PRESIDENT
President, Complex Philippines Co-Founder, Cousin

Marisa Pizarro is a music executive and entrepreneur whose career has shaped major artists and strengthened representation across the music industry. Her work continues to inspire the Filipino American community, highlighting the power of cultural identity in contemporary music leadership. Marisa is President of Complex Philippines, co-founder of Cousin and serves on the board of a number Fil Am organizations. 

VICE PRESIDENT
Founder & CEO
SoCal Filipinos / Kababayan Network

Jason Lustina is the founder of SoCal Filipinos and Kababayan Network, a vibrant community platform dedicated to connecting and uplifting Filipino Americans across the country. As a career fundraiser in the nonprofit sector, Jason is a champion of community-centered philanthropy and committed to helping SIPA obtain resources to fulfill its mission. 

SECRETARY
President
Cafe 86

Ginger Lim-Dimapaok, co-founder of Cafe 86 Corp, is a first-generation immigrant who built a successful dessert business with her husband, James, now operating multiple locations across California and Nevada and expanding through franchising. A skilled culinary professional trained in New York City, she is also a passionate advocate for Filipino culture, promoting it through festivals, workshops, and published works. A mother of two and winner of Chopped Sweets (2020), Ginger’s journey reflects a blend of entrepreneurship, cultural pride, and community impact. 

TREASURER
CPA, Partner
Withum

Chester Ventura is a partner of Withum with over 25 years of service in public accounting. Born in the Philippines, Chester has deep ties with Filipino community and carries the value of cultural richness with a deep sense of pride. In his second term as Treasurer, Chester’s expertise and highly collaborative approach has enabled SIPA to strengthen its financial position in a challenging funding landscape. 

Former Mayor (2017 & 2021) & City Council Member
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Rachelle Arizmendi is a seasoned public servant and nonprofit leader who has held key roles across civic, state, and community organizations. She served on multiple boards, including leadership positions with National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development and Asian American Pacific Islanders Equity Alliance, and was appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture by two governors. In 2014, she became the first woman of color elected to the Sierra Madre City Council, later serving two terms as Mayor. She concluded her public service in 2022 and previously held executive leadership at Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, impacting tens of thousands annually, before transitioning into government technology advisory work.

Senior Vice-President / Director
Bank of America

Lope Choa is a Senior Vice President and Enterprise Relationship Specialist at Bank of America, where he leads collaboration across wealth management and commercial banking teams in the Los Angeles market. With over two decades of experience, including roles at Citibank and Merrill Lynch, he brings deep expertise in business and commercial banking.

Lope holds a business degree from Ateneo de Manila University and an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business. Based in San Marino, he is a family-oriented professional and avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers, enjoying outdoor activities like hiking, tennis, and golf.

Executive Director
Public Policy and International Affairs

Josh Diosomito became Executive Director of Public Policy and International Affairs Program in 2025, bringing over 20 years of experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He began his career with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, contributing to national policy through oversight and leadership development work, before moving into the private sector to lead global leadership and diversity initiatives at Capital Group and Harvard Business Publishing.

A longtime PPIA alum and leader, Josh has served in multiple advisory and governance roles within the organization. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of California, Berkeley and dual master’s degrees from Syracuse University Maxwell School, and is dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and driving impactful change.

Solutions Train Engineer
Capital Group

Angela Gulliver is a technology and delivery leader at Capital Group with over 20 years of experience across technology, finance, and large-scale program execution, specializing in turning strategy into action. She holds a degree in Economics from University of California, Berkeley and is deeply committed to community work centered on art, culture, and social justice.

Angela has also served on nonprofit boards supporting arts and community wellness, bringing a collaborative and systems-focused approach to leadership. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling, dancing, and exploring creative spaces.

Sourcing, Quality & Production VP
LoveSac, Inc

Theresa, originally from Manila and raised in the Bay Area, is a seasoned retail leader with over 30 years of global experience. She has held roles at major companies like Gap Inc. and Walmart, as well as startups, specializing in sourcing, production, and ethical supply chain strategy. She has also spent over a decade serving on the board of Washington State University Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles Program, helping prepare future industry professionals.

Theresa lives in Atwater Village with her husband, Marjo, and their beloved pug mix, Roscoe. She is the proud mother of an adult daughter, Kelli, who resides in Philly. Energized by community and connection, Theresa looks forward to contributing her experience and perspective to the SIPA community.

Director and Senior Counsel
Netflix Legal

Director, Mid-Market Commerce
Google

Reggie Panaligan is the Head of Commerce at Google, where he partners with established and emerging retail brands to grow through YouTube and Google. 

Prior to his current role, Reggie served as the SVP of Research & Analytics at Paramount Pictures where he launched the Marketing Analytics department responsible for maximizing the potential of data to improve marketing effectiveness. Additionally, he served as Head of Analytics, Media & Entertainment at Google, where he was responsible for uncovering consumer trends and marketing strategies for streaming platforms, movie studios, television networks, sports leagues, and other entertainment clients.  

He holds an undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley, and earned an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Leslie-Anne, and their children. 

Brand Strategist & Marketing Consultant, Co-Founder, Baryo Ent

Stephanie Ramos is a visionary marketing leader with 12+ years of experience in brand marketing, strategy, and partnerships. As the Collaborations & Special Projects Marketing Director at Nike, she is part of a global team responsible for partnerships in fashion, design, art and entertainment, and also focuses on how the brand shows up during sport + cultural moments including Fashion Week, Art Basel, Coachella, Super Bowl, World Cup, and US Open. She has found purpose in her work by being able to shine a light and empower the Filipino-American community. She is very passionate about pushing forward AAPI representation through storytelling, campaigns, collaborations, and experiences, putting forth artists like Bretman Rock, Toro y Moi, Noodles, Yeek, and P-Lo, and has curated a number of events from LA to the Bay celebrating the Filipino community. 

Employment Lawyer
Zelenski Law

Abigail Zelenski is an experienced employment lawyer with nearly 20 years of practice, specializing in wage-and-hour, discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination cases, while also advising organizations on policies and risk mitigation. She has served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Commission since 2019, supporting efforts to address discrimination and promote equity.

Abigail is an active civic leader, with roles including board service and past presidency of the Philippine American Bar Association, as well as involvement with local and cultural organizations. She earned her law degree from UCLA School of Law and her undergraduate degree from University of Southern California.

LEGAL COUNSEL
Reed Smith LLP