Advocacy. Connection. Education.

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

Pilar Castillo
Development Committee Co-Chair

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 Committee Application

Naoko Cole
Membership Committee Chair

Wan J. Kim
Membership Committee Co-Chair

MEMBERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEES & CAPTAINS

Membership Growth Subcommittee

The Membership Growth Subcommittee focuses on membership development at all levels by conceptualizing and creating 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

Women's Club Subcommittee

The Women’s Club program brings together a dynamic group of women entrepreneurs and executives who grow and learn from each other. The Club meets every other month to eat amazing food from one of our community restaurants, enjoy a presentation that is inspiring, educational, and fun, and network to strengthen relationships and business. If you are interested in serving on this subcommittee, please complete this application.

Aileen Yu
Women’s Club Captain

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.

Michael Wei 
Facebook Community Group Captain

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.

Michelle Sledz
Small Business Development Captain

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

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

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

Yuen Yung
Finance Committee Co-Chair

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

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 

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 

Mojdeh Gharbi
N&G Committee Co-Chair 

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. 

Rashed Islam
Advocacy Committee Chair 

Ahmed Moledina
Advocacy Committee Co-Chair 

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

Tu Ta
NextGEN Professional Development Captain

Rohan Thapar  
GAACC Leadership Accelerator Co-Captain

Shenghao “Daniel” Wang
GAACC Leadership Accelerator Co-Captain