Joy Dava

President

Joy Dava has been involved with the Fil-Minnesotan Association as a Board Member, Debutantes and Escorts Choreographer, Advisor to the youth group, and a Chairperson for various event committees since 2004. She is co-owner of Archipelago, LLC, a Business and Technology consulting firm, and currently works as a business consultant with a major financial company in St. Paul. She enjoys walking and jogging around Lake Harriet, trying out new breakfast joints, and traveling with her family. Joy is married to Boo Dava, has 2 kids in college (Alexa and Keenan), and lives in Minneapolis.

Vicente "Jun" Nacionales

Vice President

Jun is currently the Vice President of FMA.  He is a former FMA Auditor and Board Member.  He and his wife, Jeanet, are very active members within various association committees including the:  Basketball and Golf tournaments, Paskong Pilipino, Easterfest and Consular Services Outreach.

Jun works at North Memorial Medical Center as an Assistant Nurse Manager in the Cardiac Telemetry Unit. He is a recipient of the Ralph Rossen Award of Nursing Excellence (Nurse of the Year) 2010 at North Memorial Health Care. 

Jun graduated with a B.S.in Biology at West Visayas State University in 1990 and B.S. in Nursing at Iloilo Doctors' College in 1993.

Jun and Jeanet are blessed with 2 daughters, Nicholle and Jeanelle.

Melinda Frias

Secretary

Arlene Arcangel

Treasurer 

Lyra Hernandez

Auditor 

Lyra Hernandez is an IT Project Manager at RBC Wealth Management where she has spent nearly 20 years in roles ranging from operations, development, and project leadership. Prior to that, she was a Junior Scientist in a biochemistry lab at the University of Minnesota. She received her B.A. in Studio Arts, B.S. in Biology, and M.S. in Management of Technology (MSMOT) from the University of Minnesota. Lyra is also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and a Project Management Professional (PMP).

As the daughter of Leonardo and Lucy B. Hernandez, Lyra grew up in FMA. She is a recipient of the 1990 Fil-Minnesotan Association Awards for excellence in the Arts. She has co-emceed for the 1992 Paskong Pilipino, as well as co-emceed in the 1992 & 1993 Debutantes' Balls. She was also a cast member in FMA's theatrical productions of Musikal! & Musikal II.

Public Relations Officer

Darwin Yasis

Ex-Officio

Darwin currently works as a Senior Manager and leads the Civil / Transportation Group for WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff, a leading multinational engineering firm which offers one of the largest professional services in the U.S. and in the world. He is a former chairperson of Innovative Transportation Solutions with the MN Department of Transportation. Currently, he serves as chairperson for the Transportation Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers in MN.

Darwin is an active member of the community and served as past president of the Fil-Minnesotan Association. He is also currently the Finance Officer for the Philippine Center of MN. Darwin is married to his lovely wife Susan and enjoys spending his spare time being with the family and playing with their lovely daughters Kianna, Shayna, and Danica.

Inna Sioco

FMA Muse

Inna Sioco is the current FMA Muse. She is an active member of the Filipino Community and has participated in many events with the Fil-Minnesotan Association, the Fil-Minnesotan Youth Organization, and the Philippine Students Association. She was a Debutante in 2012 and has been an emcee at the past two Debutante's Balls.

Inna is a first year nursing student at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Rochester. She is a sophomore representative for the Nursing College Board, and is also the membership director for the National Student Nurses Association. She leads the AMSN Mentorship Program at her school, which partners nurses at the Mayo Clinic with student nurses at UMR. After graduating, Inna hopes to further her education to become a certified nurse midwife.

In her free time, Inna enjoys dancing, spending time with her family and friends, and power napping.