Who We Are
Michael Passage, Founder and President
Michael has a diverse background, being of both Indo European and indigenous Sundanese Chinese and Manadonese descent. With his roots in the former Dutch East Indies, he has a strong connection to both western and eastern cultures. He has had a successful career in various industries, including working at Surveyor Indonesia’s head office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands an Indonesian Government owned company responsible for pre shipment inspections on exports to Indonesia and managing the Hard Rock Cafe in Antwerp, Belgium. After settling in Los Angeles, he used his expertise in security to run the VIP security at SBE Restaurant and Nightlife Group.
He has also worked as a Sales Executive for FCA, Mercedes Benz, and Land Rover. Currently, he runs his own automotive consultancy group out of the state of the art The Deco Building, utilizing his expertise and knowledge to help clients in the ever-evolving automotive industry.
Ed Van Heel, Treasurer
My name is Edward van Heel or “Ed” for short. I am born Dutch Indonesian aka “Indo” and I am a first generation American born in the United States.
I am proud of my Indo heritage and why I am here serving as Treasurer for SoCal Indo the non-profit serving those in need in Indonesia.
Being born here as a first-generation Indo was quite the challenge as we looked different than most other kids in school back in the 70’s.
My career aspirations I can attribute to my parents. They were hard working Indo Americans that had strong core family values.
My background is a diverse one, I was a police officer for 9 years with the City of West Covina, then was with Federal Express for 13 years, my most recent position was General Manager / Division Manager overseeing Transit in San Diego, as well as General Manager for Greyhound Bus Lines. My business acumen is attributed to my diverse career history with over 30 years of progressive leadership.
I am pleased to be serving on the board of SoCal Indo and I look forward to your in-kind generosity of helping those in need.
Kia Knoester, Secretary
With her impressive background and unique sound, KIA is quickly gaining recognition in the music industry. Hailing from Los Angeles and of Dutch-Indonesian descent,
KIA brings a fresh perspective to the Alternative R&B and soul music scene. Her latest release, “Okay, Alright,” is just a taste of what’s to come on her highly anticipated EP, “Retrospect.”
KIA’s exceptional talent has not gone unnoticed, as she has received prestigious awards such as the NAMM President’s Innovation Award and the Ultimate Music Awards for Best Single-Pop of the Year and Best Female Artist of the Year.
With her master’s degree in Vocal Performance and specialization in Commercial Music from California State University, Los Angeles, KIA is truly a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
Michael Leidelmeijer
Director of Cultural Affairs
Born in 1958 in The Hague, Netherlands, Michael proudly hails from an Indonesian-Dutch heritage that has deeply shaped his worldview and passions. As the child of parents who were both born in Indonesia, he developed a profound appreciation for the Indo culture, from its vibrant cuisine to its thriving Indo-Rock music scene.
Today, Michael is a highly successful executive who has leveraged his diverse background to drive innovation and make an impact in his field.
He looks forward to having an impact with both the Indonesian communities and driving our Indo Cultural Heritage.
Mo Holil Smith
Director of Operations
Holil is a native Javanese, an “Indonesian,” who migrated to the United States to pursue higher education and the American dream at the age of 19. He came from a modest family in Indonesia and later was adopted by an American family as an adult. He was trained as an economist and diplomat at the University of Southern California, the American University Washington, DC, HEI Geneva, and the University of Denver. He interned at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), worked as an the Operations Officer at Relief International (RI) Los Angeles, and the United Nations ESCAP Bangkok in his early career before he worked in a multinational corporation that enabled him to apply his public-private collaboration by bringing jobs and opportunities in developing countries such as in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Kenya, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Haiti.
Currently, he serves as the Supply Chain Director of Governance and Compliance at Mercury Systems, a defense company based in Boston, MA, after 7 years of Managing a regional procurement organization at Lisi Aerospace, a French aerospace company. His diverse background in a fast-paced working environment with contending interests and priorities, and his undeniable passion in bridging differences for good causes compel him to serve as the Board Member and Operations Officer of Socal Indo. He aspires to help establish process and facilitate Socal Indo efficient nonprofit operations.
Jessica Chairez
Director of Community Engagement
Jessica J. Chairez is a public health professional and community organizer based in Ontario, California. She has extensive experience working with community programs and partners across the Inland Valley to promote social, environmental, and health justice. Jessica studied Political Science at Pitzer College, earning a BA, and Public Health at Loma Linda University, where she earned an MPH. As the Assistant Director of Community Engagement at Pitzer College’s Community Engagement Center,
She works to create meaningful service opportunities for students and to build strong relationships with community partners. Her goal is to empower students and community members to become effective leaders and agents of change in their communities, while also addressing pressing public health issues.
Michelle G. Theodorus
Director of Social Media and Photography
Michelle is a born and raised native in Jakarta, with a background of being both mixed Moluccan roots and Manadonese. A whole part of her life has been packed and influenced by the immense culture that jakarta had exposed and the difference of art movements around her.
She currently resides in Los angeles to persue a degree in graphic design at ArtCenter College of Design with a focus on Print,Packaging, and Transformative media. The projects accomplished had mostly been inspired by her hometown and many other stories from accross the archipelago.
“With creative visual line of work, I hope to connect people in need, their stories, and how Socal Indo can extend more visually and emotionally through our mission.”
Mega Passage, Member at Large
Mega, a native of Surakarta (now known as Solo) in Central Java, Indonesia, currently resides in Los Angeles. In addition to being the wife of Michael, she is a talented Balinese and Javanese dancer and leads her own dance group, Nusantara. Mega is also a lead singer in the Javanese band, d’Uncles, where she showcases her full repertoire of Javanese songs.
Kosey Baskin, Member at Large
Kosey Baskin was born and raised in Belgium, with a Dutch mother and an American father. As a child, he was fascinated by martial arts, food, manga, and entertainment. Around the age of 13, he discovered Capoeira, which quickly became his passion. At the same time, he began gymnastics training at the gym. By 15-16, Kosey was already performing in various concerts, videos, and films from the 90s and 00s, showcasing his talents in Capoeira, acrobatics, dance, and even some acting.
While visiting family in America, Kosey had the opportunity to train with two top Hollywood stuntmen, who encouraged him to combine his skills and learn new ones to pursue a career as a stuntman/actor. Inspired by their advice, he did just that.
Kosey is now based in Los Angeles, working as a stunt performer in major film and television productions. Over the years, he has lent his skills to projects such as Star Trek: Picard, Westworld, and the Call of Duty franchise. His most recent work includes performing stunts in Zack Snyder’s film Rebel Moon and Marvel’s TV series Daredevil: Born Again.
Beni Soetanto, Member at Large
Beni was born and raised in Solo (Surakarta), a royal city rich in history and culture. He grew up in a Javanese family with a deep appreciation for art and tradition. He studied social culture and history through books and seminars, and followed the work of historians in Solo, Semarang, and Jogja.
As he grew older, he discovered that he had Dutch-Indo ancestry through his grandmother. This revelation sparked his enthusiasm for studying the history of the Dutch East Indies, as well as the physical and cultural heritage from that era. He began searching for the presence of Dutch-Indo’s and their descendants, aiming to raise awareness among Indonesians about the “missing link” and a generational chain that some have sought to erase from Indonesian history.
Beni is a representative of SoCal Indo in Indonesia. He invites you to connect and revive historical relations with a renewed enthusiasm and a spirit of peace.