NAAAP National Convention Press Release

For Immediate Release

2007 NAAAP NATIONAL CONVENTION AND DIVERSITY CAREER FAIR ATTRACTED MORE THAN 1000 ATTENDEES
ATLANTA, GEORGIA

The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Atlanta chapter played host to the 21st Annual NAAAP National Convention and Diversity Career Fair from August 16th through 18th, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel.

This year’s theme "Catalyst for Growth: Awareness. Opportunity. Leadership.” attracted more than 600 convention attendees and over 1000 participants for the diversity career fair. The two-day convention featured 22 workshops and over 50 national and local workshop speakers that focused their message on leadership, professional development, management, entrepreneurship, diversity, Asian lifestyle, and community service. The diversity career fair attracted over 50 exhibiting regional, multi-national and international companies. Convention attendees also enjoyed the NAAAP National Convention Leadership Awards Gala on Friday which honored various NAAAP chapters with excellence awards for Chapter & Venture of the Year, Membership, Professional Development, Community Involvement, Communications and Projects & Programs.

The Friday gala concluded with cultural performances and entertainment by dancer Yu Wei, comedian Henry Cho and Vega String Quartet. Attendees also enjoyed Saturday’s Chopstix for Charity Fundraising Gala, a premier annual NAAAP-Atlanta event, with 100% of the proceeds going back to the local Asian-American non-profit community organizations in the form of grants.

United States Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao addressed over 700 Asian American professionals during the Friday keynote luncheon. Chao stressed the importance of education, training and re-training as keys to future employment and earnings for America’s workforce. She outlined several initiatives by the current administration to support worker training, education and employment service programs. Secretary Chao concluded in her closing remarks, “As I’ve said many times before – America is a beacon of hope and opportunity throughout the world and we shouldn’t fear the worldwide economy. America’s greatest strength lie in our democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law, transparency, accountability and the most creative and compassionate workforce in the world. These unique qualities comprise our country’s strongest competitive advantage." Secretary Chao currently serves as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor in the Cabinet of President of the United States, George W. Bush. She is the first Asian American woman and first Chinese American to be appointed to a President's Cabinet in American history. Other top Asian-American executives that provide keynote addresses during the convention are Esther Lee (Euro RSCG Worldwide), Ken Lee (UPS), Sonya Gong (State Farm Insurance), and Jayaraman (Raghu) Raghuraman (Dell, Inc.).

The keynotes all shared their professional and personal journeys as Asian-American professionals navigating their careers in the public and private sectors of the corporate world. The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization where Asian American and Asian Canadian professionals from across North America can work together to enhance North American Asian leadership in various professions and their communities. NAAAP serve to educate members through professional development, raise Asian American awareness in corporate America, and ensure that Asian Americans are included in diversity programs. As a charitable and community-based organization, NAAAP also actively engages its members in volunteer and charity work within their communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.naaapconvention.org/

September 2007 Upcoming Events!

Professional Development Dinner - Developing Presentation Skills at Matsutake in Ballston
September 12, 2007 7pm

No matter what your profession, you will no doubt find yourself in a public speaking situation from time to time. Public speaking is understandably a source of stress to many, but the good news is you don't have to be perfect or a genius to succeed! What you need is the proper preparation and skills. This interactive seminar will take you through a step-by-step process to help you deliver a presentation with confidence and ease.

Better yet, we are hosting this seminar over a delicious sushi dinner at Matsutake Sushi & Steak! NAAAP-DC has arranged for this special dinner and seminar experience at a fixed menu price of $25 per person, including soup, salad, sushi-sashimi platter, and tea.

Alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity are not included. This seminar will be led by our guest speaker, Henry Hsiang, a senior financial analyst of the Enterprise Resources Planning Solutions Group at Northrop Grumman (NG). Henry has extensive experience as lead trainer for the SAP Business Warehouse & has led hands-on training classes across the US. Prior to NG, Henry worked at Arthur Andersen & advised multinational clients including the Asian Development Bank.

To attend, you must RSVP by September 10, 2007. For more info and to RSVP: http://www.naaapdc.org/Events.do?id=5141 or send an email to NAAAPDC@gmail.com with subject line - RE: Professional Dinner

Registrants will pay at the event.


Collaborative Young Professionals Happy Hour at Lotus Lounge
September 13, 2007 6:30 PM

CO-SPONSORED happy hour with the following groups:

• 20s & 30s Asian Going Out Group
• OCA-YP (Organization for Chinese Americans - Young Professionals)
• NAAAP-DC (National Assoc. of Asian American Professionals)
• JET AA-DC
• DC APA FILM
• Vietnamese Professionals Society

The last co-sponsored happy hour we helped organize was filled to the brim with new people. So help spread the word, and come network, socialize, and meet new people!

