4 minute read
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce
March 27th, 2025 China Palace Restaurant, Stockton CA
By Leslie Edman, CEO
Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce
Photos by Danny Lee and Tim Ulmer
On the evening of March 27th at China Palace, a hub for countless Asian community banquets and known for its ornate décor and award - winning cuisine, a crowd of 300 guests gathered to honor CVACC founding and past board members, charter members and community partners.
Elected officials from the State, San Joaquin County and City of Stockton attended the chamber’s milestone event, including Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi who presented CVACC with a commemorative proclamation.
One man’s aspirations to connect the Asian American business community through the creation of a business chamber and news publication, APA News & Review, was born in 2000 and evolved into the current Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce (CVACC) and digital newspaper APA Living Today. Dennis Lee, the chamber’s founder and publisher was honored along with the current owner/partner and director of APA Living Today, Jim Chong and Layne Imada. Other honorees included APAPA (Asian Pacific American Public Affairs), Humphreys University, Health Plan of San Joaquin and Port of Stockton, all enduring supporters of CVACC.
A rousing performance by the Thien Quang Lion Dance Team energized the dinner crowd that preceded the CVACC board installation by retired San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge, Frank Kim. A “Then and Now” presentation provided a retrospective glance back at the chamber’s quarter century journey and was followed by an award ceremony.
The seamless transition from one leader to another symbolized a running theme at CVACC’s 25th anniversary. 2015 was a pivotal year – when Leslie Edman followed Dennis Lee as CEO of the Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce and Robert G. Humphreys Jr. was appointed president of Humphreys University following his father’s retirement. In recent years, leadership transitioned at APAPA from founders CC and Regina Yin to their eldest daughter, Mary Yin Lieu. The evening’s event honored the legacy of past leaders and their achievements while recognizing the generational shift to new leadership for a sustainable future.
