Speaker Bios

Lindsay Gee Calvert (she/her) has been an international education and nonprofit professional for nearly 20 years. She started her career with the Institute of International Education (IIE) and has served in roles that have focused on the organization’s mission of promoting access to opportunity through international higher education. Lindsay currently serves as the Director of the IIENetwork and the IIE Center for Access and Equity, leveraging IIE’s expertise and resources to support the organization’s global stakeholders and constituents.

Lindsay is a proud native Houstonian and member of the AAPI community. As part of the extensive and well-rooted Gee family in Houston, her heritage extends from China through Angel Island with the immigration of her maternal grandfather in the 1920s as a young man, eventually building a family and grocery business in Houston’s Third Ward in the 1940s. They were part of the extended family of Gees who came together in the 1950s to establish the Gee Family Association (GFA) of Houston that has continued to this day as an organization that connects and promotes family unity among living descendants. The Gee Family Association also supports family, local youth, and professionals through educational scholarships organized by the GFA's Education Fund (GFAEF), which was established in 1998 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and is governed by a volunteer Board of family and community members. Lindsay is currently Vice President of the GFAEF Board and past president of the GFA. In 2023, Lindsay was appointed to the City of Houston Mayor’s AAPI Advisory Board and elected as Secretary, also serving on both the City Engagement and Convention committees.

Lindsay is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, TX with a B.A. in both International Studies, with a Latin America concentration, and Spanish. She completed Rice University’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives Certificate Program in 2020 and obtained the Certified Diversity Professional credential from the Institute for Diversity Certification in 2023.

Theresa W. Chang is an attorney and special commissioner of the eminent domain administrative hearing in Houston. Governor Abbott appointed Chang to serve on the Texas Commission on the Arts in September 2019. She previously served as the Judge of Harris County Civil Court. Prior to being elected as the Judge of Harris County Civil Court, Theresa served as Associate Municipal Judge of City of Houston, Harris County District Clerk, and Division Chief of Harris County Attorney’s Office.

Chang obtained her Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Texas A&M University System and was a registered Professional Engineer prior to earning her law degree from the South Texas College of Law. 

Currently, Theresa is a member of the Board of Directors of the South Texas College of Law, the Chinese Community Center, and the Board of Trustees of Houston Grand Opera. Chang was appointed to the Board of Regents of University of Houston by then Governor George W. Bush in 1997. She has served on the Board of many other organizations, such as YMCA, American Leadership Forum, Strake Foundation, Houston Area Urban League and Texas Governor’s Commission for Women, and served as President for Texas Executive Women and Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Chang has been honored with numerous accolades in recognition of her professionalism and community involvement. Along with husband Dr. Peter Chang (and two sons), they believe deeply in giving back to the community through serving as gala chairs or honorary chairs of many charitable organizations.

Deborah Y. Chen is an immigration attorney at The Law Offices of Deborah Y. Chen & Associates and longtime community activist for the past 20+ years. She is an expert in Small, Minority, Woman, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SMWDBE) Government Contracting Programs and Supplier Diversity. She is the former Sr. Executive Staff Analyst at the City of Houston MayorÕs Office of Affirmative Action & Contract Compliance and worked to promote equal opportunities, fair treatment, and capacity building for SMWDBEs and was Division Manager for MWDBE & Affirmative Action at the Human Relations Department of the City of Kansas City, MO. Debbie has been an active member of the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since attending the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and advocating for an Asian American Studies Center and the importance of UT to consider the needs/concerns of AAPI students in UT hiring of counselors at the student counseling center and inclusion of AAPIs in scholarship considerations.

She received her JD from South Texas College of Law and is a recipient of the Lyndon B. Johnson Civil Rights Award, State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Distinguished Service Award, and the Garnet F. Coleman AmeriCorps Civic Volunteer Award. She serves on the Board of OCA-Greater Houston Chapter where she co-founded the Houston AAPI Film Festival Committee and co-organizes the OCA-GH Advocacy Center’s monthly Citizenship Workshops, pro-bono legal resource guide, and bi-annual National Asian Pacific American Elections Exit Survey Houston sites and GOTV efforts.