Recap | NAAAP NATIONAL CONVENTION in ATLANTA

This was my third National Convention that I attended and every year gets better and better. I truly enjoyed seeing old friends ( Jim from San Francisco, Brad from Philly, Hector from North Carolina, Rose from Chicago, Shane from Columbus, and many more!)

Hector (NC) & Rose (Chicago)

My brother from another mother, JIM!

Shane Carlin from NAAAP Columbus just Chilling

The Gala Awards were a great event! Fantastic time to meet up with other ventures, hear about the accomplishments of the various chapters!! Congrats to NAAAP Columbus for Venture of the Year!! Also had a great time listening to Henry Cho, my fellow Asian Redneck comedian.
Henry Cho and Me!

It was also great meeting new friends (Audrey from Boston, Eugene from Austin, Joe, Hyun, from Philadelphia, Tommy from Atlanta, Anh from Toronto, and many others!).

Me and Joe from Philly. Anh(Toronto), Jim (SF) , Audrey(Boston)

This year's convention was a truly a catalyst for growth, awareness, leadership and opportunity. I met some fantastic people and gained fabulous insight and best practices from some of the best Asian Pacific Americans/Canadians in all areas of business, industry and corporate leadership.
But with every NAAAP Convention, do we not only listen and work hard, but we play hard as well.

Check out the pics from the partying we did at various clubs in the area. Lotus Lounge, Velvet Room, and the 2nd floor Suite.

Next year's convention will be in the City of Angels. LOS ANGELES! It should be a fantastic time. Come out and get involved with NAAAP. For more pics check out our website http://www.naaapdc.org/

Recap | Young Asian Professionals Cooperative Networking Happy Hour at Eyebar

July 12, 2007

After two successful CO-SPONSORED networking happy hours, it was time for our another one! This happy hour at Eyebar brought in over 250 folks! The following groups participating in this festive event...

NAAAP-DC (Nat'l Assoc. of Asian American Professionals)
20s & 30s Asian Going Out Group OCA-YP (Org. for Chinese Americans)
DC APA Film (DC Asian Pacific American Film)
FYP-DC (Filipino Young Professionals)
CCCCDC (Chinatown Community Cultural Center)
JET AA-DC (Japanese Exchange Teaching)
Washington Japanese Group
NAPAWF-DC (Nat'l Asian Pac. American Women)
YPIC (Young Pros for International Cooperation) Sejong Society of DC

More photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/NAAAPDC/YoungAsianProfessionalsCooperativeNetworkingHappyHourAtEyebar


Group shot...


Michelle and Wendy


Kenny and Jonathan Lin (newest NAAAP-DC Board Member)

Recap | Exclusive Career Information Seminar Dinner

August 8, 2007

This seminar dinner featured Brad M . Blaisdell, Senior Financial Planner, Ken Furuya, Financial Planner, and Stan Kryjak, Operations and Controls Manager, who discussed opportunities for Asian Americans with Prudential Financial . They discussed the scope, benefits and overall dimensions of having a career in financial empowerment and education and shed light on the various opportunities, growth and permanence of working with the Prudential Financial family. This event was held at the India Experience Restaurant. Special thanks to the gracious Prudential Financial folks that sponsored this dinner and for taking time out to speak to the NAAAP-DC group. Thank you, Brad, Ken and Stan!

More photos http://picasaweb.google.com/NAAAPDC/ExclusiveCareerInformationSeminarDinnerSponsoredByPrudentialFinancial


Ken Furuya (Prudential Financial), Dave Tam (NAAAP-DC Board Member), and Stan Kryjak (Prudential Financial)


Wuiping Yap (NAAAP-DC Board Member) and Brad Blaisdell (Prudential Financial)

Recap | Professional Social Happy Hour at Lotus Lounge

August 3, 2007

Thanks to all the folks that came out for the NAAAP-DC Professional Social Happy Hour at Lotus Lounge! For those who couldn't make it out, you missed an awesome time and some really great drinks (my fav was the X-Rated!). Special thanks to Christian, our President, for coordinating this event for us!

More photos http://picasaweb.google.com/NAAAPDC/ProfessionalSocialHappyHourAtLotusLounge

Jonathan, Ryan, and Michelle

Yon, Jonathan, Kaiji, and Christian

Christian, Rose, Jodie, and TK