Mitz Lee
Chair
Mitz Lee Bio
Ellaine Esteller
Secretary
Ellaine Esteller Bio
Jantima Danford
Treasurer
Jantima Danford Bio
Jason Paguio
Member at Large
Jason Paguio Bio
Justin Paik
Member at Large
Justin Paik Bio
Margaret Sanborn
Member at Large
Margaret Sanborn Bio
Mitz Lee has been a community leader, coalition builder and neighborhood advocate for nearly three decades. Mitz’ early public service started the same way many others have served. She was a military spouse, a Youth Soccer and Little League Team Mom, a Den Mother, a school classroom volunteer, and a School Parent Volunteer Coordinator.
Later, Mitz was elected to the San Diego Unified School District’s Board of Education. Mitz has also served on San Diego City Human Relations Commission. She cofounded several nonprofit organizations and has served on their Board of Directors. In addition, she is now spearheading two neighborhood-focused projects as Executive Director of Mira Mesa Senior Center and Chairperson of D6 Night Market. She continues to serve as President and CEO of Alliance for Quality Education. She also accepted the position of Chair of the Board of Directors of Parents for Quality Education and Asian Pacific American Coalition.
Mitz has received numerous awards for her efforts including the Governor and First Lady’s Service Award, Special Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, the California State Legislature, and from local elected officials, and was named one of the Top 50 People to Watch in San Diego by San Diego Magazine. She also received the 2016 Woman of the Year for the Assembly 77th District, State of California
Mitz received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Economics from the University of the City of Manila and a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Financial Management from National University in San Diego. Mitz has made San Diego her home for 37 years with her husband, a U.S. Navy veteran, and their 2 sons.
Ellaine Esteller is currently a full-time student in San Diego State University, studying to be an environmental engineer and will be graduating this coming spring in May 2020.
She currently interns for the County of San Diego, Planning and Development Department and has been with the department for three years.
In her early years in undergraduate, she was involved in many organizations such as Andres Bonifacio Samahan and Alpha Phi Omega. She has also interned for Silk Road Productions for several years and volunteers in many Asian-American and Pacific-Islander community events throughout San Diego. She hopes to continue helping the community through APAC and through different facets
Fluent in Thai and Lao and English - Subject Matter Expert (SME) of Thai language and cultural studies. Over twenty years in the United States of America, as a community leader, helping the Thai community and Asian Pacific American communities. Innovative and highly motivated individual with strong experience in foreign language acquisition and intercultural communication. Specialized background in counseling, training, and organizational development. Strong interpersonal skills and organizational communication.
Over thirty years experience working as a Medical Convention Organizer managing international conventions and exhibitions in several specialties in Thailand and in the United States. Offered full-service organization for convention and exhibition of any size and type. Planned, programmed, budgeted and directed the acquisition of conventions and exhibitions involving millions of dollars, thousands of people, and state-of-the-art technical equipment in coordination with both civilian and government agencies in Thailand and other countries. Experience working in Sales and Marketing/Project Manager/Office Manager, Casino Marketing, Payroll, Executive Secretary,
Marketing Coordinator, and Fundraising fields. Managed staff, payroll, office management, equipment procurement, and financial matters.
Alexander Nguyen is an Emmy award-winning journalist. He is currently the web producer for KPBS News. As web producer, he is responsible for covering breaking news online, writing web stories, and copy editing and updating the station’s website and social media.
Alexander has covered Southern California extensively for several publications, including Patch, Times of San Diego, MyNewsLA.com, and NBC San Diego where he won several Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club awards for his writing. He is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and San Diego Press Club.
In addition, he's been on the board of several community organizations, such as the Mira Mesa Town Council, Mira Mesa Theatre Guild, Vietnamese American Youth Alliance. He is also involved in producing, either directly or indirectly, several community events, such as the annual San Diego Tet Festival, City Heights Lantern Festival, among others.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in journalism innovation from Syracuse University.
Steve Hsieh has been living in San Diego for over 30 years and has devoted his effort promoting API involvement in public affairs. Steve has also been actively involved in community affairs to booth API visibility.
Since 2018, Steve has been a board member of City of San Diego Citizen's Review Board on Police Practices, as well as the president of San Diego Asian Americans for Equality. Steve is also a senior advisor to Republic of China Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council.
Steve Hsieh holds a bachelor's degree from University of California and a master’s degree from the University of Texas. Steve also receives a board member certificate from The Nonprofit Institute at University of San Diego.
Sara Kamiab is the principal of Ground Link, a political and non-profit fundraising firm in San Diego. Previously, she served as the Director of Political Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce where she managed an educational program for business leaders interested in public service and oversaw PAC endorsements and expenditures.
Prior to joining the Chamber, she directed seven large scale voter turnout operations, including Mayor Kevin Faulconer's 2014 special election.
Before working in politics, Kamiab worked in the medical device industry as a Global Operations Specialist and managed logistics for their international subsidiaries. In addition to her work, Kamiab enjoys volunteering in the community.
