Board of Directors, Advisors and Contributors
VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS
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Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman: Founder and President of Refugee Artisan Initiative, 2017 to present Ming-Ming is the founder of RAI. She immigrated to The US when she was a teenager from Taiwan. After over 20 years as a clinical pharmacist, Ming-Ming wanted to give back to her community. RAI combines her compassion as a health are provider and her love for fashion to create this women empowerment initiative. |
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Lisa Hanna: Human Resources Chair, 2017 to present Lisa earned both a B.A. in English and her law degree from the University of Utah. She works for the Human Resources at University of Washington She lives in Seattle with her son and husband and enjoys traveling, ballets and gathering with friends. |
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Hayden Bixby: Finance & Development Committee 2019 to present Hayden Bixby has been a faculty member at Edmonds Community College since 1998 and has served as the International Program Director for Cura Orphanage, in Kenya, since 2006. She is thrilled to be contributing to the work of RAI as it responds creatively to the needs of refugee women in the US.
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Akiko Eisner-Waters: Operations Chair, 2019 to present Akiko Waters is the founder and creative director of the CURA CO., a socially conscious lifestyle brand specializing in ethically-sourced, female forward art, home and apparel products. Besides the clear synergy between the mission of Akiko's brand and the work of RAI, it is also the facts of Akiko's own childhood that fuels the passion for working with immigrant women. As the child of a Japanese single mother Akiko understands first hand the struggle immigrants face, especially mothers.
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Brittany Mehl, Marketing Chair, 2019 to present Brittany Mehl works for a Mentor Create Group, a digital creative agency in Seattle that designs, builds, brands, and markets products. She is passionate about RAI’s innovative model to transform the lives of refugee and immigrant women. She is looking forward to helping share the impact stories of the organization along with developing community partnerships.
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Jennifer Porter, Operations Committee 2019 to Present Jennifer Porter is Founder and President of Satsuma Designs, a company which manufactures baby and children's apparel and accessories. Jennifer is also the Founder of Satsuma Uniform, RAI's strategic partner and manufacturer of school uniform apparel.
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Ting Ting Chan, Treasurer, Finance & Development Committee 2019 to present A Wells Fargo Premier Banker, Ting Ting is a first generation Chinese American with a degree in International Studies from the University of Georgia. Ting Ting supports RAI because she remembers how tough it was for her mother to adapt to life in America as a Chinese immigrant.
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Larry Tice, Marketing Committee 2019 to present Larry has a B.A. from UCLA in Motion Picture Television. He has his own media production company, Seattle Digital Video and he has contributed to numerous marketing efforts including media campaigns on Kickstarter and IndieGogo.
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 Pri Ja Galau, Artisan Representative, 2020 to present Pri is a refugee from Burma, and has been with RAI since April 2020. On top of being a skilled sewer and joining RAI's board, she works full time in technology, and is in school to become an Accountant. Pri has donated money she has earned from RAI to help others with food and shelter needs in the same way that she was helped when she arrived in the US in 2009 as a recent refugee. |
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Yumiko Damashek, Finance & Development Committee April 2020 to present Yumiko Damashek is a Japan native and a seasoned senior executive in the global semiconductor industry with 30 years of senior management experience in the US public companies. She is a rare female leader who has broken glass ceilings in the fiercely competitive semiconductor industry.
Over the years, Ms. Damashek has lectured on foreign investment strategies, women’s career and leadership development, and has been very active in promoting Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in a corporate setting. She now dedicates herself in addressing the world's social issues through nonprofit organizations while engaging in angel investing and volunteering as a mentor for high school STEM students in the Seattle area.
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KEY ADVISORS & CONTRIBUTORS |
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Donna Verretto, Non-Profit Advisor - President of DV Consulting for independent nonprofit consulting. Donna has had over 20 years experience in running non-profit organizations. Camille Steele, Operations Advisor - Camille Steen has worked in the apparel industry in a variety of roles. She is the Adjunct Professor at Seattle Pacific University. Currently, she is the Product Engineer Lead at ExOfficio LLC, and is co-author of the popular Fairchild textbook “Technical Sourcebook for Designers.” Steve Hills, Board Development Advisor - Steve is an effective business and community leader with extensive human resources and organizational effectiveness experience in both the private and public sectors. A non-profit guru, Steve dedicates his time to coaching RAI on how to effectively lead and grow as a company.
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