सामग्रीमा जानुहोस्

Board of directors

Elexia A. Gonzalez Lowe, LCSW

Chair

Elexia A. Gonzalez Lowe, LCSW (she/they) is a social worker and psychotherapist in the Austin area. Elexia currently serves in a variety of roles as a psychotherapist in private practice, a diversity coach for individuals and organizations, an instructional team member for Columbia University in the City of New York School of Social Work, and previously as a psychiatric social worker at Ascension Seton Behavioral Health. Elexia holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in the City of New York and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Elexia has an eclectic work history spanning over 22 years of experience including community outreach, organizing, and direct practice work with refugees, asylees, immigrants, survivors of interpersonal violence, and the insecure housing/ unhoused communities, conference planning and speaking for women’s empowerment, smart decarceration, and post-secondary school resourcing and live theater performance in a troupe that utilized the theatrical forms of Paulo Freire and Dr. Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed.

Previous to social work, Elexia worked in both corporate/for profit and social event production and planned and produced continuing legal education seminars for attorneys in Texas, worked as a grassroots lobbyist consultant for the American Cancer Society on public health issues, owned a boutique management agency in the entertainment industry working with notable live music venues, world musicians and art performers including Grammy winners and sponsorship from international brands, and managed a brand in the fashion industry featured in Forbes as a western boot designer and producer.

As the daughter of an Asian immigrant and as a 1.5 generation biracial, Asian-American, Elexia has experienced first-hand the challenges to accessing resources and inclusion in culturally-relevant services. Elexia is grateful for the opportunity to make an impact through her involvement at AACHI and collaboration with the passionate board of directors and AACHI stakeholders.

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Melissa Tung

Secretary

Melissa is a project manager, grant writer, and public health leader in the Central Texas area. She currently works as a Sr. Tech Project Manager for SXSW. Prior to joining SXSW, Melissa worked at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) coordinating both community health and IT projects. Melissa finished her Masters of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Austin and graduated from her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas Austin. In her free time, she loves to listen to true-crime podcasts, travel, and visit her favorite coffee shops. She also started learning a form of martial arts called Tukong Moosul.

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Kevin Zhou

Treasurer

Kevin Zhou is a finance executive with 10+ years of experience working with private and public tech companies across multiple dynamic industries including SaaS/Software, digital media, content (internet), e-commerce, and digital marketplaces.  He has established and cultivated multiple companies to success, and has a passion for helping start-ups through the growing pains of moving into medium and large scale operations.
He currently serves as the VP of Finance for AppSumo in Austin Texas, a digital marketplace for software at discount to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses through technology.  Driven by his passion for the well-being of the Asian communities in his locality, Kevin hopes to leverage his expertise in the tech-world to help further AACHI’s vision and goal.
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Ahmed Moledina

Member

Distinguished as a strong leader in the area of technology company financial management, Mr. Moledina has over 20 years of solid financial management, consulting and analysis experience, with particular focus in the area of high-tech start-up financial operations establishment and management. In addition to his solid finance credentials, Ahmed also brought deep technical skills and expertise in the areas of software development, technical services, customer relationship management, vendor relations, business partner relations, cash management, credit management, and customer service, which further strengthened the significant foundation of seasoned business leadership and experience that he brought to Titan Solutions Group. Most recently he was
a founder and principal of SOAL Technologies, LLC. an IBM Advanced Business Partner firm serving the custom software development, staffing and licensed software needs of Fortune 500 clients including: AMD, Emerson, Qualcomm, State of Texas and others.

He was co-founder and principal of Titan Solutions Group, Inc., a Beacon Award winning IBM Premier Business Partner firm serving the custom software development, staffing and licensed software needs of Fortune 500 clients including: Federal Express (FDX), DR Horton, (DHI), American Express (AMEX), Progressive Insurance (PGR), Technical Olympic (TOUS), and others. At Titan, Ahmed developed and directed the strategy of the Licensed Software Division related to IBM, Microsoft, Kofax, etc. software and software services. Ahmed consistently motivated and drove Titan’s sales force and now SOAL Technologies’ sales force to exceed all Licensed Software Sales Goals set by vendors by over 300% for all previous years. He served on the IBM SMB Advisory Board as an advisor to IBM regarding its approach to the SMB market. Prior to Titan Solutions, Ahmed founded two other start-up technology companies, and was Lead Technical Analyst for Lotus Development Corp/IBM. Ahmed holds numerous industry and technical certifications and is certified by IBM as a Solutions Advisor.

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Monti Pal

Member

Monti is a Licensed Professional Counselor who runs a private psychotherapy practice in Austin, TX. Monti attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned her Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology. Monti has past experience working at SafePlace, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Rock Springs Hospital, and other sites. Monti is certified in complex trauma through the Neuroaffective Relational Model (NARM). Monti is interested in psychedelic therapies for mental health and how NARM can be the perfect therapeutic tool to help lead psychedelic assisted therapy sessions. Monti completed her certification in Psychedelic therapy through the CIIS program  at the Center for Psychedelic Therapy and Research in 2021. In her free time, Monti likes to spend time with her two kids, likes to learn to cook different types of cuisine, enjoys learning new skills, and likes to travel.

