TRAILBLAZING REAL ESTATE LEADER RIEZL BAKER IS NEWEST NATIONAL TRUSTEE
Washington, D.C. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is proud to announce the appointment of Riezl Baker (née Bagatsing) to its Board of Trustees. A nationally acclaimed luxury real estate entrepreneur and passionate community advocate, Riezl brings to NaFFAA a dynamic blend of visionary leadership, philanthropic excellence, and deep cultural pride.
As co-founder and principal owner of Luxury Lake Oconee Real Estate Group, one of Georgia’s top boutique brokerages, Riezl has spent over two decades at the forefront of luxury real estate. Her innovative Listing Excellence Optimization (Luxury LEO) strategy has revolutionized the marketing of high-end properties and earned her national recognition as a top performer and thought leader in the industry.
In 2024, she was honored as the Top Individual Producer by the Lake Country Board of Realtors, reaching $120 million in sales. She has consistently ranked among the Top 1% of Agents by Georgia MLS and was recognized by Modern Luxury for five consecutive years as a Top Luxury Real Estate Industry Leader.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Riezl Baker to NaFFAA’s Board of Trustees,” said Mariela Fletcher, NaFFAA National Chair. “Riezl embodies the excellence, integrity, and visionary spirit that we value deeply in our organization. Her accomplishments in business are matched only by her heart for service and community. As a proud Filipino American woman and a respected national leader, Riezl’s voice on the Board will help shape NaFFAA’s future in bold and meaningful ways.”
A Proven Fundraising Powerhouse and Community Builder
Riezl’s dedication to service extends far beyond business. She is an accomplished fundraiser and civic leader, having chaired the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board, where she helped raise an astounding $8 million in just two years to open the local hospital in 2013. In February 2025, she again demonstrated her fundraising prowess by chairing the hospital’s Heart & Soul Gala, raising a record-breaking $800,000 in a single evening to support local healthcare programs.
She also serves as a Board Director for the Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS) and is the co-founder of the Lake Oconee Food & Wine Festival, which has grown into the region’s largest destination event. Riezl also launched LEAD Lake Oconee, a mentorship and leadership initiative that empowers rising professionals in her community.
A Legacy of Service: Honoring Her Grandfather’s Example
Riezl Baker carries the proud legacy of her grandfather, the late Mayor Ramon Bagatsing—a World War II hero, Bataan Death March survivor, and Manila’s longest-serving mayor.
“My grandfather, an amputee who swam every morning with one leg, taught me resilience, gratitude, and the importance of serving your community and others,” Riezl shares.
Mayor Bagatsing was a champion of education and humanitarian efforts. He founded one of the Philippines’ largest scholarship foundations, which continues to provide quality education to underprivileged children. He also chaired the Philippine Red Cross and supported numerous charities for persons with disabilities.
Inspired by his example, Riezl’s generosity spans continents. In the Philippines, she supports Elsie Gaches Village, a shelter for children with developmental disabilities, offering financial aid and hosting events—with her own children—to bring joy and smiles to orphans’ faces.
“Riezl Baker is a true trailblazer, and we are honored to have her join our Board of Trustees,” said Ryan Namata, NaFFAA National President. “Her story is one of resilience, innovation, and deep cultural pride—qualities that reflect the very best of our Filipino American community. Riezl’s leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue to elevate our programs, expand our reach, and inspire the next generation of leaders.”
Riezl has been a proud voice in Filipino American advocacy. She was a speaker and panelist at the 2022 NaFFAA National Empowerment Conference in Las Vegas, where she inspired fellow entrepreneurs by sharing her journey and insights on business leadership.
She frequently speaks at national conferences, including the CEO Exchange Conference in Washington, D.C., and the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference in Las Vegas. Her story has also been featured on Fox News’ Mansion Global.
Riezl and her husband, Ted Baker, have lived in Lake Oconee, Georgia since 1997. They are proud parents of two children—their son recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University, and their daughter is a sophomore at New York University.NaFFAA is honored to welcome Riezl Baker to the Board of Trustees and looks forward to the transformative energy, strategic vision, and heart-centered leadership she brings to the Filipino American community.
NaFFAA is the largest non-partisan organization representing 4.4M Filipino Americans, organizations and institutions across the United States. Its fourteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.
For inquiries, contact:
Contact: Mark Eyo, Communications Lead
[email protected]
https://naffaa.org/trustee-riezl-baker/
