Where are they now? Albert Shen, NAAAP President 1996 - 1997

Albert Shen, Exec. Advisor to NAAAP Seattle

My name is Albert Shen and I am the owner/founder of Shen Consulting, a small engineering company specializing in project/construction management and engineering services in the aviation and transportation services market. In 2009 Shen Consulting was awarded the City of Seattle Mayors’ Small Business of the Year Award.

I served as NAAAP National President 1996-1997, NAAAP National Convention Co Chair in 1998 and NAAAP Seattle President in 1999. Since my days at NAAAP I have gone on to serve with many diverse boards in the community. Including running my own business (Shen Consulting, Inc.) I serve as:

* The Council Chair for the Seattle Chinatown International District and Preservation and Development Authority (SCIPDA)
* Board member of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
* Commissioner for Washington State Commission on Asian and Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)
* Board President of the NW Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Political Action Committee

My NAAAP experiences opened up many new networking opportunities and friendships nationwide and to this day, I still stay in contact with some of the great people I worked with. Having served in numerous leadership positions at the national and local level, those experiences enabled me to develop skills that translate to where I am today. The experience gave me many opportunities for public speaking, which is one thing many Asian-Americans absolutely dread and more importantly gave me the foundation in developing skills in governing a board of directors and fundraising skills for non-profits. These 3 fundamental skills are what every Asian American professional should have in their own resume if they hope to develop their careers in this more globally competitive modern work environment.

In addition I have been actively involved with local and national level politics in both fundraising and advocacy for economic development. Thru my political activities I have been able to meet many of our political leaders and have exchanged many ideas to better the livelihood for all Asian Americans. Politics is often a feared word when it comes to Asian American professional advancement and we often forget that politics is just as and perhaps even more important for Asian Americans and NAAAP. From my days on the board, I can remember many of the executive board members who were elected officials from my days and were always encouraging NAAAP to be more politically aware of the issues impacting Asian Americans.

Overall, there were many lessons that I learned during my countless days at NAAAP however the one lesson that stands out for me that I will always remember from all the NAAAP people I met is that: All our parents, no matter where they came from, immigrated here to the United States so that our generation can build a better life for ourselves. Because of their sacrifice it is our responsibility to be generous to others and always give back to our community so that what they started will never be lost and we must never lose our cultural identity.

With that, I am excited about this new generation and we get another opportunity to come together at the 24th Annual Gateway to Leadership Convention and Diversity Career Fair presented by Macy's. I'll be attending and hope to meet you.

Regards,
Albert Shen
National Association of Asian American Professionals
President 1996-1997
NAAAP Seattle President 1999

Being a NAAAP Board Member: 2010 Social Chair, Jenny Xu

Being a NAAAP Board member is a great opportunity for building skills that will make you successful.  We took some time to sit down with Jenny Xu, NAAAP Seattle's Social Chair who served on the Board of Directors through last June.  

1) What did you like most about being NAAAP-Seattle Social Chair?
I built a great network of friends through NAAAP-Seattle and becoming Social Chair really helped me give back to a community that has given so much to me. I loved setting up different venues where people can get to know each other, have fun, and support a great organization.

2) How did this experience help you with your career development?
The Social Chair position allowed me to hone my leadership skills outside of work, such as managing the social committee, leading the individual events, participating in strategic decisions for the organziation, and working with a great team of successful and diverse board members. Demonstrating leadership inside and outside of work was a key factor that helped me get into business school.

On that note, our August social event was held at the Bellevue Grille in Bellevue, Wa last Friday.  Members and non-members alike came together after a long week of working and shared in the fun of meeting new people.

It was standing room only at the Bellevue Grill at the NAAAP August mixer.

NAAAP Board members, Claire Ding and Vivian Hauer, welcoming mixers.

Links:

• Pathways to leadership: http://gilgido.blogspot.com/2010/06/pathways-to-leadership.html
• NAAAP Board descriptions: http://seattle.naaap.org/pages/_board_desc.jsp
• Board Openings: http://seattle.naaap.org/News.do?id=1790  

NAAAP Seattle Board

Want to know the secrets for success? Entrepreneurial equations

Aside from NAAAP-Seattle, NSHMBA, Tutta Bella, Chen Communications also helped organized this panel.

Want to see more photos from this event? Join NAAAP-Seattle on Facebook.





