| Leadership |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shandon Phan Anh Tu Do Michelle Mai Selesky Marlene Maily Do David Truong Chris Phan
*** Shandon Phan
Shandon Phan oversees the Coalition’s formation and strategic development, devoting his time to building a national network of Republican activists, candidates, and leaders in the Asian Pacific American community. A reform-minded conservative with broad experience in grassroots organizing, coalition building, issue advocacy, and strategic communications, he has effectively defended and advanced Republican policies and conservative ideals. Shandon is currently Director of Communications and Civic Engagement at BPSOS, Inc. and Principal of Publius Consulting, an IT and communications consulting firm which provides cutting-edge IT solutions, market research services, and Internet marketing strategies to educational institutions, political campaigns, non-profit organizations, and small to midsize businesses.. Shandon graduated from Tulane University with a B.S.E. degree with honors in Computer Engineering and Mathematics and earned his J.D. from University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was an International Law Student Fellow, Captain of the Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, President of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and Secretary of the Executive Moot Court Board. He currently serves on several non-profit boards, including as Acting Chairperson of the Vietnamese American National Chamber of Commerce (VietAmCham) and Community Outreach Committee Chair for the Vietnamese American Bar Association of the Greater Washington DC area (VABA-DC). Inspired by the event of 9/11, Shandon served for one year as an AmeriCorps volunteer upon his graduation from college in 2002. His AmeriCorps experience ignited his passion for public service and he went on to mentor at-risk youths, organizing voter registration drives, founding a civic organization called Project VOICE, and hosting “Youth & Society,” a bilingual issue-oriented radio talk show on Saigon Houston 900AM, to promote community service and active citizenry among younger generation Vietnamese Americans. Shandon has spearheaded many issue advocacy initiatives, worked with community-based non-profits, action tanks, and international NGO's, including BPSOS, International Republican Institute and Institute for Religion and Public Policy, as well as political campaigns at both state and national levels. He is a frequent political commentator on various Vietnamese American TV and radio stations, including weekly appearances as a contributing issue analyst on the "Current Affairs" talk show on SBTN-DC. During the 2008 election, he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention and served as a surrogate speaker for the Republican National Committee and as an Asian-American Coalitions National Co-Chair for the John McCain presidential campaign. He most recently assisted with the successful Bob McDonnell for Governor capmpaign in Virginia. An avid runner and reader in his free time, he has completed four Marine Corps marathons and is writing his first book on Vietnamese American history.
Anh Tu Do
Anh Tu worked for 14 years as a Human Resources Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service. Seeking financial independence and more time with her family, she made a career change in June 2003. Anh Tu is currently a realtor at Westgate Realty Group, Inc. in Falls Church, VA. She specializes in both residential and commercial real estate. She is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club and Top Producer in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She sits on the Vietnamese Forum Advisory Board and she is a member of the Community Outreach Committee for the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. She is also a member of Asian Real Estate Association of American (AREAA) DC Metro Chapter. Anh Tu is active in her community and has volunteered extensively with the Republican Party. She serves on the Braddock District Business Advisory Council. She is an active member of the Fairfax County Republican Committee and currently serves as Precinct Captain for both Bristow and Heritage Precincts. In addition, Anh Tu was appointed to serve on the Board of the Fairfax County Convention & Visitors Corporation (more commonly referred to as "Visit Fairfax"). The corporation is the Award Winning Official Destination Marketing Organization of Fairfax County. As the Virginia Co-Chair of the Vietnamese-Americans for McCain-Palin 2008 Coalition, Anh Tu helped organize several political rallies, coordinated outreach and fundraising events, translated election materials, registered new voters, assisted with 72-hour get out the vote (GOTV) efforts, and conducted Vietnamese language phone banks during the 2008 presidential campaign as well as other campaigns throughout the years. Elected as Virginia 11th Congressional District Delegate to the Virginia Republican State Convention in May 2009, Anh Tu has actively volunteered with the John Cook for Supervisor of Braddock District campaign, Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General, Bob McDonnell for Governor campaigns as well numerous other local campaigns, especially the recent and historic mid-term election of 2010. Anh Tu earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Decision Science and Management Information Systems from George Mason University. She currently lives in Annandale with her son Daniel and attends St. Michael church where she is the Pro-Life Coordinator.
