Meet the team
Get to know the changemakers and professionals (and all-around amazing individuals) who lead FilExcellence!
Board of Directors
Matthew Veland
President
Matt Veland (@mgveland, Founding Member) is a father, business owner, and advocate for the Filipino American community based in the Washington, D.C., area. As a financial planner, he's passionate about educating and serving AANHPI business owners and medical professionals. Matt also serves as the President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Metro DC. When not at networking events and board meetings, he's at home with his wife, dog, and one-year-old son
Monica Blanco
Director of Wellness
Monica Blanco (@asapmonny, Founding Member) is a mental health advocate, certified Trauma-Informed Personal Trainer, and creative force on social media. With a strong commitment to uplifting the Filipino community, she achieves her goals through content co-creation, collaborations, and community events. When she's not at the gym, she's likely embracing her big 4'10 panganay energy with her family, experimenting in the kitchen, booking last-minute flights, or indulging in conversations that delve into the profound mysteries of the universe.
Joseph Blanco
Vice President
Joseph Blanco (@jtablanco) is an Electrical Engineer focused on sustainable mobility developments in Los Angeles. He actively fosters relationships between Filipinos and other communities. During his free time, he enjoys playing rugby, watching movies, and embodying big bunso energy within his family and the FilExcellence community.
Joshua De Leon
Director of Advocacy & Community Impact
Josh De Leon (@joshoflion, Founding Member) is an interdisciplinary changemaker, community organizer, and equity and justice facilitator based in Long Beach/Los Angeles, California. Josh was one of the first Filipino Americans to be elected as an assembly district delegate in CA AD-52 and is on the board of directors for Rising Organizers, an activist training NGO.
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Audrey Bansil
Advisor
Audrey Bansil (@audreyban) is a proud NYC Pampangueña with 20 years of corporate experience in operations, planning, and organization strategy. She first found the FilExcellence community as a mentor in 2022, later joining the board to lead the 2nd FGMP, and now proudly serves as the org’s president, endlessly committed to uplifting and empowering Filipinos globally. Whether guiding individuals or organizations, Audrey blends practical expertise with intuitive wisdom, fostering collective healing and creating space for transformation & growth in every aspect of her work.
Advisors
Argentina Beltran
Advisor, Founding Member
Argentina Beltran
(@gabeandangelsmom) is a mom of teen twins, an accomplished sales and marketing professional, and an enthusiastic fan of interior design. As a novice tennis and golf player, she enjoys honing her skills in her spare time. Argentina is also a passionate advocate for mental health, engaging in meaningful conversations that promote well-being and personal growth.
Michael Thomas
Advisor
Michael Thomas (@ugatclothing) is a passionate human rights advocate, dedicated to empowering and uplifting the Filipino masses, particularly those in marginalized communities. Through his advocacy work, he strives to create positive change and promote social justice for those who face systemic challenges and inequalities. His ultimate goal is to contribute to the advancement and well-being of the Filipino people. Whether it's through advocacy, art, Baybayin, or education. He also enjoys frolicking in a field, preferably the rice terraces in the homeland.
Ben Bulatao
Advisor
Ben Bulatao (@benster_33) Is a 6x Emmy-nominated Film/TV Editor. For the past 2 decades, Ben has edited a variety of shows like A&E BIOGRAPHY, ICE ROAD TRUCKERS, STORAGE WARS, JAY LENO’S GARAGE, COAL, RECIPE FOR CHANGE, Orlando Bloom: TO THE EDGE, and most notably, DEADLIEST CATCH. Bulatao was also a former board member of Media Action Netwrok for Asian Americans [MANAA], and marched with the Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition during the 1996 Academy Awards Ceremony, protesting the lack of diversity behind and in front of the camera. Ben is a huge advocate of mentoring hopeful BIPOC creatives trying to get into the entertainment industry.