Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce

On Tuesday, ARMA CEO Kevin Fincher participated in a panel discussion at the "Workforce @Asia x Austin" of the 2025 Asia x Austin International Market Summit held at the Austin Public Library. The future of the Central Texas economy rests on our regional workforce, and the Austin area boasts a robust ecosystem of institutions, workforce partners, and young eager talent ready to take the future by storm. Kevin and fellow panelists Gilbert Zavala of Opportunity Austin, Dena Shirley of Ascension, and Laura Sauceda Lucas of Austin Community College had a great conversation about tearing down silos and creating regional collaboration between employers, education, and workforce boards. Thanks for the invitation to be a part of this important conversation, Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce! It's always a pleasure for ARMA to be in the community advocating for workforce development. Only by working together can we address the workforce shortages facing the Central Texas manufacturing community. Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Texas State University - Round Rock Campus, The University of Texas at Austin, City of Austin Economic Development Department, Amber Warne, Julie Lessiter, Brandon Whatley Ed.D., Daniel Liu, Katherine Sobel #manufacturing #advocacy #workforcedevelopment #asiaxaustin #AAPI #aapibusiness #workforce #hr #networking #conference #summit

Exciting Times at #SXSW! ?? Thrilled to be in #Austin, Texas attending the SXSW conference—connecting with innovative companies and sharing information about Hong Kong’s dynamic business landscape! A huge thank you to Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce for having us as an international partner at the Asia X Austin Market Briefing. The event was packed with invaluable discussions featuring government and business leaders from Austin and across Asia. I had the opportunity to highlight Hong Kong’s strategic advantages—a world-class business hub that meets global standards in business environment and professional services, with a unique position as a gateway to the Greater Bay Area of the Mainland China and ASEAN markets. Beyond business, Hong Kong was also spotlighted at the Asian Pop-Culture Networking Afterparty, where we all celebrated Asian talent with live performances and a vibrant pop culture game show—such an electric atmosphere! ? A special shoutout to Mark Duval Mark Hanson Erich Pelletier for organizing such a fantastic event! Thank you to the Hong Kong family—Hong Kong Trade Development Council Curtis Louie Christine Barragan for working together to amplify our promotion impact ?? #teamhongkong I’m also soaking up the insightful sessions at SXSW—so much innovation and inspiration all around! If you’re still in town, please swing by our InvestHK booth at #921! ?? #SXSW2025 #HongKong #GreaterBayArea #InvestmentOpportunities

SXSW brings the brightest minds together right here in the #atx and I loved experiencing the perspective of the Austin Asian group and how they are a growing population in #centraltexas. As we continue to attract people from around the world it’s always reaffirming to connect on common interests and goals, regardless of where you are from. Here at Texas State University, we’re one university with two campuses (and more) here to serve the CTx and beyond with educational opportunities for all. Thanks, Mark Nelson and Mark Duval for allowing me to speak about how we are helping with the workforce pipeline. Our future is bright ?????? Alana McCloskey Lauren Loper Yatin Karpe, PhD, RTTP

? WHAT. A. DAY at the Asia x Austin Summit 2025! ? Yesterday’s events were a powerful reminder of the momentum building in Central TX. Leaders in economic development, VC, and innovation highlighted why Austin and nearby cities are attracting global attention. Here’s my quick (& very abbreviated) recap of the sessions I attended, beginning w/ insights on the growing two-way opportunities between Asia and the Greater Austin region. ?? Austin, TX (Mayor Kirk Watson) ? #1 in the U.S. for Foreign Direct Investment per capita ? 200+ VCs and 72 unicorns (>$1bill company valuation) fueling growth ? Surrounding cities like Manor, Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Georgetown are expanding fast ?? Manor, TX (Mayor Dr. Christopher Harvey) ? Opportunity Zones w/ tax incentives ? Near Tesla’s Gigafactory driving housing & services demand ? Workforce pipeline via Manor ISD, ACC, and Tesla START ?? Georgetown, TX (Cameron Goodman) ? Fastest-growing city in the U.S. (3 yrs running) ? Advanced mfg, semiconductors, clean energy, life sciences ? ZT Systems 435,000 SF campus bringing 1,500 jobs ?? Cedar Park, TX (Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin) ? Sectors: semiconductors, life sciences, space tech, AI ? Projects: Firefly Aerospace, Hanyang ENG USA ? 1.4M+ regional labor force and rapid growth ?? Round Rock, TX (Danielle Morrissey) ? HQ for Dell Technologies ? Diverse, growing population ? Strong demand for office, industrial, healthcare ?? Asian Market Insights Leaders from Japan (JETRO), Malaysia, India, and Hong Kong shared why they’re investing in Central TX. ? Japan expanding into semiconductors & advanced mfg ? Malaysia growing electronics, energy & R&D ? Indian startups choosing Austin for AI & CRE ? Hong Kong enabling Asia-Pac partnerships in tech & logistics ?? VC Roundtable + Pitch Workshop ? Focus on prep, research & building community ? Geopolitical uncertainty may impact foreign startups, adaptability is key ? Wen Zhang: “Sell the sizzle, not the steak” ?? AI for Humanity ft. James (Kayliang) Ong & ? Thom Singer, CSP ?? ? AI framed as a "social, philosophical, and spiritual" force ? Need to ensure AI for humanity is more profitable than AI for exploitation ? Loneliness highlighted as an emerging concern ? Austin emerging as AI hub where US, China & Singapore are top leaders ? Big implications for real estate, design & planning ?? Asia x Austin After Dark Wrapped up connecting w/ Dell leaders, meeting actress Shirley Chen (Didi), and enjoying Chef Rene Helit Jr’s menu. After-hours convos sparked some of the best collabs. This summit reinforced why I am inspired by this vibrant city and the cutting edge community it cultivates. If you attended, what stood out for you? If you missed it, which trends in AI, startups, or regional growth are you tracking? #AsiaxAustinsummit #CentralTexas #CommercialDevelopment #AustinTX #GeorgetownTX #CedarParkTX #RoundRockTX #ManorTX #Innovation #Startups #CRE #GAACC #SXSW

Feeling incredibly grateful to have attended the 21st Annual Women in Leadership Symposium created by Texas Leadership Consortium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. With Emlyn Roesler,?Saamiya Seraj, Ph.D,?Lisa Kang, and?Stephanie Tang, MBA gathered at a table, we represented the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce that day. It was a wonderful experience reconnecting and spending the day surrounded by carefully manicured greenery, beautiful weather, and great company. Events like these remind me of the importance of having a strong professional network. Connecting with people who like to support each other energizes me, and I truly cherish being part of the GAACC. They help me find like-minded people who want to make day-to-day existence brighter. I was excited to forge new professional relationships and listen to panelists who shared their personal stories. Through this act of sharing, they inspire and shift perspectives, creating an infectious positivity that reverberates throughout the room. Making these connections, both physically and mentally, always encourages me to move forward with more confidence, trust, and hope. Community matters so much.