Rose Olea
President
As the President of NAAAP Chicago, Rose is responsible for overseeing the execution of the overall mission and vision of the chapter. Having been an active member since 2001, Rose continues to use her leadership experiences to guide the organization in all capacities.
Rose’s leadership has led to the establishment of a Women in Leadership program, now known nationally as Women in NAAAP, an initiative geared toward the development of professional and leadership skills of Asian American women in the workforce. Additionally, Rose co-founded the Midwest Asian American Business Network, now known as the Asian American Group Leaders, and co-chaired the 2005 NAAAP Convention hosted in Chicago.
Rose is the Information Technology Manager for The American Orthopedic Food & Ankle Society, a non-profit dedicated to developing educational programs for foot and ankle surgeons. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Science in Management with a minor in Human Relations and Workforce Development. In her free time, Rose enjoys writing, playing tennis, and baking alongside her teenage daughter Jocelyn.
Mike Valdez
Treasurer
Mike Valdez serves as the Treasurer as well as the Director of Affinity Groups. In this role, Mike brings together Asian Affinity Groups in Chicagoland as one network, allowing participants to share best practices and discuss the value or contributions they add to their organizations. Mike also serves as an asset to companies looking to implement Asian Affinity Groups as a way to retain talented leaders while accomplishing corporate diversity.
Mike’s initial involvement with NAAAP Chicago began in 2004 as a member in the Midwest Asian Affinity Business Network (MAABN) program. Through this involvement, he began to understand first-hand how NAAAP Chicago focuses on creating an open forum for Asian American corporate leaders throughout Chicago and the surrounding areas. Having served on NAAAP Chicago’s Board as Director of Corporate Relations from 2005 to 2007, Mike assumed the role of Director of Affinity Groups in 2008.
Mike is a Vice President with the Northern Trust Company in Chicago. With over 20 years of dedication to the company, Mike also serves as President of the Asian Leadership Council within the company. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Elmhurst College and a Masters in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. He resides in Crystal Lake with his wife Karen and two sons, Ethan and Harrison.
A strong advocate for diversity and a believer in giving back to the community, Mike serves as a leader in providing NAAAP as a forum for the important discussions Affinity Groups hold, while providing NAAAP as an attractive resource for group members.
