Our Board

Philip Wong is Vice President, Relationship Manager at Bank of the West. Bank of the West is part of BNP one of the largest banks worldwide. Philip Wong is in charge of developing banking relationships with both inbound and outbound business and along with local companies. Prior to his current position, he has also worked in Bank of Communications, Preferred Bank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, World Savings Banks, HSBC, and Chinatrust Bank (CTBC); where he worked in areas of residential/commercial estate to corporate lending even trade finance dealing with local and international clients.

Myriam Chen co-founded two Information Technology companies:  the first one in the early 90’s and the second in 2005. Both headquartered in San Francisco, the last venture took her to establish a Technology Development Center in Beijing in 2006, servicing customers in the U.S. Japan and China.

Myriam is currently Consultant of the City of Wuhan and the City of Chongqing in China. In 2009, Myriam and her business partner recruited the Franco Dragone Entertainment Group (FDEG), a Belgium based global entertainment enterprise, and helped initiated a RMB 20 billion investment to develop the “Han Show”, the world’s largest water show and the first ever in China, in Wuhan. FDEG’s business model is creating/developing high tech, large scale water performance shows in Las Vegas, Paris, Italy, Dubai, Macau, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and China.

Jonathan is equally passionate in support of the charitable efforts to alleviate social and economic disparities that exist today, in a society where the middle class are continuing to disappear. He was born in San Francisco Chinatown’s Chinese Hospital, and shortly after his family moved to Oakland where he spent half of his childhood years. Later, they moved to the next-door suburbs of Alameda, an experience which provided a constant reminder of the social and economic disparity profoundly contrasted between two neighboring communities. At age 21, he was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at United Ambulance, a company which focused on IFT contracted throughout a number of the Bay Area hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. With that company, he found the disparity still existed and apparent even in our medical system. Eventually resigning from his position as operations manager at UA prior to committing full time with a real estate firm, it is with this experience he was driven to do more to help the underserved communities.

Serving on the board of directors at Asian Pacific American Community Center, he hopes to contribute to the continuing efforts of the organization to help empower the underprivileged community and growth of non-profit services, which provide the local underserved communities much needed support, in some cases necessary to survive.

Martin Yan is a Master Chef and the celebrated host of over 3,000 cooking shows, broadcast worldwide, Martin Yan enjoys distinction as a certified Master Chef, a highly respected food consultant, a cooking instructor, and a prolific author. His diverse talents have found expression in 30 cookbooks, which include the award-winning Martin Yan’s Feast, Martin Yan’s Asian Favorites, Chinese Cooking for Dummies, Martin Yan’s Chinatown Cooking (intro by Julia Child), Martin Yan’s Quick & Easy, and, Martin Yan’s China.

Born in Guangzhou, China, to a restaurateur father and a mother who operated a grocery store, Chef Yan possessed a passion for cooking at an early age. His formal induction into the culinary world began at age thirteen, with an apprenticeship at a popular Hong Kong restaurant. He honed his natural talent at the Overseas Institute of Cookery in Hong Kong, and then pursued an MS degree in Food Science at The University of California, Davis in the U.S. He discovered pasion for teaching when he became a chef- instructor in the university’s extension program. In 1978, he pioneered a daily TV Chinese cooking show: the now classic Yan Can Cook. Infusing lessons with his characteristic warmth, humor and vitality, he quickly won a devoted following.

Chef Yan continues to follow his dreams with his brand new television series, “Martin Yan’s Taste of Malaysia.” Broadcast on 3 major Malaysian television networks and worldwide, this series documents his experiences in Malaysian culture and cuisine. Additionally, his Fall 2014 television series, “Martin Yan’s Taste of Vietnam,” which currently airs on public television stations across the U.S. and worldwide, follows his travels and culinary discoveries throughout the far reaches of Vietnam.

A popular chef-instructor at top culinary institutions around the world, Chef Yan has lectured at The Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales University, The California Culinary Academy and The Chinese Cuisine Institute in Hong Kong. In 1985, he founded the Yan Can Cooking School in California. Also a restaurateur, his Yan Can and Yan Can Cook Beijing Restaurants offer inventive pan-Asian menus. Chef Yan brings Chinese culinary tradition and culture to light through an authentic, modern dining experience with his new restaurants venture; M.Y. China and M.Y. Noodles, in the San Francisco bay area.

The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Chef Yan is internationally recognized as an accomplished Asian chef among his peers. He has also captured the attention, admiration and hearts of billions of fans by spicing up his cooking artistry and lessons with a personal ingredient: wit. Through television, or in person, a session with Chef Yan proves invigorating, as well as educational. Dedicated to dispelling the mysteries of Asian and Chinese cooking, Chef Yan furthers an understanding of Asian cuisine and culture with spirited lessons, fun and entertainment.

Francis is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition (FACN) and full member of the Society of Toxicology. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Toxicology from Texas A&M University; M.S. degrees in Biochemistry from University of San Francisco and Computer Information Systems from University of Houston; and a B.S. in Biochemistry from University of Alberta. In addition to serving as a board member at APACC, Francis is an active member of many professional societies including the American College of Nutrition, American Diabetes Association, American Society for Nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Aging Association, the Obesity Society, and Society of Toxicology. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities including camping, stand up paddle boarding, and skiing.

Serving on the Board of APACC, Francis strives to promote its mission to enable families living in the Visitation Valley to thrive.

George graduated from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland with a B.A and M.A.  degree.  He also holds a J.D. degree from UC Berkeley School of Law where he served on the California Law Review. After a brief period practicing real estate law, George embarked on a real estate career.  His 35+ year real estate career is distinguished by repeated, stellar performances at TRI/Prudential Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, Pacific Union/GMAC where he managed both residential and commercial agents. George was the Chief Legal Counsel and one of the founders of Paragon Real Estate, a company that achieved almost $3 billion in annual sales before  merging with Compass in 2018.  George has overseen in excess of 10,000 real estate transactions during his career.  He has extensive experience developing, selling and managing new home subdivisions, condominium conversions, commercial properties and mixed use residential and commercial developments, and has successfully developed multiple projects in both San Francisco and San Mateo.

Vivian Lee is the founding principal of Edmonds + Lee Architects, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm based in San Francisco.  It is also one of the few women and minority-owned architecture firms in the Bay Area.

Originally from Hong Kong and fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, Vivian received her Master’s degree in Architecture from Columbia University and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  As a registered architect, Vivian has been actively transforming the urban landscape of the Bay Area for more than a dozen years by spearheading some of the most successful multi-family projects in the region.  Most notably, her firm was awarded the Best of the Year Design Award by Interior Design Magazine and has also been honored with a prestigious AIA Design Award.

Vivian is excited about the future of San Francisco and honored to work with the APACC board to make positive changes and uplift our community.

Kenneth Sung was born and raised in Hong Kong before moving to the Bay Area during 10th grade in high school. He holds a B.A. degree in Communication and Economics from the University of California, Davis. In 2012, he obtained his Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) license. With over 15 years of experience in the Trust & Safety and Payment industry, Kenneth has been actively involved in the tech industry for over a decade. Currently, he serves as the Manager of Payment Risk Operations Americas at Airbnb.

Serving on the board of directors at the Asian Pacific American Community Center, he is committed to giving back to the community. With a strong dedication to helping those in need, he brings support, compassion, and practical solutions to make a positive impact on people’s lives and the community as a whole.