Bright Business Outlook Revealed at USPAACC’s CelebrAsian Business Opportunity Conference 2012

Washington, DC | June 8, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – June 8, 2012 – Signs of business resurgence were evident at the 27th Anniversary CelebrAsian Business Opportunity Conference 2012, the flagship national event presented by the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC).

The bustle of business activity—deals and connections being made—began on June 4 and reached its crescendo on the third day, when top procurement officers from Fortune Corporations, Government Agencies and Non-Profits converged at the largest and oldest annual national Pan Asian American business Conference in the United States to connect with Asian American suppliers, was held at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Ravi Saligram, CEO of OfficeMax, and Kyle McSlarrow, President of Comcast/NBCUniversal, Washington, DC participated as the Conference Co-Chairs. Comcast/NBCUniversal, Marriott International, OfficeMax, PepsiCo and Wells Fargo were the Corporate Co-Chairs. Fine Tec Computer and Fortinet were the Asian American Business Co-Chairs.

The Conference theme, “The Future is Now: Seize It & Win It” set the tone for the 3-day event that featured top-notch speakers, high-caliber Asian American business owners who together brought in over $4 billion in annual revenue, and hundreds of participants vying for cutting-edge information, lucrative opportunities and unprecedented growth.

CelebrAsian 2012 opened its doors to over 70 Fortune Corporations, 15 Government Agencies, and 7 Media partners to meet with Asian American suppliers. Over 90 different types of commodities across industries needed to be purchased. In all, more than 600 Conference participants came in full force from all over the country.

“We are very encouraged by the overall performance of Asian American business in this economic environment,” said Susan Au Allen, USPAACC National President & CEO. “Based on the expanding list of glowing accolades we continue to receive and firm promises to return next year, I am confident that our Conference has lived up to its promise as the preeminent Pan Asian American business opportunity conference in the country. This Conference creates parity and a roadmap of opportunities for Asian American-owned B2B enterprises nationwide.”

“Enjoyed being with you and the delegates,” wrote Ravi Saligram, CEO of OfficeMax and Conference Co-Chair. “Congrats on a successful event.”

“Comcast/NBCUniversal looks to USPAACC for innovative suppliers,” said Conference Co-Chair Kyle McSlarrow, President of Comcast/NBCUniversal, Washington, DC.

“It was my first USPAACC Conference and it really opened my eyes to new opportunities for my business and for networking with other Asian American business leaders,” said Giles Shih, CEO of BioResource International, Inc. from Morrisville, North Carolina.

“What a great conference and we enjoyed connecting with the major buyers from corporate America,” said Jason Yoo, President & CEO, President / CEO, HBS National Corporation of Houston, Texas. “We had very good meetings with DuPont, Wells Fargo, PNS Bank, Target, PepsiCo and Aramark and we hope to revisit with them for follow up.”

“The prescheduled one-on-one business matchmaking meetings were great. I met some great people—owners of the company. I will talk to my team leader and Small Business Liaison Officer about those companies on how to connect them to our capturing group so that they can become partners with IBM,” said Wen Jiang, Subcontracts Administrator, Client Services Procurement – Federal, US Federal Team, IBM.

“I really enjoyed the conference and I was able to make some very meaningful contacts as a result,” said Kathleen A. Lear, VP, Government Solutions, VXI Global Solutions, Inc., from Ashburn, Virginia. “I feel very strongly that we may have some good opportunities with Freddie Mac, American Red Cross, FDIC, and AFLAC.”

“I came specifically to learn, with no other expectations despite the impressive line-up of speakers. As I left, I’m most proud of having had conversations with successful people. Building relationships is primary to me, and I’m delighted to say I left having made friends,” said Melissa Kephart of ASSET Technologies, LLC from Louisville, Kentucky.

“I wanted to reiterate how fantastic USPAACC’s CelebrAsian was – my team and my family truly enjoyed the event! Also, the stories of the scholarship recipients had me close to tears,” said Christopher Marquez, President & CEO, National Capitol Contracting, LLC of Arlington, Virginia. “You’re doing a great thing. I think because of the success of many Asians, a lot of people forget that we face hardship and discrimination as well. I’m glad you’re doing something to help, and would like to be more involved in the future!”

To read more accolades and to learn more about USPAACC and CelebrAsian, visit http://www.uspaacc.com

ABOUT USPAACC: Founded in 1984 as a non-profit and non-partisan organization, USPAACC is headquartered in Washington, DC with Regional Chapters in CA, TX, NY, GA, IL, DC-MD-VA National Capital Area. USPAACC is the single unified voice for equal opportunity for Asian American businesses. We promote and propel economic growth by opening doors to business, educational and professional opportunities for Asian Americans and their business partners in corporate America, government at the federal, state and local levels, and the small and minority business community. For 27 years, USPAACC has served and will continue to serve as the gateway to large corporate and government contracts, top-caliber Asian American and small and minority suppliers, key information about Asian Americans and business opportunities in the dynamic Asia-Pacific market.

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