Board – SIPA

Board of Directors

BOARD OFFICERS

Edward Malicdem

PRESIDENT

First Vice President
Merrill Lynch

Edward Malicdem

Edward Malicdem is a Senior Vice President and Sales Manager- Wealth Management Advisor at the Pasadena, CA Merrill Lynch office. Along with his team, Ed works with a select group of families and businesses in developing wealth management strategies.

Ed understands that one of the biggest challenges for his clients lies in creating a dynamic and flexible wealth management plan, and he utilizes Merrill Lynch’s time tested tools to aid clients in the pursuit of these goals. He is committed to understanding the specific situations of his clients and systematically reviews their progress to recommend adjustments. Ed also focuses on tax minimization strategies as part of his retirement and estate planning process.

Additionally, Ed works closely with his clients’ other advisors including their attorneys, CPA’s, and key family members, allowing him to focus holistically on his clients’ total financial picture. Addressing estate planning issues is generational; therefore, Ed believes it is imperative to bring all key parties together to ensure proper estate succession.

Ed is a native of Southern California and graduated from La Salle High School in Pasadena. He earned dual degrees in Political Science and History at UC Berkeley, before studying law at Whittier College School of Law and ultimately transitioning into the area of financial services. Ed currently resides in Eagle Rock with his wife, Monique, and has two adult children, Maddy and Michael. Deeply committed to his local community, he serves as the President for the Board of Trustees at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans and is active in his local parish, St. Dominic’s. In his leisure time, Ed enjoys travel, attending theatre and sporting events.

*Neither Merrill Lynch nor its Financial Advisors provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Clients should review any planned financial transactions or arrangements that may have tax, accounting or legal implications with their personal professional advisors.

Abigail Tapang Zelenski

VICE PRESIDENT

Employment Lawyer
Zelenski Law, PC

Abigail Tapang Zelenski

For nearly two decades, Abigail Tapang Zelenski has practiced as an employment lawyer, successfully representing clients in matters involving wage-and-hour, harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. Abigail also provides employment advice and counsel with respect to employment handbooks, policies and procedures, and risk mitigation.

Since 2019, Abigail has served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Commission. The Commission is tasked with investigating complaints of discrimination in Los Angeles, and works in close partnership with the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department to hold businesses and individuals accountable for discriminatory practices that deny equal treatment to any individual in private employment, housing, education, or commerce. Since 2016, Abigail has served on the Board of the Philippine American Bar Association, where she served as President in 2021, and as Chair in 2022. Abigail has also served as an elected representative of the Governing Board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, and served many years on the Board of the Filipino American Library.

Abigail earned her J.D. at the UCLA School of Law. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California, magna cum laude, with a B.A. in Political Science and academic minors in Business Administration and Law & Society.

Rachel Buenviaje

SECRETARY

Brand Marketing Manager
Nike Inc.

Rachel Buenviaje

Rachel Buenviaje is a Marketing Manager for Nike, Inc. She is also a member of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Filipino Women's Network, and Women in Sports & Events. Rachel is a graduate of University of California, Irvine. She was appointed commissioner on APIA Affairs for the state of California.

Rita Garcia

TREASURER

CPA / Partner
Meloni Hribal Tratner LLP

Rita Garcia

Rita Garcia Acuna is a partner and a certified public accountant with over 16 years of experience managing projects for clients in the manufacturing, entertainment, social media, wholesale, distribution industries. Her areas of expertise include financial statement audits and other attestation engagements, financial and internal control consulting, agreed-upon procedures, royalty audits, quality of earnings reports, tax planning and compliance for multi-state entities, representation in tax audits, including entities with multiple business segments for consolidation. Rita has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is a member of the AICPA and CalCPA. Prior to public accounting, she worked in business and systems implementation projects with Accenture Consulting.

Candida Boyette - Clemons

SVP, Unscripted Series & Specials
Paramount Global

Candida Boyette-Clemons

Candida Boyette-Clemons is a Senior Vice President of Unscripted Series & Specials at Paramount Global's MTV Entertainment Group. With almost 25 years in television production, she has specialized in alternative programming in comedy, game, live and interactive formats, with an intentional focus on diversity in talent and amplifying people of color both in front of and behind the camera.

Candida is an active member in both the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy (serving as 2023 Television Academy Honors judge), but considers her community affiliations her most meaningful. She has been a volunteer staff member of Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp since 2017. She serves on the Board of Directors for LA's Search to Involve Pilipino Americans and the multi-cultural youth girls non-profit, Swirls for Girls, since 2017. She was also a founding member of her daughter's school PTA group, FORJE (Franklin Ave Organizing for Racial Justice and Equity).

Candida enjoys traveling, hiking, attending live concerts, and spending time with her family, especially her two daughters, an 11-year old basketball player-superhero fanatic and her 22 year-old fashion designer-artist-bonus daughter.

