Board of Directors 2025-2026

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President
​Helen Tran, Mayor, City of San Bernardino

Helen Tran is a public servant, non-profit leader, and mother of three. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees in search of the American Dream, Helen grew up in San Bernardino. After graduating from Cajon High School, she became the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz. 
 
Helen’s professional experience started in high school, when she worked as a grassroots organizer, helping to elect candidates across Southern California. In 2006, Helen began working for the City of San Bernardino as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Human Resources. Ten years later, Helen became the youngest Director of Human Resources for the City of San Bernardino. 
 
Helen has always been passionate about giving back to her community, and she understands the importance of reciprocity and engagement. She devotes much of her spare time to civic leadership, taking on numerous roles in the city, including: School Site Councilmember for Bob Holcomb Elementary; member of the Verdemont Revitalization Project (VRP); member of the San Bernardino League of Women Voters; member of the National Women’s Political Caucus; member of the Rotary Club of San Bernardino; member of Kiwanis; Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area; and member of the San Bernardino County Trails Committee. Helen previously served as member of San Bernardino’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission.

First Vice President
Jocelyn Yow, Mayor, City of Eastvale

Jocelyn Yow is dedicated to a career in public service. She currently serves as a director of a national nonprofit organization. Yow also served as a district representative for California State Senate and the United States House of Representatives, where she worked tirelessly to help seniors, families, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and children to access valuable government services as they navigated through the complexities of our government.
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From an early age, public service has been part of Jocelyn Yow’s life and a source of growth and inspiration. Growing up in a working-class immigrant family, her family emphasizes the importance of giving back and community service.

In 2011, Yow’s family moved to the Inland Empire and settled in Eastvale, where she quickly found a home.

Yow obtained her master’s degree from Harvard Extension; her bachelor degree from the University of California, Berkeley; and her associate’s degree from Norco College.

2nd Vice President
Darren Suen, Vice Mayor, City of Elk Grove

Darren Suen joined the council in 2014. Beginning with his great grandparents settling in the Delta, Darren was born and raised in the nearby Greenhaven/Pocket neighborhood. He and his family has lived in Elk Grove since 2001.

Darren represents the city regionally on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments as Chair of the Transportation Committee. He is also the past Chair of the Sacramento Public Library Authority and the Sacramento Transportation Authority. For the city, Darren serves on the Economic Development, Affordable Housing, and Legislative committees.
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His professional background as a civil engineering manager specializing in transportation and water resources, and land use planning experience have proven useful previously on the FLACPAC and currently on the Council. Darren is a Principal Engineer and Policy Advisor for the California Central Valley Flood Protection Board.

Darren is a registered civil engineer with a master’s in business administration and a certified project management professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute (PMI). He is a graduate of Sacramento's City Management Academy and a Great Valley Center I.D.E.A.L. Fellow.

Darren is a proponent of fiscal responsibility and using our limited resources efficiently while still investing in our community.
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Darren's family includes his wife Denise and their three children.

Secretary/Treasurer
Emily Ramos, Mayor, City of Mountain View

Emily Ramos serves as the Vice Mayor in the City of Mountain View. In her day job as the Tenant Protection and Empowerment Associate at SV@Home, she works on the implementation of tenant protections, affordable housing preservation, and comprehensive anti‐displacement policy solutions, all undertaken in an equity framework. 

In college, Emily had the opportunity to explore the world and develop strong technical and academic skills, which include quick problem solving, programming, and qualitative analysis. She received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a 3rd Assistant Engineer Coast Guard Licence at the California Maritime Academy, which gave her experience with large-scale, complex, electromechanical equipment. She returned to the South Bay to receive her post-graduate education at San Jose State University in the same field. From 2009 to 2017, she brought together technology startups and community groups for events at The Tech Museum of Innovation. 