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Apurva Gunturu

Member

Apurva is a J.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. She has held a number of research and clerk positions at the University and legal centers, including as a Peggy Browning Fund Scholar at the Global Labor Justice/International Labor Rights Forum, supporting workers along international supply chains, as an Equal Justice America scholar at the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project, a plaintiffs’ side employment litigation and legislative advocacy firm, and as a 2022 Fulbright Scholar. Apurva looks forward to supporting the Austin community’s overall wellbeing through AACHI.

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Nina Ngai

Member

Nina Ngai makes the ads (and articles) that you click on. With 15 years of experience, Nina has worked her way through the content marketing landscape – from print magazines to influencer marketing to podcast promotion. She has developed content campaigns for brands including American Express, AOL, Hulu, and Pier 1. Currently, she is a senior content strategist at Charles Schwab. When she isn’t auditing websites or planning editorial calendars, Nina enjoys scuba diving and hiking with her dog, Jedi.

Nina is thrilled to bring her can-do attitude to the AACHI board and to have a hand in amplifying its voice in the Austin Asian community.

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Michelle Hernandez

Member

Michelle Hernandez is Texas Book Festival’s School & Community Programs Manager, responsible for the organization’s programming focused on students, community partnerships, and libraries. Prior to joining Texas Book Festival, she worked in various roles in K-12 education, including eleven years as an elementary school teacher and seven years focused on student teaching and new teacher support. Michelle received both her undergraduate and master’s degree in education from Texas State University. In her free time, Michelle enjoys reading and exploring local restaurants with her husband and daughter.
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Tejas Bommakanti

Member

Tejas is a policy analyst with the Sunset Advisory Commission where he looks for creative ways to improve state government through nonpartisan, objective evaluations of Texas state agencies. Previously, Tejas has worked for Saga Education via AmeriCorps, served immigrant & refugee communities through work with the Doctors Without Borders student chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, & has engaged local communities through martial arts & tennis. Tejas is excited to bring a diverse, analytical perspective to serving the Asian community.

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Sarah Seraj, PhD

Member

Sarah Seraj, PhD is co-founder and CTO at A Better Force, where she conducts workshops and consults with companies on improving workplace culture by using the latest findings from the social sciences. In her data consultancy work, she uses data to answer social psychological questions and come up with best practices for companies. As a woman of color and an immigrant, one of the main goals of her work is to have more inclusive spaces for women, BIPOC, and other underrepresented groups by tackling systematic inequalities in organizations. Sarah got her PhD in Psychology from UT Austin in 2021. In her free time, Sarah likes reading, writing, playing games, and learning Japanese.

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Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz

Member

Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz is a Venezuelan-American communications expert, strategic storyteller, and connector of people. She currently serves as the co-founder and CEO of Refuerzo Collaborative, a Latina-owned communications agency nurturing the stories that reinforce community. Inspired by her mother’s daily mantra, “cada cabeza es un mundo” (which roughly translates to “everyone’s head is their own world”), Fabiana has always been fascinated by understanding people’s perspectives while authentically crafting their stories. With a deep passion for communication and a strong marketing background, she crafts impactful campaigns for mission-driven organizations and technical experts. In addition to her communications expertise, she is an expert in micromedia strategies, an occasional event planner, an influencer master, and so much more.

Fabiana is deeply committed to her community and actively involved in various organizations. She serves on the Arts & Cultural Commission for the City of Kyle, where she oversees art projects, including the city’s tiny art galleries. She has also mentored a young entrepreneur as part of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KSWELI), guiding her through the challenges of starting a business, while sitting on the advisory board for Houston Christian University’s Women in Leadership program. Fabiana is also a Business Plan Advisor for Empowering Women Out of Prison (EWOP), a non-profit organization that offers character development, entrepreneurial training, and reentry services to incarcerated women in Texas. Additionally, she has sat on boards for organizations like Women Communicators of Austin (WCA), where she served as VP of Development, raising 112.5% more in sponsorships than the previous year, and the Ethics Chair for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Austin Chapter where she created the “Being Series,” which aims to dispel myths and explore the experiences of working in public relations and the media while being part of diverse communities. Fabiana has also contributed to the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA), where her efforts in securing press coverage helped the organization achieve 172 million media impressions. Additionally, she has volunteered her time for the Central Texas Food Bank and the Austin Diaper Bank, further demonstrating her commitment to helping others.

She received her bachelor of arts degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas and has participated in the KIPP Leadership Accelerator, Leadership Austin and Notley Fellowship.

