Asian American Pacific Islander Commission

Taemy Kim-Mander is a Korean American entrepreneur and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) based in Denver, Colorado. Originally from Los Angeles, she relocated to Colorado with her family in August 2020 and founded Open Heart Behavior Services in August 2022. She is passionate about her work with clients and families with developmental disabilities and/or autism. 

She serves as co-chair on the Denver Asian American Commission, where she works to build belonging and provide visible leadership for the next generation of Asian Americans.

Taemy is committed to living according to her values - combining her professional expertise in behavior analysis with her dedication to community service and cultural advocacy. Through her business and community involvement, she strives to make a meaningful impact while staying true to her identity and purpose.

Alana Kahalamapuana Pettaway is a born and raised Denver native, with family roots from Oahu,Hawaii and Trinidad, Colorado. Growing up between the vibrant culture of the Rockies and the rich traditions of the Hawaiian culture, Alana has always been guided by the principles of community, respect and resilience.  

She graduated from Denver School of Science and Technology’s first campus on Montview — Go Knights! Alana is a patient representative that assists with advocating for patient rights within Colorado. As a mother of a daughter and a soon to be wife, she balances both professional and personal roles with grace, patience and great optimism. When she is not at work, she is honoring her Hawaiian culture by learning and practicing Hula & Oli with Lei Hulu.

In 2023, she created the marketing design for the Colorado4Maui benefit, which included several Polynesian organizations that came together to raise awareness and fundraise to help those affected by the wildfires in Maui. With a strong sense of responsibility toward supporting the AAPI community, Alana works to bridge the gap between cultures, creating opportunities and fostering inclusivity. 

“Pūpūkahi i holomua” (Unite in order to progress).

Sean Choi is a Colorado Native and Korean American. As a first-generation college student, Sean attended the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Political Science and later attended the University of Colorado at Denver graduating with an M.B.A. in Finance.

After joining FirstBank as an intern in 2011, Sean spent over a decade as a residential and commercial real estate lender and is currently serving as the Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for FirstBank and a Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In addition to overseeing the company’s Diversity efforts, Sean also oversees the bank’s Learning & Development department, helping current and future bankers elevate in their careers. Sean has a passion for creating strong and engaged work cultures that benefit employees, customers and the community. Sean is also actively involved in the community. He is currently a board member for the FoodBank of the Rockies and an advisory board member for B:Civic. He also serves on the advisory boards for ActivateWork and Sharing Connexions. He has previously served as a Board Member on multiple non-profits including the Asian Chamber of Commerce (former Board Chair), Scholars Unlimited (former Board Chair), the Havana Business Improvement District (Aurora, CO), and the Aurora Symphony Orchestra.

Through coaching, empathy and perspective, Sean supports people to be their most authentic self, build sustainable relationships and create joyful environments that enable inclusion and belonging.

Howard is a Colorado DNC member and former 1st Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. A devout Climate Champion, Howard is the Director of AAPI Engagement for the DNC Environmental and Climate Crisis Council and former Colorado State Advisory Board for Climate Power. He is one of the founding members of the Colorado Working Families Party, currently serving on its executive committee. In addition, Howard is also on the Colorado People’s Alliance Board currently serving as its Treasurer. He is also both a PWG and CBTU union member. 

Howard is an immigrant who came to the United States through the sponsorship of his late grandmother. He is a husband and father of 2 and is currently a Political Strategist & Consultant. Prior to that, he worked for about 17 years in Market Research and Polling including Political Ad and Message testing. He has worked on 5 Democratic Presidential campaigns including the private polling and message testing for Barack Obama's Hope and Change campaign.

Lulu Lantzy is the Chief Activation Officer for the Auraria Campus, a vibrant 150-acre academic neighborhood in the heart of Denver. Having dedicated her career to mentoring and elevating the next generation, Lulu is excited to connect the Auraria Campus to the community and help create a robust learning environment. Prior to Auraria, Lulu was a part of the Emily Griffith Tech College Executive Team. As the head of partnerships and innovation, Lulu oversaw the successful implementation of current and prospective employer engagement initiatives and leveraged industry partnerships to connect students to the Colorado workforce.

