Board Members

Dr. Srilekha Palle, Chair

Dr. Srilekha Palle is an accomplished healthcare leader with 23+ years of experience driving performance, improvement, Education, and profitability for major healthcare systems in the DMV area. Dr. Palle earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University and an MBA, focusing on healthcare administration. Dr. Palle is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, where she contributes by writing policy papers on current issues healthcare faces, from cost to affordability and price transparency. She is an advisory board member for the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Northern Virginia Community College. Dr. Palle served as Vice President of National Capital Healthcare Executives, a chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, where she served 1800 plus members in a role in which she was dedicated to advancing excellence in healthcare management. Dr. Palle's abstracts and research projects in Health care have been widely accepted on National and International platforms, and you will often see her speaking on global forums such as The World Hospital Congress of the International Hospital Federation. Dr. Palle is currently serving in a volunteer capacity as a Rehabilitation Division Head for the Healthcare Council, an organization of Providers of Care consisting of hospitals and allied healthcare facilities located in the Mid-Atlantic region, where she brings in Rehabilitation leaders and Team members together to discuss innovative practices within rehabilitation field. 

Dr. Palle as an immigrant who believes that Education is the key and has been an active mom in schools. She served elementary, middle, and high schools in multiple volunteer roles, including after-school activity coordinator, Vice President of PTA, and President of Middle school PTA. She is an active proponent of Governor Youngkin's Education and Parental rights policies. 

Dr. Palle is a prominent Asian American leader in the NOVA area and is a community services board member representing the Springfield district of Fairfax County. Dr. Palle also serves DC/MD/VA community in various capacities, from being actively involved in cultural, religious, business, and political arenas. 

Under the leadership of Ambassador Sam Brownback, Dr. Palle is part of the advisory board member of the National Committee for Religious Freedom with a mission of protecting and defending religious Freedom for all Americans. As part of the board of directors in the American Hindu Coalition, she continually promotes the shared commitment of American Hindus to strengthen our American republic. In the spirit of Interfaith, Dr. Palle worked with interfaith organizations such as JCRC within Fairfax County and ensured that FCPS's calendar accurately represents the diversity that Fairfax County has.

Dr. Palle raises funds for the Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA, passionately believing that change, not charity, is the path to sustainable progress in providing rehabilitation care in rural community hospitals across South India. She was part of the US delegation to the Global entrepreneur summit in 2018, aiming to advocate for more support for female entrepreneurs and promote global economic growth, focusing on "Women first, Prosperity for all."

Srilekha is blessed with a supportive husband, son, Mahat, and daughter, Shirdi Palle.

Goutam Gandhi, Vice Chair

Goutam Gandhi is the co-founder and managing director at 4MGroup, focusing on market strategy, acceleration, and capital raising through a blockchain-based broker/dealer platform. With over 25 years in technology and finance, he has held leadership roles at Bank of America, American Express, Wells Fargo, SAP, Invensys, and was CIO at the Federal Reserve Bank. His expertise includes FinTech, Digital Banking, CBDCs, Cyber Security, AI-Web3.0, Maritime -border security, Military Tech and more. He is actively helping several veteran owned businesses. 4MGroup is engaged to accelerate in establishing a marketplace across FinTech, AI, Web3.0, MilitaryTech, Environment-Energy.

Goutam earned his Executive MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 and was the 2018 business school commencement speaker. He holds four patents in banking technology and one in industrial controls.

Active in community service, Goutam is chairman of board of a non-profit-Skills For Generations, and held positions at Indian and Asian associations. He also serves on the board of Virginia Information and Technology.

Goutam and his wife have lived in Henrico County, Virginia, for 27 years, raising their two children.

Tian Olson, Secretary

Tian Olson is a licensed attorney, a military spouse, an avid volunteer, and a passionate advocate for improving education policies in Virginia. In 2003, Tian came to America to pursue a law degree at American University, Washington College of Law.  

Tian spent the first six years of her career in Washington D.C. law firms, specializing in litigating anti-trust and securities fraud class actions and investigating Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.  She later transitioned to public service as an investigator for white-collar crime and misconduct.  In 2019, Tian's family settled in Virginia after her spouse received the final set of military orders to Quantico.  Since then, Tian has been dedicated to improving education policies in her children's school district.  In her role as the Director of Public Affairs for the Chinese American Parents Association of Northern Virginia, she has been tirelessly working towards this goal.