Johneric Concordia

Chef / Co-Founder
The Park's Finest

Johneric Concordia

Johneric Concordia is the Chef and Co-Founder of The Park’s Finest, a Los Angeles-based restaurant in Echo Park, Historic Filipinotown. In his youth at 12 years of age, Johneric was a client of SIPA, participating in programs and projects designed to prevent at-risk behavior and substance abuse. He later returned in his teen years to work on staff as a Coordinator for SIPA’s Youth Programs. Returning again as a client in his twenties, Johneric availed of SIPA’s assistance through the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business program when opening up The Park’s Finest as a catering company with long-time friends. The continued growing support of community coupled with assistance from family allowed for the opening of The Park's Finest brick and mortar in 2012. A year later, the restaurant was featured on the “L.A. Eats” episode of The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. In 2017, Johneric hosted episodes of the Discovery Channel Asia’s “Prison Food,” a series that takes a chef into some of the world’s most notorious prisons to cook a meal behind bars, accompanied by volunteer kitchen staff who are inmates themselves.

Jessica del Mundo

Executive Director
10 Storyhouse, Inc.

Jessica del Mundo

Jessica del Mundo is a media and communications professional based in Los Angeles. Currently, executive director of 10storyhouse, a bi-coastal public relations agency specializing in communications, media relations, and content creation. Also serving as editorial director of Brave New Girl, a cause-related publishing brand launching in 2019, and elected executive secretary of the board of directors for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in Historic Filipinotown.

Previously, SVP/PR executive director of media, in charge of consumer marketing campaigns at global agency GOLIN (Interpublic Group), leading award-winning public relations programs for major consumer brands for nearly a decade. Began PR career as broadcast media counsel and senior team leader at Casey Sayre & Williams, a top-ranked L.A. boutique agency, responsible for establishing and promoting The Grove brand for CARUSO, also representing business leaders, artists/entertainers, and arts/civic groups in PR projects and campaigns throughout Southern California. Formerly, a broadcast TV journalist/press corps member as news producer at FOX News, associate producer with Emmy award-winning investigative news unit Fox Undercover, and producer for network news magazine Fox Files.

Edgar Dormitorio

Chief of Staff & Assistant Vice Chancellor Student Affairs at UC Irvine

Edgar Dormitorio

Edgar Dormitorio was raised in the City of Carson and is proud of his second-generation Filipino American roots. Now residing in Orange County, California, he has spent his entire professional career in education and serves as the Chief of Staff & Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of California, Irvine. In his role, he works closely with campus leadership in managing one of the fastest growing and pre-eminent universities in the world. With a student population just over 37,000, the campus is held in high regard for its academic rigor, location, and affordability.

Edgar also currently serves on the El Sol Foundation and has served as a technical advisor for the North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF).

Laura Kanamori

Executive Director of Global Brand Marketing Paramount Home Entertainment

Laura Kanamori

Laura has a BA in Psychology from UCLA and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business. Prior to business school Laura worked in a variety of roles supporting HIV and cancer research in diverse environments including non-profit research, event production and biotechnology. She is captain of the Paramount Triathlon team, and a 7-time participant in the Malibu Triathlon raising annual donations for cancer research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Christian Lising

Regional Medical Director
Urgent Care at St. Joseph Heritage

Christian Lising

Christian Lising, MD, MBA was born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California from the age of two. He attended UCLA graduating in 1991 with a BS in Biology. While at UCLA he was active in Samahang Pilipino and it was through this that he became acquainted with SIPA.

He attended UC Irvine School of Medicine and earned his medical degree in 1997. It was there where he met his wife whom he married a week after graduation. They have two teenage children and live in Orange County. After completing his Family Medicine residency in Northridge, Christian was hired as a primary care physician for the St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in 2000 in Yorba Linda. He later became to Physician Site Director for the Group’s Brea clinic in 2008. He then became the Group’s Associate Medical Director for Primary Care in 2016.

In 2018, he became the Regional Medical Director for Urgent Care and has clinical and operational oversight of 5 Urgent Cares for Providence (formerly Providence St. Joseph Health) in Orange County. He is active in the growth strategy for the organization expanding Urgent Care services in Anaheim Hills in 2020 and will open a new Urgent Care in Chino Hills at the end of 2021.

Christian earned his Master of Business Administration in 2020 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Christian has been active in the Boy Scouts of America for over 13 years assuming almost every adult leadership role in Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts. He has helped over 20 young men attain the rank of Eagle Scout, including his son. He enjoys vacationing with his family, working out with his brother, and spending time with his very large Filipino family. His love for community service was greatly influenced by his mother and shaped by his work with the Filipino community through Samahang Pilipino. He is looking forward to using his 20 years of experience in medicine and physician leadership to help SIPA reach its goals.