Born in Canada and raised in Houston, Howard Chen is currently a producer for ESPN, working mostly with ESPN’s international partnerships and broadcasts. Howard’s past includes being a reporter on Houston Rockets & Houston Astros broadcasts for Comcast SportsNet Houston. He has also been a reporter and host for Houston’s SportsRadio 610 and a digital/social media specialist at KPRC2 Houston, as well as a Sports Producer at FOX 26 Houston. In his spare time, Howard serves as the Vice President of the Texas chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and is part of the leadership board of AAJA’s Sports Task Force.  He has also served as the STF group’s President, with the hope of encouraging and guiding more people to go after their dreams, even when the path may seem unconventional.

Ms.  Shane Chen is the Chief Operations Officer of the Asian American Health Coalition dba HOPE Clinic.  The coalition established HOPE Clinic in 2002, and today, HOPE is a comprehensive Federally Qualified Health Center with mission, “to provide quality health care without any prejudice to all people of greater Houston, in  a culturally and linguistically competent manner”. 

Believing that health care is beyond the walls of the exam rooms, Ms. Chen has led upstream transformation efforts to address equity in primary care by establishing strong community partners to share resources and to maintain an effective network of care. Since 2008, Ms. Chen has overseen HOPE Clinic's operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and growth.  In her leisure time, Ms. Chen is a booster member of Dulles High School and dedicates her time as advisory of Texas Association of Community Health Centers, BSA Troop 1116 of Arrowhead District, Harris County Precinct 4, and other community organizations.

Albert Lee Cheng is a native Houstonian who has worked in public health, government, and politics his entire career. Albert is currently the Director of the Southwest Coalition for Memorial Hermann Health System. The SW Coalition is a community collaborative working to improve the economic conditions in the SW community through workforce development as part of Memorial Hermann’s commitment as an anchor institution. 

Prior to joining Memorial Hermann, Albert was the Manager of Government Affairs for Harris County Public Health (HCPH), where he was responsible for health policy issues and governmental & regulatory affairs on the local, state, and federal levels.  At HCPH, he also served as the Liaison Officer in the Incident Command System (ICS) during numerous county emergency activations. Before HCPH, he oversaw voter registration for Harris County in the Harris County Tax Assessor Collector & Voter Registrar’s office.

 Albert worked eight years for United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in her Houston office as the Deputy Regional Director and covered the Harlingen office for ten months. Albert has worked on numerous political campaigns and served as the Campaign Manager for Orlando Sanchez’ 2001 election for Mayor of Houston in which they nearly doubled Hispanic turnout (for a city election) in a narrow loss.  He has run several political action committees - Free PAC, Dynegy PAC, and Texas Latino Conservatives PAC. He has worked numerous sessions at the Texas Legislature as a lobbyist and was involved in passing the Medical Malpractice Caps working for Texans for Lawsuit Reform. 

Albert was appointed and re-appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors as a public member.  Albert’s late father, Samuel K. Cheng, P.E, was a civil/structural engineer who worked his entire career in the petrochemical industry. 

Albert is a Board Member and the Government Affairs & Community Affairs Chairman of his civic association, Maplewood North/South Community Improvement Association. He also serves on the Greater Meyerland Super Neighborhood Council as the Recording Secretary and is involved in numerous community and political (elected Republican precinct chair) organizations and activities.

Albert graduated from Bellaire High School and the University of Houston. He is married and they have two children and a rescue dog and a rescue cat. 

Shern-Min Chow anchors KHOU 11 News at Noon weekdays, fills in on other newscasts and reports. She joined the station in 1996. 

She began her career in journalism as a stringer for Newsweek and has worked at KTRK-TV and anchored at KPRC-TV in Houston, as well as KENS-TV in San Antonio. Chow's awards include the Houston Press Club Award for Best Series, the Texas Associated Press Award for Best Spot Newscast-Producer and an Emmy for the documentary "Hong Kong Under the Dragon." 