Recognizing Tian's unwavering commitment and wealth of knowledge in education policies, Governor Youngkin appointed her as a senior advisor on his Transition Steering Committee and a member of the Education Landing Team.  Tian subsequently contributed her expertise to multiple Virginia Department of Education task forces and working groups as a parent representative, actively shaping the state's education policies.

Tian is honored and humbled to be appointed to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board. Additionally, she serves on the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Tian and her family reside in Fairfax County.  She is resolute in her commitment to making Virginia a better place for Asian Virginians.

Xiawei Lin

Xiawei (Hawaii) Lin believes in the power of small businesses to fuel the economy and foster job growth. As a child, her family owned a series of restaurants and she spent many years helping them run their companies. She is passionate about supporting business through collaboration. 

She and her husband own Aqua S Ice Cream Parlor in Virginia Beach, a made-to-order premium ice cream shop located in Red Mill. Before she decided to open her own business, Hawaii was a financial advisor for Edward Jones. She was also a premier banker for Wells Fargo. 

She loves living in Virginia Beach and resides there with her husband and young son. She was appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board in July 2023. 

Quan Tiet Schneider

Quan Tiet Schneider (Pronouns she/her/hers) has called Virginia home since 1979 after her and her family escaped Vietnam after the war. Quan is a Chinese/Vietnamese refugee who grew up in the Richmond area and has seen it grow and develop over the last 40+ years. She grew up in the public school system in Henrico County and is an alumnus of the University of Virginia. Quan served on the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities State Board from 2016 – 2022. She has had the privilege to facilitate many programs to help develop and support our youth and educators in the Commonwealth. She also is on the Leadership Metro Richmond Board where she serves as the chair for the Recruitment & Selection Committee. Quan is an alumnus of the Leadership Quest program, Class of 2018.

Quan has worked at Altria Group since 1998. She has over 25+ years of experience in sales & marketing, learning & development and diversity, equity & inclusion. She is currently a Senior Market Manager with Altria, leading a team in the Central and Eastern parts of Virginia. Most recently, she was on Altria’s Inclusion, Diversity & Equity where her work centered around Employee Resource Groups.

Quan was appointed to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board by the Honorable Ralph S. Northam, of the Commonwealth of Virginia July 2021. She lives in Glen Allen, Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Mansoor Qureshi

Mansoor Qureshi is a highly accomplished professional with nearly two decades of experience in Virginia, dedicated to fostering community development and bridging cultures. As a Senior Talent Partner, he specializes in helping professionals secure careers in commercial and Federal government sectors. He is also an entrepreneur, managing successful film and business consulting firms.

Mansoor’s contributions extend to media and storytelling. He is the host of Capital Corner from Washington, a program that highlights success stories and delves into political and community issues. Additionally, he is an accomplished filmmaker who produces impactful films focusing on social issues and promoting unity. With a strong presence on social media, Mansoor is an influencer with over 300,000 followers, using his platform to advocate for meaningful causes.

For over 15 years, Mansoor has actively organized political and educational events, empowering communities to participate in civic and electoral processes. As an alumnus of the APAICS National Leadership Academy, he has gained expertise in campaign management, social media strategy, and fundraising, preparing him for future leadership roles.

Academically, Mansoor holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and has pursued journalism studies at Georgetown University. His passion lies in empowering individuals, fostering growth, and building bridges between American and Asian communities.

Mansoor is committed to leveraging his diverse expertise and leadership to contribute to the mission of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, promoting collaboration, innovation, and cultural understanding.

Harshad Barot

Harshad Barot immigrated to the USA in July 1985. He started his career in America as a busboy and worked his way up to the Accounting Department of the Gaithersburg Marriott Hotel in Maryland. Eventually Mr. Barot moved to Portsmouth, Virginia to manage a hotel for family. After working several years with family, Harshad ventured out independently and purchased a Quality Inn in 1994.

Mr. Barot is dedicated to helping and serving his community. He is Vice President and Financial Advisor of Galaxy Group Corp, a family hospitality business. He had served on Virginia Beach’s Minority Business Council, and is currently a board member of Virginia Beach Vision, a Portsmouth-Suffolk board member for TowneBank and board member for Green Run Collegiate Foundation. Barot was recognized by the Virginia Pilot’s Power List as a “Person to Watch” in 2022.

Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick

Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick serves as the Executive Director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia, leading HOME’s efforts in eradicating housing discrimination and leveling the playing field to ensure equal access to housing for all people.