An entrepreneur at heart, Lulu ran her first business when she was a sophomore at the University of Michigan. While working multiple jobs to pay for school, she started a summer business employing 6 people and successfully turned enough profit to pay for the rest of her education. She was hooked on the exhilarating feeling of building something from scratch and launched several successful construction companies straight out of college. Lulu joined the Entrepreneur’s Organization in 2006 as one of its youngest members. Inspired by the mentors who deeply impacted her journey, Lulu became the Executive Vice President of the largest student entrepreneurial boot camp in the US, mentoring hundreds of undergrads through their business ventures.

Deeply committed to the Denver community, Lulu serves as a Techstars Mentor and board member for the Asian Chamber of Commerce and Civic Center Conservancy. In recognition of her leadership, Lulu was named Denver Business Journal’s 40 under 40, Titan 100, and the Women’s Chamber’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the great state of Colorado. Always one to push herself outside her comfort zone, she hiked from Switzerland to Italy with Virgin Strive to help raise money for Big Change.

Tiffany Le is the Project Coordinator for Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships (HRCP), assisting HRCP program managers in developing, organizing, promoting, and executing various programs and initiatives.

Tiffany graduated from the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, specifically focused on marketing and international business.

Originally from Huế, Vietnam, her parents migrated to the United States after the Vietnam War. Tiffany was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She enjoys reading and spending time with her four siblings in her free time.

SummerEun Lee is the founder of Send HEPi Pathways, a mentorship initiative that champions immigrants and young adults by providing them with tools for mental health, financial literacy and personal growth. She is also the CEO of NordlyUS Capital, a commercial lending brokerage firm that connects investors, developers and business owners with strategic financing solutions for their real estate ventures. Through her sharp industry insight and “people first” approach, she helps clients structure deals that create long term value and community impact. As a first generation immigrant, Summer is deeply passionate about giving back to her community, particularly through initiatives that empower others and strives to create lasting change through both her professional and personal endeavors. Outside of her work, Summer enjoys practicing martial arts, which fuels her drive for discipline, resilience and continuous growth, and finds creative fulfillment in building Gundam robots where precision, patience and imagination come to life. For Summer, these hobbies are not just pastimes; they reflect her commitment to problem-solving, innovation and lifelong learning!

Tri Nguyen is a seasoned marketing and technology consultant based in Denver, Colorado, with over a decade of experience leading complex projects and building strong client relationships. With a career that spans strategic consulting, project management and implementation across the mortgage, financial services and technology sectors.

Tri holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. His entrepreneurial mindset, combined with deep expertise in both marketing and technology, makes him a versatile leader committed to driving results and innovation. 

Tri is a refugee from Vietnam and his story is shaped by his family's journey to the United States. His dad served in the Vietnam War, and as a result of his service, his family was sponsored to come to the U.S. in 1995.

His personal experiences as a refugee have given him a unique "superpower" that many immigrants share—the ability to face adversity and overcome obstacles with grace, pride and integrity.

Currently, he's proud to partner with Convivir Colorado, a community organization founded by an undocumented immigrant to support youth impacted by migration.

Neal Walia is the Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, where he leads legislative strategy, regulatory advocacy, and coalition engagement to advance primary care and public health. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Asian Pacific Development Center, ran for U.S. Congress in Colorado’s 1st District, and spent five years in Washington, D.C., working for the National Governors Association and Quorum Analytics. Neal began his public service career as a staffer to current U.S. Senator and former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Colorado South Asian Democrats, Board Member of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, and Co-Captain for the Denver Democratic Party House District 9B team.