From 2017-2021, she worked at a political consulting firm that is leading a statewide campaign, Close the Gap California, to recruit talented progressive women to run for open seats in the California State legislature. She also served as the Chair of Mountain View’s Rental Housing Committee, a member of the local League of Women Voters and the board for the local Community Services Agency. Born and raised in the Bay Area by Filipino immigrants, she has worked on several campaigns for local candidates and hopes to use her unique knowledge and experience to build a pipeline of young and diverse leaders throughout the state

Immediate Past President
Jeffrey Koji Maloney, Vice Mayor, City of Alhambra

Jeff Koji Maloney is Chief Staff Counsel for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, an agency of the State of California that is dedicated to the protection of open space and urban parks and has preserved nearly 80,000 acres of parkland throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

In 2018, Jeff became Mayor of the City of Alhambra, California after winning election to the City Council in 2016. Jeff remains active in a variety of community and governmental organizations, serving as a board member of the Asian Pacific Islanders Caucus of the League of California Cities, the Go For Broke National Education Center, and was co-chair of the Alhambra Host Town Committee during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

He attended law school at the University of Southern California and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego. Jeff lives in Alhambra with his wife, Akiko, and their young two children.

Director At-Large
​​Juslyn Manalo, Mayor, City of Daly City

Juslyn Manalo was elected to Daly City Council and appointed Vice Mayor in 2016. She served as Mayor in 2017-2018. Juslyn is the first Asian American woman in these aforementioned respective roles.

She was raised in Daly City since she was 8 years old, and has deep roots in serving the community from a young age. Being raised in the multi-ethnic city of Daly City has given Manalo a deep appreciation for diversity. Early in her career, she became a Community Service Worker providing direct service to the Filipino World War II Veterans. Juslyn also managed the Bill Sorro Housing Program (BiSHoP), a program that helped low to moderate income families, find, defend and sustain their housing.
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Currently, she is a Community Engagement Associate with Brookfield building partnerships to create community development opportunities such as affordable housing, jobs, open space, and youth development.

Manalo currently serves as a Board of Director for the Bay Area Water Supply Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), Senior Disability Action(SDA),Affordable Housing Committee for Daly City and is seated on the Skyline College President Council.

Previously she served on the Personnel Board for the City of Daly City Chairwoman for the SamTrans Citizen Advisory Committee ensuring that local community voice is represented.
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Manalo earned her Masters of Public Administration, from San Francisco State University's School of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement. She has also attained a Bachelor of Arts, in Asian-American Studies and a Minor in Women Studies from San Francisco State University.

Director At-Large
Gabriel Quinto, Mayor, City of El Cerrito

Mayor Gabriel "Gabe" Quinto became El Cerrito's first Filipino-American, the second Asian-American and first LGBTQ Councilmember in the history of the city of El Cerrito. Born in Berkeley, he grew up in El Cerrito, where he attended public schools. At Cal State University, Long Beach he earned his BS in Radio, TV & Film.

Prior to his election, he served as a member of El Cerrito’s Committee on Aging and as Chair of the Human Relations Commission. For many years Gabe was an elected member of the Sierra Club Bay Chapter’s Executive and Political committees, and Chair of the West Contra Costa County Group.

Quinto began his first term on the El Cerrito City Council on December 2014. His second four-year term began in December 2018 when he was instrumental in the passage of Measure V which established El Cerrito as a Charter City and implemented a property transfer tax. Measure H was also passed to fund parks and city’s pool.

Quinto has been council liaison to most of the city's Boards and Commissions. In 2020 he became the first El Cerrito Councilmember to Chair the Contra Costa Mayors Conference since the 1990s when Councilmember Jane Bartke served. In 2021 Quinto became the first El Cerrito Councilmember to be on the Marin Clean Energy Executive Committee.

In 2021, Mayor Quinto became the first El Cerritan to be appointed as Boardmember statewide for the League of CA Cities. Gabe just finished his term as President of the East Bay Division & LGBTQ Caucus and in 2018-2019 was President of the API Caucus as well as a member of the Environmental Policy Committee. Mayor Quinto also was appointed to the Committee on Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, Committee on Governance and Committee on Board Nominations.

Director At-Large
Stan Liu, Council Member, Diamond Bar

Stan Liu was elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in November 2020. Prior he served as a City Parks and Recreation Commissioner. He is currently a sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneur and previously worked as a Network Administrator, Process Improvement Lead. 


Mr. Liu holds a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Azusa Pacific University. 


As a strong supporter of local community organizations and youth programs, Mr. Liu is very active and serves on many boards and committees, and currently holds the position of chair of the Walnut Valley Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and vice chair of the Youth Science Center board. He also serves as a board member for the Walnut Valley Education Foundation, Diamond Bar Community Foundation (advisory), Diamond Bar Girls Softball, South Pointe Parent Band Boosters, Helping Hands Ministry for Efree Church Diamond Bar, and President-Elect, Finance Chair, Diversity Equality and Inclusion Chair for the Entrepreneurs' Organization - Inland Empire.


