Linda Akutagawa is the Sr. Vice President of Resource & Business Development for Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP). She develops and implements LEAP’s marketing & sales strategy for it’s programs and services. She also manages and maintains relationships with LEAP’s diverse constituents ranging from Board members, program alumni, community organizations, corporations, student organizations, universities and employee network groups.

Ms. Akutagawa speaks and presents nationally on topics such as leadership, Asian Pacific American issues, employee network groups, diversity and networking and relationship building to a range of audiences such as corporations, student groups and community and professional organizations. Previous to joining LEAP, Linda was the Marketing Manager for Japan and Orient Tours, a tour operator specializing in Asia and the Pacific. In her 16th year at LEAP, Linda received her B.S. in International Business with a minor in Economics from California State University at Los Angeles.

June Aochi Berk is currently the part-time Executive Assistant to the President and to the Board of Directors at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. June recently retired as the Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Directors & Governors of the Japanese American National Museum. She continues to serve as secretary to the Little Tokyo Community Council. Previously, June worked as Executive Assistant to several boards including Rebuild LA (RLA), Youth Fair Chance Inc. for the City of Los Angeles, KCET-PBS Community Outreach Advisory Board, and the Bel Air Presbyterian Church. June also was owner/operator of Satori Boutique in Studio City.

June, a native of Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), spent the wartime years incarcerated at Rohwer, Arkansas, with her family. After being released, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where she was secretary to Minoru Yasui and the Japanese American Citizens League. Her interests are her grandchildren, music and movies, watching all sports on TV, and "Sogetsu ikebana" and water-color painting. June has five children, six grandchildren, and is married to Marty Berk, retired LA County Probation Supervisor.

J.D. Hokoyama currently serves as President and CEO and a founding Board member of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), Inc. LEAP is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, educational, community-based organization founded in Los Angeles in 1982 to develop, strengthen and expand the leadership roles played by Asian Pacific Americans within their own communities as well as in mainstream institutions. As LEAP's chief executive officer, he is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the organization.

LEAP's mission to achieve full participation and equality for all Asian Pacific Americans through leadership, empowerment and policy is being realized through its innovative Leadership Management Institute (LMI), the newly created Community Development Institute (CDI) and through the creation of the Asian Pacific American Public Policy Institute (APA•PPI).

A former Peace Corps volunteer serving in Ethiopia, Mr. Hokoyama taught English at Daniel Murphy and at Loyola High Schools where he was also chair of the English Department. He was the principal of Maryknoll Elementary School for 2 1/2 years, after which he returned to teaching English at Immaculate Heart High School. Mr. Hokoyama left teaching to become the Associate National Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the oldest and largest national organization in the country serving Japanese Americans. After two years as the Associate Director, he assumed the position of Acting National Director. Subsequent to leaving the JACL in 1981, Mr. Hokoyama served as the first director of the office of Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) at the University of Southern California, and then as Executive Vice President for Fund Development and Public Affairs at Keiro Services until January 1988, when he assumed his current position with LEAP. He holds a BA in English, a secondary teaching credential and a M.Ed. in educational administration from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Mr. Hokoyama's current community affiliations and involvement include: vice chair, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans; treasurer, National Immigration Forum; board member, Independent Sector; board member, Alliance for Nonprofit Management; member, Asian Pacific Islander American Advisory Committee, Gates Millennium Scholars Program; founding member, National Diversity Network; founding member, National Voices for an Inclusive 21st Century (Anti-Defamation League, LEAP, National Conference for Community and Justice, National Congress of American Indians, National Council of La Raza, National Italian American Foundation, National Urban League); advisory board member, Academy for Educational Development "New Voices" fellowship program; advisory board member, Asian Pacific Exchange; advisory board member, Asians for Corporate and Community Action, Pacific Bell.

He and Therese have two daughters, Kristin Chiemi and Lauren Emiko.

Reimar Macaranas is Community Program Manager for Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP). He manages LEAP's Community Development Institute programs such as Community Leadership Conferences held in major cities across the U.S., the Leadership in Action summer internship program based in Los Angeles, and the Civic Leadership Institute, which has program components held throughout the state of California. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Psychology. Prior to joining LEAP, he worked as a volunteer for STEAC, a non-profit organization serving the residents of Sacramento County.

Rima Matsumoto is the Vice President of Research and Strategic Alliances at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP).

Grace Toy is the Sr. Vice President of Administration & CFO for Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), a community-based, non-profit leadership training and development organization. She is responsible for the organization’s administration and operations, which include finances and human resources. A, CPA, she was previously a Manager at Sasaki Shishima Yamanaka & Co and a Senior Accountant at Deloitte Haskins and Sells. Ms. Toy is a graduate of the University of Southern California.