Michelle Mai Selesky Secretary/Director of Communications
Michelle is Communications Coordinator at Gingrich Communications where she orchestrates radio and media opportunities for the former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his co-authors, in addition to promoting speeches, book signings, Newt.org, and DVD and audio marketing. She also serves as the Communications Director of the Young Conservatives Coalition (YCC). Michelle holds a Masters Degree in Political Management from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. In 2007, she graduated with honors from UCLA, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and served as team captain of the UCLA Women's Gymnastics team. Before joining Gingrich Communications, Michelle was a production assistant intern at The Michael Reagan Show in Los Angeles. She currently works and resides in Washington, DC.
Marlene Maily Do
Marlene Maily Do is Chief Executive Officer of Vietnamese Public Radio (VPR), the largest Vietnamese-language public radio network in the U.S. Prior to this position, she co-founded and directed Vietnamese Public Radio of Oklahoma City, a local VPR network affiliate station. Marlene is the principal owner of International Language Services and President of M.L.S.B., LLC, a real estate investment company she founded. She obtained her B.S. degree in Computer Science and Management from the University of Central Oklahoma. Active in Republican politics, she previously served as Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma County Republican Party from 2002-2004, and as an Oklahoma Delegate to the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004. Marlene is a 2007 graduate of the FBI Citizen Program in Oklahoma.
David Truong
David is an Assistant General Counsel for Verizon specializing in government contracts and other corporate transactional matters. Previously, he was Legal Counsel for Accenture LLP. David began his legal career in the Federal government serving as an attorney-advisor for the Office of the General Counsel, OPM, and an Assistant General Counsel for the National Science Foundation before making the switch to the commercial sector. In addition to his professional work, David is an active member of the Dulles Church of Christ, a non-denomination Christian congregation that he and his wife, Marilyn, in joint efforts with a few other families, established in 2007. David is also a member of VietHope, a non profit organization that provides scholarships to impoverished students in Vietnam who otherwise would not be able to go to school. David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government & Politics from George Mason University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law, and an LL.M. in Government Procurement Law from The George Washington University Law School. He is a licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Virginia and an active member of the Vietnamese-American Bar Association. David met his wife at Wednesday night Bible study and has been married since 2000. They live in Ashburn, VA and have a dog name Winston.
Chris Phan
Lieutenant Commander Christopher (Chinh) V. Phan is a JAG officer in the Reserve component of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has recently been recalled to active duty for one year to serve as legal counsel for our wounded troops in the Wounded Warrior program at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Norfolk, VA. LCDR Phan immigrated to the United States from Vietnam when he was nine years old. His family and he settled in Carmel, Indiana. After high school, LCDR Phan attended college at Indiana University. LCDR Phan attended Southern Illinois University School of Law where he was editor of the school's law journal. LCDR Phan graduated from law school in 1999 and joined the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps after he passed the Illinois Bar. After completing Officer Indoctrination School and Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, LCDR Phan reported to Naval Legal Service Office, Branch Office Earle, New Jersey in April 2001 for his first tour of duty. At Earle, LCDR Phan served as defense counsel, legal assistance attorney, and Branch Head. LCDR Phan reported to the Trial Service Office, Yokosuka, Japan in July 2003 and served as a Navy prosecutor. LCDR Phan served as Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group One from May 2005-May 2007. During this time, he deployed to Iraq with a SEAL squadron for six months. His primary duties there included detainee operations and advising Commanders on the rules of engagement and the Geneva Convention regulations. Upon his return to California from Iraq and passing the CA Bar, he decided to make Garden Grove his home. He enjoys serving our community and feels blessed to be living in Southern CA. LCDR Phan was also the President and founding member of the Vietnamese American Armed Forces Association (VAAFA). VAAFA consists of Vietnamese American service members from all branches of the United States military. It is a professional networking and community service association. LCDR Phan resigned for active duty in June 2008, opened his law practice in Fountain Valley, CA, and worked as a government contracts attorney for the Navy Office of General Counsel before he was recalled to active duty. He is authorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of 4th award), the Navy Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of 3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Marksman Riffle Ribbon, and the Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon. In his spare time, LCDR Phan enjoys working out, running marathons, and spending time with his friends and family. [Chris Phan is a member of the United States Navy Reserve. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. ] |
Election 2009
