Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis

Celebrating Simon Huang, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis 2024 Executive of the Year! Simon Huang serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), where he’s driving inclusive economic growth and advancing technology access across the region. His leadership aligns with Mayor Tishaura Jones' vision of creating a safer, stronger, and healthier St. Louis. With a career spanning both the private and public sectors, Simon has made significant contributions to technology strategy, operational improvements, and enhancing municipal services. Beyond his professional achievements, Simon actively engages with the community, fostering connections through organizations like FOCUS St. Louis, the Community Council of St. Charles County, and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Join us in celebrating Simon’s impactful work and dedication to creating a brighter future for all in St. Louis! Watch Simon’s short award video! Yemi A. Tishaura Jones Neal Richardson, MBA #AACCStLouis #ExecutiveOfTheYear #LeadershipInAction #StLouisInnovation

Congratulations to Peter Lu, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year! Peter’s journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and community. From growing up in the back of his family’s grocery store to leading a successful real estate team with $70M in annual sales, Peter exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit. As the son of Taiwanese immigrants, Peter learned business fundamentals early—whether it was counting change at the cash register or driving a forklift at 13! He’s turned those life lessons into a legacy of success, from his family’s food distribution business to building his own real estate empire. Join us in celebrating Peter’s incredible story and contributions to the community. James Zeng Jada Mutic, M.Ed., LPC Xin Wei ?? Watch Peter's award video! #AACCStLouis #EntrepreneurOfTheYear #CommunitySuccess #StLouisProud

Last night, we had an incredible kickoff for the AACC Mentor-Mentee Program! Huge thanks to Nhi (Kate) Doan, CPA and Edward Jones for hosting us in their beautiful facility. This is our 2nd annual program, and we’re proud to be fostering connections that help shape the future generation of leaders. A special thank you to Board Member Stephen C. Lee (Ameren) and our Co-Chairs, Fran Petruso (World Wide Technology) and Kevin Chau (Enterprise Mobility), for helping bring this program to life! Here are the mentor-mentee pairings that attended: ? Mentee: Bikash Pokharel ?Mentor: Jeff Wade (Entrepreneur and Executive Director of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis) ? Mentee: Maggie Castaldo?Mentor: Han Ko (Founder and CEO of USAKO Group ) ? Mentee: Manaswini Bobbu?Mentor: Gary Kellmann (Entrepreneur and CEO of KDK Technology and zPods) ? Mentee: Khue Nguyen?Mentor: Xialing (Charlene) Ulrich (Data Science Manager at World Wide Technology) ? Mentee: Thanh G. Nicolas?Mentor: Courtney Clark (Director of Operations at Big Rush Marketing) A big thank you to all the mentors and mentees for your commitment and enthusiasm. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community. Let’s make this year’s program a success! #Mentorship #Leadership #Networking #AACCDevelopment #FutureLeaders

Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis Connection Dinner Pictures Are Here! Relive the magic of the 2024 Connections Dinner Gala with the official photos from the evening! From red carpet glamour to heartfelt moments of celebration, we’re excited to share these memories with you. A huge shoutout to Wesley Law for capturing the amazing Red Carpet Photos they are truly stunning! Here are the rest of the stunning Event & Red Carpet Pictures, thanks to Wesley Law for capturing these amazing moments! Red Carpet Photos: https://bit.ly/3Za6Xn2 Connect Dinner Event Photos: https://bit.ly/3CI9LPf A heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors, awardees, attendees, and volunteers who made this event such a success. Your support helps us continue to uplift the Asian American community and drive impact in the St. Louis region. c Let us know your favorite moments from the evening in the comments! #AACCSTL #ConnectionsDinner2024 #RedCarpetMoments #CelebratingCommunity

?? We are thrilled to announce that the Connections Dinner was a sold-out event and a tremendous success! ?? A huge thank you to our AACC President, Omar D. Malik, our Executive Director Jeff Wade, Co-Chairs Angela Batnasan, CRC and Courtney Chen, all the amazing and generous sponsors, and the entire AACC Board for making this possible. ?? We are also proud to have released the first-ever AAPI contribution study report last night—an important milestone for our community in the STL region! ?? The report can be found at https://bit.ly/3YToe2w Together, we are making strides and creating connections. Thank you all for being part of this journey! ?? #ConnectionsDinner #AACC #AAPI #CommunitySuccess #STLRegion #MilestoneMoment #ThankYouSponsors #CommunityConnections #SuccessStory #DiversityMatters #TogetherWeRise #CulturalImpact #NetworkingEvent #Gratitude

?? Appreciative of United Adult Day Center! ?? A big thank you to United Adult Day Center for your unwavering support as a Gold Sponsor for the AACC Connections Dinner. Your commitment and partnership are crucial in fostering meaningful connections within our community. Thank you, United Adult Day Care Center! #ConnectionsDinner #GoldSponsor #Gratitude #CommunitySupport #UnitedAdultDayCenter

?? New Member Spotlight: Rachel Kim-Mesina ?? "If you have patience, perseverance, and pluck, you will be successful! Don't buy into the "Get Rich Quick" hype - hard work and grit is the only formula for longevity". Rachel Kim-Mesina, Owner of Maiden Voyage Bridal We are thrilled to highlight Rachel Kim-Mesina, a proud member of AACC and the owner of Maiden Voyage Bridal. Rachel's business stands out as a woman-owned, one-stop-shop for all wedding attire, offering exceptional service and dedication to helping clients find the perfect outfit for their special day. ?? Email: [email protected] ??Facebook: Maiden Voyage Bridal ?? Instagram: @maiden_voyage_bridal Read more about Rachel via www.aaccstl.org. #AACC #NewMember #Spotlight #Networking #StLouis #Fashion #CommunitySupport #Entrepreneurship

?? Last night, we had the incredible honor of attending the 2024 Vintendo 4 Africa Gala to witness one of our own members, Nalini Mahadevan, receive the Community Advocate Award – Wakili Award! ?? Nalini S. Mahadevan, Principal Attorney at MLO Law LLC, has been a powerhouse in our community, dedicating her career to Immigration, Estate Planning, and Business Law, with offices in St. Louis, Chicago, and Atlanta. Her impact spans far beyond the courtroom—she’s a trailblazer for diversity, inclusion, and empowerment, having co-founded the Immigrant Professional Women’s Network (IPWN) and mentored countless business leaders. ?? Our AACC Executive Director Jeff Wade and Board Member Sekhar Prabhakar were proud to be there to celebrate this extraordinary recognition. Nalini’s leadership, advocacy, and commitment to uplifting others in our community continue to inspire us all. Gabriela S. Ramírez-Arellano Usha Kesavan Congratulations, Nalini! We are so proud to have you as a member of the AACC family! ?? #Vintendo4AfricaGala #CommunityAdvocate #AACC

?? Thank You Cedar Valley Capital! ?? We are sincerely grateful to Walt Hammond Principal of Cedar Valley Capital for being a Gold Sponsor for the AACC Connections Dinner. Your partnership and dedication are invaluable in strengthening our community bonds. Thank you, Cedar Valley Capital! #ConnectionsDinner #GoldSponsor #Gratitude #CommunitySupport #CedarValleyCapital

?? Grateful for Hightower Advisors! ?? A huge thank you to Stu Bradley, CFA, CFP? with Hightower Wealth Advisors for your steadfast support as a Gold Sponsor for the AACC Connections Dinner. Your partnership is vital in bringing our community together and creating meaningful connections. Thank you, Hightower Wealth Advisors! #ConnectionsDinner #GoldSponsor #Gratitude #CommunitySupport #HightowerWealthAdvisors