Commissioners

Jason Paguio, Chair

Jason Paguio is the President and CEO of the Asian Business Association San Diego (ABASD) and the Asian Business Association Foundation. As a recognized leader, Jason brings vision and expertise across a multiplicity of sectors, including development of minority-owned business; establishment and coordination of high-impact multi-agency collaborative efforts; advocacy for San Diego’s many diverse communities; and first-hand experience as a first-generation Filipino-American. Read more about Commissioner Paguio.

Kirin Macapugay, Vice Chair

Kirin Amiling Macapugay, MSW, is an Indigenous Person born in Kalinga, Philippines. She is a mother, professor, community organizer, state appointed commissioner, and founder of several grassroots efforts to strengthen the communities she loves. Read more about Commissioner Macapugay.

Lance Toma, Secretary

Lance Toma is the Chief Executive Officer of San Francisco Community Health Center (formerly Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center), an LGBTQ and people of color community health center that believes everyone deserves access to the highest quality health care. Read more about Commissioner Toma.

Theodore Kim, Commissioner

Theodore (Ted) Kim is a veteran of building global businesses in technology, entertainment, media and lifestyle, leveraging and monetizing brands, platforms and IP with deep experience as an international corporate executive and entrepreneur. Read more about Commissioner Kim.

Helen Lee, Commissioner

Helen Lee brings almost 40 years in leadership positions in large, complex organizations such as the County of Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente and the City of Los Angeles as a Human Resources Manager and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Read more about Commissioner Lee.

Rajan Gill, Commissioner

Rajan Gill is a Historian and Professor at Yuba College. Gill’s academic career began at the University of California, Davis where he served as vice-president to the History Honors Society. Read more about Commissioner Gill.

Tahra Goraya, Commissioner

Tahra brings strong skills in leadership, management, policy advocacy, and public affairs. She is
experienced in diverse issue areas across multiple sectors including nonprofit management,
business, and government. Read more about Commissioner Goraya.

Simon Pang, Commissioner

Simon Pang immigrated from Singapore in late 1989. Pang is the Executive Vice President / Co-Founder of Royal Business Bank (founded in 2008) and serves as the President of the US-Sino Friendship Association. Read more about Commissioner Pang.

Darshana Patel, Commissioner

Darshana R. Patel, Ph.D. is a scientist, elected official, and community leader with professional experience in board governance, education policy, and project management working towards raising the level of local civic engagement. Read more about Commissioner Patel.

Janani Ramachandran, Commissioner

Janani Ramachandran is an Oakland City Councilmember, attorney, and musician committed to building inclusive and equitable political systems. Read more about Commissioner Ramachandran.

Jason Tam, Commissioner

Jason S. Tam, a seasoned Real Estate professional, boasts a rich background spanning housing development, asset management, team leadership, and sales. Hailing from San Francisco, Jason’s roots in the city run deep, having been born at the San Francisco Chinese Hospital and raised by Chinese Cantonese immigrants who instilled in him a profound connection to his heritage. Read more about Commissioner Tam.

Taunuu Ve'e, Commissioner

Taunuu Ve’e has over 25 years working l to promote and improved health outcomes on the national, state, and local level, established public and private partnerships across government and multi-sector organizations to provide capacity building to lift the voices of the underserved and unserved. Read more about Commissioner Ve’e.

David Yee, Commissioner

Dr. David Yee is a sixth generation Californian and physician, and his family ties to Northern California are part of the region’s history. His great-great-great grandfather, Dr. Yee Fung Cheung, was an herbal doctor in the Gold Country, and his store in Fiddletown, California is a state landmark. Read more about Commissioner Yee.

Past Commissioners

Thank you to all past commissioners for your leadership and service since the Commission began operations in 2004.