Board Members

  • Nate Nie is a Los Angeles based, award-winning writer-director. He started developing an independent spirit in filmmaking from his first day at Michigan State University as an undergrad. In 2017, upon graduating from the UCLA MFA Directing program, he won the UCLA Directors Spotlight award with his thesis film, A Proper Burial (Rest In Peace), which was screened at the DGA theater. In 2018, his film, House of the Lonesome Human Beings, won Best Screenplay at Dam Short Film Festival. The Way Home, a short film he wrote about the parallel lives of a Chinese-American teenager and his illegal immigrant father’s distinctive yet similar struggles, was selected by top festivals like Shanghai International Film Festival and Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Submerged, a short film he wrote and directed, currently has more than a million views on Youtube. His commercials have won multiple American Advertising Federation (ADDY) Awards.

President

  • A victims’ rights advocate and attorney for over two decades, Alex has fought to expand civil justice and access to legal services. He joins APEX to help restore the vitality of our community and strengthen our professional agenda.

Chair of Public Relations

  • James serves as Vice President & Senior Consultant with a national self funded health plan. James has worked in the healthcare consulting industry for 15 years and is passionate about finding creative solutions for his clients.

    James was born and raised in Southern California and very excited to serve as APEX's Vice President. James attended this first APEX event in 2010 and is excited to grow within the organization. James has many great ideas for this year so stay tuned!

    LinkedIn

Chair of Member Relations

  • Harvey is a research analyst at an investment firm based in Los Angeles. He is passionate about community engagement, especially as it relates to mentorship and advocating for underrepresented members of the community. He is proud to be a part of APEX’s philanthropic activities.

Director of Finance

  • WenChun Cheng is a multifaceted talent in the world of filmmaking, serving as a filmmaker, producer, and director. With a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in film and television, Cheng has made significant contributions to a plethora of award-winning films, commercials, and shorts. Her remarkable work has graced the screens of prominent networks such as NBC, Disney, and Hulu, among others. As a dedicated entertainment professional based in the United States, she steadfastly holds the belief that storytelling transcends the mere recounting of events. For Cheng, a film serves as the gateway to an uncharted realm, offering an unparalleled experience, with the narrative merely marking the commencement of an enchanting journey into the world of fantasy.

    LinkedIn

Chair of Programs

Chair of Professional Development

  • Sophie Changhui Shi obtained her BA in English from Hong Kong Polytechnic University before venturing into the field of Certified Public Accounting at Deloitte. However, her true passion for storytelling propelled her to Los Angeles. Standing out as the one and only Chinese woman admitted into UCLA's esteemed MFA Producers Program in the 2010s, Sophie completed her studies in 2021 and subsequently joined HBO and Janet Yang's production company. Sophie now leads acquisition at EST N8. Her contributions encompass notable projects like GOOD GIRLS S2 (NBC), STAIRCASE (HBOMax), WE OWN THE CITY (HBO), and an eagerly anticipated Bruce Lee biopic directed by Ang Lee.

  • Summer Xinlei Yang is a film, TV, and commercial producer fluent in both English and Chinese. Her films have received numerous awards and premiered at film festivals, including three top "A" category international film festivals, over 30 Academy Award-Qualifying festivals, and more than 200 others. She has worked for Amazon Studios' series Bosch, Disney+'s series American Born Chinese, and Blumhouse Productions' feature development department. Her commercials have earned over 10 American Advertising Awards and Telly Awards. She is an alumna of UCLA and the American Film Institute, holding an MFA in producing as the recipient of the prestigious Alfred Sloan Scholarship. Currently, she is developing a narrative feature selected by the Tribeca International Film Festival. Additionally, she produced many feature and series projects, including "Brainwashed," sponsored by Abigail Disney and Tim Disney, a documentary series titled "NCT 127: The Lost Boys," produced and released on Disney+, and a multi-national narrative feature, Jacob The Baker, co-produced with Pulitzer Award Nominee Noah benShae and Oscar-winning production company, Indian Paintbrush.

Chair of Member Relations

  • Hai Yen is a partnership professional with over seven years of experience at venture-backed tech startups and digital consultancy. Outside of work, she's a foodie and a yogi. In short, she exercises to eat. Hai Yen also enjoys volunteering and meeting new people at local nonprofit organizations. Her role as the Chair of Social Media at APEX allows her to combine her interest in content creation and her passion for serving the community. It’s a win-win.

    LinkedIn

Chair of Social Media

  • Lu is a software developer with experience spanning in the digital publishing, banking, and creative advertising industries. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University.

Chair of IT

  • James LeBon Lee is a Southern California native from Riverside who has built his career at the intersection of leadership, technology, defense, and international affairs. Having spent eight years living in Taiwan, he is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English and has developed a deep appreciation for Chinese culture, history, economics, and cross-cultural communication.

    A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a U.S. Navy veteran, James has spent more than 15 years leading teams, managing complex programs, and solving challenging operational problems. His experience ranges from overseeing nuclear maintenance operations and supporting counter-narcotics missions in the Pacific to managing large-scale defense acquisition efforts for government clients.

    Today, James works as a Project Manager and Program Integrator at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting critical national security programs. He is also a certified PMP and continues to serve in the United States Navy Reserve. Throughout his career, he has been known for bringing together diverse teams, translating complex technical issues into actionable decisions, and helping organizations navigate fast-moving, high-stakes environments.

    Outside of work, James is passionate about fitness, community building, and cultural exchange. An avid mahjong player, he enjoys both Hong Kong and Taiwanese styles of the game and frequently helps organize events that bring people together through competition, learning, and shared experiences. He is particularly interested in fostering connections within the Asian American community and creating welcoming spaces where people can build friendships, develop new skills, and celebrate culture.

Chair of Programming

  • Jenen Tan is a business consultant and market researcher for healthcare and life sciences companies. She holds a Ph.D. and Sc.M. in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is interested in hiking, traveling, and finding good deals.

    LinkedIn

Chair of Public Relations

  • Born and raised in Hong Kong, Marcus was a solicitor for almost a decade before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an MFA in film production at UCLA, much to the chagrin of his parents. He has since developed a vitamin D deficiency from working exclusively in dark post-production facilities. Most recently, he co-edited the Hong Kong feature "Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down" which was awarded Best Screenplay by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society (available on Apple TV), and was the post-production supervisor for the documentary "2020: Chaos and Hope" directed by Emmy winner June Beallor (available on Peacock). Marcus lives with the world's friendliest cat, Stringer Bell, named after the murderous drug lord played by Idris Elba on "The Wire."

Chair of Multimedia