Tom previously worked in state government at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, where he served as the Policy Advisor and Director of the Division of Programs and Services. Before joining state government, Tom worked for the City of Richmond as the Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Social Services and as a Deputy Director at the Department of Justice Services. Tom started his legal career as a civil rights attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia.

Tom received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the College of William and Mary and is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and Leadership Metro Richmond.  Tom and his wife Gretchen Garber are proud parents to two very rambunctious yet loving boys.

Mel Ghani

Mel Ghani is a territory sales manager for Willscot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp (WSC), a leading business services provider specializing in innovation and flexible temporary space solutions serving many different verticals across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Prior to his current role, Mel worked in the tech and defense contracting industry. Experienced in politics, Mel served on the campaign of U.S Senate candidate Daniel Gade in 2020.

Mel was born and raised in the great state of Virginia. He received a B.A. in political science from American University in Washington D.C., committing, early on, to contributing back to the Commonwealth. Mel has, since, been appointed to serve on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board. He remains extremely active in his community, constantly volunteering and engaging with local groups to better serve all minorities across the Commonwealth. His hobbies include fitness and running. 

Mel and his wife, Sarah, reside in Fairfax County Virginia.

Srini Bayireddy

Srini Bayireddy brings over 25 years of government and private sector experience and is recognized for his consistent leadership in building successful teams and delivering solutions. Mr. Bayireddy is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded, invested, and held a variety of increasingly responsible positions in his previous ventures at IBM, Grant Thornton, Hitachi Consulting and Fannie Mae to name a few. As a Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayireddy has set corporate vision for Navitas Business Consulting Inc which is focused on driving strategic business growth through the expansion of its core service offerings in cloud transformation, data analytics and information security. Under Srini’s leadership, Navitas received numerous awards from several reputed organizations such as Washington Post, INC5000, Deloitte Fast 50, Washington Business Journal and Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce for excellence in delivery and innovation.

Srini is currently serving as a Director on the board of The Indus Entrepreneurship (TiE DC) and as the Secretary of the Board of Loudoun Career and Technology Foundation (LCTEF) in support of Loudoun County Public Schools. Srini has been appointed to the board of directors at the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce and is a recipient of the prestigious Asian Leadership Inspiration Award for the year 2016. Mr. Bayireddy and his wife Sandhya reside in Broadlands, Virginia with their wonderful twin sons.

My Lan Tran

Since 2011, as Executive Director of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce My Lan Tran is responsible for the daily operations of the Virginia statewide Asian American economic development agency with a growing network of business and community membership throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and six (6) other U.S states.

Between 2003 and 2011, My Lan was Program Manager of the City of Richmond Office of Minority Business Development where, she oversaw service rendered to more than 5,000 diverse businesses annually.

From 1996 to 2003, My Lan served the Commonwealth of Virginia as International Trade Marketing Manager, then Investment Policy Manager at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) where she managed global trade counseling, marketing, and Business Investment Policy.

Her core career background lays in workforce development system design and administration serving as Career Assessment Director, then Asian Career Center Director, Federal Grant Monitor, then Branch Administrator at three of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ One Stop Workforce Development Centers

Between 1996 and the present, as an Asian American servant leader, My Lan plays a central leadership role in Virginia’s economic development and global diplomacy development through the Virginia International Business Alliance, the National Association for Business Economics in Richmond, the Sister Cities Commission, and the Institute of Supply Management, among others.

From 2012 to 2017, My Lan was faculty member Instructor in Contemporary Asian Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of World Studies.

My Lan obtained a master’s degree in international policy studies and advanced studies in Asian Affairs from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California in 1981. She completed post graduate business training from the Thunderbird School of International Management, in Arizona.  She conducted advanced Asian history research works at the University of California in Berkeley, CA, the Post Naval Graduate School in Monterey, CA, and the Université de Caen, France.

My Lan is certified as International Trade Specialist by N.A.S.D.A (National Association of State Development Agencies), the U.S. Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration, and as an Economic Development Specialist from the Virginia Economic Development Institute at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

She is fluent in Spanish, English, Vietnamese, and French. She traveled extensively to Asia, Africa, Central America, and Europe. She took assignments as journalist in Saigon, South Vietnam and represented Virginia aerospace and building materials companies in Paris, France. 

