The People behind the scene
Meet our team
A collective of innovative minds and spirited individuals, committed to bringing their best in a dynamic and supportive workspace. Our shoebox is filled with nothing. Our polymaths and polyhistors have an eclectic array of diversity. We volunteer when we can, between our regular jobs and family demands and community commitments, by email, telephone, chat, or the usual cup of joe or a bite of dim sum. Every person who dives into the shoebox has a story to tell, as well as their reasons and rhymes for joining this endeavor; everyone at Shoebox Ventures® is interconnected to the founder. Each will have their own story to tell, each with their version of the facts, a method to the madness, and sanity of grounded goodwill.
Johnson Hor
Executive Director & Founder
Experience: JP Morgan Chase, First Republic, Walden House, City and County of San Francisco, Levi Strauss & Co, Chevron, University of Phoenix, Selective Service System, etc.
Language: 1930s Shanghainese
Soody Tronson
General Counsel
Experience: STLip, Presque, Stanford University, HP, Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, Avantec Vascular, Heller Ehrman, Schering Pharmaceuticals.
Language: Persian
Milton Lee
Entrepreneur in Residence / Adviser
Experience: Uber, SAP
Language: Cantonese
Kenneth Chow
Treasurer
Experience: Lava Lounge, KC Catering, Soma9 Residences
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
Amy Vongthavady
Board Secretary
Experience: UBH, Blue Shield of California, UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
Language: Laotian
Howard Chan
Board Member/ Running Coach
Experience: Garage and MyMechanic.
Language: Cantonese
Norman Chu
Board Member
Experience: Realtor
Language: Cantonese
Chanthanom Vongthavady
Financial Analyst
Experience: Coherent Inc., Mckesson, Blue Shield of California, California State University Maritime, Able Services
Language: Laotian
Matt Ahangi
Business Intelligence
Experience: JP Morgan Chase, First Republic, Marvell, Motorola
Language: Persian
Jule Ann Garilao, CCRS, CCBP
Engagement and Training Coordinator
Experience: JP Morgan Chase, First Republic Bank, Penumbra, L3 Technologies, The Casting Studios and Paramount Pictures.
Language: Tagalog
Anis Salah, CFP
Salsa Coach
Experience: Rockefeller Capital, JPMorgan Securities, First Republic Securities, First Republic Bank.
Language: Ethiopian
Shawn Tram, CFCS, CAMS, CCRS, CCBP, ASE
Volunteer Coordinator / KYC Specialist
Experience: JPMorganChase, First Republic, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Kniesel’s Auto Service Centers.
Language: Vietnamese
Greg Matt, LAc
Implementation Coach
Experience: Philz Coffee, Acupuncturist
Clayton Wong
Operations Coach
Experience: JPMorganChase, First Republic.
Language: Cantonese
Yuhong Xie
Design Coach
Experience: Intuitive, MiaSole, DMG MORI Manufacturing, IMS-Mechatronics Laboratory – UC Davis.
Language: Mandarin
Jackson Chen, CFE, PGDL
Risk Management Coach
Experience: JP Morgan Chase, First Republic
Language: Cantonese
Adam Alexander
Cybersecurity, AI & Risk Management Fellow
Experience: USI Insurance Services, First Republic Bank.
Kristopher Ling, CFCS, CCRS, CCS
VFX Fellow
Experience: JPMorganChase, First Republic Bank, Environmental Protection Agency, BlizzardTerrak Photography
Michael Husky Nguyen
Global Public Policy Fellow
Experience: Special Broadcasting Service, VietQ Media Australia, People Behind the Music, MLC, ProbeCX, Valyou Xchange, National Australia Bank
Language: Vietnamese
Noni Virani
Advisory Council Member
Experience: Downtown Streets Team, OZK Studios, Music Expo, First Republic Bank, Berkely Partners
Language: ASL
Darlene Currie
Advisory Council Member
Experience: Global Social Impact Fund, Global Social Impact Advisers, Kota Global Social Ventures, TIdes Foundation, WarnerMedia, SEO Scholars, ExpandED Schools, JPMorgan Chase
Rudy Ferraz
Advisory Council Member
Experience: Fure.Cab, RF Computer Solutions, One Car Payment, Bokskar, getLEVE, Ferraz Motorsport Racing Performance
Language: Portuguese
Kenneth Lo
Advisory Council Member
Experience: ZenBiz Services Cofounder, Arc5 Ventures Managing Partner, UCI Cycling Masters World Champ (2x), US Masters National Champ (4x), Weightlifter and Cancer Survivor
Language: Cantonese
Ray Ko
Advisory Council Member
Experience: SequoiaStack LLC, AMAARA Networks, Digital Realty, Equinix, Level 3 Communications.
Language: Cantonese
Our Approach
At Shoebox Ventures®, we believe in a hands-on approach to support. Our team works closely with partners to understand their unique challenges and aspirations, providing tailored assistance that fosters growth and resilience. We are committed to transparency and collaboration, ensuring that every interaction is meaningful and impactful.
Our Philosophy
We embrace the beginner’s mindset, recognizing that every journey starts with understanding the terrain ahead. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that knowledge, experience, and shared discoveries are essential for navigating challenges. We strive to create an environment where learning and growth are prioritized, empowering individuals to take confident steps forward.
Through our programs, we aim to build a supportive community that encourages exploration and innovation. We celebrate every milestone, big or small, and believe that every encounter adds valuable coordinates to our collective map of knowledge.
Count on our successful track record
Decades of Knowledge & Integrity
With over 10 years of commitment, our organization brings a customized approach to everything we do. We couldn’t have done it w/o our advisory council members and volunteers.
Past Advisory Council Members (their positions at time of service):
- Jonathan Leong, Asian American Donor Program Founder & President’s Advisory Commission on AAPI (Alameda)
- Dr. Minoo Makassebi, Dentist (San Francsico)
- Dr. Tao Lin, Integridge Capital Partner (Shanghai)
- Shyam Desai, CA, CFA, MBA, Citi Senior Vice President (Denver)
- Calvin Louie, CPA (San Francisco)
- Lisa Ma, Chief Growth Officer at HUB, Former Yahoo Chief of Staff (San Francisco)
- Mark Igou, Skidmore, Owings, Merrill LLP’s Managing Director (San Francisco)
- Charles Jo, Startup Study Group Founder (Silicon Valley)
- Willa Qian, Outside General Counsel for Beijing Energy Investment Holdings (Oakland)
- LeChara Johnson, VMWare’s Taxonomist (Denver)
- Sophie Sokphal Duong Karet, PhD, Cambodian Intl Investment Group Founder (San Francisco / Cambodia)
- Ethaniel Bynoe, Noms Bake Shop’s Chief Experience Officer (Boise, ID)
- Michael Nguyen, Cofounded MyLong, Opus Match and RX Delivered Now (San Francisco /Vietnam)
- Kitty So, Cockroach Labs PMO and Miss Chinatown-Houston Pageant Director (Redwood City / Houston )
- Michael Schwartz, JP Morgan Private Client VP/Relationship Manager (Miami/Menlo Park)
