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LEADERSHIP
BOARD MEMBERS
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W. Elisa Chan
President
Elisa Chan was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States in 1988 for graduate study. She holds a Master's Degree in Computer Science from UTSA. She became a U.S. citizen in 1999 and has resided in San Antonio for over 30 years.
Elisa and her husband, Clifford Hew, P.E., founded Unintech Consulting Engineers, Inc., a structural and civil engineering design and consulting firm in 1992. The company has consistently been ranked among the "Top 25 Largest Engineering" and "Women-Owned" firms in San Antonio by the San Antonio Business Journal. As president and co-owner, she oversees strategic planning initiatives, financial management, human resources, and business development for firm-wide operations. She has been involved in numerous real estate development projects and is knowledgeable with the industry.
Elisa ran for San Antonio City Council for District 9 in 2009 and became the first Asian American woman on the city council and the first immigrant to serve on the council of the 7th largest city in the U.S. She was re-elected in 2011 and 2013 with over 70% of the vote. Elisa has always shown passion for San Antonio economic development with special interest in international business.
Elisa is very engaged in the San Antonio Asian community. She helped establish and served as the charter President for the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and founded Asian American Alliance of San Antonio (AAASA) in 2015. AAASA currently has 30 Asian organizations as its members.
Elisa and her husband Clifford live in the Stone Oak area in San Antonio. Their adult daughter, Nikola, is currently a law student at Georgetown Law in Washington D.C.
Elisa and her husband, Clifford Hew, P.E., founded Unintech Consulting Engineers, Inc., a structural and civil engineering design and consulting firm in 1992. The company has consistently been ranked among the "Top 25 Largest Engineering" and "Women-Owned" firms in San Antonio by the San Antonio Business Journal. As president and co-owner, she oversees strategic planning initiatives, financial management, human resources, and business development for firm-wide operations. She has been involved in numerous real estate development projects and is knowledgeable with the industry.
Elisa ran for San Antonio City Council for District 9 in 2009 and became the first Asian American woman on the city council and the first immigrant to serve on the council of the 7th largest city in the U.S. She was re-elected in 2011 and 2013 with over 70% of the vote. Elisa has always shown passion for San Antonio economic development with special interest in international business.
Elisa is very engaged in the San Antonio Asian community. She helped establish and served as the charter President for the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and founded Asian American Alliance of San Antonio (AAASA) in 2015. AAASA currently has 30 Asian organizations as its members.
Elisa and her husband Clifford live in the Stone Oak area in San Antonio. Their adult daughter, Nikola, is currently a law student at Georgetown Law in Washington D.C.
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Kausi Subramaniam
Secretary
Kausi Subramaniam has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UTSA. Kausi serves as the President of Anuja SA, the organization that oversees the Sister City activities between San Antonio and Chennai, India. She was instrumental in developing the Sister City relationship between San Antonio and Chennai. Her brainchild, Diwali SA, is now an annual, city sanctioned festival in San Antonio. This festival brings Indian art and culture to the San Antonio community, helping put San Antonio on the map as a multi-cultural metropolis. Diwali SA celebrated its 14th Anniversary in 2022 and has become one of San Antonio’s largest and most popular events. Kausi served as the President of the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce from 2007-09. She is a graduate of Leadership San Antonio, was recognized as one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Rising Stars Under 40, and is an inductee of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also a member of The Rotary Club of San Antonio and was recently elected to the Sister Cities International Honorary Board Alumni Association.
Although Kausi’s educational background is in Mechanical Engineering, Kausi has been involved in San Antonio’s Arts Community for more than two decades. She and her business partner own and operate Kalalaya Indian Performing Arts, a school of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music. Kausi was the President of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella for 3 years and helped revitalize the organization in a time of need. She has served on various boards and committees including, but not limited to, The Cultural Collaborative, The Carver Development Board, the Luminaria Steering Committee, the City of San Antonio’s Public Art Board and the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Commission.
Although Kausi’s educational background is in Mechanical Engineering, Kausi has been involved in San Antonio’s Arts Community for more than two decades. She and her business partner own and operate Kalalaya Indian Performing Arts, a school of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music. Kausi was the President of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella for 3 years and helped revitalize the organization in a time of need. She has served on various boards and committees including, but not limited to, The Cultural Collaborative, The Carver Development Board, the Luminaria Steering Committee, the City of San Antonio’s Public Art Board and the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Commission.
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Melinda Rodriguez
Treasurer
Melinda Rodriguez, PT, DPT is the founder and President of CABSAT (Communities Aligning Baguio and San Antonio, Texas), a non -profit company formed to facilitate the sister city initiatives of San Antonio, Texas, and Baguio City Philippines. She is a co-chair of the San Antonio -Baguio Friendship /Sister City Taskforce formed in 2021 by the City of San Antonio. Melinda is a board member, and chair of the Philippine committee of the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce, where she also served as President in 2010-2014.
Melinda is currently the Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives of Beyond Faith Home Care - Formerly Access Quality Therapy Services (AQTS), which she co-founded in 2001, a specialized home health agency focused on the management of neurological and orthopedic conditions in San Antonio, Texas and is now a subsidiary of Life Care. She is also a Regional Sales Manager of Life Care. Melinda is also working closely with neurologists in San Antonio and surrounding areas in the management and research of Parkinson’s patients with Deep Brain Stimulation therapy and participated in poster presentations in international conferences.
Dr. Rodriguez is a proven leader and has taken on executive roles with several organizations. Texas Governor Abbott appointed her to be a board member of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council in 2018. She was the Secretary of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners where she was appointed by Governor Perry 2005-2015. She was also awarded by her alma mater, University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines as one of the 40 Rubies, Alumni of the Year, December 2014 for her outstanding contribution to the profession and field of studies.
Melinda was born and raised in Baguio City Philippines, and she likes traveling with his husband Rob and their 3 children, Megan, a nuclear engineer, Robbie-incoming freshman -Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Diego, an incoming junior at Central Catholic High School.
Melinda is currently the Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives of Beyond Faith Home Care - Formerly Access Quality Therapy Services (AQTS), which she co-founded in 2001, a specialized home health agency focused on the management of neurological and orthopedic conditions in San Antonio, Texas and is now a subsidiary of Life Care. She is also a Regional Sales Manager of Life Care. Melinda is also working closely with neurologists in San Antonio and surrounding areas in the management and research of Parkinson’s patients with Deep Brain Stimulation therapy and participated in poster presentations in international conferences.
Dr. Rodriguez is a proven leader and has taken on executive roles with several organizations. Texas Governor Abbott appointed her to be a board member of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council in 2018. She was the Secretary of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners where she was appointed by Governor Perry 2005-2015. She was also awarded by her alma mater, University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines as one of the 40 Rubies, Alumni of the Year, December 2014 for her outstanding contribution to the profession and field of studies.
Melinda was born and raised in Baguio City Philippines, and she likes traveling with his husband Rob and their 3 children, Megan, a nuclear engineer, Robbie-incoming freshman -Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Diego, an incoming junior at Central Catholic High School.