Jason Lustina

Non-Profit Fundraising Professional Founder, SoCal Filipinos

Jason Lustina

Jason Lustina was born in Los Angeles and raised in Carson, California. A graduate from the University of California, Irvine where he earned his degree in Environmental Analysis & Design with a minor in Epidemiology and Public Health. He has spent his professional career in fundraising/fund development for 20+ years. Jason has worked for the American Heart Association, City of Hope and the American Red Cross.

Jason is also the founder of the SoCal Filipinos Facebook group which has grown to 19K members. Founded in June 2020 SoCal Filipinos focus is connecting Filipinos/Filipino American’s through their shared experience living or having a tie to Southern California by engaging in a variety of posts and workshops. The mission is to build a social community that bridges Filipinos from all ages and different places while bringing awareness of the Filipino and Filipino- American culture and experience.

In his spare time Jason has his side baking business called Brown Baked where he brings traditional Filipino flavors and applies them to cookies, breads, cheesecakes and more.

Jason is excited to be working with the SIPA to help give back to the Filipino/Filipino-American community.

Rosalie Manansala

DOT Capital Advisors
Founder & CEO

Rosalie Manansala

As the Founder and CEO of DOT Capital Advisors, Rosalie has nearly a decade of experience in the commercial real estate industry and over ten years of experience providing accounting and tax services to Fortune 500 companies and high-net-worth individuals.

Her experience began as a CPA for a multi-billion dollar family office, focused on diverse investment strategies and non-profit endeavors. She then spent time on Deloitte’s national tax consulting practice on multi-million dollar corporate tax strategies. In 2011, she founded Jackson Stone Financial Services, Inc., a multi-family office that has pivoted to commercial real estate consulting, becoming DOT Capital Advisors.

Being raised through humble beginnings helped her to understand the burdens of underserved communities and minority groups. Each of her roles and partnerships seek to empower minority leaders and create a positive lasting change within these spaces.

As an active member in the AAPI community, she belongs to the Commercial Real Estate Diversity Coalition, an alliance among Diverse Affinity Organizations in CRE. She is also a board member at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Co-Founder and Treasurer of Heart Of Angels, and Los Angeles Co-Market Lead of Filipinos In Institutional Real Estate (FIIRE).

Rosalie is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) in California and received her Bachelors of Science Degree in accounting from California State University, Northridge. On her days off, Rosalie enjoys playing tennis, hiking by the ocean, and traveling the globe.

Brian Monje

[TBA]

Brian Monje

Jonathan Navallo

Director of International
Real Estate Inv.
Walmart

Jonathan Navallo

Jonathan Navallo is a Director of International Real Estate Investments and Strategy with Walmart International where he oversees the strategic real estate agenda for the international markets of China, Japan, Canada, India, South Africa, and the UK. With over 15 years of experience, he has completed over $3.0b in real estate transactions comprised of nearly every property time. His previous experience includes The Walton Foundation, The Irvine Company, and Equity Office Properties.

Jonathan holds a Master's in Business Administration with a focus on Business Analytics from the Sam Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Managerial Finance from the California State University of Long Beach. He is a CCIM Candidate and a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Lastly, he serves as a board member of SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), an organization whose goal is to enhance the quality of life for Filipino Americans.

Allen Palos

Freelance Marketing Manager

Allen Palos

With over 20 years of experience as an event producer for events with artists like Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child and Lebron James, he has helped bridge the gap between Filipino culture and the mainstream through his events and involvement. He also serves as a board member for SIPA, the largest Filipino nonprofit charity in the US.

For 16 years he was the Head of Marketing for global comedian Jo Koy, helping him to catapult to 100% sellout crowds and is in the process of developing an array of new talent called the MyxCast, a millennial group of creatives, artists and curators in the entertainment industry. He has a heartfelt passion for helping bring young Filipinos back to the Philippines & has helped bring over 500 people back to the islands to experience the beautiful culture while connecting to their family’s roots.

Marisa Pizarro

Def Jam
Senior Vice President of A&R

Marisa Pizarro

(Bio to Come)

Ernie Ocampo

Special Counsel
Reed Smith LLP

Ernie Ocampo

Ernie Ocampo is Counsel in the Entertainment & Media Industry Group of law firm Reed Smith LLP. He advises clients in various stages of development in a broad range of transactions, including business launches, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions. In addition to serving as pro bono counsel for SIPA, Ernie serves on the boards of Los Angeles-Makati Sister Cities, Philippine American Bar Association, and USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association.

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Board of Directors

BOARD OFFICERS

Edward Malicdem

Abigail Tapang Zelenski

Rachel Buenviaje

Rita Garcia

BOARD MEMBERS

Candida Boyette - Clemons

Johneric Concordia

Jessica del Mundo

Edgar Dormitorio

Laura Kanamori

Christian Lising

Jason Lustina

Rosalie Manansala

Brian Monje

Jonathan Navallo

Allen Palos

Marisa Pizarro

LEGAL COUNSEL

Ernie Ocampo