APANO Welcomes Chi Nguyen as Interim Executive Director

Dear Members and Friends of APANO:

We are delighted to announce that we’ve hired Chi Nguyen as Interim Executive Director. Chi started June 12, and we are thrilled to have her on board. She has passion for APANO’s mission, a fierce intellect, and proven leadership skills.

Chi brings a unique combination of business, political, education, and social justice experience, as well as important, specific perspectives key to APANO’s work — as an immigrant and refugee, parent, member of the LGBTQ community, former elected official, and business owner. Most recently, Chi has worked as an entrepreneur, starting the successful, socially-minded company AutoMedic, as well as a city councilor in King City, Oregon. She also teaches at Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Chi has a history with APANO, having been an intern six years ago and served as APANO’s keynote speaker for Lobby Day in 2015. She speaks fluent Vietnamese and comes highly recommended by a diverse group of people who have worked with her.

Chi Nguyen: “I am extremely honored, with the trust that the staff and board has given me, to find my way back to the APANO family in this role. I feel extremely confident with the team's talent and passion, coupled with my contagious energy, to usher APANO into an era of renewal and growth. Our AAPI voice is only getting strong by number, volume, and reach.”

Chi will focus her time on supporting the staff, board, members, partnerships, and programs of APANO while the organization engages in planning and prepares to undertake a search for a long-term director, which is expected to begin in early fall. She also will work with the board, staff, and community to ensure timely follow through on APANO’s commitments.

Mary Li, Secretary of APANO Communities United Fund: “As a founding member of APANO and current secretary for the APANO Communities United Fund, I’m thrilled to welcome Chi Nguyen as our Interim Executive Director. Chi has the heart, head, and hands to purposely lead our organization forward. I look forward to working with Chi and the rest of the APANO family to dream and create the next incarnation of APANO.”

Huy Ong, Vice Chair of APANO and member of the hiring committee: “The combination of discipline, heart, rigor, and experience that Chi will bring as our Interim Executive Director is a bold move that will support the shaping of our next chapters as we continue to build a vibrant and powerful progressive APANO. I am excited to work with Chi, the wonderful board, and our amazing staff and members to face the challenges and successes ahead.”

Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons, the founding and outgoing Executive Director, shared his enthusiasm for passing the torch. “Chi has boldly built a small business with a social mission, while progressively engaging in the political arena. Her leadership experiences have nurtured a wide range of trusting relationships. I've experienced her as a strong planner and manager who makes sure the job gets done. I'm impressed with her ability to work honestly, efficiently and candidly with people, and continuously learn and grow. She is a confident public speaker, speaks from the heart, and is unafraid to take a stand.”

Before Joseph leaves to join his family in the Philippines, there will be a farewell event for him on Saturday, June 30, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, at First Unitarian Portland (1211 SW Main Street, Portland, OR 97205). You’ll also have a chance to meet Chi. Please RSVP online, and for questions contact Colin Crader, Development Manager, colin@apano.org or 971-340-481. We hope to see you there!

You can read a tribute to Joseph and all that APANO accomplished with his leadership here.

You may reach Chi at chi.nguyen@apano.org. Thank you for helping us welcome her!



With gratitude and anticipation for the next chapter of APANO’s future,

The APANO & APANO Communities United Fund Boards of Directors

Hong Dao
Mary Li
Wei-Wei Lou
Bennie Moses-Mesubed
Thach Nguyen
Huy Ong
Jessie Domingo Salu
Bandana Shrestha
Toni Tabora-Roberts
Simon Tam
Sandy Tsuneyoshi
Jean Yamamoto









Photo credit to Andie Petkus of Petkus Photography



This programming message is brought to you by APANO, a 501c4 nonprofit organization.