Board of Directors

Ms. Koy Saephan, Board Chair, Excel Interpreting, LLC

Ms. Koy Saephan, our board president, is a Mien refugee who came to the US from Laos at the age of ten. She obtained a degree from U.C.L.A., worked directly with at risk children in court ordered community school settings as a teacher, taught parenting classes to refugees, and has done much to raise awareness in the Lao, Mien, and broader community about issues such as statutory rape, elder abuse, gang violence, and domestic violence as well as child support issues. As an active court interpreter and the owner of a language company providing interpreter services to hospitals, courts, law firms, and social service agencies working with family and children from diverse backgrounds, she is a daily witness to the barriers our target populations face. Ms. Saephan is a member of various non-profit and professional organizations including but not limited to California Health Interpreters Association (CHIA), the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network; (CPEHN) and the California Federation of Interpreters.

Mr. Nai Hang Phan, Board Secretary, Office of the City Clerk

Nai Phan was born in Laos, and has lived in Oakland, California for over 20 years. Mr. Phan is currently working in the City Clerk's Office as an Administrative Analyst I as he as for 5 years. He graduated from Laney College with an A.A. degree in Computer Information System/Computer Information Specialist and Computer Technical Management from Devry University. For over 10 years, he has worked in the computer industry, starting at a small company, then as a billing clerk, then he moved to a nonprofit organization working as a database manager. He then moved to local city government where he has worked for the City Manager's Office, Mayor's Office, Strategic Grants Management Office, Budget Office and now in the City Clerk's Office.

Mr. Trevin H. Chan, Board Treasurer, New York Life

Mr. Trevin H. Chan received his bachelor's degree form California State University, Hayward. He worked for the City of Sacramento Attorney's office from 2000 to 2005 and since 2007 has provided financial and insurance services to individuals families and businesses as a New York Life agent. Trevin is very involved in the Sacramento community and has volunteered at Lao Family for the past several years providing free tax preparation services to low-income families.

Mr. Maurice Brenyah-Addow, City of Oakland, CEDA

Maurice Brenyah-Addow grew up in Ghana, West Africa, where he completed his elementary and secondary education. He later moved to the United States and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Architecture. Maurice also graduated from Oakland's School of Urban Missions with a degree in Theology. Maurice currently works as a City Planner with the City of Oakland's Community and Economic Development Agency. Maurice's long term vision is to impact lives by providing affordable healthcare and developing sustainable communities in developing countries. He has also led medical teams to Cameroon with the World Exchange for health and human services in 2006 and 2007. He enjoys jogging, swimming, hiking, salsa dancing, cooking, reading, and debating.

Dr. Serge Lee, California State University, Sacramento

Dr. Serge Lee is a social work research professor at California State University, Sacramento. He has been with CSU system for 17 years and has a wide range of interests and specializations, including international social work, health and mental health issues of Hmong Americans and social work practice with Southeast Asians. He first began involved with refugees’ health at the age of 14 when his family escaped from Laos to Thailand in 1975. At the refugee camp, he attended a paramedic training program sponsored by the International Rescue Committee and worked as a nurse at Nongkhai Refugee Camp Hospital for nearly three years. As part of his voluntary contributions, Dr. Lee served as a special consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health-SAMHSA from 1997 to 2009 and is serving as a cultural specialist for UCDAVIS Cancer Center’s AANCART program and Board Member of UCDAVIVIS’ Heath Disparities Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) Research and Education Community Advisory Board (RECAB). In 2005, Dr. Lee was commissioned by the US Department of State and Center for Disease Control to investigate the suicide incidences of Hmong refugees at Wat Tham Krabok, Thailand.

Ms. Kim Diamond, ev8 Real Estate

Ms. Kim Diamond is principal of ev8 and provides entitlement services for Lennar Urban. Ms. Diamond is a Senior land acquisitions and entitlements professional with in-depth real estate development experience and a diversified career spanning 12 years in real estate development, land acquisition and valuation, market analyses, green building practices, brownfields conversion projects, and community revitalization. She received her master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA and her bachelors degree in American Studies with a concentration in Urban Development from Tufts University in Boston. She has served as a leader of many civic and professional groups, including the Urban Land Institute, the Home Builders Association of Northern California, and the California Building Industry Association. She is a Certified Green Building Professional.

Dr. Preetpaul Bajwa, Kaiser Permanente

Dr. Preetpaul Bajwa spent the first half of his childhood in New Delhi, India before his family settled, along with many other immigrants, in San Pablo, CA. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a Double Major in Molecular & Cell Biology and Psychology. After some time focusing on his interest in neuroscience research he went on to medical school at UT Southwestern Medical School. He completed his internship at Georgetown University Hospital and had started his residency in Psychiatry prior to transitioning to the business of health care. He returned to school and received his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Currently, he works as a Managerial Consultant at The Permanente Medical Group in Oakland, CA and is happy to be living in the Bay Area after many years away.