Thursday Keynote Speaker
Susan Jin Davis
Vice President of Strategic Services, Communication and Data Services
Comcast Cable
Susan Jin Davis, VP Strategic Services – Communications & Data Services, has more than 18 years of experience in the communications industry. In her current position, Ms. Jin Davis is responsible for overseeing strategic partnerships related to Comcast’s voice and high-speed Internet services including carrier management, emergency services, and online safety and security.
Ms. Jin Davis is also responsible for developing new business opportunities that support and enhance the Company’s high-speed Internet and voice services. In addition, she is responsible for implementing regulatory and legal requirements and creating policies to support the Company’s online and voice business objectives.
Prior to Comcast, Ms. Jin Davis was Vice President of Investor Relations and External Affairs for Covad Communications Company, a Silicon Valley broadband company, where she was responsible for the Company's relationships with the investment community, regulatory and government affairs, and carrier relations. Prior to Covad, she worked at MCI Communications Company under the Chief Policy Counsel on MCI's advocacy before the Federal Communications Commission and state regulatory commissions. Ms. Jin Davis also served as an Assistant Consumer Advocate for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Ms. Jin Davis recently received the 2010 NAMIC Paragon Award and completed CTAM’s Executive Management Program at the Harvard Business School. In 2009, Ms. Jin Davis was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Minorities in Cable” by CableWorld and received a NAMIC Luminary Award. She is actively involved in Comcast’s diversity efforts, particularly as it relates to the Company’s relationship with the Asian American community. Ms. Jin Davis is a director of the Boards of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc., and NAMIC’s Philadelphia Chapter, and is a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Organization for Chinese Americans.
Thursday Workshop Speakers
Fabian J. DeRozario
President of GlobalConnect, LLC
Fabian founded GlobalConnect LLC in 2005 and delivers programs in diversity & inclusion, cross-cultural proficiency, and workforce engagement at Fortune 100 companies domestically and abroad.
Fabian was born and raised in Malaysia and completed his secondary education in Edinburgh, Scotland. He graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with two B.S. degrees (Management and Marketing) and a M.S. degree in Parks & Recreation Administration.
He served in student services leadership, instructor, and corporate trainer roles at Northern Illinois University and at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (where he was director of the Donaghey Student Center). From 1998 to 2006, Fabian was the Director of U.S. University Relations and Global Operations for an international academic honors association headquartered in Atlanta.
Fabian is a leader in the Atlanta community, serving as the 2009 & 2010 President of NAAAP Atlanta (National Association of Asian American Professionals) and co-founding MAG (Malaysian Association of Georgia) in 2005. In 2005, Fabian received the Georgia Society of Association Executives President’s Award and was named a “Mover & Shaker” of the association in 2007. In 2006, Fabian was named an honoree of Who’s Who in Asian American Communities in Georgia. He is a graduate of the 2009 class of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute, and was selected to the 2011 class of Leadership Atlanta.
Fabian is passionate about working with individuals, companies and organizations to accelerate professional success. His regular clients include PwC, P&G, Abercrombie & Fitch and Home Depot.
Sally Wang
Chief Programming Officer
NAAAP National
Sally Wang is the Chief Programming Officer for NAAAP National. Before this she was briefly the National Public Relations Co-chair, responsible for promoting the Annual Conference 2009 in Denver, CO. This follows being active as a board member for the Boston chapter of NAAAP since 2007, as well as being the Student Outreach Co-Chair.
Sally Wang is studying for a JD/MPH at Harvard University. She was a masthead editor of the Journal of Law and Technology, organizing the 2009 conference, and is Recent Developments Editor at the Journal of Law Medicine and Ethics. She has a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University. While she is at Harvard, she was member of the media committee and the Keynote Speaker Liaison for the Harvard China Review’s annual international business conference.
For four years, Sally worked as a Business Management Consultant in the Pharmaceutical Industry. She helped many of the largest pharmaceutical companies as well as smaller biotech and venture capital firms improve their current business and seek out new opportunities.
Sally was born in Nanjing, China and grew up in America’s “Melting Pot” New York City and attended the prestigious specialized high school, Stuyvesant, of which 60% are Asian Americans. In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Sally writes classical Chinese poetry and martial arts novels.