Shern-Min speaks often to civic groups, schools, churches and other organizations. Over the years, she has made close to 1,000 community appearances. She is currently on the advisory boards of the Asia Society and the Chinese Community center. She has previously served on the boards of SpringSpirit Baseball, the Bo & Stacey Porter Self Foundation, the YWCA, The Houston Ballet, the Chinese Community Center and The Bayou City Medical Center. 

A history graduate from Yale University, Shern-Min speaks  conversational Mandarin and Shang Hai dialects of Chinese. She has also studied Spanish, French and German. Shern-Min and her husband have two sons. They are new graduates of Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Amanda Focke has worked with the Houston Asian American Archives since its inception in 2009 at Rice University. The Houston Asian American Archive collects, documents, and preserves the lived experiences of the Asian diaspora in Houston, aiming to develop a broader understanding of history through their lens, which continues to evolve towards the studies of Asia in a transnational perspective. Focke collaborates closely with the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University to build these collections and provide public access to them both online and physically (https://haaa.rice.edu/). Focke is a Certified Archivist, Digital Archives Specialist, holds a BA from Georgetown University, and a Masters in Library Science from the University of Maryland. 

On January 3, 2021, U.S. Congressman Al Green took the oath of office to serve the people of Texas’ 9th Congressional District and began his ninth term in the United States House of Representatives. As a veteran civil rights advocate, he has fought for those in society whose voices, too often, are not heard.

Congressman Al Green currently serves on the Financial Services Committee as well as the Committee on Homeland Security. On the Financial Services Committee, he serves on three subcommittees: Diversity and Inclusion; Housing, Community Development,  and Insurance;  as well as Oversight and Investigations, where he holds the position of Chair. On the Committee on Homeland Security, he serves on two subcommittees: Emergency Preparedness, Response, & Recovery and Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations. 

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Congressman Al Green’s family taught him the importance of positive preparation through education and righteous resistance to overcome persistent injustice. He attended Florida A&M University, Howard University, and the Tuskegee Institute. Without receiving an undergraduate degree, he enrolled in the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1973. As a law student, he earned awards in Federal Procedure and Conflicts.

After graduating from law school, Congressman Al Green co-founded and co-managed the law firm of Green, Wilson, Dewberry, and Fitch. In 1977, he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Harris County, Texas, where he served for 26 years before retiring in 2004.  Throughout his career, Congressman Al Green has enjoyed the respect of his colleagues as well as a wide cross-section of community leaders, who have praised his legal skills, impeccable character, and ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.

For approximately ten years, Congressman Al Green served as president of the Houston Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Under his leadership, the organization grew to unprecedented heights, increasing membership from a few hundred to many thousands, and the staff from one to more than ten.

As a testament to his exceptional service to the community, and in recognition of his outstanding professional achievement as well as his superior leadership ability, Congressman Al Green has received numerous awards and accolades. Steadfast in his commitment to serving the communities he represents in Congress, he is a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) as well as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Congressman Green holds memberships in several community organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

As evidence of how truly blessed Congressman Al Green believes he is, when asked, “How are you?” he often responds, “Better than I deserve.”

Phuong Ha has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to literary pursuits, having regularly overstayed her welcome in libraries and bookstores in Houston, Texas from an early age. Her passion and love for storytelling led her to earn a B.A. in Literature and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Houston. Her professional journey led her to work for a local literacy non-profit organization and publishing company. In her advocacy work, she helped publish language arts curriculum and collaborated with educators to enhance writing integration in K-12 classrooms. Phuong provided creative writing programs and publishing opportunities to more than 23,000 students in the Greater Houston area and beyond. Presently, Phuong serves as the Senior Education and Outreach Manager for Asia Society Texas, fostering partnerships with educators and community stakeholders to promote accessible cultural studies. Of particular note are her contributions to content curation and research for the Center’s Explore Asia exhibition, Houston's inaugural interactive Asia-focused permanent exhibition, and the development of Asia in the Classroom, an online learning platform featuring interactive graphic novels and lesson plans.

