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Gerald A. “Gerry” Fernandez
President, Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA)
Gerry Fernandez is founder and president of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), a non-profit organization promoting the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion in the restaurant, foodservice and lodging industries. Gerry founded MFHA while employed as a National Account Manager, Foodservice Sales with General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis in 1996. Gerry conducts lectures and workshops for some of America’s most powerful companies, organizations and brands.
Gerry began his career with General Mills in 1992 in research and development. He was promoted to National Account Sales in the fall of 1995. Gerry became a loaned executive in March of 1997 after he founded the Alliance. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Foodservice Management from Johnson & Wales University where he also earned a Culinary Arts degree in 1976.
Prior to joining General Mills, Gerry spent more than 10 years as senior manager opening and operating fine dining restaurants including The Capital Grille; Hemenway’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar and The Old Grist Mill Tavern for RARE Hospitality, Inc. now owned by Darden Restaurants. Earlier in his career, Gerry held various leadership positions in several fine dining establishments including The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, The Harborside Inn on Martha’s Vineyard and the famed Royal’s Hearthside Restaurant in Rutland, Vermont.
Gerry is married, has two sons, six grandchildren and lives with his wife, Debra (Jackson) in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Albert (Al) L. Gaylor
Vice President, Industry Relations and Diversity, SYSCO Corporation
Mr. Gaylor holds the position of Vice President of Industry Relations and Diversity. In 25 years with SYSCO he has also served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing Services, Sr. Director of Marketing and Director of Marketing Communications. His current responsibilities include representing SYSCO’s interest with various trade and industry associations and governmental agencies. He is also responsible for SYSCO’s corporate diversity efforts, including workforce, leadership, supplier and community initiatives. Previous functions within SYSCO included developing sales and marketing strategies, implementing advertising and promotional campaigns, marketing research activities and packaging design for SYSCO brand products. Mr. Gaylor majored in marketing and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Prior to joining SYSCO, Mr. Gaylor worked for several consumer packaged goods companies where he was responsible for sales management and brand management activities. Previous Brand assignments include Post Cereals, Log Cabin Syrup, Gravy Train Dog Food, and Real Lemon Brand juice products.
Professional affiliations include memberships in the Business Marketing Association of America, and Sales & Marketing Executives Club. He also serves as Chairman of the Education and Research Board of the International Food Service Distributors Association, and appointed as a member of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board. He is a member of The Houston Area United Negro College Fund Advisory Counsel and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Al is married to Georgiana Gaylor and resides in Sugarland, Texas.
Mike Honda
Congressman
Congressman Mike Honda represents the 15th Congressional District of California in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Honda has been a public servant for decades during which he has been lauded for his work on education, transportation, civil rights, and the environment.
In 2000, Congressman Honda was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the Appropriations Committee and he is the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Congressman Honda is dedicated to passing a responsible budget that pays down our nation’s debt, revitalizes our economy, while protecting top priorities such as Social Security, Medicare, and public education.
Congressman Honda has been selected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as the Regional Whip for Northern California, Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam. As Regional Whip, he works with the Democratic Leadership by communicating legislative priorities and strategies to members within his region.
In February, 2005 he was elected Vice Chair for the National Democratic Party. He continues to be a strong voice for the cause of social justice, cultural tolerance and civil rights.
Liz Kinniburgh
Director of Business Development, Sodexo
Liz has more than 20 years experience in food service management. Her career started in operations and then continued in sales.
Liz graduated from California State University Long Beach with a BS degree in Dietetics and Food Administration. Liz continued her education with an internship at the University of Southern California Medical Center and became a registered dietitian.
Liz has an extensive operations background and has held positions such as Operations Manager, Food Service Director and General Manager. Liz’s education and operations background help her to focus on our clients’ needs and on developing the right blend of products, services and terms for each future Sodexho client.
Liz believes in giving back to the company and colleagues. She serves as Co-chair for Sodexo’s PANG (Pan Asian Network Group), and is recipient of Sodexo’s Champion of Diversity Award in 2007.
Sachi Koto
Founder, Sachi Koto Communications, Inc
Following more than 16 years with CNN, Sachi Koto launched a public relations and communications firm, Sachi Koto Communications, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia in July, 2005.
As a veteran of CNN, Koto served as a news anchor for CNN Headline News based in the network’s world headquarters in Atlanta. During her tenure at CNN, Koto anchored for CNN Radio, CNN Airport Network, CNN International and CNN QuickCast. She also produced, wrote and anchored for Turner South, Turner Entertainment Group’s entertainment network dedicated to southern style programming.