In his spare time, Mr. Liu teaches entrepreneurship to high school students and often acts as mentor to college students and young entrepreneurs. He also volunteers at community and church events, local elementary and middle schools as a DJ/MC and especially enjoys gardening with his daughters.
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He and his wife of over 18 years, Margaret, live in Diamond Bar along their two daughters Kaitlyn and Megan.


Mr. Liu immigrated to the United States at the age of 13 with his parents and younger brother. His younger brother, sister-in-law and their two sons also call Diamond Bar home. He is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Director At-Large
Charlsie Chang, Council Member, City of Sunnyvale

Charlsie Chang was elected to the Sunnyvale City Council in November 2024. She is a lifelong public servant and has worked at several different levels of government including in the State Legislature, at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and now in public transportation.

Originally from the San Gabriel Valley, she moved to the Bay Area after graduate school and quickly found a home and community in Sunnyvale - the community she loves and is honored to serve. She is a proud product of public schools and has a B.A. in Political Science and a Master’s of Public Administration. 

Director At-Large
Ed Chen, Council Member, City of Temple City

Ed Chen was elected to the Temple City Council in March 2024, bringing years of public service and community engagement to his role. His commitment to the city is rooted in a deep sense of duty and dedication to its residents.
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Ed’s service to Temple City began long before his election to the council. He previously served on the Planning Commission from 2009 to 2011 and was a member of the Temple City Unified School District Board of Education from 2001 to 2005. His leadership in these roles helped shape local policies that continue to benefit the community today.

Professionally, Ed is a police officer with a strong background in public safety and community policing. He has also served as a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Deputy for 14 years, reinforcing his commitment to keeping Temple City a safe and thriving place for all.

Beyond his professional and public service career, Ed has been an active member of the community. He served as a board member for the Temple City National Little League from 2022 to 2023 and was a long-standing board member of the Temple City Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2023. His involvement in these organizations reflects his dedication to fostering local businesses, youth development, and civic engagement.

One of Ed’s proudest personal accomplishments is being the father of a Temple City Camellia Festival Royal Court King in 2023. He and his wife are raising their family in Temple City, a place they cherish and are deeply invested in. A graduate of Temple City High School and born in Taiwan, Ed’s journey reflects a lifelong connection to the city he now serves.

As a Councilmember, Ed is committed to ensuring Temple City remains a welcoming, safe, and prosperous community for generations to come.

Director At-Large
Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, Mayor, City of Cerritos

Frank Aurelio Yokoyama was elected to the Cerritos City Council in 2017 and became Mayor Pro Tem in 2019. He was re-elected to the Cerritos City Council in 2022 and became Mayor in 2025. A Cerritos resident since 1976, Councilmember Yokoyama previously served as a Cerritos Planning Commissioner from 2011 to 2013.

Councilmember Yokoyama is a City liaison to the ABC Unified School District and is a member of the City's Performing Arts and County Health Department/Health Insurance committees. He serves as the Council's delegate to the Southeast Water Coalition Joint Powers Authority and the Southern California Association of Governments. Councilmember Yokoyama is the alternate delegate to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Gateway Cities Council of Governments – 91/605/405 Corridor Cities Committee, League of California Cities and Sanitation Districts 2, 3, 18 & 19/Waste Management.

Councilmember Yokoyama was appointed to the League of California Cities Environmental Quality Policy Committee and Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Community Services Policy Committee for 2021. He was appointed to the Executive/Administration Committee (EAC) of Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) in 2021. He served on the Rancho Southeast REALTORS® 2021 Nominating Committee and is on the Rancho Southeast Local Government Relations and Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Committees.

Councilmember Yokoyama is a local businessman, attorney and a youth sports coach. He graduated from UC Berkeley Business School and Harvard Law School. In honor of his service as a volunteer coach for the City's Youth Sports Leagues, Councilmember Yokoyama received the 2014 Merit Award for coaching six sports teams and the 2020 Mayor's Award for coaching 20 sports teams.
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Councilmember Yokoyama and his wife, Wendy, are parents to daughter Makenna and son Maddox.