From the Board
Message from the
Acting Chief
Executive Officer
Ken Lee | Acting Chief Executive Officer
H
ello, I am Ken Lee, the immediate past national president
of OCA. I am introducing myself under another role
for OCA as the acting CEO of the organization. First, a little
about myself—I retired from UPS as the vice president of
security after 37 years. I have been with OCA since 1997 as a
past Corporate Achievement Awardee and the OCA Georgia
chapter president from 1999 to 2000. I have also served on
the Executive Council since 2001 and was the national OCA
president for two terms from 2009 to 2012.
OCA is a true passion to my family. My wife, Ashley, and
stepdaughter, Vincy, have been Convention attendees for
many years, but more importantly, Vincy has been especially
interested in the OCA Youth Track during these last two
years. We see all the programs that are being offered as
opportunities for all those who participate to benefit from
them. Examples are programs like the Mentoring Asian
American Professionals that helps to develop professional
business managers to navigate through the corporate world,
and the APIA U: Leadership Training Program which helps to
solidify the foundation of those young college students finding
4 • IMAGE • Spring/Summer 2014
their footing as Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in the United
States. We see many interns who may have never seen what the
political arena looks like and the other potential possibilities
in the world for these young folks. Most importantly, OCA is
about the protection of civil rights for all Americans living in
this wonderful country.
OCA, once known as the Organization of Chinese
Americans, has now transformed to OCA–Asian Pacific
American Advocates. With our tagline “Embracing the
Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans,” OCA has
inspired me to give more to the community and to give more
of everything we have to “pay it forward.” OCA has been an
organization that helps so many in so many ways that it just
has to be there to support the community.
With the help of hard-working OCA members, we are
able to provide great internships, wonderful mentoring
opportunities, and critical outreach to the APA community.
We are in our 41st year of civil rights advocacy and look forward
to another 40 years. A lot of work still needs to be done. If you
can support us through volunteerism, please join in. If you
can offer corporate and/or financial support, please give us
a call. ■