Catherine Francisco
President and Board Chairwoman | Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce
Catherine Francisco is the President and Board Chairwoman of Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce. She has over 30 years combined experience in Management, Fundraising, Public and Commercial Media, Business Development, Brand Marketing and Sales. She moved to Las Vegas in 2007 and immediately immersed herself in the community. She is well versed in all areas of media and she currently is the Corporate Partnership Officer at Vegas PBS. She has partnered with many non-profit corporations and for-profit corporations in helping them reach their mission and brand their philanthropic works and she has planned many citywide events benefiting underserved families and children. Catherine has fundraised millions throughout her career. She holds a bachelor in Business Administration, an associate in Fashion Merchandising/Merchandise Marketing, a certificate in Radio & TV Broadcasting and in Event Management and Planning. She led the media committee for Southern Nevada Census 2020. She is on the Southern Nevada Pedestrian Committee and serves on the Marketing Board of YMCA. She speaks three languages and is currently working on a fourth one. In her spare time she enjoys spending quality time with her family and three adorable shih tzus, listening to music, catching up on her K-Dramas and getting pampered with a good mani/pedi and massage.
Cindy Choi
Vice President | Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce
Cindy Choi is the Vice President of Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce. Cindy was born and raised in South Korea. She moved to Las Vegas from Southern California in 2000 with her husband Chris who is an internal medicine doctor. She has a BS in mechanical engineering. After a number of years in her greatest profession ever, a stay-home-mom for her 2 children, she entered the real estate industry. After working as an assistant loan officer at California Center Bank for several years, she became a realtor in 2005. Currently, she works at the United Realty Group both as a commercial and residential realtor. She has a proven track record with both her business and residential clients. She also manages her husband’s concierge medical practice. Cindy has been active in the Clark County Medical Society Alliance and has served as its Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, Co President-Elect and Co President. She also served as a board member of Nevada State Medical Association Alliance. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children, travelling, and trying out new cuisines.
Jen Bambao
Secretary | Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce
Jen Bambao works as a professional and consultant in Non-Profit Development and Social Impact partnering with nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to connect and invest their good work into the community. Currently Jen is also the Director of Resource Development and Communications for Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. As an advocate for creating generational wealth through financial literacy, she is also a Financial Consultant allowing her to further combine and deepen her personal mission of financial wellness and social responsibility.
Jen Bambao has dedicated over 20 years From a position of social change and servant leadership. From 2007 to 2012, she was the Founder and Owner Capitol Roots Studio & Productions, a dance studio and event production company in Sacramento, California empowering aspiring artists to be leaders and entrepreneurs in the community. In 2012, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where she became the Director of Development for United Way and later with Junior Achievement raising millions for children and families in education, financial literacy, and workforce development in Southern Nevada.
Jen Bambao currently serves as the Board Treasurer for Positively Arts and a Board Member for Explore Academy. She was also a graduate of Vegas Chamber’s Leadership Advance class of 2017 and is currently a member of Leadership Henderson class of 2022. She is involved in several community initiatives uniting and increasing women and minorities in leadership and entrepreneurship positions aiming to provide equitable opportunities and access for all. As a mother of three young teenagers, she loves a good movie night with her family, learning new recipes and traveling.
Sonny Vinuya
Sonny Vinuya began his tenure as Director of the Office of Small Business Advocacy (OSBA) on February 7, 2022. As Director, Sonny has defined and executed the OSBA’s mission of advocating for small businesses, work on resolving their challenges, compile the issues, make recommendations on improving the processes and connect them to the proper business resource The office exists to ensure that small businesses in the State of Nevada are supported and heard.
Sonny was the President and CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce where he advocated and represented small business owners’ interests. Vinuya also served as Vice President/Bus Relationship Officer at Bank of George where he helped with his clients banking and financing needs. He served as a Commissioner for Clark County Asian American Community whose mission was to ensure that all the diverse AAPI population are represented and are receiving the services that they need. He was also part of the Council of Chambers where he collaborates with other Chambers, LVGEA and GOED to promote Nevada’s Economic Development.
Vinuya participates in several board and community engagements, including the Attorney Generals Tech crime board where he has served for the last three years. Vinuya is an Executive Council of the NV AAPI Chamber of Commerce, He is an advisory board member for the Collaboration Foundation, a center that he genuinely believes is needed for children in the spectrum. He is also the cochair of the NAFFAA Nevada (National Federation of Filipino Americans Assoc. where they promote the welfare of Filipino Americans and is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy.
Sonny has a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a Business Management degree. He previously worked for the pharmaceutical industry before moving into banking in 2004. He was born in Quezon City, Philippines and migrated to the United States in 1986. He moved to Las Vegas Nevada in 2004. He is married to Jennifer Vinuya who is a Registered nurse and has two sons, Ryan, and Raymond both graduated from UNLV.
Sonny has been serving both the business and AAPI community since 2011, volunteering his time to numerous organizations, chairing different events, and coordinating business resource events. He was appointed to the Office of Small Business Advocacy by Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead in February. The combination of his knowledge and experience in business as a commercial banker and chamber President proved valuable to the position. He graduated from Metro advanced leadership program in 2012 and chaired the program the next 2 years. Sonny enjoys reading self-help books and his favorite activities are hiking and cycling.
