NAAAP NY honored New York’s influential Asian-Pacific-Islander-Americans
Article by Yvonne Lo
Photo credit Niko
On October 25, 2013, the New York Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP NY) hosted their 2013 Moon Festival Honoree Gala with AsianInNY as a proud media sponsor. Hosted by NBC’s Richard Lui, NAAAP NY honored New York’s influential Asian-Pacific-Islander-Americans in six categories: Corporate (Finance), Corporate (Law), Culinary Arts, Entrepreneurship, Media, and Public Service.
The honorees are as follows:
Preet Bharara
Public Service – Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York
Mr. Preet Bharara was nominated in May 15, 2009 by President Barack Obama to become the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Bharara’s nomination was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009, and he was sworn in on August 13, 2009. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Bharara oversees the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Southern District of New York, which encompasses New York, Bronx, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Sullivan counties.
Laca Wong-Hammond
Corporate (Finance) – Laca Wong-Hammond, Head of Healthcare Real Estate, Raymond James
Ms. Laca Wong-Hammond leads the Raymond James real estate investment banking activities, including single asset and portfolio dispositions, sale/leasebacks, strategic and capital advisory, including debt and equity capital placements. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Chen Dance Center, a not-for-profit performing arts school and theatre in lower Manhattan. She is also the Vice Chair of the Buildings Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Medical Office Buildings and Healthcare Facilities Committee.
Corporate (Law) – Alice Young, Special Counsel and Chair, Kaye Scholer
Ms. Alice Young is Special Counsel and Chair of the Asia Pacific Practice at Kaye Scholer LLP International Law Firm. She advises multinationals and entrepreneurs on their business activities and investment considerations in the United States and throughout Asia, including complex cross-border transactions and sensitive legal and governmental strategies, and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). Ms. Young is listed in Who’s Who, Crain’s “Top 100 Minority Executives” (one of only three corporate lawyers named), by Avenue Asia magazine as one of the five most influential Asian-American corporate lawyers in the United States, and by Harvard Law Bulletin as one of the top 50 women graduates of Harvard Law School. In 1989, she was named by Crain’s as one of the “40 Outstanding Achievers Under 40,” and received the “New York Doers” Award.
Alice Young (center), Jason Wang (right)
Culinary Arts – Jason Wang, Xi’an Famous Foods and Biang!
Xi’an Famous Foods is a Northern Chinese food chain located in New York City which serves over 140,000 diners a year. The restaurant has been featured on the Cooking Channel’s Foodography, Kelly Choi’s Eat Out New York, and on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Mr. Jason Wang (Owner & Chef) came aboard the family business in 2009 and has expanded the chain to five restaurants, in addition to his new sit-down restaurant Biang!. In 2013, Mr. Wang has won two food awards, Zagat’s “30 Under 30: NYC’s Food World Up-And Comers,” and “The Eater Young Guns Class of 2013.” He has also been featured in the New York Times, and Forbes.com.
Suk Park, Seung Bak
Entrepreneurship – DramaFever Founders: Seung Bak, Suk Park
DramaFever is an online video service that curates premium television shows and movies from 70 major broadcasters and studios throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Over 6 million monthly viewers discover and enjoy hit shows from the rest of the world on demand with professional subtitles in HD quality on DramaFever’s website as well as its applications on iPhone, iPad, Android, Roku, and Google TV. DramaFever also syndicates a portion of its library to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes. Founded in 2009 by Seung Bak and Suk Park, DramaFever’s mission is to enable consumers to see the world through pop culture and curated entertainment. The company’s investors include AMC Networks, Bertelsmann, MK Capital, NALA Investments, and YouTube co-founder Steve Chen among many others.
Evan Jackson Leong, Brian Yang
Media – LINSANITY Movie Production Team: Christopher Chen, Evan Jackson Leong, Allen Lu, Brian Yang
Linsanity (2013), directed by Evan Jackson Leong, is a documentary film about the rise of Asian American basketball player Jeremy Lin. The film traces Lin’s life from his childhood in Palo Alto, California to his rise to prominence in 2012 with the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It shows him overcoming discouragements and racism and achieving success through his faith and desire. The film is narrated by actor Daniel Dae Kim. Linsanity premiered to a sold-out screening at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2013.
NAAAP NY honored the community partners
NAAAP NY also honored its community partners:
Asian American Bar Association of New York – Yang Chen, Executive Director
Deloitte – John Kim, Director
Ernst and Young – Sylvia Park, Senior Manager
Macy’s – Michael Chang & Hannah Olpp
Nielsen – Betty Lo, Vice President of Public Affairs
Sight Staffing – Rob Gibbs J.D., President & Lou Mancuso, Recruiter
TAP-NY – Charles Pan & Jacqui Wu, Co-Presidents
Richard Lui
NBC’s Richard Lui did an amazing job hosting and truly entertained and charmed the audience!
It’s great to see so many friends who attended the event and to support the silent auction that benefits the 2014 NAAAP NY Scholarship Fund for high school seniors in the New York metropolitan area. We also enjoyed the performance by violinists Anita Chen and Tim Chen, violist Yang Li, and cellist Eddy Kim. Just a beautiful and meaningful night!
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