National ACE Hosts AAPISTRONG Heritage Month Business Summit: Emerging Stronger
The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) hosted our annual AAPISTRONG Heritage Month Business Summit on Thursday, May 13, 2022. The Summit’s theme was Emerging Stronger, and included remarks from officials, panels, highlights of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners, information on National ACE’s Small Business Roundtables, and ACE NextGen.
The event kicked off with special remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris: “It is a time to celebrate the rich culture of the AA and NHPI communities, and to recognize the important role these communities have played and continue to play in the American story.” The Vice President’s uplifting remarks were followed by Secretary Xavier Becerra of The Department of Health and Human Services, who provided a timely reflection on the importance of health and healthcare: “What we have learned over the last two years is how interconnected our livelihoods are with our health. We learned that our health and economic prosperity go hand in hand … The most transformative action we’ve done today is expand healthcare access for more Americans than ever before [through] the American Rescue Plan.”
Greeting remarks transitioned into inspirational stories of AAPI small businesses emerging stronger from the pandemic, as well as footage from National ACE’s Small Business Roundtables across the country. Reflecting on moving beyond the pandemic, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) said: “It’s also important that we support AAPI businesses beyond just pandemic relief. That is why as Congress drafted and passed the transformative Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I pushed to ensure that AAPIs have equal access to the contracting and funding opportunities made available through the bill.”
Related to contracting and funding opportunities, the Summit organized two panels with practical advice for AAPI entrepreneurs. The “Access to Capital and Contracting Opportunities” conversation was moderated by Ruben Barrales, Senior Vice President of External Engagement at Wells Fargo, and included: Joann Hill, Chief of Business Development at MBDA; Geri Algipay, Region V Administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA); and Paul Disselkoen, Senior Associate Government Relations at PayPal. The “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)” panel was moderated by Susan Lee, Partner at EY Parthenon, and included: Tony Gladney, Vice President National Diversity Relations at MGM Resorts; and Vanna Tran, Director of Community Engagements at Nielsen.
Further speaking on the importance of diversity, Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, shared: “We know that when diverse perspectives are represented in the policymaking process, the outcomes are more equitable and inclusive. That is also an important value that drives our work at USTR. Too often, benefits of trade do not reach minority owned businesses and their communities. We are working to reverse that.”
We had the honor of hosting the First Lady of Maryland, Yumi Hogan, and First Lady of Nevada, Kathy Ong Sisolak, for a “Grace Under Pressure” fireside chat discussing their stories, struggles, and hopes for the future as AAPI public figures. Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6) also shared a touching, personal message: “As a daughter of small business owners, I know first hand the critical role that small businesses play in our country. They are the backbone of our economy. They enhance our neighborhood and bring investments to local communities by creating jobs and providing important services. We must do everything we can to help small businesses thrive.”
Other speakers included: The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation & 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor; Acting National Director Miguel Estien, MBDA; The Honorable Julie Su, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor; The Honorable Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce; and The Honorable Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
We are grateful to our partners, sponsors, and community for helping us execute a successful celebration of everything AAPI small business owners have overcome and achieved in the last year. It was heartwarming to witness this gathering of some of the most dedicated leaders in our country, and the resilience of the AAPI small business community. National ACE is excited to continue our celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month this May.