For over four years, she has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Voices for Children, an organization providing support to foster youth in San Diego County. She also volunteers in dog rescue and fostering. Kamiab is fluent in Japanese and Farsi. She received a B.S. in Global Supply Chain Management from CSU San Marcos
Jason Paguio is ABASD’s new President & CEO, taking the position in April 2019. Jason is an experienced executive in the private, nonprofit and public sectors. A business owner for over a decade, Jason is the founder of a small manufacturing/assembly company, consulting and management firm and co-founded multiple local nonprofit organizations.
In the public sector, Jason served as the Land Use Policy Advisor at the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors and is former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor of the region’s second largest city. A member of the United Stated Coast Guard Auxiliary, he serves as Communications Staff Officer at San Diego Harbor (114-01-01).
Jason’s involvement in many boards, commissions, and committees spans from the region’s philanthropic community, civic and business centered institutions, to arts and education based organizations. His current civic commitments include Board of Directors, NTC Foundation (Arts District Liberty Station); Board of Directors, Asian Pacific American Coalition, San Diego; Commissioner, City of Coronado Transportation Commission.
San Diego Metro Magazine awarded Jason one of San Diego’s “40 Under 40”, the San Diego Business Journal awarded him a “Most Admired CEO” Finalist, “San Diego’s Next Top Business Leaders Under 40”, winner of the “Emerging Generation: 25 in their 20s”, "Outstanding Business Advocate" by the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, "Rising Star Award" by Philippine American Business Improvement & Development, and is a past member of the San Diego Public Leadership Institute.
Recreationally, Jason is a competitive drum major worldwide. He is a 5-time World Champion Drum Major and is the first person from outside the United Kingdom in over 100 years to win the World Championships in Scotland. Jason has performed and taught in South Africa, Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and throughout the United States, representing the 6-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band of British Columbia.
Justin is an attorney at Ferris & Britton, APC. He joined the firm in 2014 and his primary practice areas include estate planning, trust and estate administration, and business transaction.
He graduated from California Western School of Law cum laude. Prior to attending law school, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Global & International Studies.
In 2016, he served as Vice Chair for the Forum for Emerging Lawyers (now known as New Lawyer Forum), San Diego County Bar Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Korean American Bar Association of San Diego from September, 2015, through September, 2019, and was the President of the Korean American Bar Association of San Diego for the 2017-2018 term.
Justin currently serves as Vice President of the San Diego Korean American Coalition, which seeks to serve and promote the interests of Korean Americans through civic, cultural and education programs and services.
Margaret Sanborn has enjoyed her fifty-four years in San Diego, California with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She has contributed to her community unselfishly and continues to strive to improve the health and well being of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
While in the position of Director of Student Services with Springfield College School of Human Services she obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree in Organizational, Management and Leadership and her Masters of Science Degree in Psychology. With the encouragement of her community, Margaret established the first K-6 Public Charter School with a concentration on improving Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander student education.
In her retirement years Margaret enjoys working in her garden and continues her passion for reading. Margaret continues her work with the Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and is a life member of Ahahui Kiwila Hawaii O San Diego Hawaiian Civic Club and Hui O Hawaii of San Diego. She is also a founder and Executive Director of the Pacific American Education Scholastic Foundation.
She continues to pursue to improve the health and well being of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community by making information available through conferences, workshops and outreach.
Sandy Spackman has enjoyed volunteering at her church, work, and the community for over 30 years. She has served in the Relief Society (Global Women’s Organization) and Young Women organizations at her church as president at different times.
As president, she was responsible for the spiritual and physical well-being of about 500 women in her congregation. Her duties included coordinating the weekly activity, Sunday instruction, and assisting with the physical and emotional needs of each member.
At work, Sandy served as the Civilian Morale Welfare Recreation (CMWR) COO for a two-year term where she was responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations and execution of the CMWR programs and activities; including oversight of standing committees and clubs at SPAWAR.
In the community, Sandy served as secretary and president of the Lao Community Cultural Center of San Diego at different times and currently serves as president of the Lao American Coalition (LAC), secretary of Lao Advocacy of San Diego (LAOSD), and as a local representative for JustServe.org. Some of her efforts included planning of and executing the annual Lao New Year celebration at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, Chollas View Neighborhood Clean-Up, the annual New Year’s Eve Fundraiser, Community Health Fair, Southeast Asian Refugee Experience, and the annual Asian Pacific Islander Culinary Health Cuisine.
Presently, Sandy is involved with LAOSD to advocate with local and state legislators for the inclusion of Lao American refugee stories in K-12 public schools. At work, she leads the Happiness Committee in planning and executing social events in order to build comradery and facilitate good rapport between employees and cross-team collaboration in her organization. As a JustServe.org local rep, she promotes volunteerism in the community by connecting non-profit organizations and volunteers through the website. Sandy works as a configuration management specialist for the Navy. She and her husband have four children and two grandchildren.
