Program/Committee Chairs

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. 

Born and raised in Georgia, Dianne made the move to Chicago in 2008 and now calls it her home. She’s a video editor by trade and loves exploring the nooks and crannies of Chicago’s beautiful neighborhoods and connecting with all types of people. Dianne joined NAAAP’s wellness program to grow a deeper and healthier Asian community and share in the collective healing experience.

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.

Sarita is a marketing professional with 8 years experience working in product and solutions marketing.  Sarita has supported the go-to market product launches and digital marketing campaigns for Walgreens and now works at CVS Health in the Omnichannel Strategy group. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.  Sarita’s main passion is reading, followed by accumulating random pop culture knowledge, biking, and meeting new people. Sarita joined NAAAP-Chicago to better connect with the Asian-American community and make a difference wherever she can.

Jen Nacht is an Intellectual Property Attorney at Greer, Burns & Crain, where she primarily practices trademark litigation and patent prosecution. Before practicing law, Jen worked in the fields of Chemical Waste Management and Environmental Sciences. 

As a first-generation daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant, Jen began working with NAAAP Chicago to contribute to the Asian American community and advocate for the advancement of Asian American women in the workplace. In addition to her work with NAAAP Chicago, Jen has provided pro bono legal services through The Resurrection Project, where she helped newly arrived migrants obtain Employment Authorization and Temporary Protected Status.  

Jen holds her Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she served as a member of Chicago-Kent Law Review and competed in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court. Jen received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she also studied English. 

Jen has been a Chicago resident since 2011. Outside of the workplace, Jen enjoys writing, walking her dog, playing fantasy football, and listening to Taylor Swift.  

Victoria is an Operating Partner for Squeeze Massage, a way better massage experience, from the founders of Drybar. She currently operates the very first shop in the Chicago area, located in Northbrook.

Victoria’s background is in engineering and operations, where she spent the better part of her 20-year career, in manufacturing and process improvement for a variety of industries, before starting her first venture as a small business owner in 2023.

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, she went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and earned her engineering degree. Even during that time, Victoria volunteered in organizations to connect with the local community. Victoria continues to donate her time to help others, and is passionate in working with groups in the areas of professional development and encouraging youth to pursue STEM activities/careers.

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.

Tiah is an Operations Manager at Blueprint Wealth Advisors where she is responsible for executing business processes and solving complex operational problems. Over the course of her professional career, Tiah has accumulated 5 years of experience in administration and operations. 

Tiah received her Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts from San Francisco State University where she also served as President and Treasurer of Sigma Omicron Pi sorority Beta Chapter - an Asian-interest organization founded in 1930.

Originally from San Francisco, Tiah recently moved to Chicago and has been eager to contribute to both the local Asian-American community and women’s professional development in the workplace. Outside of work, Tiah enjoys trying new cuisine, keeping up with visual arts, and spending time with loved ones. 

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.