American Group Leaders).

She has extensive knowledge in retail banking, employee development, management training, compliance, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). In the early stages of her career, Tram focused on the niche area of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a civil rights law enacted to combat systemic redlining, discrimination, and disinvestment.

After more than two decades in the finance industry, Tram embarked on an exciting career transition, joining Unispace, a global leader in workplace strategy, design, and construction, creating immersive and transformative spaces that cater to the evolving needs of our rapidly changing world. Tram's primary focus in her new role is championing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging across Unispace's global presence, encompassing the Americas, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

In addition to her involvement with NAAAP, Tram actively advocates for change and volunteers with other non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting undergraduate students of color in the United States and Canada. She consistently seeks to create new opportunities for emerging leaders, empowering them to pave their paths within their companies and communities. Tram humbly describes herself as an unintentional advocate. As a first-generation immigrant child, she has a deep-rooted passion for advocating equality and fostering professional, emotional, and mental growth in today's society. Her current perspective is to inspire and empower generations to "Change the World." Tram wholeheartedly believes in her ability to effect positive change through her professional and personal endeavors.