Board Members

Hao Quach is the President for the Kansas City chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals. He also serves on the Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City. In addition, Hao is a proud Big Brother to his Little Brother, Daniel.

Apart from his non-profit work, Hao is the owner and operator of Ginkgo Embroidery. He is also a certified audit professional with experience in the retail, food, and insurance industries.  

Ailisi was adopted from Hunan, China and has lived the rest of her life growing up in the Kansas City region. She is currently a pre-med in her senior year at college. Along with participating in NAAAP, she is passionate about connecting Asian adoptees and helping others further explore their adoptee identity. She is dedicated to improving the diversity, equity and inclusion with our communities.

Ashok Meka is from South India and came to the USA to pursue higher education. Ashok earned a Masters degree from the Northeastern University (2005) and an MBA from the University of Kansas in 2017. Ashok is currently working for UMB Bank as a Vice President, Business Data Analytics. Ashok is a steering committee member of the UMB Bank's Asian American BRG.

There are very few Asian woman bankers in senior leadership roles. I am the first Asian female appointed to the Community Bank Advisory Council with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I hope that my accomplishments inspire young Asian women. I’m also an Ambassador for United WE, I serve on the Board for Downtown Shareholders of Kansas City Kansas and the Financial Review Board for the Empower Minority Loan Fund with the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council, Advisory Board for the Academy of Finance with Bishop Ward High School along with this board position. 

Nita Norris is a multidisciplinary designer and art director who loves helping brands tell their stories through print, digital, and film. As a freelance designer, she oversees the design and production of several lifestyle magazines and manages social media content for nonprofits like the Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City and The Film Society KC. Previously a senior graphic designer at Evergy, Nita played a key role in the rebranding efforts during the merger of Westar and KCP&L. Her creative passions also extend into film, where she has art directed short films and music videos that have screened at festivals like Sundance and SXSW.

Amy recently transitioned into a leadership role within the Federal Reserve Financial Services division at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She has supported DE&I and community-focused strategies, which included building and developing relationships with community partners, planning and hosting DE&I programs, advising employee-led groups, and piloting a program to connect employees to community leadership opportunities. She has previous experience in talent acquisition and employee engagement. She currently serves as an Executive Committee Member for the DE&I Consortium and is a founding member of an upcoming AAPI employee-led group. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a French minor from Chapman University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Baker University. She is of Vietnamese descent.

As a public health professional, I use data-driven evidence to inform actionable programs that improve the health of people and communities. I am committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in my career and communities, working as an advocate and ally for racial and gender equity and LGBTQIA issues.  I’m a science nerd and social butterfly who enjoys connecting people and projects that align with one another. 

Shah is a senior software engineer at Hallmark Cards.   He is a Java/Android developer and web/app server administrator. Shah interned with Sprint and Missouri Lottery and joined Hallmark out of college in 1998.

Shah received undergraduate degrees in CIS and Accounting and M.S.I.T. degree in Software Engineering from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) and briefly taught programming at UCM.

Shah is one of the founding members of the Asian American ERG called AARCH at Hallmark and is the chair of the group for 2020.  He is also involved with the Hallmark IT diversity and inclusion council and serves as its communications lead. 

Shah is a founding member of the Bangladesh Association of Greater Kansas City (BAGKC) and performed various roles in its board over the years. He is also involved with various non-profit organizations in the greater KC area.

Shah was an undergraduate honors student for English Literature in Bangladesh and was involved in the pro-democratic movement of the late 80s. He had studied many literary figures of the major languages of the world.

Shah lives with his wife (also an English major!) and daughter in Liberty, Missouri. His daughter is an undergraduate at MU, studying Chemical and Nuclear Engineering.  His family is split in 3 countries in 3 different continents: Bangladesh, England, and the USA.

In spare time, Shah reads classical literature, writes blog posts on socio-economic and literary topics, volunteers for non-profit organizations and runs long distances.

Ruth (they/she) is a former teacher and long-time non-profit professional who is highly trained in child and adolescent development, curriculum writing, and restorative justice. Since 2022, they have been a Restorative Practice Specialist and circle keeper at the Center for Conflict Resolution, primarily working with K-12 youth and educators. They also give back to their community through service, volunteering with Jackson County CASA, Our Spot KC, and Pets for Life (alongside their cat, Ellie). In addition, they are currently enrolled in UMKC’s Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies program. In their spare time, they enjoy singing with OUTside Voices, Kansas City’s SATB, LGBTQIA justice chorus; Southeast Asian cooking, and roaming area antique malls

My name is Sai, and I have been a banker at U.S. Bank since 2021. In March 2024, I was promoted to Business Banker. I have a strong passion for empowering small businesses to thrive. I specialize in providing customized financial solutions, which include Merchant Services, Working capital financing, equipment financing, and SBA-backed lending. Currently, I am pursuing a Business Administration degree at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Iris Young brings a unique blend of corporate leadership and community advocacy to her role as Director of Community Outreach & Volunteers. With an MBA in Healthcare Administration and extensive experience in Health IT, project management, and commercial real estate, Iris leverages her expertise to bridge corporate and community partnerships. She is passionate about empowering individuals to reach their full potential and fostering inclusivity across Kansas City.