Michael C. Synn
Director of Sales and Marketing
BCF Capital
Michael C. Synn is the Director of Sales and Marketing for BCF Capital (www.bcfcapital.com). BCF provides access to working capital, venture capital and business advisory services to certified minority-owned businesses in the United States for over 25 years. Since its inception-BCF has provided over $265 million in working capital loans and venture capital to over 900 businesses.
BCF receives its investment capital from over 75 corporate investors such as Microsoft, Wal-mart, AT&T, Coke, Boeing and IBM. Michael covers BCF in the Northwest (Seattle/Portland), Northern CA, Southern CA, San Diego, Nevada (Las Vegas/Reno) and Rocky Mountain Regional Councils including Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico & Utah.
Michael gives special training (Face to Face, Webcasts, Conference Calls) to MBE’s and Non-profits on the following main subject matters-How to Write a Turnaround Business Plan, How to Work the Local Trade Show, How to Work the NMSDC Annual Conference, Strategic Alliances & Joint Ventures and How to Do Business in China. Many of these MBE training seminars are posted on “You Tube” at no cost.
Michael is the Project Director for the Financial Service Consortium-(www.ldbnow.com) consisting of 18 major financial service companies such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Union Bank, US Bank, City National Bank and Citi. The Financial Service Consortium was organized for diverse business owners to do business to business as a 1st Tier or 2nd Tier supplier within the financial service industry group. The next event will take place on November 5, 2010 in Los Angeles.
Michael recently launched a 5 Step Program called “Get Corporate Ready” for Asian business owners in the United States. The 5 Major Steps are 1. A Written Business Plan; 2. Getting Certified; 3. The Flip Chart Presentation; 4. The Written RFP Process; 5. Awarded the Contract and Exceeding the Clients Expectation for 10 Years.
Michael is represented by AEI Speakers Bureau in Boston and lives in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and his main corporate office in New York City. Michael has a real estate broker license and CPA certificate from the State of California.
Zachary A. Wong, Ph.D.
Instructor of Human Factors and Team Dynamics at the University of California, Berkeley
Zachary A. Wong, Ph.D. is a highly acclaimed instructor of human factors and team dynamics at the University of California at Berkeley Extension and Adjunct Professor with the University of California at Davis. Dr. Wong has over thirty years of managerial and project management experience with Chevron Corporation. He has held senior positions in Research and Technology, Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions and Risk Assessment. He has extensive experience as a team facilitator and project leader.
In 2002, Dr. Wong was selected as an “Honored Instructor” by the University of California at Berkeley Extension and has received numerous teaching awards. For over eighteen years, Dr. Wong has taught a wide range of courses in project management, team development, project economics, global marketing, toxicology and strategic planning.
He has served extensively on project teams, executive leadership teams and decision review boards in public committees, industry associations and academia. Dr. Wong has served on the Board of Directors for Chevron Pipe Line Company, Chevron Northwest Terminaling Company, AIHC Board of Directors and CIIT Operating Board Member.
Monique Zhang
Cicada Couture
Monique Zhang is a principal designer, stylist, and trendsetter. Over the course of her diversified fashion career, she has brought her Asian heritage to American culture to showcase her talents. Originally from Taiwan with Shanghai roots, she is first-generation Chinese-American. Ms. Zhang’s artistry spans from fashion designing to image branding. In leadership roles at luxury retail stores such as Bergdrof Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, Ms. Zhang has made a positive impact with her tasteful eye for design, detail, and style.
Her creative ingenuity combined with entrepreneurial spirit led her to launch Cicada Couture, a high style custom design studio with a showroom in Union Square of San Francisco. Operating for over ten years, the showroom featured her signature designer line of special occasion apparel and one-of-a-kind collectibles. Cicada Couture's fashions were featured in TV news segments, newspapers, and other feature articles. Ms. Zhang's fashions and boutiques were in cities such as NYC, LA, Honolulu, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and Shanghai.
