Julie Belleza was the Technology Chair at NAAAP Colorado in 2009, spending most of the year enhancing the chapter website. She is a software development engineer at Qwest Communications. Her various involvement within the Denver Asian community includes: guitarist for the Philippine Rondalla of Denver, Dragon Boat paddler for the PASCO and Qwest Communications teams, Dragon Boat Team Captain for Qwest Communications, and volunteer at the 2009 NAAAP Convention. Julie received a MS in Information Technology from the Daniels Business College at the University of Denver. She attended Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering, minors in biology and music.
Dana Faulk was born in Crowley, Louisiana. With a Cajun father, a first-generation Korean mother, she was exposed to diversity and cultural creativity at an early age. Ms. Faulk began her career in the food and beverage industry, managing some of Colorado's top restaurants. In 2006, Dana transitioned into the marketing and production space, working as a marketing associate and business strategy developer for Environmental Communications Associates and the Big Green Company, both based out of Boulder, Colorado. After an enriching experience with these two companies, Dana joined the team at eTown, a nationally broadcast live-radio show that blends music with a message of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. After two years as the Director of Sponsorship and Marketing for eTown, Dana rejoined the food and beverage industry, her passion, and is now the head of business operations at Salt Bistro in Boulder. Marketing Advisor
Donna H. Hansen is passionate about education and community building. An active member of the National Association of Asian American Professionals, J-Spot, Japan America Society of Colorado, National Association of REALTORS, Colorado Association of REALTORS®, Denver Board of REALTORS®, Metrolist Certified Professionals, a Transnational Referral Certified Broker, Metro State Alumni and Examiner.com she is engaged in the larger community. A lover of all things green: gardening, reusing, recycling and growing she hopes to build the membership of NAAAP and expand it's reach into the community. Membership Advisor
Tim Higashide has strong leadership skills effective in working with all NAAAP members and assuring that NAAAP projects are accomplished successfully. After graduating from the University of Colorado-Boulder, he has been actively involved with the Asian-American Community in Denver area. Currently Tim is attending the University of Colorado-Denver for MBA and MS Finance. Having spent over 14 years in Japan, Tim is also fluent in Japanese.
Michelle Liu was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. She graduated from Arizona State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Supply Chain Management.
Growing up in Arizona, Michelle was active in the Chinese community attending the Chinese school, involved with the Chinese church community, and was a representative for the Phoenix Chinese United Association to help bridge youth with their culture and community. In 2002, Michelle was Mistress of Ceremonies for the annual Miss Phoenix Chinese United Beauty Pageant. In 2008, as a representative for Phoenix Chinese United, she was a judge at the first Miss Colorado Asian-Pacific American Pageant.
Prior to graduating from college, Michelle was very active with the ASU - Alpha Kappa Psi Chapter, which is a global professional business fraternity. Her three year experience includes taking on the following roles:
- President (Aug-Dec 2002)
- Master of Rituals (Jan-Jun 2002)
- Professional Committee Chair (Aug-Dec 2001)
- Formal Committee Chair (Aug-Dec 2000)
In 2003, Michelle interned at the White House for the Presidential Personnel Office. During this internship, she also assisted in planning an event on behalf of the White House Public Relations office for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders appointed by the administration.
Since then, Michelle has been living in Colorado focusing on her career at Qwest Communications as part of the supply chain strategic planning group and is currently a project / process manager.
Jackie Loh is the Vice President of Finance and Administration for Qualistar, responsible for Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Prior to joining Qualistar, Jackie spent 10 years at Promise Keepers, a national non-profit organization based out of Denver, Colorado, where she advanced from Financial Analyst to CFO. Jackie holds a master's degree in Information Systems from the University of Colorado - Denver, and Master of Professional Accounting degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Jennifer Lovell has been an active member of NAAAP since attending her first NAAAP National Convention in 2006 in Seattle. She first worked as part of the Core Team in Charlotte, NC to help establish a base as the current North Carolina NAAAP Chapter is located more than 150 miles away. A job move brought Jennifer to Colorado in 2007 where she engaged with the NAAAP Colorado team.