An active leader in organizations like the Junior League of Kansas City and the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City, Iris is dedicated to serving her community and creating meaningful impact. Known for her warm and approachable nature, Iris is deeply committed to inspiring excellence and elevating those around her. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching Chinese classes, pursuing fitness goals, and spending time with her cat, Barbie

Lei Han is an active member of several nonprofit organizations in the Kansas City metro area, including NAAAP KC (National Association of Asian American Professionals), KCICLC (Kansas City Institute of Chinese Language and Culture), and WEN (Women's Employment Network). She is also a crisis counselor for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Lei strives to make the world a better place, one interaction at a time.
She believes in the value of education, is passionate about helping others reach their full potential, and has a proven track record in developing leaders. Before dedicating her time to volunteering, Lei spent twenty-plus years transforming healthcare with technologies. She was the Vice President of the
Platform Development group at Cerner (now Oracle Health).
Lei enjoys reading books, traveling, and spending time with her family. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Beijing University of Technology and a master’s degree in computer science from Kansas State University. She also received a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from UMKC Bloch
School.

Junann is Past President of the NAAAP-KC. She has worked at Hallmark Cards for 19 years, and is currently a Senior Credit Representative. She is the Vice Chair of the Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark, (AARCH). Through Hallmark’s volunteer program she has contributed to the community in a variety of organizations. She was lead for the Finance Division United Way Campaign, Special Olympics committee member, organized the first Disc Golf Fundraiser for Heartland MS Society, and judges debate and forensics tournaments for Basehor Linwood High School. Junann also volunteers for the Japanese Festival, Harvesters, Salvation Army, Headquarters Counseling Center, Friends of the Zoo, Christmas in October, Karios, Guadalupe Center and multiple church gatherings.

Junann has two children, Nicole a University of Kansas graduate working at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence, Kansas, and Nick a Marine currently stationed at Ft Lee, Virginia for training. She crochets, reads and loves traveling to new places.

David is the Senior Director of Programs for NAAAP, The National Association of Asian American Professionals. He is also a Production Designer at Hallmark Cards and has been with the company for 22 years, where he has held various positions at the Kansas City-based greeting card company, including Production Artist, Process Artist, and Multimedia Designer. David is involved with several Employee Resource Groups at Hallmark and was the 2015 and 2018 Chair of AARCH, Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark. David is also a member of Hallmark's Cultural Sensitivity Consultants, a team brought together to thoroughly consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the business and build a culture of inclusion for employees and consumers. Before Hallmark, he was Operations Manager for Vanguard Airlines Reservations Center and served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. In addition to his duties at NAAAP National, David serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for NAAAP Kansas City and was the Program Director for the 2019 Leadership Convention in Kansas City, MO. David is also a founding member and past National Director of NAAAP Pride, a national program for the Asian American LGBTQ community, and is co-host of the Pride Talk podcast. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he has lived in various countries, including Spain and Germany. David loves to travel and is obsessed with live theatre. He recently returned to school to study his first passion for fashion design and presented his debut collection at Kansas City Fashion Week's 2022 Spring/Summer Runway Show.

Hoang-Anh L. Tran is Chief of Staff for the Administrative Pillar at UMB Financial Corporation. She is responsible for project management supporting the successful integration of strategic organizational initiatives, processes, and communication strategies throughout UMB's Administrative pillar in partnership with Administrative leadership. Prior to her arrival at UMB in 2015, Hoang-Anh served as Assistant Chancellor and Chief of Staff at Syracuse University, providing critical, high-level support to the Chancellor and President in implementing the strategic goals and objectives set forth by the Board of Trustees, and established key institutional leadership networks to guide the planning, designing, and coordination of policies, programs, and projects that impact the structural & programmatic operations of University divisions and units.

Hoang-Anh has over 15 years of experience in administration and academia, from theological education to legal education as well as Division I higher education, and previously worked at Syracuse University, Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. She has a bachelor's degree in arts and literature from Southern Methodist University, and masters of fine arts in creative writing from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington.

In addition to serving as an Advisor on the Board of NAAAP-KC, she currently serves on the Board of the Folly Theater, as well as the Education Committee of Kansas City Young Audiences, which oversees staff efforts to develop and deliver resources for unmet and emerging needs in arts curriculum & programming in school districts. She is also an advisory member of the KC Degrees Business Engagement Advisory Committee.

Sharon Chen joined KCTV5 News in April of 2022.

Sharon took the first steps of her broadcasting career in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where she was an anchor, reporter, photographer, and producer at KDUH-TV. From there, she moved to 10/11 News in Lincoln. After four years in the Cornhusker state, Sharon moved to Colorado Springs and was a reporter/anchor at KOAA TV.

After braving the cold of the Midwest and Rockies, Sharon left for the beautiful islands of Hawaii. At KHNL-TV, she was a reporter/anchor covering the latest news in both the bustling city of Honolulu and smaller island communities.

Sharon left island life to move to San Diego, California, where she has spent the last 12 years. She joined the team at Fox 6 News and then later at Fox 5 San Diego. As a reporter/anchor, she covered top headlines that included the massive May Wildfires of 2014 and the fallout of infamous Mayor Bob Filner.

Sharon was born in Chicago, but raised in the college-rich town of Claremont, California. She graduated from California State University – San Bernardino with a degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism. She also attended the University of California – Los Angeles.

Previous to KCTV 5- Sharon was a part of the Anchor team at WOWT - the NBC affiliate in Omaha.

When Sharon isn’t in the newsroom, you might find her in the kitchen experimenting to find a new culinary creation. She also loves to spend time with her family. Her favorite moments are doing arts and crafts or just being silly with her young daughter.

Sharon is proud of her Chinese heritage and it's why she strongly believes it's important to celebrate all cultures.