She is Cabinet Advisors to more than a dozen regional and state institutions and regional and global economic development. She won two national awards from the Small Business Administration ‘s “Champion of Small Business” for the Commonwealth of Virginia and SBA Region III Region III in 6 U.S states, while earning a dozen of leadership awards from the Military, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the U.S Department of Labor, and the US Department of Veteran Affairs. 

My Lan was voted as “Person Making a Difference of The Year “by the Richmond Times Dispatch Newspaper and recognized by the American Red Cross for her distinguished role in helping to advance its multicultural community development mission.

Go Eun Kang

Go Eun Kang is a dedicated and results-driven professional, serving as the President at Omni Financial Risk Management with a proven track record in community engagement and cultivating meaningful connections. Her passion for community development and commitment to creating genuine connections within the Korean community, while promoting harmony with mainstream

Go Eun is a founding member of the American Korean Businessmen’s Friendship Forum (AKBFF), dedicated to fostering friendship and fellowship between small and medium-sized businesses in the United States and the Republic of Korea. She also served as a member of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) for 5 years, where she contributed to the expansion of "Peace on the Korean Peninsula" (K-Peace) in Washington, DC, presenting innovative approaches for the next generations. 

As a leader, Go Eun has achieved her American dream, taking over the most dominant Korean American Insurance Agency in the Washington DC metropolitan area in 2019. At the age of 39, she became one of the most noteworthy businesswomen in the Asian community. Through volunteering and fulfilling social responsibilities, she has come to believe in the power of community over individualism, both in business and in life.

Go Eun Kang was appointed to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Dr. Marie Sankaran MD

Dr. Marie Sankaran Raval, M.D. was appointed to the VAAB in 2020.  She is an Anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor at VCU Health.  Prior to her current position, she was employed by Weill Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital where she served as an Anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor.

In addition to her duties at VCU Health, she currently serves as the President-Elect of the Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists.  She is also an active member of the South Asian community, taking part in multiple cultural events at the Cultural Center of India and previously serving on the Host committee of the American India Foundation’s New Year’s Gala.

Dr. Sankaran attended Brown University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations.  She continued on to the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, ultimately completing an Anesthesia Residency at Boston University and Pediatric Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Sankaran was born and raised in Suffolk, Virginia, the daughter of Indian and Filipino immigrants, who became Pediatricians and stalwarts of the community.  She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia along with her husband and three children.

Shakira Khan

Shakira Khan has been a proud Virginian since 1985. She is passionate about representing AAPI and promoting Governor Youngkin’s agenda and vision.

Ms. Khan has over 25 years of experience in Information Technology with a focus on strategy, consensus-building and organizational effectiveness. Leveraging her strong background as a seasoned leader with a proven track record, she is passionate about helping organizations build a robust and merit-based culture in which people will thrive.

She is a firm believer that technology has made our lives better but insists that it is leadership and accountability that will change the world. With responsibilities ranging from IT optimization and transformation, IT cost reduction, technology roadmap blueprints to managing enterprisewide systems, Ms. Khan has led system integration activities during mergers and acquisitions.

She currently holds a leadership position in Corporate Communications at Dominion Energy, responsible for managing the digital web platform and strategic roadmap. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Richmond World Affairs Council and on the Programs Committee at Rally Virginia. She formerly served as co-chair of the Diversity Council at Dominion Energy. She holds a BA in Biology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.

Ms. Khan enjoys cooking and ‘all things culinary’, and spending time with her daughter, Jenna, who is a junior at JMU.

Felipe “Pepe” Cabacoy

Felipe “Pepe” Cabacoy, a dedicated community leader originally from San Narciso, Zambales, Philippines, made the journey to the United States in the 1980s. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, he devoted 23 years to the Norfolk Sheriff's Office, showcasing exemplary commitment to safety and security. Beyond his distinguished law enforcement career, Pepe emerged as a prominent figure in the Filipino American community, having served as the former Chairman and Vice Chair of the 3rd Congressional District for the Filipino American Community Action Group. Additionally, he played a pivotal role as a founding member and Director of The Coalition of Filipino American Voters of Norfolk, promoting civic engagement and political awareness.

Pepe's influence extended into the political arena, where he held significant roles within the GOP, serving as former Vice Chair for both the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts. Currently contributing his expertise to the Sentara Healthcare System in Safety and Security, Pepe, a family man married to Anne Aquino Cabacoy, is a long-time resident of Norfolk, Virginia. His indelible mark on the community is a testament to his unwavering dedication to service and leadership, shaping the narrative of Filipino Americans in Virginia.