Ms. Zhang visionary free spirit combined with elegant sophisticated style assists clients who wants a balance of spirit, love, and personal style. Now at Style Union Square, Ms. Zhang stretches her creativity and combines it personalized attention by working with brides-to-be, career-minded entrepreneurs and fashionistas. Ms. Zhang focuses on bringing out her client's inner confidence while fostering the client's self-brand. Her Style Union Square clients praise Ms. Zhang for her individualized wardrobe management and styling which includes red carpet event make-over and couture ensemble assembly.
Ms. Zhang is an active socialite, attending galas and producing charity fashion shows. Most recently, she has produced and contributed her expertise to Cancer Society of America, Legacy through Giving, Oakland Museum of California, San Jose Museum, On-Lok Lifeways, St. Luke's Hospital , Asian Business League, as well as many other charity organizations. In the community, Ms. Zhang is well-respected as a leader and expert in trend forecasting and fashion style. She advises on development of creative events for fundraising and gala extravaganzas. Ms. Zhang is also an avid traveler, an appreciative connoisseur of international cultures and experiences.
Alan E. Yue
Services Consultant, Instructor, and Project Management Specialist
PMI Global Diversity Community of Practice Leadership Team
Alan is a professional services consultant, instructor, and project management specialist with over 24 years of experience. Alan applies subject matter expertise in the areas of: Strategy; Corporate Governance; Project Management; Information Technology Management; Security Management; Business Continuity / Organizational Resilience; Compliance; and, Human Capital Management.
As a professional services consultant and instructor Alan works with organizations to co-create value by developing integrated strategies with supporting governance and management models and systems. Alan accomplishes results by leveraging enterprise risk related disciplines to discover opportunities for improvement of cost structures and creation of additional revenue streams. Alan does this utilizing a a collaborative, consultative style of project leadership based on servant-leadership principles.
Alan has experience working with public, private, governmental, not-for-profit, and military entities. His industry experience includes: Healthcare; Education; Not-for-Profit Business Associations; Banking; Manufacturing; Civil Engineering and Construction; Technology; Energy; and, Hospitality.
Alan has served as President and Chair of the Board of Directors (2009), Vice-President (2008), and Director of Finance (2007) of the PMI Honolulu Chapter. And, he has also served as as Treasurer (2008/9) and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Life Foundation, a Honolulu based HIV/AIDS services organization (2007-2009). Alan is now serving on the PMI Global Diversity Community of Practice leadership team, and is an invitee to the PMI Leadership Institute Master Class – 2011 North America.
Alan has been a member of a member of PMI since 1997, and is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, Association of Contingency Planners, International Information Systems Security Certifications Consortium, Disaster Recovery Institute International, and Business Recovery Managers Association.
Alan is in relocation to San Francisco, California, from Honolulu, Hawai; he enjoys hiking, daily gym workouts, cooking healthy tasty foods, and has not owned a television since 2002.
Thomas J. Tu
Six Sigma Expert
Raytheon Network Centric Systems, Information Solutions
Thomas J. Tu is a trained Six Sigma Expert for Raytheon Company. Raytheon Company is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security, and other government markets throughout the world.
In his current position, Thomas is leading an organizational diagnostic to uncover opportunities in project and portfolio management. Before his current responsibilities, Thomas was a graduate of the Raytheon Leadership Development Program. Prior to joining Raytheon, Thomas was an avionics program manager for BAE Systems. In that role, he managed multi-million dollar programs with Lockheed Martin, Boeing Company, USAF, as well as foreign governments (Norway and Singapore).
Thomas is also the recipient of the Corporate IT CIO Award and has been recognized by Lockheed, Boeing, and the USAF for his work in program management.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Thomas is also the Adjunct Professor of Project Management for Colorado Tech University. He is a director for the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce (GDAACC) Leadership Tomorrow Program. He currently serves as President of the Raytheon Asian Pacific Association (RAPA) North Texas employee resource group.
Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in business economics from The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems and an MBA from Texas A&M University Mays School of Business. Additionally, Thomas is a certified project management professional (PMP) and a trained six sigma expert (R6σ).
