San Francisco, California—The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) celebrated the continued success of Asian American business owners by hosting its 22^nd Anniversary CelebrAsian ‘07 Business Opportunity Conference at the Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco on May 9 to 11.

At a special luncheon sponsored by Wells Fargo, three Asian American entrepreneurs were honored with the 4th Annual USPAACC/Wells Fargo Asian Business Leadership Award. Each winner received a $5,000 cash prize. The three awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and evaluated based on their innovation, financial success, and community service. This year’s winners are Arizona-based Cascade Springs LLC – Leniwati Siker; San Francisco-based Sugar Bowl Bakery -- Andrew Ly and Ly Brothers Corporation; and Virginia-based Harlan Lee & Associates LLC -- Harlan Lee.

At the Excellence Awards Dinner, special recognition was also given to those who have demonstrated consistent efforts in collaboration and cooperation with USPAACC, in supporting, developing and implementing programs that bring Asian American businesses into the mainstream procurement marketplace through education and training, information sharing, and with contract opportunities. The Corporation of the Year award was presented to Verizon, Supplier Diversity Manager of the Year award went to Jackie La Joie of Merck, and the Government Agency of the Year award was won by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

This is the largest annual national pan Asian American business conference in the United States and attracted hundreds of Asian American entrepreneurs and suppliers from all over the country to connect with buyers from Fortune 500 corporations, the federal government, and the minority business community.

Fortinet, Verizon and Wells Fargo were corporate co-chairs. Three summits, two forums and two plenary sessions provided tools, strategies and opportunities for all to become more competitive in today’s marketplace: “Prepare to Win Business,” “The International CEO Forum,” “The Do’s and Don’ts of Selling to Corporations,” “The 7 Habits of Successful Small Government Contractors,” “Summit of Supply Diversity Directors/Managers and Buyers,” “Buyer,” “Suppliers Summit,” and “Joint Business Summit.”

Speakers included California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and State Assembly member and “Majority Whip,” Fiona Ma  and California State Controller John Chiang.

Outstanding Asian American Honorees at The Excellence Awards Dinner were Rocky Aoki, Founder of Benihana “Japanese Steakhouse” restaurants; Aron Govil, President and CEO of the Ducon Group of Companies; Dr. Heng Wang, Medical Director, Physician and Researcher at the DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children; and Padmasree Warrior, Executive Vice president and Chief Technology Officer of Motorola.

Yao Ming, the 7’6”-tall Center of the Houston Rockets, also flew into San Francisco as a special guest for the occasion.

Twenty college scholarships were presented during the conference to high school seniors who have excelled in school, performed community service and have demonstrated financial need.