Jennifer attended Texas Christian University where she received her degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. She is currently a Sr. HR Business Partner with Medtronic and has spent 12 years in HR with companies such as Verizon, Pepsi Bottling Group and Axcelis Technologies. NAAAP's vision of "We Make Leaders!" aligns with her role in the corporate world of identifying and developing the leaders of today and tomorrow. Programming Advisor
Melodie Reagan, CEO of Auromira™ Executive Advantage, a national recruitment, staffing and workforce management firm, is an international business leader and entrepreneur, having led teams throughout the US, Europe and Asia. Her 20+ years of Communications and Information industry experience includes line of business management with profit and loss accountability, product management and development, marketing, eCRM, and systems development. Previously, she was Sr. Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales Operations and Sr. Vice President of Transport Services for Level(3) Communications; a global practice leader and industry analyst with Telechoice; and she held marketing leadership positions with Wiltel, Sprint, and US West.
Her business achievements span starting and leading a successful staffing and recruitment firm, having up to $1 billion product line responsibility serving consumers, all size businesses and government, and leading a top performing international consultancy. Melodie has managed operating budgets of up to $35 million, directed technical and non-technical staffs of more than 130 throughout the globe (US, EU and Asia). She has consistently won performance awards including President’s Club, Women Legislator’s Outstanding Women of Colorado, and NAFE’s Women of Excellence for Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement.
Melodie has a passion for serving her community. In addition to regularly speaking on leadership, workforce trends and career development, she founded WBE (Women Business Executives), served as a judge in both 2005 and 2006 for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards – Rocky Mountain Region, was Board Director for ACG (Association for Corporate Growth) Denver and is currently President of TiE-Rockies. Melodie graduated magna cum laude with a BSBA in Marketing, Management Information Systems and Management Science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She has two wonderful sons, Aaron and Bryce. Leadership Advisor
Zak Umetani is a Colorado native attended University of Colorado at Boulder attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He is currently working as the Director of Operations at McMahon & Company, a benefits consulting firm. He has been active in NAAAP since 2006 after attending a networking event. Zak helped with the 2009 NAAAP National Convention as the Volunteer Co-Chair. Community Relations Advisor
SomXai Vue is the Chair of Colorado Chapter for the National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee, Project Manager for Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Co-founder of the Hmong Colorado Radio and serving as Programs Director and Producer, and Board of Director & C-1 for the United States National Defense Corps.
SomXai actively involved with the Hmong, Lao, and other Asian American communities in various aspects. He served as the Treasurer for the Laotian Republican of Colorado, Board of Director and Public Relations officer for HMAAC, and Staff SG. & a Webmaster for United States Volunteers – America, Inc. He is the Past President of the Hmong American Association of Colorado and the Hmong in Colorado, and an Advisor for the 13th Hmong National Conference. He was a campaign volunteer and Host Committee Member for Bob Beauprez, United State Congress.
SomXai holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Information Technology from the University of Denver (DU) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Management from Metro State College of Denver. SomXai is presently working for a law firm in Downtown Denver as an Information Technology Manager. Technology Advisor
Jay Zheng is a seasoned professional with innovative thought leadership and practical experience in culture and global business integration. His business development-centric and people-focused approach has enabled organizations to connect business objectives with diversity and inclusion, global talent development and employee engagement.
Mr. Zheng recently joined Prudential Financial to pursue his dream in entrepreneurship. His previous career includes 14 years of progressive corporate business integration experience with Sun Microsystems, StorageTek and Xerox.
In addition to on-the-job achievements, Mr. Zheng is a respected leader in Diversity and Inclusion in corporate and community; in Colorado and across the nation. He transformed the Asian Employee Resource Group (ERG) practice at StorageTek and Sun Microsystems from culture-centric to business partnership in global talent management and business development. He is the founder and President of the Colorado chapter of National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) and serves on the Board for NAAAP National.
Mr. Zheng was named by Diversity Edge magazine as a 2008 Diversity Champion, http://www.thediversityedge.com/diversity_champions.htm. He facilitated Asian ERG discussion at the Network & Affinity Leadership Congress (NALC) 2009 and was a panelist several times at NAAAP Conventions and NALC on Diversity and Inclusion and Asian ERG development practice.
He received MBA in Marketing, E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship from Simon Business School, University of Rochester, and MS in Polymer Chemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology. He received his BS in Chemistry from Shanghai Teacher’s University in China. Sponsorship Advisor