Board & Committees

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.

Amy Chan is currently the Controller at The Steppingstones Group, LLC, overseeing the accounting functions and has implemented fifteen acquisitions into the privately held company. The Stepping Stones Group is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and brings therapeutic and behavioral health services to transform the lives of children, families and communities together at a nationwide level.

Graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from DePaul University, Amy went on to earn her Certified Public Accountant designation from the Illinois Board of Examiners.

Upon graduation, Amy has worked in a variety of accounting roles with Fortune 500 Companies such as Centene and United Airlines as well as Zurich Insurance, Accenture and BMO Bank from the Global Fortune 500 list. The Fortune 500 list of companies is ranked by total revenues based on their respective fiscal years. Amy is currently seeking board position at the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and is passionate about bringing arts and culture to the AAPI members by uniting the group to different musical and museum events to foster a community to explore and enjoy together.

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.

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.

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. 

Samuel “Sam” Phara (he/him) is a Medical Meetings Coordinator at the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), bringing a strong background in non-profit medical organizations. As a first-generation Thai immigrant and transgender professional, Sam blends personal insights and professional expertise to advocate for greater inclusivity and representation. Originally from Seattle, Sam now calls Chicago home, where he actively blends his queer and AAPI identities, driving change both in his work and the broader community. In his downtime, he’s often found with his emotional support Kindle, devouring his latest reading obsession.

Daniela serves as the chair of the Email Marketing team at NAAAP, where she proudly supports the Asian American community in Chicago. Originally from Costa Rica, she made the move to Chicago in 2023. With a background as a licensed general dentist and a degree in digital marketing, Daniela was eager to explore new opportunities in the marketing field.

Joining NAAAP and leading the email marketing team has been a great experience for her. She is passionate about being part of an organization that empowers individuals to grow and succeed both professionally and personally. Through her work, Daniela helps create connections and provides valuable resources that enable the community to thrive.

Fabiha is currently pursuing an MBA at Rice University, following a strong foundations in Marketing and Communications . With expertise in strategic management, advanced marketing, and leadership, Fabiha has a professional background in digital marketing and journey mapping.Passionate about supporting women-owned businesses, Fabiha aims to make those changes. As Co-Chair of Social Media committee, she is eager to collaborate and drive positive change within the community.

Joanne is a Workday Integrations Consultant at Topbloc building software solutions with a diverse portfolio of clients. Previously, she was an Associate Product Manager at bswift, a benefits administration technology company. She oversaw the Integration products and worked with a team of software engineers and product managers to build new features which increase business value. She has 4 years of experience in the tech industry.

Joanne graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Urban Affairs from Boston University. Post graduation, she was a college adviser and then briefly a city planner who focused on Community Engagement. 

She enjoys the intersectionality of community impact through volunteerism and hosting events. In her free time, Joanne climbs at First Ascent gyms across the city.