Mr. Nomaan K. Husain is the founder of Husain Law + Associates, PC. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Mayor of Houston's AAPI advisory board, a Commissioner on President Biden's White House Fellowship Commission, he also serves as a Commissioner on the Harris County Houston Sports Authority and a member of the Dean's Advisory Committee for University of Texas at Austin's College of Liberal Arts and University of Texas School of Dentistry.

Former Houston City Council member district F, 2004-2009

President ISGH 2015-2018

President PAGH 1986; 1997-2001

Representative Suleman Lalani, M.D. has been in private practice in the Sugar Land and greater Houston area for over two decades. In the early 90s, he arrived in the United States from Pakistan to begin his medical career and has spent his career working to close the gap in access to healthcare through his medical practice and charitable endeavors.

Rep. Lalani completed his fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine and has attended courses at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University College of Physicians. He is quadruple board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. The American Board of Post-Acute and Long-term Care has credentialed him as a Certified Medical Director. He is among a top credentialed elite group of physicians nationwide with these qualifications. He has been recognized by the National Register of Who’s Who for Excellence in Geriatric Medicine.

Rep. Lalani has served in leadership roles in professional, medical, faith, and nonprofit organizations. He has served as both an Ambassador to the United States Congress and as a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association. His interest in caring for his patients, especially the elderly, continually leads him toward researching solutions to the common problems that elder members of the community face.

Rep. Lalani believes strongly in philanthropy and volunteer service. He served four years as Chairman of the Regional Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation USA, which operates under a mandate to alleviate global poverty and improve the quality of life for all. He is also involved with raising awareness and funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Alzheimer's Association. Locally he serves on the board of the Fort Bend Rainbow Room. This resource room is stocked with emergency and transitional supplies meeting critical needs for Fort Bend County's abused and neglected children and adults. He also serves as President of the Board of the Exchange Club of Fort Bend, America's premier service club, working to make our communities better places to live.

In November 2022, Rep. Lalani was elected to represent House District 76 which encompasses parts of Fort Bend County Texas, including the cities of Sugar Land, Stafford, Richmond & Meadows Place, and was created during the 2021 Texas Redistricting process. Though his first term he was assigned to senior House Committees and serves on the Higher Education, Natural Resources, and Resolutions Calendars.

Since 2006, Andrew Lee has produced award winning documentaries, scripted features, and series projects that have been released theatrically, digitally and/or broadcast by MGM/Orion Pictures, IFC Films/Sundance Selects, Gravitas Ventures/WarnerBros Digital, PBS, etc. His latest features include co-producing on Slamdance Film Festival 2019 documentary Seadrift about the Vietnamese refugees that settled in Texas that broadcast on PBS's Reel South series and producing on Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story, executive produced by Steph Curry, about the inventor of the basketball jump shot which premiered at SXSW 2019 and released on VOD in 2020. During the pandemic, he also produced on Gold Futures Challenge winning short film “Stories Within” which is now available for educational and community screenings through Third World Newsreel. He’s now working on film and education projects covering the history of Chinese immigration to Mexico in the late 1800s and escape from persecution to Texas during the Mexican Revolution.

Nancy Li, an educational and community activist, has dedicated 30 years to these roles. Raised in communist China, she overcame challenges to attend university. She co-founded Royal Public Schools & its Education Foundation, serves as Vice Chair for the City of Houston Mayor’s AAPI Advisory Board, Trustee for Holocaust Museum Houston etc. Recognized for her advocacy, Nancy was named one of Houston's Top 30 Influential Women in 2016 and Top 50 Influential Women in 2023.

Peggy Li joined the American Constitution Society (ACS) in October 2015 and currently serves as the Senior Director of Chapters. In this capacity, she assists in managing the existing network of ACS chapters, facilitating the programming of chapters, working with members to realize their potential for creating a constructive dialogue for change, cultivating and supporting our next generation of progressive leaders, building connections and strengthening our progressive network, promoting diversity and inclusion throughout our network, seeking opportunities to found new ACS chapters, building and maintaining relationships with advisors, and integrating chapter activities and chapter members into ACS’s substantive initiatives and network of members.

