HAPPEN Elections - Meet the Nominees

May 06, 2025

2025 HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team Elections

In case you missed it: The following positions are up for election on the HAPPEN Executive Leadership Team (ELT)!

Nominations are open. P osition descriptions can be found on the HAPPEN website. The confirmed nominees below are eligible for election.

HAPPEN members, as defined in Article IV, Section I in our bylaws, are encouraged to vote for their preferred candidates. Members may vote by completing this survey one time by May 31, 2025 (voting survey will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, May 31).

Meet our Nominees

Upon acceptance of their nomination, nominees provided the following information for your consideration.

Jina Pak - Policy nominee

I'm a Korean immigrant - First generation. I've immigrated in 2020 with 2 babies and invited my husband from Korea next year in 2021. I've worked as a CPA in accounting firm for about five years and as a tax examiner in estate tax unit of WA dept of Rev for 2.5 years. I've been in Compassion Korea NGO as a volunteer translator and fieldtrip to the countries in poverty for kids in need for about 10 years. I'm a WA licensed CPA with in-depth tax knowledge with 5 yrs experience in accounting firms and a tax examiner in WA DOR currently for 2.5 years as well as volunteer experience in Compassion Korea NGO for kids living in poverty country for about 10 yrs. Basically, I have a heart for DEI value in WA, I have a very suitable background to contribute and understand the people in need of tax help and communications coordinating. Because I truly appreciate WA, America, I hope I can contribute to become better communities as I mentioned above.

Courtney Potter - Policy nominee

Courtney Potter (she/her) is a proud Korean and Okinawan American, born and raised in Hawaii. She now lives in Tacoma with her husband of seven years, a nearly-two-year-old daughter, and their poodle-terrier. With deep family roots tied to Hawaii’s plantation history, she strives to uphold her family’s legacy of resilience and community.

She has dedicated her career to state service for the last 13 years and has a master’s in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Washington and a bachelor's in criminal justice from Saint Martin’s University.

As a working mom to a vibrant toddler, Courtney balances public service with a love for yoga, family, and cultural connection. She is passionate about advancing ANHPI representation, intergenerational empowerment, and inclusive leadership.

Thank you for your time and considerations.

Hannah Aoyagi - Leadership Development nominee

Hannah is the Organizational Equity Manager at the Department of Ecology. She supports and provides leadership on civil rights compliance, language access, accessibility, and workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also represents the agency on statewide Pro-Equity Anti-Racism efforts.

As a Certified Master with The Leadership Challenge™, Hannah leads a group of facilitators and coaches at Department of Ecology and consults with other government and private sector organizations. She believes that successful organizations require courageous and thoughtful leaders at all levels, and that leadership is a learnable set of behaviors and skills we develop over our whole lives.

Over her 18-year career at Ecology, Hannah has served in several roles including as a public involvement specialist and a planner for the agency’s Toxics Cleanup Program. In 2014, she moved to an organizational development role, leading a “Workplace of Choice” initiative, improving processes, and developing leaders across the program. She now works with across the agency with everyone from front-line staff to executive leaders, to build Ecology’s capacity for creating a workplace of belonging for everyone.

Hannah has her Ph.D. in Environmental Health, Science, & Policy from U.C. Irvine, with a focus on environmental justice.

Rachel Friederich - Co-Chair nominee

smiling woman with medium length dark hair, wearing a blue dress and teal necklace

I’m a proud Filipino American and the daughter of Filipino immigrants, shaped by a legacy of resilience—most notably through my grandfather, who survived the Bataan Death March. I was born and raised in rural Yakima County and became the first in my family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. My early career as a reporter was driven by a deep commitment to telling stories that often go unheard. I focused on elevating marginalized voices, using storytelling as a tool for advocacy and change. That same passion for equity and visibility led me to a decade-long career in public service, where I’ve worked as a communications consultant for the State of Washington across two agencies: the Department of Corrections and the Serve Washington division of Office of Financial Management. I specialize in strategic communications, public engagement, and building trust through clear, inclusive messaging. Beyond my professional work, I’ve been honored to help build and lead HAPPEN, and uplift Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander voices across Washington State government. I believe in the importance of creating a space where AANHPI voices are seen, valued, and empowered across state government. I’ve been part of HAPPEN since day one, serving on the original steering committee more than two and a half years ago to bring HAPPEN into fruition. Since then, I’ve taken on multiple leadership roles, including planning Co-chair for our kickoff celebration. I helped coordinate culturally grounded programming, built strong agency partnerships, and helped foster a powerful sense of community. I also assisted with communications for our inaugural AANHPI Heritage Month celebration—an event where we highlight, honor and respect communities multiple countries around the world and 50+ unique ethnic groups. I am currently heading the planning team for our 2025 event. HAPPEN is where my heart is. I know what it feels like to be "othered"—from being mocked with racial slurs at age six to seeing an Asian-owned restaurant in my hometown vandalized during the pandemic. These experiences stay with me. They’re reminders of how far we’ve come and how much work is still ahead. They fuel my belief in the importance of spaces like HAPPEN, where identity, community, and advocacy come together. One message that’s stuck with me came from a HAPPEN-sponsored workshop with Jolene Jang: "Be the AANHPI leader you want to see." That’s exactly what I strive to do. I want to be a visible example of compassionate, culturally grounded leadership. I want to make sure our voices are not just heard—but valued—in the rooms where decisions are made. Whether I’m crafting a communication strategy or building community through HAPPEN, I lead with empathy, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to equity. I believe in lifting others as I climb and in creating space for future leaders to rise.