GAACC COMMITTEES
GAACC committees work with staff, the Board, and the community to guide GAACC activities across several focus areas: Development, Membership, Finance, Nomination & Governance, Advocacy, Ovation Gala Planning, Golf Tournament Planning, and the NextGEN Leadership Development Program.
Most GAACC committees are chaired by a member of the GAACC Board of Directors. The service commitment for GAACC committees is one calendar year. Serving in any of these capacities is a pathway to serving on the Board.
Committees, their composition and areas of responsibilities are listed below. Information and updates will be added as committees and programs develop.
If you are interested in serving on a GAACC committee, please complete this online application.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The Development Committee leads the chamber in securing funding and promoting financial growth for the organization. The committee works with our existing partners and develops mechanisms to acquire new corporate partnerships for major events like the Ovation Gala, Fall Classic Golf Tournament, Asian Eats ATX, and the Asia x Austin International Markets Summit.
Helen Haman
Development Committee Chair
Strategic Program & Operations Senior Manager
Accenture
Pilar Castillo
Development Committee Co-Chair
Senior Vice President
First United Bank
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Membership Committee reviews the membership structure and develops/executes member programs. Within the Membership Committee are subcommittees, each led by a Captain. Each Captain is tasked with designing solutions and events that serve our members.
You can find more information about each subcommittee below. If you are interested in volunteering in one of the Membership Subcommittees, please complete the Membership Subcommittee Application.
Naoko Cole
Membership Committee Chair
Director, Business Operations
Tokyo Electron
Wan J. Kim
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Senior Investment Strategist & Vice President
Dimensional Fund Advisors
MEMBERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEES & CAPTAINS
Membership Growth Subcommittee
The Membership Growth Subcommittee focuses on membership development at all levels by conceptualizing and creating initiatives and engagement to drive membership growth and improve benefits for all Chamber members, partners, sponsors and our larger communities. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Wan J. Kim
Membership Growth Captain
Senior Investment Strategist & Vice President
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Women's Club Subcommittee
The Women’s Club is our monthly member meetup where leaders in the community come together to share a meal at one of our member restaurants while enjoying a leadership presentation or talk on a wide variety of subjects. Each meetup includes dedicated networking time to strengthen connections. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Women’s Club Captain
Co-Founder
A Better Force
Facebook Community Group Subcommittee
The Facebook Community Group Subcommittee focuses on engaging with GAACC members through our “GAACC Asian Chamber Community” Facebook group. This group provides a platform for business owners, young professionals, and members to engage, share information, and connect. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Joscelyn Moen
Facebook Community Group Captain
Senior Investment Strategist & Vice President
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Carolyn Cummins
Facebook Community Group Co-Captain
Santosha Solutions
Membership Events Subcommittee
The Membership Events Subcommittee hosts member-focused events such as member mixers, networking parties, and luncheons to connect our members and the Central Texas Asian business community together and provide in-person opportunities to network, have fun, and learn from one another while enjoying the warm environment of a member business or partner. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Kimberly Chung
Membership Events Captain
Orchid Events ATX
Small Business Development Subcommittee
The Small Business Development Subcommittee provides support and education to GAACC members and the AAPI business community by hosting Master Classes, Women/Minority/SB/HUB certification support initiatives, business development workshops, and resources for business growth. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Marion Soojin Park
Small Business Development Captain
Erti
Conversations Series Subcommittee
The Conversations Series Subcommittee leads this brand new GAACC initiative offering expertise and insight which can only come from experience. The GAACC Conversations series features inspirational interviews with AAPI entrepreneurs, business leaders, and civic figures. These interactions happen during intimate, live events and also on our forthcoming “Conversations With Patty V.” podcast. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.
Min Choe
Conversations Series Captain
Prize winners will be drawn and notified on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
finance COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee advises GAACC with financial matters. (Participation on the Finance Committee is open to Board of Directors members only.)