Before joining ACS, Li served as a Staff Attorney at Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) working primarily with rural seniors on elder, housing, and public benefits law. Li also served as a coordinator for LSNC’s Race Equity Project conducting research, facilitating monthly calls, spearheading office-wide projects, and providing trainings on framing, implicit bias, and social cognition. She has also been published in the Washington Monthly, the ACS Blog, the Akron Law Review, and the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice.

Li currently serves as the Vice President for Programs and Operations for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (she also co-chairs NFALA’s Advocacy Committee and serves on its Judicial and Executive Appointments and Nominations Committee). She is also a Steering Committee Member for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's Civil Rights Committee. She previously served as the Vice President of Community Relations for the Asian American Bar Association of Houston.

Li earned her B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She is a member of the California State Bar (inactive) and the Texas State Bar. At Berkeley Law, Li was a William K. Coblentz Civil Rights Endowment Student Research Fellow at the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, a Managing Editor for the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law, and the President of the Berkeley Law ACS Student Chapter. She is an ACS Next Generation Leader.

Li lives in Houston with her husband.

Pooja Lodhia is a News Reporter for ABC13 Eyewitness News.   

Pooja was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has also worked as a reporter in Louisiana, Michigan, and Florida.  

She has degrees in English Literature and Journalism and a minor in Modern Dance from Emory University in Atlanta. 

Some of her most impactful stories in Houston include Hurricane Harvey, multiple World Series wins, and a week-long trade mission to India with Governor Greg Abbott.    

Pooja believes everybody has a story worth telling, and she’s honored to be able to do so!  

Nabila Mansoor has spent the last several years working to improve political awareness in underrepresented communities. She is past Executive Director at Emgage Texas, a civic engagement organization committed to politically engaging the Texas Muslim American community. Nabila is also the President of Houston AADT (Asian Democrats of Texas) and Treasurer on the Texas Board of AADT. Currently, Nabila sits on the Fort Bend County LID 17 Board. Nabila also led ECI’s (Empowering Communities Initiative) 2020 Census initiative to ensure a full count of Houston’s AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) population. Nabila has spent much of her professional and personal life in activating citizenship across differing groups of people. She has a background in community organizing, leadership development and strategic planning. She holds a law degree from University of Houston Law Center.

Mallory Matson is a high school English Language Arts teacher who enjoys writing and exploring various creative pursuits. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Mal channels her focus towards bridging knowledge and opportunity gaps within her local community. While her work in curriculum development and leading initiatives to improve cultural humility on campuses have proven effective, her work continues to center around nurturing community well-being. Advocating for equity and a sense of belonging, Mal engages in meaningful collaborations with local and national organizations like Asia Society Texas and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. She is motivated by her Chinese and Filipina-American heritage and aspires to foster environments that are accessible, welcoming, and reflective of the multifaceted composition of society.

Mahtab Moradi has a background in counseling psychology with over 22 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998. She returned to her hometown of Houston to complete her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She went on to continue her postgraduate degree with a fellowship in behavioral medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. 

Through her career in counseling, Moradi has served in clinical roles and worked with at-risk adolescents with behavioral challenges in developing programs, working with the juvenile justice systems across the states, and delivering trauma-informed care and individualized educational programs to adolescents and young adults. In addition, she has participated in community based practices including offering pro bono training in public schools, speaking engagements on topics of mental health with different organizations, promoting mental health services in faith based communities, and being an advocate for challenges for those with barriers to access.

Currently, Moradi serves as the project manager for Ibn Sina Foundation. This project has yielded the opportunity for behavioral health integration as part of best practices in primary care. In this role she has helped recruit, hire, and train a team of multidisciplinary behavioral health clinicians. Her team has been able to serve patients, provide group education classes, and develop training protocols for staff development.  

Moradi is deeply involved in community service and has held various roles on boards and with associations and organzations.

Don Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam and raised in Houston, Texas. 

After attending the United States Military Academy West Point and graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in economics and mathematics, Don pursued a career in renewable energy for 10 years before finding his actual calling: reconciling the dichotomy of the Asian-American experience through barbecue. 

He is a trendsetter in Texas barbecue and recognized for spearheading the movement of incorporating ethnic ingredients and dishes with the techniques and smoked meats of Central Texas barbecue. His journey with Vietnamese food and barbecue has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Texas Monthly, Eater, and Local Palate.

