San Diego Metropolitan - San Diego Scene

Whom do you call when you need:

A Korean translator?
A printer who knows and uses Chinese symbols?
An expert in Japanese business protocol?

Fortunately, San Diego has such a resource: the Asian Business Association. Marshaling that expertise was part of the reason the group organized 11 years ago, first as an informal coalition of volunteers.

Now, with more than 300 paying members, the ABA has a full-time executive director, Yen C. Tu, and an office on the ninth floor of the World Trade Center building Downtown. Tu likes to point to the growth of the organization by quipping that in the past year, the full-time staff “has doubled — from one to two” — with the addition of a clerical worker.

“We now act as a chamber of commerce, and we are even thinking of adding that to our name,” says Tu as she describes the association’s functions. One main purpose is to provide networking opportunities for those of Asian ethnicity. Another is to inform Asian businesses of employment possibilities or opportunities to bid for work on impending projects.
Twenty-three volunteer board members dictate policy for the ABA, and they represent the cultural cooperation they advocate. “We are touting diversity,” Tu says, “so we must do that ourselves.” Hence, the board includes Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican-American, African-American and Caucasian members, all dedicated to “uniting and empowering the Asian Pacific American business community,” as affirmed in the ABA’s mission statement.

The association sponsors or participates in meetings, mixers, workshops, work fairs, festivals and other events. In November, it will present its 11th annual Business Leadership of the Year Award, formerly called the Asian Entrepreneur of the Year, along with an Emerging Entrepreneur honor.

In its 11-year history, the ABA has seen Asian businesses in the county reach nearly 17,000, employing close to 24,000 workers, generating almost $3 billion in sales and receipts with a payroll of more than $480 million annually. As the numbers grow, so does the need for advocacy, which includes serving as a clearinghouse for job referrals, and as a resource for media and others seeking specific kinds of services or marketing to a select population.

Regular meetings include Rice Club luncheons the fourth Tuesday of each month when a speaker addresses between 70 and 100 attendees on a topic of interest to the San Diego Asian business community. Quarterly mixers afford the chance to network after work at various county locations, and an annual banquet honors those in the Asian community for outstanding achievement and scholarship.

Tu, the first executive director of the ABA, was hired two years ago; she served on the board for a year before that. During her tenure, membership has increased 40 percent. Before accepting this position, Tu was a senior campaigner for United Way of San Diego, where she created an Asian Pacific Leadership Giving program. She also worked as a legislative assistant for Supervisor Ron Roberts, and earlier as a representative for San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Warden and Councilman Tom Behr.

ABA board president is Faith Bautista of San Diego Advertising Specialties. Other officers are Andrew Lee, v.p., membership, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; Wendy Urushima-Simmons, v.p., operations, KGTV/Channel 10 News; and Marivi Shivers, treasurer, U.S. Bank Corp. Also on the board are J.R. Chantengco, Tri West Group; John Cho, State Farm Insurance; Evelyn Constantino, Union Bank of California; Tom Fat, Frank Fat Properties; Dan Hom, NDC/Servistream; Vickie Gee Horiye, Kimberly-Clark; and Joe Horiye, San Diego Community Housing Corp.

Others members are Paula Kelly, San Diego State University; Gene Kim, Computing Advantage Group; Patrick Lam, City National Bank; Bill Lee, McMillin Land Development; Susan Lew, S. Lew & Associates; Jeffrey H. Lin, Best Western Suites Hotel; Alex Robinson, CDC Small Business Finance; Patrick Roche, Associated Realtors; Lori Stup, Lori Stup Communications; Christopher Teng, McGill Martin Self Inc.; Joseph Wong, Joseph Wong Design; and Lea Zanjani, Union Bank of California. Edward Wong is legal counsel.