Bing Goei was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and has also lived in the Netherlands before arriving in Grand Rapids, Michigan January, 9, 1960. Bing is married to Jean and is blessed with 5 children and 17 grandchildren. Bing is the CEO of Eastern Floral and the Founder of the Goei Center. Bing continues to serve the community as a volunteer and has been recognized for his work in the area of racial justice and business development.
• Executive Director, WMAAA, and formerly [retired] worked for the Social Security Administration. She is an alumnus of the Leadership Grand Rapids Class 2008. • Born in Manila, Philippines, she spent her formative childhood years in California. She is committed in community advocate serving on the Kent County Health Department Health Equity Council, City of Grand Rapids Master Plan Steering Committee, Community Inclusion Group, Grand Rapid-Kent County Convention Arena Authority and Welcome Plan West Michigan Collaborative She currently serves on the board member of the Grand Rapids Chinese Language School. • Ms. Morey’s past community involvement included board member for Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism, Girl Scouts Michigan Trails, Philippine Cultural Group of Michigan, Asian Center of West Michigan, Grand Rapids People of Color, Arbor Circle organization; and past president of the West Michigan Filipino-American Association.
Microsoft AI MVP and FounderHub Startup, having worked with Fortune 500 leaders like Johnson Controls, Delphi, and GE Appliances. Founded two startups to empower the voiceless and advance Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Education in Michigan and Thailand. I train companies on Azure/Microsoft AI and rapidly build MVPs to keep them ahead in a fast-evolving tech landscape.
Yilin Wendland-Liu is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. As an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voice amplifier, she is committed to raising awareness among families and children, striving to provide everyone with equal access to education. Currently, she directs the Adult Tutoring Program at the Literacy Center of West Michigan. In this role, she supports adult native speakers of English and English language learners in improving their English literacy skills. She recognizes the unique challenges these learners face and understand that their ability to enhance their English proficiency is crucial for their overall well-being and success. Yilin contributes her skills and expertise as the board secretary of the West Michigan Asian American Association, board member of Volunteer Management Association of West Michigan, and actively participates in the Grand Rapids Community Foundation scholarship selection committee. Additionally, she is involved in Kent County Essential Needs Task Force's Digital Inclusion Committee and Equity Action Team. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Le Tran was born in Saigon, Vietnam and came to America in 1975. Having grown up in the greater Grand Rapids area, she has been serving East Kentwood High School Community for the last 23 years as an art educator. Currently, she is an advisor to the Asian Student Union at East Kentwood High School. Past recognitions include National Secondary Art Teacher of the Year in 2021, Fulbright-Hayes Recipient in both 2004 and 2008, and Fellow of the National Art Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. In her spare time, Le loves to create, read, travel, cook, and spend time with her five grandchildren.
Ms. Samantha Rona Das, whose preferred name is Rona, is currently the Director of Student Programs at Grand Rapids Christian High School (GRCHS) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her role, Rona ensures alignment to GRCHS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts, collaborates with teachers to craft and guide curriculum and professional development under the Equity Framework, and provides administrative leadership to extracurricular student programs. In her almost ten years as an educator, Rona taught courses including Advanced Placement Language and Composition, Business, and Psychology. Rona holds a baccalaureate degree in Secondary Education English and Secondary Education Psychology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is enrolled at Grand Canyon University to receive a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Organizational Development. Using qualitative research, she will explore staff-of-color and student-of-color recruitment, retention, and experience in Christian schools. Rona enjoys educating and mentoring high school students and views them as the next generation of leaders. Her role is to ensure that all students have a sense of belonging at GRCHS regardless of their background, and her life’s mission is to be the change, leaving everything better than how she found it.
Nathan Roudabush has been working in the finance industry for over 15 years. He started as part of operations in the banking world, working his way up to a leadership role. He has managed many departments including Auto Total Loss, Deposit Operations, Deposit Systems, and a Retail Branch. He currently works at Union Bank of Michigan as the AVP, Retail Systems Risk Management Officer. He manages vendor relationships, as well as oversees the Contact Center. His experience has expanded his skill set and drives him to learn and understand more about the banking industry. He currently is an Executive Board Member and appointed Treasurer of the West Michigan Asian American Association. Nathan actively participates in seeking a collaborative, active, and inclusive Asian American community in West Michigan with a focus on healthcare, education, and civic engagement.
Nadeem Hamid was born in Karachi, Pakistan. Presence in West Michigan since 1984. Ocean Inc. Vice President of a - Technology Solution Provider, Michigan. Leadership Grand Rapids 2022. Passionate about Diversity and Inclusion and local Michigan.
Christina Fong is a second-generation Chinese American born, raised, and educated in Chicago, Il. Her parents came to the US on student visas, graduated, worked for corporate America, and later opened two restaurants. Her parents valued education above almost everything else. She attended Northwestern University and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in violin performance. She graduated Phi Kappa Lambda and earned the title of Eckstein Scholar. Immediately after graduation, she won a job in the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Wanting to move back north, she auditioned for and a job as a section violinist with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Several years later, she won the job of Associate Concertmaster, a leadership role. In addition to her orchestral work, Christina is a new music specialist and has recorded over a dozen full-length recordings of previously unrecorded and largely unknown works by historically significant composers. For her contribution to the field of new music, in 2010, she was honored with a Fulbright Hayes grant to perform and teach master classes in Minsk, Belarus.
Xiaodan Zhang works as a Data Scientist at Michigan State University, where she specializes in leveraging electronic health record data for disease prediction and healthcare innovation. In 2009, Xiaodan came to the country from Mainland China to pursue a Master's Degree in Statistics from the University of South Florida. After earning her degree, she spent 10 years as an instructor in statistics at various colleges, gaining valuable experience in the educational sector. In 2017, her family moved to West Michigan, where she quickly became an integral part of the community. Passionate about enriching the lives of Asian Americans in the region, Xiaodan serves as an active board member for both the West Michigan Asian American Association and the West Michigan Chinese Association. In these roles, she contributes to community engagement, cultural programs, and educational initiatives. Additionally, she volunteers at various local organizations, including the Grand Rapids Chinese Language School. Her visionary approach aims to strengthen community bonds and enhance societal well-being through data-driven strategies and educational empowerment.
