Ahmad (Adam) Tavakoly
Heritage: Iranian/ American / Middle East / Asia
Language(s): Farsi/ English / Spanish
Religion: Moslem
Graduate from Florida International University Electrical Engineering Technology. Member of Progress club of Miami, Public Affairs alliance of Iranian American PAIAA.ORG, Iranian professional Associations, , Active in different business associations.
Purpose to be on the board:
Serving the Asian community and promote understanding our culture , try to help our community to achieve our goals, and by involvement with our local government and make them hear our issues and voice.
Message to the community:
I look forward to serving the Asian community of South Florida it is honor to be included in this organization.
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Ghassan F. Aref
Heritage: Palestine / Arab / Middle East / Asia
Language(s): Arabic / English / Italian
Religion: Moslem
Undergraduate degree in Business Finance, Masters in Business Administration. Currently Financial Advisor. Owner of Plan Life, Member of Million Dollar Round Table 2005-2008, Member West Kendall Business Association.
Purpose to be on the board:
The board is my way to serve the community, and help raise our concerns, so they can be heard and addressed by the appropriate governing authorities, in an effort to provide a better quality of life for the Asian American community.
Message to the community:
There is a lot of work to be done. I hope I can be as much of contributing member as you expect me to, and with your support we can move forward.
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Lisa Hu Barquist, Esq.,
Second Chair and Secretary, has been practicing as an attorney for the past 20 years. Ms. Barquist was a former federal prosecutor for 11 years and was in large firm civil practice for 9 years. She previously served as Editor on Law Review and earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law Center in 1989. She is admitted to practice in four States: CA (admitted since 1989), NY (admitted since 1996), FL (admitted since 2004), and Washington, D.C. (admitted since 2005). Prior to law school, Ms. Barquist attended Yale University and was awarded a B.A. in English Literature. She is actively engaged in volunteer community service and relations, such as serving as an Officer and Director of the Florida China Chamber of Commerce, member of the Taiwan Business Association, and Mistress of Ceremony at the annual Chinese New Year Festival at the Miami Dade Community College in Kendall, Miss Florida Asia Pageant, and other hosting/speaking engagements.
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Atchana Capellini
Heritage: Thai
Language(s): English, Thai
Religion: Buddhist
Owner, Atchana’s East West Kitchen, Coconut Grove & Siam Lotus Room, South Miami.
Purpose to be on the board:
To promote our beautiful Asian cultures and issues.
Message to the community:
I look forward to serving the Asian community of South Florida in any way I can and consider it an honor to be included in this organization. My family and I are committed to our local schools, businesses and to the Thai Temple, and membership on the board is a wonderful way to extend that commitment.
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Nasser Effekhari
Heritage: Iranian
Language(s): Farsi, English, Spanish
Physician, Diplomat, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Rehab. Medicine, University of Miami. Currently in private practice, member of staff at Mercy Hospital, University ofMiami Hospital and South Miami Hospital.Subject of Biographical Record in Who's Who in America,The Marquis Who's Who Publication Boards since 1998Founding member and past president, Iranian Cultural Society of South Florida.
Purpose to be on the board:
To share my professional, educational and cultural experiences with our community in South Florida.
Message to the community:
"Children of Adam are members of one body,
Who are created from the same origin;
If one member is in pain,
The other members cannot be at peace"
Saadi, Persian Poet born 1200AD in Shiraz, Iran
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Sadrul H. Fasihi
Heritage: Pakistani
Language(s): English, Urdu
Religion: Islam
Retired Computer Analyst - Project Manager. Since retirement, I volunteer for the UHI Clinic—a Medical clinic that serves the un-insured and needy in the community.
Purpose to be on the board:
To bring all communities together - Involve into social and civic activities of the communities.
Message to the community:
To help those who cannot help themselves in the community.
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Josephine Shih Gordy
Heritage: Chinese / Australian
Language(s): English, Chinese (Cantonese dialect)
Religion: Catholic
Professional: Owner of a small business (AlkaLife International).Community Service: Governing Board – NANAY Inc, Board member/Secretary – NANAY Housing Resource Center, Board member/Secretary– Chinese American Benevolent Association, Board member of the Asian American Federation of Florida, Inc, Board member of Organization of Chinese Americans – South Florida Chapter
Purpose to be on the board:
My goal is to foster mutual respect among all groups of citizens; because only through knowledge and respect can we achieve peace and harmony.
Message to the community:
“Time invested in community service, today, will bear fruit in the future for our children.”
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Ming Lau Ho
Heritage: Chinese
Language(s): Cantonese, mandarin (written, spoken fluently)Spanish, English
Religion: None
Professional: Owner of a small business (AlkaLife International).Community Service: Governing Board – NANAY Inc, Board member/Secretary – NANAY Housing Resource Center, Board member/Secretary– Chinese American Benevolent Association, Board member of the Asian American Federation of Florida, Inc, Board member of Organization of Chinese Americans – South Florida Chapter.
Purpose to be on the board:
Thirty years in the import / export industry, Lifelong entrepreneur and visionary, Overseer and participant in the Chinese’s community cultural affairs.
Message to the community:
To enhance relationships between diverse cultures and to represent the Chinese community of Miami.