He is a CFA charterholder, currently a Senior Director, Origination for FirstLight Power - a renewable energy developer, and pursues his barbecue pop-up, Khói Barbecue, on weekends. He’s also a Yeti Ambassador and is currently reimagining a 1970s bungalow in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood to build a permanent brick and mortar space for Khói.

Jason Nguyen is a Senior Investigative Producer at KPRC 2 News in Houston, TX. He’s passionate about uncovering the truth, holding people in power accountable, and fighting for those who often don’t have a voice. With almost two decades of experience in local TV news, Jason's worked nearly every job in newsrooms across the country. He spent the bulk of that time as an on-air reporter and has been recognized with multiple awards including the Rocky Mountain Regional Emmys and Utah Society of Professional Journalists.

Rosie Nguyen is the Race and Culture Reporter at ABC13 Houston (KTRK-TV). Her passion lies in covering issues impacting our diverse communities and highlighting their contributions to society with the intention of combating harmful stereotypes and stigma against them.

She moved to Houston in 2021 and has loved calling the Bayou City her home. Rosie comes to Texas from her hometown of Salt Lake City, where she helped launch the market's first live nightly news discussion show during the 7 p.m. hour. As the anchor and host of "In Focus", she explored various topics of community interest such as racial equity, LGBTQ+ issues, disability rights, restorative justice, intergenerational poverty, and mental health.

During her time in Utah, she won multiple awards including a 2021 Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy in the Breaking News category as an anchor during the destructive George Floyd riots. She's also won several first-place awards with the Utah Society of Professional Journalists.

Rosie is the daughter of two Vietnam War refugees and speaks Vietnamese fluently. She and her boyfriend, Jason are excited to live in a city with one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the country.

Christopher was appointed by the Mayor in 2018 to serve as the Director for Trade and International Affairs for the City of Houston. In this role, Christopher leads the City’s international business development efforts as well as engagement with foreign governments and international organizations.

Prior to his appointment, Christopher held positions as a diplomat, business consultant, and military officer. With the U.S. Department of State, Christopher had diplomatic postings in the Balkans, South and Central Asia, worked as a program manager in Washington, D.C. supervising programs in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, and advised U.S. and international business executives on a range of economic, trade, and political issues.

As a business consultant in the private sector, Christopher advised companies on corporate market strategy, organizational structure, and business processes. During his military service Christopher was a U.S. Navy Officer leading large, diverse, cross functional teams. Christopher has supported special warfare operations, worked as a staff officer for the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, and led anti-terrorism and continuity of operations programs.

Christopher is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in history and political science and holds a master’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Prior to joining the City of Houston, Christopher obtained an MBA from Rice University Business School with a focus on strategy and innovation where he was recognized as a Jones Scholar for academic and leadership excellence.

Christopher helps lead the World Energy City Partnership network of global cities leading the energy transition, is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business honors society, was recognized as a Global Leader of Influence by the World Affairs Council, and is active in entrepreneurship and veterans' affairs.

Bao Ong is a restaurant columnist for the Houston Chronicle. He previously worked on staff at Eater New York, Bon Appétit and Time Out New York. In addition to Bao's background in journalism, he also graduated from the French Culinary Institute. He moved to Houston in summer 2022 and in his first year, he won the top award in the Comment and Criticism category awarded by the Texas Managing Editors organization. Follow where he's eating and drinking on Instagram: @baohaus

Chef Mike was born and raised in Little Saigon, California, where his classical French training merged with his passion for burgers to create Trill Burgers in Houston's Montrose district. A descendant of Vietnamese immigrants who fled war-torn Vietnam, Chef Mike has always yearned to be able to contribute to the great American story.  After high school, Chef Mike pursued his love for the culinary arts by attending Le Cordon Bleu. After graduation, Chef Mike worked through Michelin-starred kitchens to further his craft. He eventually turned his attention back to his first true love. Burgers. Chef Mike has committed most of his career to perfecting what he believes is pure Americana. He then went on to win the title of “best burger in America” on Good Morning America and was Crowned Chopped Champion on Burger Impossible. 