Dokmai Webster

Dokmai Webster is the Founder of Pivotal Point, LLC. Her diverse career began as a member of the United States Air Force and the Maryland Army National Guard and expanded to the private sector.

Ms. Webster holds a M.S. in Management and Technology and a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Maryland University College. She is a member of the Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computers Association (AFC4), the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Associations (AFCEA), and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Falls Church Education Foundation and served on the Board of Directors as the Past President of the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association (ITPA).

Ms. Webster was appointed to the VA Asian Advisory Board in 2023 by Governor Youngkin.

Dr. Kamlesh Dave

Dr. Dave has been practicing cardiology in this area 30 years. For 7 years he has served on the Commonwealth Health Research Board. He has been the Principal Investigator in more than 25 clinical trials, has served as Director of the Virginia Medical Board, and as a Board of Visitor for VCU. He is active in the community and cultural activities. He lives with his wife and enjoys traveling.

Minesh Patel

Minesh Patel is a Dynamic and results-driven businessman with over 34 years of experience in the petroleum industry. Mr. Patel has demonstrated expertise in gas station operations, gasoline distribution, and strategic business expansion. Mr. Patel has a proven track record of success in building and managing multiple stores, cultivating strong partnerships with leading oil companies, and driving revenue growth.

Mr. Patel earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Gujarat in 1985. He was appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board in 2023.

Angelo Reyes

Angelo Reyes is a dedicated business consultant and non-profit organization professional based in Chesapeake, VA. With a comprehensive background in business consulting and non-profit leadership, Angelo specializes in operations management, strategic planning, and process optimization. His extensive experience includes developing and implementing strategies that maximize resources, streamline processes, and achieve organizational goals.

Currently serving as the Creative Director Consultant, Angelo excels in creating impactful design deliverables, digital content, and marketing assets that resonate with diverse audiences. His expertise in video production, graphic design, and website development has been instrumental in elevating brand presence across various platforms.

In addition to his consulting work, Angelo is the Chairman and Consultant of the Filipino American Community Action Group (FIL-AM CAG), where he oversees intergenerational development initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and learning within the Filipino American community. His leadership extends to his role as Virginia State President and National Director of Civic Leadership for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). In this capacity, Angelo represents the mission and values of NaFFAA, fostering relationships with elected officials and leading state chapter activities. Angelo has also been newly elected as the Chairman of the Virginia Production Alliance: Hampton Roads District, where he leads efforts to support and promote film and television production in the region.

Angelo is the Promotional Partner and Ambassador for the Philippine Economic Zoning Authority in the U.S. and the President and Founder of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Virginia. He also serves as a board member of the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission, where he created a film grant program to support film production in Chesapeake. His contributions to the community and professional achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Scholarship, Rising Star Award at the Westfield International Film Festival, and Best Short Film accolades at the Beverly Hills Film Festival and Worldfest Houston.

Angelo Reyes’ commitment to community service, cultural promotion, and professional excellence continues to inspire and impact those around him.

Tony Yeh

Tony O. Yeh is originally from Taiwan and moved to the Washington DC metro area in the 1970s as a new immigrant. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and received his bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland. He has been a licensed real estate broker for more than 40 years in all three jurisdictions in the DMV area. He is married with 3 children and resides in Gainesville, Virginia. 

Tony began his involvement with AAPI outreach in 1987/1988 in Northern Virginia and has volunteered in community service in Asian communities. 

In 1988, He co-founded the Washington, DC Buddhist Association (WDBA) and did many Buddhist volunteer work. 

In 2009, He co-founded the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce of Virginia Association (CACC of VA.) and has been the past president of CACC. Later, in 2022, I co-founded the American Diversity Foundation with Harold Pyon and M. Siddique Sheikh. 

Henry Yuan

Henry Yuan was appointed to the VAAB in 2021.

Henry has dedicated himself to creating a more equitable and accessible environment

for underrepresented populations. He has a strong passion for community engagement and strives to work with community and business leaders and national, regional, and local organizations. As an avid entrepreneur and investor, his effort to support entrepreneurship has been recognized by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Henry previously served as the young advisor to the sustainability initiative of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. 

He is currently the State Advisory Committee Member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) in Virginia, and a member of the ACE NextGen, the premier organization for elevating the success of AAPI millennial entrepreneurs.