NAAAP San Diego hosts the 2011 NAAAP Leadership Academy

San Diego, CA - The 2011 NAAAP National Leadership Academy took place in San Diego, California on February 25 - 27th, 2011. The highly anticipated event drew an impressive crowd with over 70 representatives from NAAAP's 13 chapters and 13 ventures taking a part.

Day 1 - Welcome reception

Starting off the weekend long academy was Casey Tanaka . He was elected Mayor in November of 2008 and was sworn in as the 50th Mayor of the City of Coronado on December 2nd, 2008, after having served as City Councilman from 2002 to 2008. Much of what he talked about in terms of career aspirations and success were familiar to many and yet the message was clear, "we need leaders from the Asian American community". Being of Japanese descent, he believes that the National Association of Asian American Professionals is the place to develop leadership skills.

Day 2 - Main Session

On day 2, Dr. Vu Pham, a Senior Advisor to NAAAP based out of Los Angeles, kicked off the main session. His keynote drew on the many definitions of the word draw. In one sense, he illustrated draw as a competition, like that in a gun duel, and in another sense to draw as in to create opportunities. In another sense draw could mean to be picked from a pool or ellicit responses. In all of these definitions we gained a larger picture of what leadership meant.

Day 2 - Breakout Session Panel (l to r) Tamara Strickland (Atlanta) Gil Gido (Seattle) Jean Lo (Connecticut) Jason Wong (Phoenix) and Moderator Fabian DeRosario (Atlanta)

As far as breakout sessions goes, 14 sessions covering important topics like Chapter and Venture Development, Volunteer and membership management, Marketing and Budgeting. In parallel, the National Board of Directors met in person to discuss matters of the organization while electing in Edward Hwang as Chairman of the Board for another term.


To put a cap on an inspiring weekend, the Academy attendees were given a guided tour of the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), a destroyer commissioned on October 10, 2009.

NAAAP Board of Directors touring the US Destroyer Meyer (l to r) Hang Chen (Seattle) Petula Lee (Boston) Thomas Sims (New York) Evan Osborn (Colorado) and Rose Olea (Chicago)

 
Thank you to the NAAAP San Diego for hosting this year and to our key sponsors - CIA, US Navy, and US Secret Service. In addition, thanks to SAIC and Golden Eagle Insurance.
 
Sponsor Links:

• CIA
• US Navy
• US Secret Service