Dr. Alexander Africa

Career: Community leader, retired United States Air Force veteran, entrepreneur.

Education: Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University, Doctor of Philosophy in Education (abd) Walden University, MBA from American Military University.

Community: Dr. Africa has served the United States Air Force and the Filipino-American Community for over 20 years.

Fun Fact: Loves to sing and dance. Dr. Africa and his family enjoy travelling around the world. The Africas loves to ski all over the Rockies.

Favorite Food: His Tatay’s afritada, goto and loming Batangas.

Maddie Vines

Vice President

Career: Maddie Vines is a Senior Paralegal for the Department of Law for the Office of the Attorney General. Prior to the AG’s Office I worked both in private and public practice which includes 14 years for the 4th Judicial District in El Paso County.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Human Resources and earned Magna Cum Laude honors from Regis University.

Community: This is my first year with NaFFAA. I’m the Executive Director and Vice President for the Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado. I’ve been volunteering with FACSC for about 30 years. I’ve been a public servant for most of my adult life. I am the CEO of Vines Professional Services providing loan signing services as a Certified Notary Signing Agent.

I am also one of the owners for Hapi Kultura a newly opened family e-commerce online store. I’ve been married for 25 years with my husband, Kevin Vines. Our family of three generations enjoys golfing, bowling, and exploring the world together. Cherishing every moment with our only daughter and two granddaughters.

My favorite Filipino food: Lumpia.

Marlene Perez

Secretary

Career: Retired USPS HQ Sr. Field Acct Rep; CO/WY Account Manager

Education: BS Foods and Nutrition

Community Service: Serving NaFFAA since Gawad Kalinga started in CO in 2003. Currently Secretary for NAFFAA Region V; appointed as Membership Chair in 2015 and has remained in this position until May 2023.Served as Secretary for past NAFFAA V Chairs Jennifer Samuel, Donna Lavigne and Dennis Apuan.

Founded Postal Employees’ Asian-American Association Committed and Engaged (PEAAACE) now Postal Employees’ Asian American Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Association (PEAANHPIA), a member of White House Initiative on Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (WHIAANHPI).

Gloria williams

Treasurer
Past Region V Chair

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Dr. Jo Ann Antenor

Membership Director

Career: Regional Medical Director, AMGEM Therapeutics

Education: PhD in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis, Masters in Public Health from St. Louis University in St. Louis, and Bachelors in Science in Public Health from University of the Philippines in Manila

Community: I have been a member of NaFFAA for a year, just started as Membership Director, and I have been serving the community since I moved to Colorado Springs in 2021. I love showcasing Filipino food. In fact, I try to go to a Filipino restaurant anywhere I find myself in. I have visited all 50 U.S. states.

Favorite Filipino food: Dinuguan

Shiela Deforest

Outreach Director

Career: Area Director: CO, Gawad Kalinga USA, Mrs ECO International 2019, Hotelier, Sustainability advocate

Education: BS Tourism, University of the Philippines; MBA, Sustainable Business student, CU Denver

Community: NaFFAA Region V 3 years and community work since 2016

Something I’d like people to know: It is humbling being able to help empower our diaspora, celebrate our culture and heritage in CO and give back to the Philippines. I enjoy learning about other cultures, music and fashion. I love to travel and have visited 58 countries.

Favorite Filipino food: Kare-kare

Arminda Aguilar

Auditor

Career: Retired Senior Compliance Analyst in investment companies

Education: BA in Economics at the University of the Philippines - Diliman

Community: NaFFAA R5 and Colorado Community - 8 years

Fun Fact: While a faculty member at Holy Angel University, my students and I fundraised for the Aetas, the first inhabitants of the Philippines.
I have two children.

Jennifer Samuel

Marketing Director
Past Region V President

Career: Owner & Celebrity Trainer of Perseverance, Principal of JS Consulting, and Professor at the University of Colorado at Denver for the Entrepreneurship program

Education: Bachelors in Marketing from University of Colorado at Denver, MBA from Colorado State University.

Community: I have been a member of NaFFAA for 24 years and was the original Youth Director for the “Central Region”. I’ve been serving the Filipino community since I was a teenager from youth activities to cultural dancing.

Fun fact: I am the first Filipino-American on the Denver Broncos Cheerleading team, 1999-2003.

Favorite Filipino Food: Lumpia and anything with ube in it.

Dr. Maria Obis

Colorado State President

Dr. Francis Macalalag

PR Officer

Mark Teneza

Youth Director

Aisha Perez

Colorado State Vice President

Donna LaVIgne

Adviser

Past Region V President

Career: Worked at the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, and later became a Language Instructor for the US Peace Corps Volunteers. While working in Kalibo, I met my husband, Atty, Jay LaVigne, as he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. We moved to the United States and have lived in Colorado since 1983. We have a daughter, Mahal and a grandson, Ellis.

Education: Boracay was so small, I had to travel to Kalibo, capital town of Aklan for high school and college.

Community: I have been active in the Colorado’s Filipino and Asian-American Communities since my arrival in 1983. My efforts include being FACC President; Co-chair of the Aurora Asian Pacific Community Partnership; Founding Board Member of the Governor’s Asian American Advisory Council; Founding Member of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA); multi-term Chair for NaFFAA Region V; Board Member of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival; served on local Commissions that guided the founding efforts of the City and County of Broomfield; currently Vice President of the recently founded Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a non-profit with a mission of promoting Philippine arts, culture, and history. Its first planned project is the installation of a life-sized statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero, in Colorado Springs.

Fun Fact: The following are recognition and accolades I received: Humanitarian Award both from Uplift Internatioanale, and Mending Faces; Honorary Chair for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival; Honorary Proclamation from Colorado Governor as Council Member of the Governor’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council; Asian American Heroes of Colorado; Leadership and Service Award from the Aurora Asan/Pacific Community Partnership; Lifetime Achievement Award from NaFFAA Region V; Outstanding Leadership, and Lifetime Membership Award from the FACC; Lifetime Achievement Award from Naturelle Well Earth International; Prism Award for Women with Style and Achievement, Gintong Pamana Award, Chicago; Most Outstanding Alumni, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Philippines.

Giselle rushford

Adviser
Past Region V President

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