Development/Events
40th Year Anniversary –
Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy and Empowerment
A
s OCA turned 4 0 in 2013, we
celebrated and ref lected on the
theme of our anniversary year through
our programs throughout the United
States and during our two main events,
the annual National Convention and
National Asian Pacif ic A merican
Corporate Achievement Awards. Let’s
take a look back at some highlights that
took place during our milestone year.
National Convention
More than 900 OCA members and
friends came to celebrate the 40th OCA
National Convention in Washington,
DC in July. Co-hosted by the OCAGreater Washington, DC and OCANor thern Virg inia Chapters, the
convention gave attendees and our
community the opportunity to reflect
on those achievements as well as to
look toward a collective vision that
aims to further empower Asian Pacific
Americans (APAs).
With so many APAs from across
the country representing the nonprofit,
education, health, media, government
and business sectors, the OCA National
Convention demonstrated that APAs
truly are part of the fabric of America.
This diversity was also ref lected in
the large variety of workshops and
plenaries offered throughout the threeday event. OCA members listened
and participated in OCA’s ongoing
national dialogue on issues such as
comprehensive immigration reform,
advocacy w ithin our community,
and civil rights. Attendees were able
to take advantage of OCA’s various
tracks: general advocacy, youth and
college, professional development
and chapter advancement. Members
also had the opportunity to attend
workshops and plenary sessions such as
Politics Powered by APAs to Capturing
Linsanity: On and Off the Court. Outside
of the workshops, conference attendees
were able to experience many festivities,
which included the Welcome Reception,
Youth Recognition Luncheon, Night
at the Newseum, Chapter Awards
Luncheon, and Gala Awards.
We look forward to bringing this
auspicious event to Los A ngeles,
California August 7–10!
National Asian Pacific
American Corporate
Achievement Awards
Dancers at the Welcome Reception.
OCA celebrates its 40th anniversary with
founder K.L. Wang.
18 • IMAGE • Spring/Summer 2014
The 2013 Nationa l A sian Pacif ic
American Corporate Achievement
Awards took place the evening of
November 8 at the South San Francisco
Conference Center in South San
Francisco, California.
The night was full of inspirational
and touching remarks from
accomplished professiona ls who
excelled in their careers and showcased
the contributions that APAs continue
to play in the corporate sector. Ten
d i st i n g u i shed i nd iv idu a l s were
showcased for their achievements in
the corporate world as well as their
commitment to the Asian Pacif ic
American community. Comcast/NBC
Frank Jang
Victoria J. Rumsey | Director of Development
2013 National Asian Pacific American Corporate
Achievement Award Recipients: (L-R Back Row)
Kevin Naya; The Boeing Company, Sang Kim;
Wells Fargo, BK Vasan; Walmart, Eric Lim; UPS
(L-R Front Row) Erica Rendall; Kraft Foods
Group, Joanne Hawk; State Farm, Cheryll Forsatz;
McDonald’s USA, Deborah Buhles; Comcast/
NBCUniversal, Ron Mori; AARP (Not Pictured:
Michelle DiTondo, MGM Resorts International)
Universal received OCA’s “Outstanding
Corporate Partner Award.”
Towards the end of the evening, a
surprise presentation was made to Ken
Lee who received the OCA Executive
Excellence Award. Moving forward,
this award will be called the Ken Lee
OCA Executive Excellence Award and
it will be given to an individual who has
been exemplary in his or her ability to
not only lead and inspire, but also to
serve as a role model for other executives
and professionals in the Asian Pacific
American community.
The success of the 2013 Corporate
Achievement Awards is due in part of
the OCA’s Northern California Bay Area
Chapters of San Francisco Bay, East Bay,
Greater Sacramento, San Mateo, and
Silicon Valley and the generous support
from our sponsors: AARP, The Boeing
Company, Comcast/NBCUniversal,
Kraft Foods Group, McDonald’s USA,
MGM Resorts International, UPS, State
Farm, Walmart, and Wells Fargo.
We look forward to welcoming each
of you back to the Washington, DC area
as we celebrate this year’s Corporate
Achievement Awards on October 4 at
the Hilton Arlington in Arlington, VA. ■