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Jose Keichi Fuentes
Heritage: Japanese - Cuban
Language(s): Spanish and English
Religion: Catholic
Chairman, United Home Care Services; Immediate Past Chairman, Miami-Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board and Board Member, St. Thomas University. Member of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (JAMF) He also included in “Who’s Who” of Asian-American., has been featured in The Miami Herald numerous times for his dedication and devotion to Community Service and also for his Japanese/ Cuban heritage. He has also been invited to the White House at the invitation of President George W. Bush during the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month. At the invitation of Governor Jeb Bush in 2005 he served as part of the U.S./Florida Delegation to the Aichi World Expo in Nagoya Japan, which had as its’ theme “Celebrating Natures Wisdom”.
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Sundeep K. Mullick, Esq.
Heritage: Indian
Language(s): English and Hindi
Religion: Hindu
B.A. from Tufts University, and a J.D. from The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is admitted to the Bars of Florida, New York and New Jersey, is a Partner at Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A. He concentrates his practice on general and complex commercial and business litigation. He has been named a "Rising Star 2009" by Florida Super Lawyers, also serves on the Board of Directors and is actively involved in the operation of Sunil's Home, a Florida based charity that helps orphans in India.
Purpose to be on the board:
To represent my community and to serve the larger Asian-American community.
Message to the community:
Through our involvement in our communities, we can better the lives of our neighbors and ourselves.
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Nazifa N. Given
Heritage: Afghanistan
Language(s): English and fluent Farsi
Born in Kabul, and emigrated with my family to the United States in 1968. Received Bachelors Degree in Architecture from the University of Tennessee and currently serve as the senior project designer and manager for an architectural firm producing projects ranging from custom residential to retail, commercial, educational and industrial facilities, projects for the public sector, served in various capacities in the parent Teacher Student Associations from their elementary through high schools years, including president of the JROTC Booster Club as MAST academy.
Message to the community:
As a native born Afghan women of the Muslim faith I am passionate about helping people because I believe those who have survived negative environment are reaching for a better life deserve a helping hand.
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Veena Panjabi
Heritage: Hindu of East Indian decent
Language(s): Hindi, Sindhi, English, French, Arabic and Spanish.
The Panjabi family business World Industries distributes American food products to Suriname, Guyana, St.Maarten, St. Thomas, Puerto-Rico, and the Bahamas. Mrs. Panjabi was educated in Cairo Egypt, Beirut Lebanon, went to boarding School in England, in Switzerland where she studied languages, is member of Voices for Children - Miami, Florida; Board Member, Governance Committee, fundraising arm of the Guardian Ad-Litem program, helping to raise $3.3 million in 2006, 2004 recipient of the American Red Cross Spectrum Award for Volunteerism, 2004 recipient of the “Donor Next Door Award,” Women’s Leadership Board, Kennedy School of Government, Founding Member of U.N based, Vital Voices, India. Executive Board Member of Indo-USA Chamber of Commerce, Florida. Dean’s Council The Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago.
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Salina Jivani
Heritage: American of Pakistani descent.
Language(s): Can speak and write Urdu, speak Hindi, Gujrati and Katchi.
Attorney specializing in Real Estate.
Education: South Texas College of Law, J.D.
Bachesheshir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
The University of Miami, Cum Laude.
Purpose to be on the board:
To relay the needs of minority communities to the local government.
Message to the community:
Please contact me if you have a concern that you would like the local government officials to address.
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Jeffrey E. Tsai
Heritage: Chinese American
Religion: Christian
Jeff is a Deputy Chief in the Major Crimes Section at the United States Attorney’s Office, served as co-counsel in the Joe Cool trial, a quadruple-homicide and hijacking conspiracy prosecuted under the federal Achille Lauro high-seas piracy statute.
Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, worked in private practice in Northern California and served as a law clerk for a federal judge in Houston, Texas. He received a law degree from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Purpose to be on the board:
Provide a greater voice for the Asian American community to the Board of Commissioners
Message to the community:
As the Asian American community continues to grow in South Florida, the Board hopes to continue to serve as one of its voices and visible faces.
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Mehmet Ullutas
Heritage: Turkish
Language(s): Turkish, Spanish and German
Religion: Muslim
Mechanical engineer from the oldest and most reputable engineering college named Istanbul Technical University. Two master’s degrees, one in business administration and the other in mechanical engineering. Chief design engineer in Coral Gables office of a global company named T.Y. Lin International. Provide various professional engineering services mainly for aviation industry all over the world. Currently an executive committee member of Anatolia Cultural Center, which promotes intercultural dialogue activities between Turkish-Americans and South Floridians.
Message to the community:
I always believe that people of this county have been very generous to me and that I need to find ways to pay back.
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Kwok-Cheng (Manny) Wong
Heritage: Cuban-Chinese
Language(s): English, Cantonese Chinese, Spanish
Religion: Catholic
Past Chair, AAAB, Past VP, International Sprout Growers Association, Past President, Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce, Past VP, Miami Overseas Chinese AssociationPast VP, Miami Dragon Boat Club, Director, World Kwong Tung Community Association, Member of: CAMACOL, EDDBA, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, Friends of Asian Americans, Miami Police Department COP (Citizens on Patrol).
Purpose to be on the board:
Liaison between the government and the community.
Message to the community:
All of us should take part in uniting our community, and learn from each other. We must have a voice in the decision making of our community.
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Meital Stavinsky
Heritage: Israeli
Language(s): Hebrew , English
Religion: Jewish
LEED AP Certified
Member of the Israel Bar
Member of the NY Bar
Coordinates Greenberg Taurig Israel Practice
Purpose to be on the board:
Offer my humble contribution to the Asian-American community and representing the Israeli population on this distinguished board.
Message to the community:
As an Israeli as an American I am proud to serve this community and help enhance the joint integration of the various Asian Nationalities in the U.S.