Before joining CNN, Koto worked as an anchor for Tokyo’s JCTV (Japan Cable Television) and for Nippon Hoso Kyoku (NHK) Radio, also in Tokyo. Previously, she was a reporter for WQXI radio station in Atlanta from 1974-1975 and for CNN affiliate WAGA-TV in Atlanta from 1975-1977.
Koto has received multiple honors and awards for her reporting and speaking engagements including – The Women Looking Ahead News Magazine’s 100s List of the Nation’s Most Powerful and Influential Women’s Award, the SCLC’s Heritage Award in Honor of Coretta Scott King, The National Star of Asia 2002 Award, “Honorary Texan Award” by Texas Governor Rick Perry, “Honorary Citizen Award” by Austin, Texas, Mayor Gus Garcia, Honorary Member of the Japan America Society by Japanese Consul General George Hisaeda, appointed as a member to the Asian-American Commission for a New Georgia by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage speakers award, Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta’s speakers award, Japanese American National Museum and The William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum speakers award, Asian Pacific American Council of Georgia Speakers award and the S.M.C.I. Jaycees Appreciation Award.
Koto is a third-generation Japanese American, born and raised in Atlanta. Koto was the first Japanese on-air talent in the Southeast and the first Asian on-air talent in Atlanta.
Scott D. Oki
Founder & Chairman, Oki Developments, Inc.
and Chief Volunteer, The Oki Foundation
Scott Oki is the Founder and Chairman of Oki Developments, Inc. and is a professed entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and community activist. His personal mission statement is “to marry my passion for things entrepreneurial with things philanthropic in a way that encourages others to do the same.”
Oki Developments, Inc. is an investment company with diverse interests in real estate, golf course development and management, restaurants, a professional soccer team, and early to development stage information technology companies.
Prior to founding Oki Developments, Inc., Mr. Oki retired after 10 years with Microsoft Corporation where he served in a variety of executive positions. Mr. Oki founded the International Division and served as Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Service.
Mr. Oki earned an M.B.A. and a B.Sc. in accounting and information systems, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Colorado.
Mr. Oki serves on dozens of advisory boards and boards of directors for both for-profit and not-for-profit companies. He has founded or co-founded over a dozen non-profit organizations. In addition to his philanthropic activities through The Oki Foundation, he has taken leadership roles in many other organizations. He has served as Co-Chair of the United Way of King County Campaign Board and Co-Chair of the Million Dollar Roundtable, Founder and Chairman of the Japanese American Chamber of Commerce, Founder and Chairman of the Chief Seattle Council Boy Scout Scoutreach Foundation, Co-Founder and Chairman of Densho. He is the Co-Founder of Sounders For Kids, Seattle Parks Foundation, Executive Development Institute, America’s Foundation for Chess, First Tee of Greater Seattle, Microsoft Alumni Giving Foundation, Social Venture Partners, and Seattle Police Foundation. He is a past President of the Board of Regents for the University of Washington and a past Chair of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Mr. Oki has served on the national boards for United Way of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Japanese American National Museum, and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation and currently serves on the national board for the Boy Scouts of America and the National Science Center.
Mr. Oki is married to Laurie and they have three children.
Brad Baldia
Executive Vice President, NAAAP National
Brad Baldia attended The Hill School, an elite private boarding school in Pottstown, PA. Brad received his BA in English and Biology from Bucknell University and a Masters in Public Health from Temple University. In 1995, Brad served as a White House Intern in the Office of Presidential Personnel. He currently works as the Director of the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative. In addition, he works extensively with Asian community organizations on a local and national level, such as the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia, the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia (3rd Vice President) and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (Brad is Co-Founder and Past President of the Philadelphia Chapter and current National Executive Vice President).
He serves on various boards including the Multicultural Affairs Congress (Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau), Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition, the Chinatown Learning Center and the Filipino American National Historical Society (National Trustee). He is a member of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Advisory Committee, FBI Philadelphia’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee, Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs and the Center for Progressive Leadership’s 2008 Pennsylvania Political Leaders Fellowship Class.
Mr. Baldia has received numerous awards for his efforts, including the "Unsung Heroes Award" by Keystone Mercy Health Plan and "National Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award" by the National Conference for Community and Justice. In 2002, he was recognized as one of the "Top 30 Most Influential Asians in America Under the Age of 30". In 2007, Brad was one of 50 people citywide to be nominated for Philadelphia Cares’ “Spirit of Philadelphia Award”. In July, 2008, Mr. Baldia was named one of Philadelphia’s 101 Top Connectors by LEADERSHIP Philadelphia.
Mr. Baldia has served as Media Relations for the Day Without an Immigrant Coalition and has been a strong advocate in the fight for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
John Chiang
California State Controller
Controller John Chiang was elected in November 2006 to serve as California’s Chief Fiscal Officer.
