October 16, 2002

2002 OCA National Asian American Corporate Achievement Awards

MISSION STATEMENT:

Promote full utilization of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.

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ed. by Douglas Ikemi

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The internet site is back at:

Our own domain name, apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/ gives you a menu of AP organization websites.

Back issues of the newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, and 2002 are available on the website if you want to look up some past event.

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APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2002:

Evening meetings will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) 310/726-0100. Noon time meetings will be on Raytheon premises

Schedule for 2002:

Nov. 13 (W) at 6 pm

Detailed calendar is not attached this week but is available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats. Events go into the calendar that I don't mention here. Please send in information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.

Long range calendar items:

Oct 25-27 East West Orchid Show. Location: Weller Court, 120 Los Angeles Street, Little Tokyo. Friday October 25, 2001 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday October 26, 2001 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday October 27, 2001 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. call 213.629.1200

November 1-10 FITLA International Latino Theatre Festival of Los Angeles. Location: All of the JACCC facilities

Nov 3 Japanese Food Festival at the New Otani Hotel and Garden, 120 Los Angeles Street, Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles. 11-3PM Sponsored by the Japanese Restaurant Association of Southern California $6 adults, Food Prices: $2- $5, Drink Prices: $1- $2. Info: 213.253.9200. sushiandtofu.com/

LACMA Exhibition Opening November 10: "Miracles and Mischief: Noh and Kyogen Theater in Japan" The first major, comprehensive presentation of art from the world of Noh and Kyogen theater, including evocative carved wooden masks, woven silk and gold costumes, painted fans, and lacquered instruments.

Nov 16 Nigerian Talking Drums, Aratani/ Japan America Theatre. "A Day Of Remembrance, A Day Of Healing" $15 $20 Day of Show, call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

Dec. 6-8 China Expo at the LA Convention Center www.chinaexpo-usa.com

The Pacific Asia Museum (46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91101, 626-449-2742) Family Festival schedule for 2002, Saturdays, 1-4:

Nov. 16 Buddha: Faces of Enlightenment

Dec. 14 Pasko Sa Nayon

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Oct. 19 Pakistan Festival at the Pacific Asia Museum, 1-4PM.

Oct. 19 Taiko benefit for Schurr High School Band, 7:30 PM, 820 Wilcox, Montebello, $15. Satori Daiko, Tom Kurai, koto performance by Yukiko Matsuyama, John York on Guitar. Call 626-307-3839, www.taikocenter.com

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Last Weekend

I stayed home sick. How about you?

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This year's 12 recipients for the 2002 OCA National Asian American Corporate Achievement Awards are:

Irene Chang Britt, Kraft Foods North America (New Jersey) is Vice President, Marketing, Snacks Division and leads marketing and innovation for the U.S. Snacks Division, which includes the Planters, Cheez Mania and Corn Nuts brands. In addition to her general management responsibilities and role on the U.S. Biscuit Executive Team, she was also a key member of the Kraft Canada Executive Team working on the integration of Nabisco. Irene has served on the Board of Big Sisters, sponsored and led two United Way campaigns, volunteered at old-age homes and helped organize several charitable events. She was also a volunteer-tutor for Chinese immigrants in Canada, helping them learn to English and acculturate into the new society.

Greg Cabanting, Anheuser-Busch Sales Hawaii (Hawaii) is Director of Marketing for Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Inc. His responsibilities include participating in setting company objectives and strategy, establishing the company's marketing objectives, strategy, and direction, building and protecting the company's image in the local community and ensuring employee satisfaction through employee development, mentoring, and morale building activities. In 1998, he started a program to bring in young talented students from the local colleges and local area into the Anheuser-Busch system. He is involved in many civic organizations and serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Hawaii, is a member of the Bishop Museum Association Council, MDA Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University Distinguished Alumni Awards committee, Hawaii Foodbank and Project Pau Council.

Dianne Chong, Boeing Company-St. Louis (Missouri) is currently a Department Head (M-level) of three engineering functions: Materials, Processes, Standards; Liaison; and Process Control. In this position, she provides leadership and resources for people, processes, and tools for all MPS, Liaison, and Process Control engineers at Boeing St. Louis. She is involved with the YWCA Leader Lunch program, the American Red Cross St. Louis Chapter, Women of Tomorrow and the St. Louis Public Schools, Expanding Your Horizons and the St. Louis Community College system, Zion Lutheran Church of Ferguson, as well as civic activities through the technical societies of which she is a member.

Dr. C. C. Chen, Texas Instruments (Texas) is Director, Digital Audio Department in the High Performance Analog Group and responsible for approximately $6 million in business with customers in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. He is noted for his contributions to the company's many successful products in the LCD display, video, and graphics area. He serves as the Chair of Texas Instrument's Diversity Network, is a member of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, volunteered with OCA and raised funds for the United Way, AIDS WALK, and the March of Dimes. He is also heavily involved in promoting the visibility of Asian Americans in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by participating in local Asian American citizen's awareness groups.

Shirley Dong, Avon Products (New York) is Marketing Manager for the Daily Needs Business, managing key Avon brands such as Footworks and Bubble Bath. She serves as the Chairperson of the Avon Asian Network and represents the Network on the Avon Diversity Council. She enjoys working with community organizations that provide advice and support services for women, such as the Asian Women's Center, the Asian American Planning Council, and Asian Women in Business. In 1995, she and former OCA Executive Director Daphne Kwok created the OCA/Avon Scholarship Program for Asian Pacific Women. The program provides 12 scholarships on an annual basis and receives over 600 applications.