As a seasoned data professional with expertise in compliance and risk management, Jory brings a unique blend of technical skills and community leadership experience. Currently, Jory serves a Commissioner of Denver's Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission, fostering collaboration between the AAPI community and city agencies. Additionally, Jory holds the position of Vice President of the Asian Roundtable of Colorado and Executive Producer of the AAPI Culture Fest.

With a strong educational foundation from the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business, Jory is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to drive positive impact in both the private and public sectors.

Originally from Fresno, California, Kevin has called the Denver metro area home for the past 28 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Denver and has built a career in the tech industry. Currently, he serves as a Partner Operations Manager at a leading software company, supporting the global partner alliance team within the security and identity management sector.

Outside of work, Kevin serves as the Vice President of the Hmong American Association of Colorado, where he leads nonprofit efforts to support the Hmong community through cultural programming, educational initiatives, and the creative arts. Kevin is deeply motivated by a desire to give back and uplift his community, and he hopes to continue this advocacy and support in even greater ways.

In his personal time, Kevin enjoys cooking, reading, and staying active. Whether experimenting with new recipes, diving into a great book, or prioritizing fitness, he’s always seeking opportunities for personal growth.

Rose Dang is a second generation Vietnamese American. Her parents are her heroes who fled the VietNam war. She is a Colorado native who lives and breathes for them and never takes for granted their sacrifice. Rose attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She attended Arapahoe Community College where she received her Paralegal Certificate. Rose is a Litigation Paralegal that defends Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, and health care professionals. She loves the challenges of her complex cases and taking them to trial which helps her navigate her moral compass and the pursuit of justice.

Rose graduated from the Colorado Dragon Boat Emerging Leaders in March 2025 which sparked her passion of activism. She is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA), Treasurer of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus, and will be a mentor and volunteer for Asian Girls Ignite. Rose joined DAAPIC because it is her duty and honor to use her voice, to protect, and advocate for her community. She intends to get to know the other commissions so that we can align and create a brighter future for everyone. 

Her core values are: love, commitment, and perseverance which means that she has pure intentions, keeps her word, and never quits.

Kerry Kelley is a proud descendant of Thai, Black, and White heritage, raised in a military family that instilled discipline, resilience, and a global perspective. Growing up, Kerry traveled extensively, experiencing diverse cultures that shaped her appreciation for identity, belonging, and the importance of community connection. These formative years fostered her commitment to amplifying voices that too often go unheard and to ensuring that multicultural narratives are celebrated and represented.

With more than 15 years of experience in the legal and financial sectors, Kerry has built a career focused on advocacy, compliance, and service. She has managed legal operations at the corporate level, built departments from the ground up, and worked directly with families navigating complex legal and financial challenges. As the founder of Symphony Pearl Designs & Co., Kerry channels her creativity into jewelry design, using pearls as a metaphor for resilience and transformation. Her business is both an artistic pursuit and a cultural expression bringing together identity, storytelling, and healing

Kerry believes true representation comes through relationships as much as policy. Guided by resilience, cultural pride, and a spirit of service, she is committed to building bridges that honor both the shared and unique experiences of Denver’s AANHPI communities.

Cameron Green is a first-generation Cambodian American adoptee born in California and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He holds an M.A. in History from the University of Wyoming.

A mission-driven leader, he joined Creative West (formerly the Western States Arts Federation) in 2021 and now serves as the Regional Engagement Manager. In this role, he leads innovative programming, acts as a strategic thought partner and manages consulting services for the organization’s portfolio of state arts agencies in the West. He believes strongly in volunteerism and community service, and in addition to his work as a commissioner for the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, he serves on the boards of Colorado Dragon Boat and Art of the Rural, and volunteers with Playground Ensemble. He is an alum of several leadership programs, including Colorado Business Committee for the Arts Leadership Arts (2023-2024), Colorado Dragon Boat Emerging Leaders Program (2024-2025), and WESTAF's Emerging Leaders of Color (2021).

He strives to empower individuals and communities by fostering collaboration and building trust through arts, culture, and creativity, driven by a vision for a more healthy, vibrant, and connected world.