Michael Messina

Michael Messina is director of development for Pacific Forum CSIS. He oversees the organization’s relationships with corporate and individual supporters both in the United States and Asia, manages media and external relations, and works with various foundations for ongoing project support. Prior to joining Pacific Forum CSIS, Mr. Messina was involved in the formation and growth of Regal Financial Bancorp, Inc. He served as vice president for corporate affairs, involved in strategic planning, growth initiatives, press and investor relations, and business development. Mr. Messina also previously served as a consultant for Duan & Duan, a Shanghai-based law firm, with offices in Seattle, Hong Kong, and Beijing. He has worked on a number of projects on behalf of the firm’s clients in China, the United States, and in Europe, advising on market entry into China, as well as advising and assisting Chinese clients on their U.S. business entry, banking, and legal matters. Mr. Messina graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in political science and obtained certification from the International Trade Institute. He speaks conversational Chinese and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, the Washington State China Relations Council, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.