Friday, April 29, 2011

Starting and Building YOUR Business in the New Economy


Seattle, Wa -  On Saturday, April 23rd, 2011, The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest (FCCPNW), in partnership with the Filipino American Civic Employees of Seattle, the Filipino Community of Seattle, and the Filipino American Association of Certified Public Accountants, held their 3rd Annual Business Development Conference appropriately themed, "Starting and Building Your Business in the New Economy".

This event's main purpose was to connect entrepreneurs with business opportunities in the region and educate with legal requirements and tax benefits related to conducting a business as well as empower business owners and managers by creating networking opportunities. This event also provided professionals to earn continuing education credits. As Sheila Burrus, FCCPNW Chamber President, stated, "We are seeing more Filipino businesses emerge in the services sectors like the legal profession, financial planning and real estate. This conference is to encourage young and old alike amid these fields to start thinking entrepreneurial. Hence the growing demand of these conferences within the Filipino community."

Invited to kick off the event was Steve Johnson, the Director of Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED). He painted an overall picture of what industries weathered the recession, how Seattle's new economy centers around creativity and providing value-driven services, his office's role in helping you do business in Seattle, as well as the importance of shared prosperity for all in our region.

The City of Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services are reporting approximately $80 billion of revenue from Seatle based businesses last year. Of that, $40.6 billion were generated from service related businesses, an increase of 1% from the previous year. The harder hit of the industries, Real Estate and Cons/Residential businesses, $7.0 billion and $4.6 billion were generated, respectively. The glimmer of hope here is that income increased incrementally quarter by quarter last year with at total income of $101.2 billion, including business income from outside businesses.

Steve's key message was how Seattle can bring increased revenue and maintain our quality of living here in Seattle. He pointed to our creativity and providing value-added services through innovation. His example were the start-ups in Pioneer square developing mobile applications. That said, this is an industry that is growing.

In terms of education, it pays. Steve pointed to key data to show the relation of higher degrees and the unemployment rate. If you have a highschool deploma, you are likely to experience more unemployment than if you have a higher degree.

All around the conference was successful in terms of attendance and content. Other sessions include:

Morning sessions
  • Testing out your business idea
  • Your business plan, Road map or Road hazard?
  • Accessing Capital to Start or Grow your business (Panel)
  • Growing your business via marketing

Afternoon sessions
  • Investing and Sharing the Wealth and Opportunity of the US and Global Economy
  • Cash Flow - the Life and Blood of your business
  • Using Social Networking Technology to Promote yourself and your business
  • Mastering your talents - A key ingredient in Achieving your success
  • Doing business in the new economy (Panel)

Resources:

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Packing Pinto beans with Food Lifeline



On March 16, Saturday afternoon, NAAAP-Seattle volunteered at Food Lifeline in Shoreline, packing 9360 pounds of pinto beans.

Food Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington. Last year, Food Lifeline secured more than 24 million pounds of food-nearly 19 million meals-to feed hungry families and individuals throughout Western Washington.

NAAAP-Seattle Community Service Committee Member Nelson Siu led the NAAAP-Seattle team. Boston University Alumni and a local rowing crew also volunteered that day.

Siu said he learned how most of the food goes to feed those who live above the poverty line, but are unable to make ends meet and the extra food helps people feed their families through the end of the month.

Other NAAAP-Seattle volunteers included: Barret Seifer, Jeannette Roden, Earlene Randle, Krystal Turney, Berenice Plata Aldana, Charlee Brawn, Laraine Oracion, and NAAAP-Seattle Vice-President-Operations David Eam.

For more information on volunteering with NAAAP-Seattle, please contact NAAAP-Seattle Community Service Chair Jenafer Park at jenafer.park@naaapseattle.org.

Dim Sum at Wild Ginger




NAAAP-Seattle reinstated its tradition of dim sum get togethers this past Sunday, April 17, at Wild Ginger, Bellevue.

Forty people gathered at the popular pan-Asian restaurant, filling two long rows of tables.

Social Chair Heidi Yu said she was pleased with the turnout. Upcoming NAAAP-Seattle social activities include the First Friday Monthly Mixer on May 6 at
Flo Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Bellevue and the NAAAP Seattle Potluck on May 14 at Tanglewood Clubhouse in Issaquah.

For questions or to volunteer on NAAAP-Seattle's social committee, please email Heidi at heidi.yu@naaapseattle.org

Photos by Richard Palawan.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

CAPAA and OMWBE Publishes the Washington State Asian Pacific American Business Directory

The Washington State Asian Pacific American Business Directory was prepared in cooperation with the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises through a generous in kind donation by the National Association of Asian American Professionals – Seattle Chapter.

The information regarding OMWBE certified firms is current as of 12/29/10. Users of this directory are advised to contact OMWBE at (866) 208-1064 (toll free) for status updates or view OMWBE's Online Directoryof Certified Firms.

 
Key on Certifications:

State Program Certification:

MBE: Minority Business Enterprise
WBE: Women Business Enterprise
MWBE: Minority Women Business Enterprise
CBE: Combination Business Enterprise


Federal Program Certification:

DBE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
ACDBE: Airport Concessionaire – Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise


View Washington State Asian Pacific American Business Directory in a larger map


To learn more about the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, visit CAPAA

To learn more about the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises, visit: OMWBE

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Art of Sales Workshop Speaker: Judiet Dere



How many times have you said, "I can't sell" or "I don't like to sell."

Most people don't like to sell. But everyone has to sell at some point in their life. Don't be afraid of it. Just learn the art of sales. Join NAAAP-Seattle on Wed, May 11, 6:30-8pm at the Wing Luke Museum for a fun, interactive workshop on how to sell.

The workshop will feature three experienced sales people who will share their secrets.

Judiet Dere worked in insurance for seven years before she started her own State Farm agency in 2009. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

Who are your mentors and what are great lessons you learned from them?
Barry Rutten is my AFC and I also consider him my mentor. Barry has helped me improve greatly on my financial services by having simple well-structured conversations with my clients. State Farm Agent David Lo was my field development Agent when I was a training Agent. He told me that starting your own business will take a lot of your time and energy, but you need to make sure your family always comes first.

Why do you think it’s important to know how to sell?

I really don’t consider myself as a salesperson. I do believe it’s important to know how to build relationships with clients so that they will trust you and want your help. Every client is different and we need to take the time to understand what is important to them to be able to know how to help them.

You may reach Judiet at: judiet@dereinsurance.com

If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact NAAAP-Seattle Professional Development Chair Michael Okimura: michael.okimura@naaapseattle.org

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

NAAAP Mixer becomes a fund-raiser for Japan relief





Over eighty people attended the Friday Friday Monthly Mixer at Sullivan's Steak House on April 1 in downtown Seattle. Donations along with entrance fees for non-NAAAP members totaled $462, which NAAAP-Seattle will donate to the Japan disaster relief efforts. Nine new members also signed up

Volunteers included Joanna Shi,Charlee Brawn, May Wong, Wai Yin Ho, Renai Xie Bifei, Steven Quan, Henry Lau, Mikii Liu, Amanda Dunkin, and Herb Pang. Ben Zheng volunteered as photographer.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact NAAAP-Seattle Social Chair Heidi Yu at heidi.yu@naaapseattle.org