Staff

Tuyen Than

Executive Director

Tuyen Than (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA). A longtime resident, business owner, and advocate, Tuyen brings deep-rooted experience in community organizing, storytelling, and creative leadership to the role. She has spent years building programs and partnerships that uplift small businesses and activate public space throughout the neighborhood. Tuyen holds degrees from the University of Washington. As Executive Director, she is focused on strategic, community-centered solutions that support local businesses, improve safety and cleanliness, and preserve the cultural integrity of the Chinatown-ID for future generations.

Contact Tuyen at tuyen@cidbia.org

Yongkang Zhou

Clean and Green Program Manager

Yongkang Zhou joined the CIDBIA in April 2022. Yongkang has extensive roots in the CID community stemming from involvement as both a student & volunteer in local organizations such as: Interim's WILD and Northwest Asian Weekly's SYLP program. Additionally, he brings great community knowledge & a fresh perspective from representing a CID small business for nearly a decade. As a graduate from the school of Public Health at the University of Washington, Yongkang aims to prioritize the importance of a clean and green community to better improve the overall health & quality of the neighborhood. Yongkang is conversationally fluent in both Taishanese and Cantonese. Yongkang's goal is to communicate with all stakeholders and take action with partners to maintain CID as an inclusive. welcoming, and safe space for all.

Contact Yongkang at yongkang@cidbia.org

Gina Chaleunphonh

Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Gina joined the CIDBIA in April 2024 as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator. She comes to the CIDBIA with a background in Communications and American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington. In her role, Gina manages the neighborhood’s two large street festivals, develops marketing and promotional events, manages the neighborhood’s communication and marketing strategy, and creates meaningful stories to promote Chinatown-ID as a destination neighborhood. Gina is passionate about telling authentic stories and promoting the cultural integrity of the Chinatown-ID.

Contact Gina at gina@cidbia.org

Christopher Yip

Community Safety Manager

Christopher joined the CIDBIA in July 2025. A longtime resident and active volunteer in the Chinatown-International District, Christopher brings deep community roots, a passion for social justice, and a commitment to public safety. Prior to joining CIDBIA, Christopher served as a union leader with SEIU775, advocating for healthcare workers. He is fluent in Cantonese and is currently learning Vietnamese to better serve the CID’s diverse population. As the Community Safety Manager, Christopher oversees CIDBIA’s public safety initiatives, including the Safety Ambassador Program, and acts as a key liaison between small businesses, community members, and safety partners such as the Downtown Ambassadors Team (DAT), LEAD, REACH, the Seattle Police Department, and We Deliver Care. He also coordinates the CID Public Safety Council—a collaborative group of community members and city staff focused on addressing crime, environmental factors, and systemic public safety challenges in the neighborhood.

Contact Christopher at christopher@cidbia.org

Shanti Breznau

Business Development, Chinatown/International District

Shanti Breznau recruits new businesses and helps retain existing businesses in the Chinatown/International District. She assists prospective businesses with finding the right space and location and supports existing businesses going through lease renewals or re-location. She helps property owners find quality businesses that are a good fit for their buildings and are complimentary to the existing business mix and culture of the district. She assists C/ID property owners and developers that are rehabilitating or developing buildings with retail space design, pricing and tenanting. She also coordinates a multi-lingual small business development workshop series for the district.