Shanaz Hemmati
Finance Committee Chair
Co-Founder & COO
ZenBusiness
Harrison Kim
Finance Committee Co-Chair
Senior Vice President of Business Strategy
Austin FC
ovation GALA planning COMMITTEE
This committee plans Ovation, our annual awards fundraiser. This gala event includes recognizing leaders in our community, a recap of GAACC programs, events, and impact, entertainment, amazing networking opportunities, and much more. This event is often referred to as “the BEST party in town!”
Ahmed Moledina
Ovation Gala Planning Chair
CEO
SOAL Technologies
golf planning COMMITTEE
This committee plans and executes our annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament. This event provides friendly competition, great prizes, fun activities, and networking with GAACC board members and other prominent leaders in the Central Texas Asian Pacific American business and civic community.
Minh Tran
Golf Planning Chair
Chairman/CEO
EmmyEvan
nominating & governance COMMITTEE
This committee identifies and recommends candidates to serve as nominees for election to the Board. This Committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles and assist the Board in assessing the Board’s performance of its duties and responsibilities. (Participation on the Nomination & Governance Committee is open to Board of Directors members only.)
Jessica Huynh
N&G Committee Chair
Senior Associate Attorney
Smith & Vinson Law Firm
Mojdeh Gharbi
N&G Committee Co-Chair
Business Leader & Advocate
advocacy COMMITTEE
This committee reviews and recommends advocacy initiatives and policies. GAACC advocates for our members, Asian Pacific American (APA) businesses in Central Texas, and the APA community both locally, statewide, and nationally.
This committee develops, establishes, and executes upon the Chamber’s Advocacy efforts.
Ahmed Moledina
Advocacy Committee Chair
CEO
SOAL Technologies
NEXTGEN COMMITTEE
Young AAPI professionals and entrepreneurs – our “next generation” – are a critical element in our community’s vibrancy and our ability to impact and influence the future. Supporting and even accelerating the development of young leaders and entrepreneurs is a critical piece of the GAACC’s work.
NextGEN is the newest GAACC committee, established in August, 2024. Committee members focus on the development and deployment of new GAACC programs intended to support the development of young AAPI entrepreneurs and professionals in Central Texas.
YJ Lin
NextGEN Community Engagement Captain
Dell for Startups
Tu Ta
NextGEN Professional Development Captain
Amplify
Rohan Thapar
GAACC Leadership Accelerator Co-Captain
Payments and Enterprise Platform
Shenghao “Daniel” Wang
GAACC Leadership Accelerator Co-Captain
Travis Central Appraisal District
KOREAN BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Korean Business and Technology Committee (K-BTC) supports Korean entrepreneurs and business leaders in greater Austin by providing resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship to encourage growth and innovation. K-BTC welcomes new Korean and Korean-American entrepreneurs, connecting traditional practices with modern technologies to create an inclusive and thriving business community promoting economic growth and cultural pride.
Jay Choi
K-BTC Co-Captain
Founder & President
Mission Ready, Inc.
Francis Pahng
K-BTC Co-Captain
Cupix
K-BTC Mission Statement
The Korean Business and Technology Committee (K-BTC) is dedicated to empowering Korean entrepreneurs and business leaders in the greater Austin, Texas, area. The committee’s mission is to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth within the community by providing resources, networking opportunities, and strategic support tailored to the unique needs of Korean-American businesses.
We are committed to welcoming new Korean and Korean-American entrepreneurs relocating to Austin and supporting startups in connecting the dots and receiving mentorship. Through education, mentorship, and advocacy, K-BTC aims to bridge the gap between generations and unite traditional practices with modern and emerging technologies. We strive to create a vibrant, inclusive ecosystem where entrepreneurs can thrive, drive economic growth, and make a lasting impact both locally and globally.
Together, we build a stronger future for Korean entrepreneurs by fostering a network of mutual support, cultural pride, and business excellence.
If you are interested in serving on a GAACC committee, please complete this online application.