Some fifty entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and those who just wanted to be inspired squeezed into the back room of Tutta Bella on Stone Way on July 29 for NAAAP-Seattle’s second collaborative event with the National Society of Hispanic MBAS this year, which was entitled, "Entrepreneur Panel, Secrets of our Successes."

The three guest panelists who founded their own companies included Murthy Kalkura "MK" of 4AM Corp; Rachel Valdez of 16 Copenhagen; and Beto Yarce of Cinti Fine Mexican Jewelry. The session was moderated by NAAAP-Seattle President Gil Gido, who also has his own company, Ulysses' Social Media.

For an hour, the panelists shared their secrets and stories with the attentive audience. Before starting their own business, they had all worked in the corporate world.

Yarce came to Seattle from Guadalajara, Mexico seven years ago. One day at Westlake Center, he passed by Something Silver jewelry store and thought, "I can make jewelry too!"

He asked his mother to send him silver and beads from Mexico and he began to sell his jewelry to his co-workers at the restaurant where he worked as a bus boy.

Yarce's parents were visiting from Mexico and sat in the front row. And Yarce also now sells his jewelry wholesale to Something Silver.

Valdez said that she started her own full-service design agency after decades working in the corporate world because she wanted to spend more time with her family and her relationships.

Because Valdez is responsible for all the creative, financial, and technical strategy for her company, sometimes running a business can get stressful.

"My own mental state can be measured like a speedometer," said Valdez. "On one end, there's possibility and on the other end, there's panic. Sometimes when you feel like you in panic mode, you have to conscientiously work yourself back to possibility."

Kalkura also said he decided to started his own company because he wanted to be there to see his last child grow up. The very name of his company reflects his dedication to his family: four members have names that start with the letter "A" and his name starts with the letter, which together forms "4AM."

Kalkura, who has a degree in chemistry, said, "I like to think of things in terms of equations."

"The key to your personal success is very simple," said Kalkura. "There are three 'N's": Niche + Network = Network."

He advised everyone to get "Linked In" with each other by the end of the evening, because "you never know where you'll get business from."

The entrepreneurs also talked about how they manage their own team of employees.

"I try to encourage a fun atmosphere at work," said Yarce. "You have to listen to what your team needs so that they can be creative and productive. If they need a refrigerator so that they can store their lunch, get them a refrigerator. If they would like a little bit of wine while they work, it's not so bad to have some wine...within limits of course!"

The audience was sated with stories and secrets of success and slices of Tutta Bella pizza.

Ed Alipio, former NAAAP-Seattle board member, and Flora Li, NAAAP-Seatttle member, said they found the panel to be 'inspirational and educational."

Carolina Martinez said, "I really liked what Rachel said about passing on your passion and experience, so that people can believe in your cause."

Inspired by her long time friend, Beto Yarce, Martinez too wants to open up her own business, which would be a organic/local food restaurant.

NAAAP-Seattle member, Heidu Yu, is already an entrepreneur, with her own IT outsourcing company.

"It was a great, easy way for people to learn about being an entrepreneur," said Yu.
"I think it's inspiring, especially for new immigrants, to see their success."

Yu added, "I like being an entrepreneur because of the flexibility and money!"

Yan Xiang, a NAAAP-Seattle member, said, "You can read a book and get theoretical information, but it's great to hear ideas and stories from real people."

The audience also impressed the panelists.

"Everyone was very enthusiastic and attentive," said Kalkura. "And they wanted me to repeat my message, which means they were listening!"

This won't be the last time NAAAP-Seattle and NSHMBA partner.

"Our partnership with NAAAP has been terrific. At NSHMBA, we value team work and collaboration among different groups coming together to roll up sleeves towards achieving a common goal," said Geraldize Rodriguez, NSHMBA Board Member – Community Relations. "In this case, working with NAAAP allowed our entrepreneurs and those aspiring to connect outside of their traditional circles of network and create new partnerships and clients. Working with allies helps an organization disseminate a message to a larger and diverse audience, reinforces positively the importance of team work, diversity of thought and efficiency."

Come join NAAAP and NSHMBA at the next event they co-host, "Career Transitions Panel Event Speaker Series" on September 7. National Black MBAs Association will also help organize the event, which will be sponsored by State Farm Insurance.

Photos by Julie Pham: top, Richard Cheng, Heidi Yu, and Yan Xiang; middle, Geraldine Rodriguez, Rachel Valdez, Beto Yarce, Murthy Kalkura, Gil Gido, Richard Velazquez; bottom, audience at Tutta Bella Stoneway.