GG Rowe, born Gladys Chin, is a 2nd generation American born Chinese and native Portlander. GG retired from 30 years in IT Project Management for Tektronix, 12 years with Planar Systems followed by independent consulting for 3 years. GG has led multicultural teams across many geographies of the world. GG joined the C.A.C.A. Portland in 2021 when she accepted the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously for her father, a World War II veteran stationed in Rhineland, Germany with the US Air Offensive in the Army Air Corp. In 2023, GG became Secretary and Membership Chair of C.A.C.A. Portland and also the acting treasurer late in the year. With her technical and project management background, she was recruited by C.A.C.A. National to implement, train and rollout the EveryAction Membership Management System to all 18 lodges across the US. In October of last year, she was appointed Regional Executive, filling the position previously held by Betty Jean Lee. GG and her husband Bennett together have 5 children, 5 grandchildren, 2 dogs, and 3 grand-dogs.
Mary Li has worked for over 34 years at Multnomah County, as a proud bureaucrat, delivering training, facilitation, coaching, and consulting within and across County organizations to groups and individuals through multiple training and skill-building learning opportunities. She has extensive experience with and service to the non-profit sector - domestic and sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, general social justice organizing efforts, and culturally specific community development and support. As a Chinese American woman and daughter of an immigrant, she works locally, regionally, and nationally within Asian American Indigenous Pacific Island communities, and in allyship with other communities from the global majority to survive and thrive.
Helen Ying’s professional career encompasses over 30 years of experience as a mathematics teacher, high school counselor, high school vice-principal, and hearings officer. She is currently serving in her second term on the Multnomah Education Service District Board and the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. In addition to her professional work, Helen has also been very active in the community. She is presently serving on a myriad of boards and in leadership positions involved in education, health care, civil rights, environment, and social justice issues. In addition to her service locally, she is also serving the National Vice President of Education on the C.A.C.A. National Board. Her vision is to connect the dots for a better world. She is living that out through her mission to engage and empower people to take action in improving their communities. Helen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Education and Counseling from Portland State University.
Franklin Quan has been a long time supporter for the Portland Lodge C.A.C.A. He has also served as a board member for many years. He joined as a member because he remembered and recalled the discriminations faced by his parents while growing up in Portland’s Chinatown. Having experienced the Chinese Exclusion Action and its impact on his family, he is focused on civil rights and overcoming discrimination from property ownership rights to citizenship as well as sharing the culture of Chinese and Chinese Americans. Franklin retired from Owens-Illinois Glass Container Manufacturing Inc. in 2012 after more than five decades of service in the Administrative Department.
Prior to retirement, Dorothy has worked in corporate and nonprofit sectors. In Singapore, she managed regional marketing programs for multinational companies across Asia, and in the United States, fundraising and strategic partnerships for a nonprofit organization in Portland, Oregon.
Right after retirement in September 2024, she completed the C.A.C.A. Legislative Education Program in Washington D.C. and currently serves as the Board Secretary at Council For The Homeless (Vancouver, WA), Fundraising Director at AAYLC (Asian American Youth Leadership Conference), and Committee Member for JASO (Japan- American Society of Oregon) Women Leadership Council.
Susan (Wong) Dietz has over 25 years of work experience in various sectors, working with high-level executives in both corporate and government settings. She has held roles as Executive Assistant and Business Operations Manager, providing her expertise in administrative support, office operations and budget and financial function oversight. More recently, Susan has spent over 15 years in public service agencies such as the Oregon Health Authority, City of Portland Mayor’s Office and Office of Government Relations, and now the City of Gresham Police Department.
Susan’s interaction with CACA started when she worked in the City of Portland Mayor’s office, coordinating meetings with cultural and community organizations. Her interest in being a part of CACA stems from her desire to connect with other Chinese Americans and learning about the rich culture and history of immigrant stories and experience like her parents.
Susan also has a passion and experience in catering and event management, aligning her skills and abilities as a nominee for the Secretary role with CACA.
Susan and her family have been living in Oregon for over 20 years, where her two sons were raised. Outside of work, Susan is an avid baker and hopes to travel more.
Formerly VP of Merchandising at SYSCO, Gloria Lee left the corporate world to become the opening Executive Director of Lan Su Chinese Garden. Since 2014, Gloria has been the Executive Director of The Giving Tree NW, a non-profit serving low income populations in affordable housing with resident services, art, education and recreation. With retirement on the horizon, Gloria initiated the merger of The Giving Tree NW and The Hollywood Senior Center to become the Community for Positive Ageing. She looks forward to more gardening, cooking, traveling and reading and finding the perfect senior Golden Retriever! Gloria believes in giving back and has served on the boards of Cedar Mill Library, Travel Portland, Northwest China Council and Old Town/Chinatown Community Association. She currently leads the Civic Engagement program for C.A.C.A. Portland.
Michael Yun is interested in supporting the important work that Portland Lodge is doing in the Chinese community. He has connected with many community members through his work for Metro on the memorial at Lone Fir cemetery and would love to continue to deepen these connections. He is a professional landscape architect and environmental justice practitioner who has been working on public projects in Oregon since 2009. Michael is a second-generation Chinese immigrant and his experiences as an Asian American community member have led him to focus on environmental justice and the role of design in the creation of a more just and equitable future. In the last few years, Mike has led Knot Studio’s team in working with Metro, the Regional Habitat Connectivity Working Group, and the City of Hillsboro to envision more equitable solutions to complex challenges.