Cherie Kang, The TJX Companies (Massachusetts) is an Associate Buyer for Ladies' Activewear in Fashion Sportswear. She is active in TJX's diversity initiatives to attract and retain minorities and people of color to the company. She serves on the Home Office Diversity Committee and is a core group member for the Minority and People of Color affinity group. She participates in pilot mentoring programs with hopes that the programs become formal programs offered to diverse associates in the future, as well as participates in a reverse mentoring program with senior management to help executives understand difficulties and obstacles faced by an associate of color. She serves on the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) and is an alumna of The Partnership, a nonprofit organization with the goal of attracting and retaining people of color to work in the Boston area. She is also very active in her church.

Gerald Lee, United Parcel Service(California) is District Finance/Revenue Recovery Manager, Northwest Region. He began his 31-year career at UPS as a part time Loader/Unloader while attending college and worked his way up to his current position. He has mentored other minorities in their career by recruiting people to volunteer for community service and join agency boards. He has been a Junior Achievement Advisor, volunteer assistant cub master, volunteer coordinator for the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade, board member and volunteer for Wu Yee Children's Services and Self-Help for the Elderly, and volunteer for the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He was an Executive on Loan to the Mayor's Office from 1988 to 1992 and chaired the Mayor's Taxi Committee and was Enforcement Liaison to the Department of Parking and Traffic.

Ben Lumicao, Allstate Insurance Company (Illinois) is an Associate Counsel in the Law & Regulation Department where he advises clients of the company and its affiliates on regulatory, legislative and compliance concerns affecting property and casualty insurance operations. Appointed by the Mayor to chair the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Asian Affairs, he also serves on the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. He is Co-Chair of the Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA) Chicago chapter, engaging in activities to gain support of legislation to bring equity to Filipino veterans of World War II., and recently testified before an Illinois legislative committee on behalf of the Asian American Redistricting Coalition about the effects of redistricting on the Asian community. He serves on the board of the Filipino American Network (FAN) and at the Leadership Center for Asian Pacific Americans as an organizer for the Chicago Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Program. He also served as Community Services Chairman of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area.

Deborah Lau Okamura, Verizon (Hawaii) is Group Manager Asian Markets - Retail Markets and responsible for managing the Asian Marketing team in developing and implementing nationwide in-language and in-cultural marketing programs to Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino and Japanese consumers in support of Verizon's local, toll and long distance products and services. She served on the board of the Hawaiian Tel Employee Association and the Hawaiian Tel Political Action Club. She has been recognized for her volunteerism and contributions to numerous company-sponsored and community organizations such as the Junior League of Honolulu, Friends of Children Advocacy and HUGS. She is a member of the OCA-Hawaii Chapter and New Hope Christian Fellowship, a class representative of the Kamehameha Schools and serves on the board of the Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union and the alumni board of Creighton University.

Tommy Shi, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (New Jersey) is a Counsel and responsible for the sales, service and marketing of Mercedes-Benz products in the U.S. He oversees litigation management, contracts and intellectual property. He is a member of the Leadership Advisory Council of the National Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association and has served as the President and Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey. He is also A member of the American Corporate Counsel Association and a former member of the Morris County Bar Association, having served as a Member of the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Young Lawyers Committee. Additionally, he has served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committees on Character and on Bar Admissions.

Gary S. Toyama, Boeing Company (California) is Director of Operations Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and responsible for the development and implementation of an overall Space and Communications Operations strategy executed by all S&C programs in the company. He provides one-on-one counseling to many Asian American Professional Association members who want guidance on developing their careers into the management and executive levels and plays an active role in Boeing's group level Diversity Planning. He was selected from among nearly 8,000 people as Manager of the Year for the Southern California Area Boeing Management Club. He is involved with the Asian American Professional Association as a Boeing Executive Sponsor, an advisor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and as a speaker for the Youth Motivational Task Force, motivating high school students to stay in school.

Ray G. Young, General Motors North America (Michigan) is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and leads the development and execution of a $4 billion structural cost reduction program and a $2 billion material cost reduction program for the company. He was the first GM executive assignee at Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and assisted in developing and implementing the first phase of the GM/Suzuki strategic alliance agreement. He serves as a senior advisor to the GM Chinese Affinity Group, providing mentorship and coaching to the Asian American employees in GM North America. He relocated to Detroit one year ago and is familiarizing himself with the local community to determine which organizations can most benefit from his advice and support.

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The LA Times articles:

Oct. 14 A celebration of culture By Ryan Carter News-Press, News-Press

VERDUGO PARK --It was a small world after all Sunday in Glendale.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/glendale/news/la-gnp-unity14oct14.story

Oct 13 OBITUARIES

Tooru Kanazawa, 95; Served in Famed WWII Unit

By Elaine Woo, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-tooru13oct13.story

Oct 10 COLUMN ONE

A Doctor's Healing Journey

After 12 years in exile, a patriarch returns to Afghanistan with his family. The needs are great—but so is the hope for a better future.

By DAVID ZUCCHINO, TIMES STAFF WRITER

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-return10oct10.story