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Dao Tran-Reilly

Member

Dao is a project manager in the Payment Network Operations sector at a leading FinTech company in Austin, where she has been an integral part of the team for 15 years. Over the years, she has taken on various roles, gaining expertise in customer service, banking operations, human resources, account management, and marketing operations. Her versatility and dedication have been key to her success.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Dao is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. For the past five years, she has championed her company’s Asian Resource Group, helping it flourish alongside fellow leaders. Her advocacy extends beyond the company, as she remains a dedicated supporter of AACHI and AAPI small businesses, passionately championing donations and community involvement.

In her personal life, Dao enjoys unwinding with Lifetime movies and indulging in guilty-pleasure reality shows. A bowling enthusiast with her own gear, she loves hitting the lanes when she’s not traveling or exploring Austin’s vibrant food scene with her husband and teenage daughter. Dao’s love for exploring new places and trying different foods adds balance to her life, both at work and at home.

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ADVISORY BOARD

Vince Cobalis

Member

I bring a balanced perspective with private sector, non-profit, and public sector experience. About three-fourths of my experience is related to financial management and contracting processes. Most of my positions have involved strategic decision-making, including ten years as an Assistant Director with the City of Austin. I was appointed to the City of Austin, Asian American Quality of Life Advisory in 2014 and served as a chair for a number of years. The organizations I’ve been involved with range from medical to engineering to housing and human services. Although I am currently retired, I want to continue to be of service to the community.

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Min Choe

Immediate Past Chair

Min Choe is the CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder at Tso Chinese Delivery, a delivery and take-out only restaurant concept in Austin, TX. Tso offers free delivery and has a no-tipping policy for fresh, high-quality yet affordable, Chinese-American food. After the success of the first Tso location in Central Austin, the second Tso opened in the fall of 2019 in North Austin and is scheduled to open locations three and four in 2021. Min’s primary role at Tso is to provide vision and direction for Tso to one day become America’s #1 choice for Chinese food delivery. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of CKN Hospitality Group, which operates Donkey Mo’s Korean Fried Chicken, Roba Katsu & Teriyaki, 18 Fried Rice by Donkey Mo’s, and most recently, JJIM – Korean Braised BBQ.

He leads both teams by establishing core values that are centered on providing a benefit to the communities and employees they serve, while also building a company focused on growth and profitability. Min has always had the entrepreneurial drive opening his first business in appliance retail after graduating from UT Business School. He also opened several restaurant concepts with his wife, Jenna, before founding Tso and CKN Hospitality. With a penchant for giving back to the community and serving the underprivileged, Min loves getting involved with meaningful organizations that help improve the community he serves. He spends the rest of his time with his wife and three beautiful children, where they like to spend time together enjoying a delicious meal, or hitting some balls on the golf course.

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Stef Shapira

Member

With over 15 years of experience, Stef Shapira specializes in building creative communications campaigns for clients. She spent the first five years of her career in New York City working with entertainment and lifestyle clients, including Sia, Morrissey, The Moth, MakerBot, Internet Week New York, and more. While working full-time, she attended NYU to obtain a master’s degree in Food Studies.

With a focus on food & beverage, Stef held positions at the Food Network, Serious Eats and the Museum of Food & Drink in NYC before moving back to her home state of Texas. After living the agency life for five years in Austin, Stef branched out on her own to form Stef Shapira Consulting in January 2019.

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Richard Jung

Past Chair

Mr. Jung focuses his practice in the areas of employment based immigration and business law, including entity formation, construction, commercial transactions, commercial lease, and employment matters.  He has experience assisting clients from countries as diverse as South Korea, China, Mexico and France, in their efforts to invest and establish operations in Texas.  He assists businesses in navigating regulatory challenges and helps them avoid unnecessary risks.  Mr. Jung’s clients range in size from affiliates of Global Fortune 100 Companies to individual investors.  Drawing upon his experience as a former CEO in international business as well as his experience in the law, he provides cost-effective, real world solutions for his clients and continues to be long-term advisor to them.

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CHAIRS EMERITI

Ramey Ko

Past Chair

Ramey Ko is the principal attorney of The Ko Law Firm, PLLC, a community-oriented firm serving small and family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. He previously practiced housing and domestic violence law with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and the Texas Advocacy Project. In 2010, Ramey was appointed the first Asian American judge in Austin and served as an Associate Municipal Judge through 2013. He previously lectured in Asian American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and taught Business Law and Ethics to MBA students at the Texas Health & Science University College of Business Sciences.

From September 2010 to May 2014, Ramey served on President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which advised the Executive Branch on how to better serve the AAPI community. He also previously served on the Austin Public Safety Commission and chaired the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, and he is a founding member of the Austin Asian Behavioral Health Network. His prior board experience includes Six Square: Austin’s Black Cultural District and NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, and he is Chair Emeritus of the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative, Inc. Ramey loves cooking, trivia, and serving as Dungeon Master for his tabletop roleplaying group. He lives with his wife, Lauren Alexander, and their dogs, Mycroft and Peanut, and their cat, Frangipane.

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