Executive Leadership
Johng Ho Song
Executive Director
Johng Ho Song began with KYCC in 1985 and has been the agency’s Executive Director since 1998. He is a Senior Fellow with the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research and a Fellow with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. He has an established record as a strong community leader within Koreatown and the Los Angeles nonprofit sector and was instrumental in transforming KYCC from an organization focused on the Korean American community, to one that serves all residents of the greater Koreatown community. He serves as a member of Los Angeles County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, Comerica Bank’s community advisory board and is past board president of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council. Mr. Song received the Durfee Foundation Sabbatical in 2009 and the Durfee Foundation’s Stanton Fellowship in 2016. Mr. Song is bilingual and bicultural in English and Korean, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA. Mr. Song oversees a diverse workforce of 170 employees with an annual operating budget of over $17 million.
Glestree Blades
Director of Human Resources
Glesteree Blades, Director of Human Resources, has been with KYCC since 2016. She oversees the management and department operations to adhere to organizational policies and procedures for KYCC with 180 staff. Ms. Blades earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from USC. She has over 30 years of experience in the Human Resources sector and she has worked with a range of nonprofits and for-profit companies, including Asian American Drug Abuse Program. Ms. Blades is an active member of ACHSA’s Human Resources committee.
Audrey Casillas
Assistant Director of Community Economic Development Services
Audrey Casillas is responsible for the successful implementation of the entire KYCC VITA Program and Los Angeles FamilySource Center. She joined KYCC in 2006 and coordinated the VITA Program since its inception. Since first setting up KYCC’s VITA tax preparation site, Ms. Casillas has been coordinating recruitment, and training and managing of volunteers each tax season since 2010. Ms. Casillas is a member of the Free Tax Prep Los Angeles Steering Committee, a member of the VITA Steering Committee for local banks, and she provides training and on-call technical assistance to all sites in the collaborative. Ms. Casillas is bilingual and bicultural in Spanish and English and has a B.S. degree from University of California in Davis.
Peter Dokko
Director of Finance
Peter Dokko joined KYCC in 2024 as Director of Finance, where he will lead the agency's implementation of a new enterprise resource planning software, and he will oversee the fiscal team as Joe St. John focuses onto operations. Peter started his career in the financial services industry in New York City, including serving as a management consultant reporting directly to the COO of Technology at Merrill Lynch. He started his transition towards nonprofits in 2017 by working for the labor union SAG-AFTRA, where he served as an auditor of collective bargaining agreements. Peter received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in International Relations (focusing on Northeast Asia) and English Literature in 1996, and a Masters of Business Administration from UCLA Anderson in 2007.
Nayon Kang
Division Director, Children and Family Services
Nayon Kang has been on staff with KYCC since 2007 as Counselor III, Clinical Services Coordinator, Clinical Services Manager, and Assistant Division Director. She currently provides oversight for Kids Town, Youth Services, Clinical Services, Prevention Education and Recovery Services. Ms. Kang’s relationship with KYCC began in 1984 when she emigrated from Korea and enrolled in KYCC’s elementary afterschool program. She later moved into the middle school afterschool program planting trees and in high school, she joined KYCC’s teen theater and anti-graffiti program. Ms. Kang earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Masters in Social Welfare from UCLA. In 2014, she was named a Magnolia Community Initiative Fellow, helping to build capacity for over 70 community agencies in Los Angeles.
Rick Kim
Director, Community Economic Development
Rick Kim joined KYCC in 2002, and has worked as KYCC’s Youth Development Specialist, Academic Instructor, Affordable Housing Manager, Business Counselor, and Community Economic Development Unit Coordinator and Manager, prior to his current position as Director. He implemented KYCC’s Individual Development Account program, expanded Asset Building programs and oversaw a 500% increase in programs and revenue since 2004. He oversees economic development services programs which include Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, small business program, financial capability, and KYCC’s newest unit, Housing Services. He serves on Los Angeles County Center for Financial Empowerment steering committee and chairs the FDIC’s Alliance for Economic Inclusion Financial Stability workgroup. Mr. Kim earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from UCLA in 1996.
Jenni Kuida
Director of Grants
Jenni Kuida, Director of Grants, has been with KYCC since 2016. She oversees all of KYCC’s grant development efforts, including submission of grant proposals, grants and contract management and reporting. She supervises a team of two grantwriters working closely with Program Managers, Executive Leadership, Development and Fiscal teams. With 30+ years of nonprofit administrative experience, Ms. Kuida was Director of Children and Family Services at Little Tokyo Service Center, Managing Director of Great Leap, a performing arts organization, and Human Resource Manager in a law firm. Ms. Kuida received her Bachelor of Science degree from CSUN in Business Administration in 1987. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Japanese American Community Services and Walk ‘n Rollers.
Shawn Kuk
Director of Community Development and Planning
Shawn Kuk joined KYCC in 2021, and has since expanded his role to lead KYCC’s Environmental Services programs. Mr. Kuk is responsible for overseeing the agency’s efforts in improving the built environment through existing programs around urban greening, community beautification, affordable housing development and asset management. New programs are intended to guide future community advocacy efforts formed through research and development of more equitable and community appropriate urban planning and development policies. Prior to joining KYCC, Mr. Kuk worked with the Southern California Association of Governments and the City of Los Angeles, accumulating 14 years of professional experience in fields of urban planning and real estate development. Mr. Kuk earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA with a dual major in History and Asian American Studies, and his Master of Planning degree from USC in 2006.
Joe St. John
Chief Operating Officer
Joe St. John joined KYCC in 2007 as the Fiscal Manager, and was quickly promoted to Chief Operating Officer that same year. As COO, Mr. St. John is responsible for overseeing the agency’s fiscal management and operations with a $17 million operating budget as well as the Environmental Services Unit, which includes more than two dozen government contracts. Prior to joining KYCC, Mr. St. John worked as an accountant in the private sector, accumulating over 15 years of accounting experience in the entertainment, finance and real estate industries. Mr. St. John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA in 1992.