The Controller is the chair of the Franchise Tax Board, and serves on 76 boards and commissions including CalPERS and CalSTRS, the nation’s first and second largest public pension funds, and the State Lands Commission.
As Controller, Chiang has moved swiftly to ensure California is on the road to prosperity while meeting its obligations to workers and retirees. Upon assuming office, Chiang immediately hired an independent actuary to determine – ahead of schedule – the costs of post-employment benefits as the first step in crafting California’s long-term plan to meet the State’s accounting and healthcare commitments.
Controller Chiang also understands the frustrations that local governments and school districts face when complying with mandated programs. As a result, he is creating an unprecedented assistance program to provide local officials with the tools, information and guidance they need to protect their funds while complying with State laws and restrictions.
Dr. Judy Chu, Ph.D.
Chair, 4th District – Los Angeles
Dr. Judy Chu was elected to the California State Board of Equalization in November 2006. In January 2007, she was unanimously selected as Vice Chair by her colleagues and named Chair of the Legislative Committee. In January 2008, Judy Chu was unanimously elected Chair on the Board of Equalization. As Chair of the BOE, Dr. Chu will also serve as a voting Member of the California Franchise Tax Board.
The Chair and Vice Chair positions were decided at the first 2008 meeting of the State Board of Equalization. The Board includes Chair Judy Chu (Fourth District), Vice-Chairwoman Betty T. Yee (First District), Members Bill Leonard (Second District) and Michelle Steel (Third District), and California State Controller John Chiang.
Before joining the State Board of Equalization, Dr. Chu served three terms as a State Assembly Member for the 49th District in the West San Gabriel Valley from 2001 to 2006. She was Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which oversees all legislation that has a fiscal impact on the state.
Prior to the State Assembly, Dr. Chu served on the Monterey Park City Council for thirteen years from 1988 to 2001, and served as Mayor three times. She began her career in public service as a Board Member of the Garvey School District from 1985 to 1988. Dr. Chu has been dedicated to education for decades, and was a community college professor of psychology for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.
Sukhee Kang
Mayor Pro Tem
Mayor Pro Tem Sukhee Kang was elected to the Irvine City Council in 2004 and won re-election in 2006. Born and raised in South Korea, Sukhee and his wife Joanne came to the United States in 1977 after his graduation from Korea University in Seoul.
Sukhee Kang began his professional career with Circuit City Stores sales and customer service. He was promoted to senior management positions and earned recognition for his service oriented philosophy, ultimately receiving the company's highest honor — induction into the "Colonel's Club," recognizing his dedication and service to the company and their customers.
Sukhee Kang’s own American success story has helped to shape his inclusive and engaging leadership style. Active throughout the Irvine community, Sukhee Kang has forged strong and supportive relationships with the business community, the education community and the many cultural, service and non-profit organizations that serve the citizens of Irvine. An advocate for the interests of all Irvine residents, Sukhee Kang has demonstrated his ability to “listen, learn and respond” by walking door-to-door in every neighborhood in Irvine, engaging in “doorstep dialogues” with Irvine residents, then working diligently to respond to their interests and concerns.
Prior to his service on the Irvine City Council, Sukhee Kang served as a Governor’s appointee on the California Workforce Investment Board and was the Mayor’s appointee to the Irvine Finance Commission. As a City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, Sukhee has served as a member of the Orange County Great Park Board, Orange County Sanitation District Board, Transportation Corridor Agency Board, Executive Steering Committee of the League of California Cities Orange County Division, and Orange County Transportation Authority Measure M Super Committee. As a role model for community leadership, Sukhee was recently honored the Community Leadership Award by the Asian Pacific Islanders Heritage Council of Orange County.
Jimmy D. Lee
Managing Director, US Asian Business Council
Mr. Jimmy D. Lee was recently a Candidate for the United States Congress in the State of Illinois, 11th US Congressional District. Prior to that he was the Senior Consultant for Sherman Consulting Inc, a public relations and consulting firm based in Chicago, IL with offices in Washington DC, and New York
Mr. Lee also served as the Managing Director of the National Center for Community Development, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting economic development and effective public/private partnerships to serve the community. He was also Managing Director of the US Asian Business Council, a public policy organization committed to advocating for the advancement of Asian Pacific American entrepreneurs and businesses in the United States and abroad.
Mr. Lee was previously appointed by President George W. Bush on January, 2006 to serve as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Office of the White House Initiative was established under Executive Order 13339 to increase economic opportunities and improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through greater participation in federal programs where they may be underserved.
