WASHINGTON, DC – After more than a year of tireless work to further NaFFAA’s mission and values as executive director, Kelly Ilagan Coldiron will depart from her executive director role to focus more on assisting NaFFAA in strategic planning, an assignment that she has been integral in throughout her tenure as executive director. She was appointed the National Strategy Officer before taking charge, taking over from Carissa Villacorta as Executive Director last February 1, 2022.
A Needed Leader in Challenging Times
During her brief tenure as Executive Director, Kelly was a supportive force behind the organization’s programmatic and operational growth in the face of the rise of Anti-Asian hate and NaFFAA’s organizational restructuring.
She spearheaded NaFFAA in their efforts to coordinate with other national organizations, build strong partnerships with several private institutions, and fundraise for the organization’s flagship programs and events, highlighted by the National Empowerment Conference, held last August 4-7, 2022, in Las Vegas, the biggest gathering of Filipino Americans in the United States since the pandemic.
An Outstanding Filipino American
Kelly, born and raised in Michigan and now lives in Northern Virginia, has nearly 11 years of NaFFAA experience. Her background is in public policy and government affairs, with previous experience as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce, White House staffer, and experience on the congressional and state level. She was previously named as one of the top “50 Young Asian American Stars in Politics” by Asian Fortune in 2016 and was the recipient of the “Top 40 AAPI Political Operatives and Public Affairs Professionals” award by the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs” in 2018. Just last year 2022, Kelly was awarded “The Outstanding Filipinos in America” Award for her dedication and work in public policy. She is lovingly supported at home by her husband, Marc, and son, Mason.
NaFFAA National President Mariela Fletcher commented, “Kelly helped us accomplish a lot in a year — fortifying our organizational structure and forging meaningful civic and private partnerships that have strengthened NaFFAA’s foundation for the many years to come.”
“Kelly will still be helping NaFFAA in a different capacity. She was the great leader we needed during her tenure as executive director – analytical, hard worker, and a leader that is able to paint a picture of a vision for the future and knows how to engage others to go on the journey with her,” NaFFAA National Chair Brendan Flores added.
Ryan Namata to serve as Interim Executive Director
As NaFFAA searches for its next executive director, NaFFAA Director of Human Capital and Capital Region President Ryan Namata will serve as its interim executive director.
Ryan is a senior human resources leader of over 18 years. He has led domestic and international human capital teams at small startups, Fortune 500, and nonprofit organizations, as well as across industries such as finance, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and trade associations. He is a member of several nonprofit boards and leadership teams that serve people of color communities.
NaFFAA Executive Director Position is Now Open for Applications
NaFFAA is now accepting applications for leaders interested in the Executive Director role. The organization is looking for a leader who can build upon NaFFAA’s rich 25+ years of history of Filipino American advocacy.
The role will be based in Washington, DC, and hybrid remote work may be considered. The executive director role’s job description and instructions for application are posted here. Please reach out to Ryan Namata for any inquiries regarding the application process at ryan.namata@naffaa.org.
About NaFFAA
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Established in 1997, NaFFAA has been the standard bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA’s vision is to serve as the voice of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans by uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy.
Contact:
Mark Eyo, Communications Lead
mark.eyo@naffaa.org