Bio forthcoming

Mustafa Tameez is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outreach Strategists, a leading full-service public relations and marketing firm. With nearly 30 years of experience, Mustafa is a digital marketing expert, strategic consultant in communications and public affairs, and an authority in multicultural markets.

Under Mustafa’s leadership, Outreach Strategists has helped global brands, public agencies, and industry leaders connect with hard-to-reach constituencies. Mustafa’s long career in communications and public affairs has focused on helping clients overcome communication challenges and develop new markets. He has led successful campaigns on healthcare, education, and consumer safety recall efforts, as well as provided strategic guidance to new business ventures and start-ups.

Mustafa has worked with a diverse range of clients, including national brands like Uber, Facebook, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as local entities and non-profits like AARP Texas and the Houston Police Department. He is a national opinion leader, with over 1,000 appearances on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Honored as one of “2023 Most Admired CEO’s” by the Houston Business Journal, “PR Professional Who Makes a Difference” by Bulldog PR and presented with the “Rising 10 Award” by the Asian Chamber of Commerce, Mustafa’s expertise is not just recognized, but coveted.

In addition to his work with Outreach Strategists, Mustafa is actively involved in various community organizations. He is the Chairman of the Board for the Transportation Advocacy Group-Houston, a board member of the Asia Society of Texas, a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, an alumnus of the Texas Lyceum, and a member of multiple civic boards.

Zack Tawatari joined the KHOU 11 team in July of 2021. He was born and raised in California, spending the majority of his life growing up Orange County. But he decided to go to school in New York, at NYU, where he’d end up spending a total of 11 years between college and his first station before moving back to the Los Angeles/OC area for the latest stop in his career.

Zack spent the first part of his career as a member of the New York sports media but has since covered everything from hurricanes to wild fires to race relations. His wide variety of stories has made him a versatile reporter and passionate storyteller. He won a New York Press Club award for his series “Tommy John: Career Saves Leader” in 2016.

Zack loves to play golf, and is a huge sports fan; baseball especially. He’s excited to be in Houston, and looks forward to being part of a community that is so diverse and has such a rich history!”

Judith Teruya is a Senior Advisor at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Judith also serves as a Designated Federal Officer for the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Prior to joining WHIAANHPI, Judith worked for Congresswoman Grace Meng, Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). During her time with Congresswoman Meng, Judith shepherded legislation through Congress that created a commission responsible for studying the potential creation of a national museum on AA and NHPI history and culture, which President Biden signed into law in June 2022. Additionally, Judith led the effort to create a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice that would provide resources to the community-based organizations fighting hate crimes. Judith was born and raised in Hawai’i and was previously a fellow with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.

Lily Trieu is a cross-sector professional with more than 15 years of experience in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Currently she serves as a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to connect Asian and Pacific Islander Texans to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power. Prior to her policy and advocacy work, Lily spent over a decade in the private sector with a focus on strategy, relationship management, and project management. She has a BBA in Marketing and BA in Asian Studies from The University of Texas Austin as well as an MBA with a concentration in Public and Governmental Affairs from the McCombs School of Business and completed a Portfolio Studies in Nonprofit Management.

Chef Kiran Verma, a 2023 James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Texas and considered the "godmother of Indian fine dining," has created world-class Indian cuisine at her eponymous restaurant. Chef Kiran is a self-taught chef who has been guided by her Indian upbringing and a love of fine cuisine. She defines her cuisine as a combination of cultures, philosophies and cooking techniques. The restaurant is known for serving up Indian hospitality, with French sophistication and American informality. Kiran’s award-winning wine list of over 300 labels, along with monthly wine dinners, complements the delicate flavors of the food. Chef Kiran served as a guest judge on Top Chef Season 19.

Feeding children has become a cause especially close to Chef Kiran’s heart. In 2023, she partnered with India’s celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor to raise funds for Akshaya Patra, the world’s largest NGO to serve midday meals to underprivileged children in schools in India and together, the chefs raised over $250,000.