Prior to that appointment, Mr. Lee served as the Executive Director for a local community based chamber of commerce, Director of Outreach for the Jim Ryan for Governor (Illinois) campaign and also as Special Assistant to the Governor, State of Illinois.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (BA in Economics) Mr. Lee is a strong advocate of community service and works with the Asian American youth. He serves on a number of boards and commissions around the country including Nielsen Media Advisory Group (Chairman), Asset Builders CDC, National ABLE Network, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and Columbia College, Center for Asian Arts and Media. He is an active youth group leader for his church in Chicago where he works and meets weekly as a mentor and youth counselor for students.
David Lum
Director of Asia/Pacific Product & Support Operations
for the Government & Public Safety business, Motorola
David Lum is the Director of Asia/Pacific Product & Support Operations for the Government & Public Safety business in Motorola. For the past 25 years, David has worked in the land mobile two-way radio business and has extensive experience in a wide variety of markets and applications that use two-way voice and wireless data radio systems. David’s work experience includes product development, systems marketing, manufacturing, systems engineering, field engineering, project and program management, sales and engineering training, business development, product marketing, and operations management.
Prior to relocating back to Schaumburg in early 2003, David spent 5¼ years doing Business Development for Motorola’s Asia/Pacific division, living in Singapore. David travelled frequently to many customer locations within Asia to promote radio systems, advised on design, spoke at technical conferences and seminars, presented to many senior level government officials, and educated customers and regulators on technology trends and applications. David also contributed to the industry by writing magazine articles that have been published internationally. One of the more interesting and unique credits in David’s career is being the first Motorolan to enter into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka North Korea) in 2001.
David has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s of Science degree in Management from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. In his spare time, David is a Business Professor teaching at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, teaching Project Management, International Management, and Effective Leadership to MBA students. David also serves as President of the Asian Business Council, a twice award-winning employee-based network inside Motorola. David also started two Toastmasters Clubs, served as President, and continues to serve as Past President in his club, where he is an Advanced Communicator Bronze. David also contributes his time towards the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Chicago chapter as a senior advisory council member to help Asians in the Chicago area to improve their professional career and leadership abilities through personal growth and leadership development. David also serves on Roosevelt University’s Walter E. Heller College of Business Administration Dean’s Executive Advisory Council.
Born and raised in the United States of America, David is married to his beautiful wife for 25 years, has two great teenage sons, and lives in the Chicagoland area. David’s hobbies include aviation (where he is a licensed private pilot), reading, microcomputing, teaching, public speaking (on business, cultural awareness, career management, and leadership), movie-watching, golf, bowling and spending time with his family.
Sanjeev Venkatesan
Director of Software, Network Centric Systems
Raytheon Company
Sanjeev Venkatesan is director of software for North Texas Engineering and a member of the Network Centric Systems (NCS) North Texas Engineering Leadership team. Venkatesan is responsible for providing guidance and oversight of all software programs and technologies within North Texas NCS Engineering. Previously, he was senior principal software engineer for NCS. His management, technical and research expertise lies in the area of artificial intelligence (AI), electronics and embedded systems. His educational background includes knowledge representation, engineering mathematics, radar and navigation, antenna and wave propagation, and electronic digital circuits.
After supporting development activities for the Ballistics Missile Defense program, Venkatesan supported the software subcontract manager on the Future Combat Systems, Ground Sensor Integrator (GSI) program. He is a graduate of Raytheon’s Principal of Program Leadership program and an instructor of the course. He is also a Raytheon Six Sigma Specialist and a student of the 2006 Engineering Leadership Development program.
As the software manager for Ground Systems at Denver’s C3I organization, he was responsible for 250 software engineers, multiple internal and external development and support programs, and national and international customers.
Venkatesan holds a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication. His professional activities include serving as a teaching assistant during graduate school and as an adjunct faculty member for four years at San Antonio Community College while employed at Southwest Research Institute. Sanjeev is a recipient of the 2008 Asian American Engineer of the Year Award.
Ray Yee
Music Panelist
Ray Yee is Senior Director, Film/TV Relations for BMI. Since joining BMI in 1996, Yee has worked closely with BMI composers, music publishers, music supervisors, agents and other members of the U.S. film and television industry. He is also responsible for overseeing the production of BMI’s annual Conducting for the Film Composer workshop and Film and Television Awards Dinner, as well as various other outreach programs designed to educate and enhance the film music community. Yee has been instrumental in developing solid relationships in the industry and has expanded the BMI repertoire that include Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winning composers such as Danny Elfman, Mark Mothersbaugh and Gustavo Santaolalla.
Prior to BMI, Yee worked at Soundtrack Music Associates as an agent and is a member of the Society of Composers & Lyricists, Independent Feature Project and has served on the Board of Directors for the Hollywood Bowl Society. He holds a BA in English Literature from California State University in Los Angeles and has been a guest instructor at USC, UCLA Extension and California State University Northridge.
Now celebrating more than 65 years in business, BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. With a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works from around the world, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.
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