Patricia T Summers
Global RAPA National President
Raytheon Principal Systems Engineer
Pat is a Principal Systems Engineer at Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS), Fullerton, California and has 30+ years of experience in software, systems, hardware, IT, and engineering processes (CMMI, IPDS) in the aerospace industry. She is a very active supporter of diversity and started the Fullerton Diversity Council in 1998. Prior to 1998, she was active on the El Segundo Diversity Council. In Fullerton, she leads the Diversity Council and has been instrumental in mentoring and starting various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): RWN (Raytheon Women’s Network), FREENET (Fellowship and Resources for Experienced Employees Network), YES!Net (Young Employees Support Network), RAPA (Raytheon Asian Pacific Association), RAYBEN (Raytheon Black Employees Network), GLBTA (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies), HOLA (Hispanic Opportunities for Leadership Advancement), and MEENA (Middle Eastern Employees Network Association). She is currently serving as a Fullerton Site Diversity and Inclusion Contact (SDIC) to help promote diversity and inclusion awareness, develop a diversity toolkit, develop better communication, support the 2010 regional Rdiversity Summit, and to encourage ERGs to help Raytheon international business.
She is currently the Global President of the RAPA National Organization since 2009. As a 2003 alumni of LEAP PPS (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics – Path to Professional Success), she has sponsored LEAP educators and diversity leaders to speak at the Fullerton site for employee development. Each year, the RWN and HOLA EGs support MathMovesU and sponsor “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” and “Introduce a Boy to Engineering” day at the site where students (5th through 8th grades) learn about engineering theory and concepts. In addition, the Fullerton Diversity Council supports the Fullerton School District and has many young students visit the plant semi-annually to learn about science and engineering principles. Pat has been on the steering committees to help organize and plan these events to reach out to young ‘future’ engineers. Pat is also a member of the Raytheon Inclusion Council.
Pat Summers was one of the Co-Chairs of the 2008 NAAAP LA Convention as the Workshops and Speakers lead. The NAAAP LA Convention had over 47 workshops, 120 speakers/keynotes, and 6 celebrity emcees focusing on growing leaders. Pat was very proud of the successful 2008 NAAAP LA Convention. She is a founding member of NAAAP-OC who won “venture of the year in 2009”.
Pat has a double Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from UCLA and currently resides in Huntington Beach, CA.
Timothy M. Dayonot
Member of the U.C. Berkeley, Haas School
Since 1998, he has taught negotiations at U.C Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and also teaches negotiations at U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and has taught at U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall Law School. He has served three California Governors, first as an aid to Governor Jerry Brown, then as the Director of the CA Dept. of Community Services and Development for Governor Davis, a post he also held for two years under Governor Schwarzenegger. Aside from his teaching, he also operates a negotiation training/consulting firm where his clients have included Northrop Grumman, Amgen, Expedia, Chase International, Attorney General of Texas, Paragon Real Estate, S.F Int’l Airport and the UCSF School of Medicine. He holds a MPA from Harvard University and a law degree from USF.
Vu H. Pham, Ph.D.
Partner of Spectrum Knowledge, Inc.
As a Partner of Spectrum Knowledge, Inc., Vu H. Pham, Ph.D. works with dozens of organizations from the Fortune 500 to governmental and non-profit agencies to boost employee performance and strategic effectiveness. He conducts interactive training and data-driven research to achieve these results and works at the Center for Research on Employment and the Workforce (CREW) at California State University—Fullerton, as well as an instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Pham and his work have been featured on national and international multimedia venues, such as CNN, MSNBC, the Associated Press, Voice of America, The Los Angeles Times, KSCI International Television, Strategic Innovators, Asia in Play, Asian Week, Radio Free Asia and The Orange County Register. He has given keynote speeches on numerous occasions and presented at many conferences internationally, and has written for both academic and mainstream publications.
Previously, he held Research Fellow positions through the University of California Office of the President and the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. Having completed his doctoral degree from Cornell University, Dr. Pham’s specialties include the areas of culture, organizational development and leadership. His book is entitled, “Impressive First Impressions: The Most Important 30 Seconds of Your Career.”
His other honors and roles include being selected as the head of a Smithsonian cultural project and museum exhibit, a Role Model for KSCI International Television’s “Our Role Models” series and a Senior Advisory Board Member for the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP).