AAPISTRONG Annual Conference

AAPISTRONG CONFERENCE 2023

National ACE and ACE NextGen are honored to co-host the AAPISTRONG Annual Conference from October 12-13, 2023. The conference theme is Longevity: Advancing Equity and Opportunities. This theme represents the cross-generational collaboration of the two organizations, while celebrating the longstanding legacy a business creates in its community.

The two-day business conference will bring together AAPI small business owners, AAPI Chamber leaders from around the country, corporate partners, and community advocates to network and celebrate AAPI entrepreneurship.

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AAPIs are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, and the ability of the AAPI business community to foster longevity and advance opportunities across generations will be key drivers to the national economy for decades to come.

THURSDAY AGENDA

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPENS

Westgate Hotel

1:00pm

STRATEGIC PARTNER MEETING

Ballroom G

2:00pm - 3:00pm

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR GROWTH LANE & SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT

Ballroom G

3:00pm - 4:00pm

Ami Kassar, Founder and CEO, Multifunding

GRANTS AND NETWORKING WORKSHOP

Ballroom G

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Emily Fuder, Vice President of Programs & Marketing, National ACE

ACE NEXTGEN WOMEN’S INITIATIVE EVENT

Ballroom F

4:00pm - 6:00pm

Misa Chien, Founder of The Authentic Asian Sofia Wakabashi, Founder & Principal Consultant of Wakagrowth, Asia’s Next Top Model

WELCOME RECEPTION

Xiao Long Dumplings

7:00pm - 9:00pm

4275 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102

BREAKOUTS

FRIDAY AGENDA

BREAKOUT 1 BREAKOUT 2

THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AND OUR WORKFORCE - AI AND AUTOMATION

Gain valuable insights into the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the future of work, and explore opportunities and challenges that arise in this evolving landscape

Misa Chien, CEO & Co-founder, The Authentic Asian

Maui Orozco, Public Policy Manager, Meta

Anna Wang, CEO & Co-founder, Searchlight ai

Kevin Zhang, Principal, GSV Ventures

Le Zhang, Co-founder & CEO, Spaceport

AARP PRESENTS: STAYING IN BALANCE: HOW AANHPI MEN NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, PARENTHOOD, AND PARENTAL CARE

Discover the resources and support available for entrepreneurs who are running a business, caring for aging parents, and raising children at the same time

Ray Cui, Financial Advisor, Strategic Financial Group, LLP.

Evan Louie, Managing Partner, Asian Pacific Joint Venture, LLC

Richard Lui, News Anchor, MSNBC & NBC News

Ky Eap, VP of International Sales, Lorde + Belle

Leo Wong, VP of Product Development, ZNEST

DELEGATING & ELEVATING TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS

Create freedom and sustainable growth in your business by learning effective delegation strategies that bring out the best in your time, talents, and team

Kevin Chan, Executive Director, ACE NextGen

Frances Luong, Chief Marketing Officer, Resibrands; Co-founder & Partner, Joieful

Ian So, Co-founder, Chicken & Rice Guys; Cofounder, Momentum

John Victoria, Founder & Owner, Polianna

FIDELITY PRESENTS: BUILDING WEALTH WORKSHOP

Acquire essential financial knowledge and strategies to build and grow your wealth, exploring topics such as investments, passive income, and long-term financial planning.

Ali Ahmed, Director, Global Thought Leadership

Ronita Panda, Vice President, Customer Inclusion Community Leader, Fidelity

Tony Peng, Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo

Maria Racho, Founding Managing Partner, FilKor Capital

HEALTH & WELLNESS CIRCLES

Engage in discussions and interactive sessions focused on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, prioritizing self-care, and promoting overall well-being in the entrepreneurial journey.

Amy Chin, Founder, Calm Better Days

Zoey Gong, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Chef, Food Therapist, Registered Dietitian

Brandon Lee, Founder, Zone Genius Institute

Soo Jin Lee, Co-founder & President of Entwine Community

Andrea Maeng, Founder, Coach, Facilitator, In Business & Life

Manumalo Muasau, Founder, ManuMental

Linda Yoon, Therapist & Founder of Yellow Chair Collective

Charles Wu, CEO, Chi’Tiva

BREAKOUT 3

THE POWER OF INNER WORK

Dive into the world of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and mastery of our mindsets that enable entrepreneurial leaders to thrive as their authentic selves

Andrea Maeng, Founder, In Business and Life

Dr Clayton McClintock, PhD, MTS, Neuroscience Researcher and Clinical Psychologist

Ha Nguyen, Owner & Co-founder, 7 Leaves Cafe

Michelle Phan, CEO & Founder, Em Cosmetics

4

YOU ARE THE BRAND

Showcase your unique expertise, amplify your leadership, and broaden your sphere of influence by leveraging the power of your personal brand Learn from branding experts who have personally built and helped others build powerful and profitable personal brands

Mike Kim, Consultant, Speaker, Coach, Author

Jerry Won, Founder & CEO, Just Like Media

ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND FUNDING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Learn strategies and best practices for accessing capital and securing funding to fuel the growth of your business, including navigating investment options and building strong financial partnerships.

Elmy Bermejo, Region IX Administrator, U S Small Business Administration Priscilla Lim, Executive Director, JPMorgan Chase

Carol Lee Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Bank of America Small Business

Ben Raju, Director of Program Management, U S Small Business Administration

ENTREPRENEUR MENTORING CIRCLES

Engage in intimate mentoring circles with experienced entrepreneurs, allowing for meaningful discussions, personalized guidance, and valuable insights to propel your entrepreneurial journey.

Susan Jin Davis, Social Impact Officer, Al Roker Entertainment, Inc

Dr. Karen Eng, President & CEO, CSMI

Jimmy Ferguson, Owner/Operator, McDonald’s Garrett Gin, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Bank of America

Bill Imada, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group

Norris Liu, Founder and CEO of EHLP Corp

X AAPISTRONG CONFERENCE2023

A B

DEFG

BOARD ROOM

REGISTRATION

ACE NEXTGEN’S WOMEN’S INITIATIVE EVENT

4:00 - 6:00PM

Misa Chien

CEO & Co-founder, The Authentic Asian

Sofia Wakabashi

Founder & Principal Consultant of Wakagrowth, Asia’s Next Top Model

WELCOME RECEPTION

7:00PM - 9:00PM

Krystal Ka'ai

XIAO LONG DUMPLINGS

Executive Director of White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)

Krystal Ka‘ai is the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders In this role, she is responsible for advising the Biden administration on the coordination and implementation of federal programs and initiatives to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. Prior to joining WHIAANHPI, Krystal worked on Capitol Hill for over a decade, including serving as the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for eight years. She previously held positions with the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the State of Hawai‘i, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Krystal was born and raised in Hawai‘i and is the first Native Hawaiian to ever lead WHIAANHPI

WELCOME RECEPTION

XIAO LONG DUMPLINGS

aman

n, Ward 2, City of Las Vegas

al and community leader, Councilwoman Seaman has advocated t to Nevada She has legislated on lower taxes, fewer government ll business owners, guardianship issues to protect seniors, human elated to animal welfare. She has also given many volunteer hours ties, and various not-for-profits, serving on the advisory committee nson's Her recent awards include the International Christian ity and Leadership Award, recognition from Friends of Parkinson's, y award from the Foundation for Recovery, and a medal award from tims' advocacy Her passion is giving back to her community and

of Chicken & Rice Guys & Co-Founder of Momentium

om Babson College, a top global entrepreneurship school in Boston, MA, adership Scholarship, Ian gained experience in the entrepreneurship world startups. In 2012, eager to apply his entrepreneurial studies and work ife, he bought a food truck on eBay for $19,000 and launched his food & Rice Guys. From that initial investment, his business grew into an annual revenue company with 6 food trucks, 3 restaurants, a 10,000 sf full service sary and a full-service catering/popup division. In the first 4 years of & Rice Guys was the 9th fastest growing private company in d the 206th fastest growing private company in the USA. Ian is also zed as a Boston business leader by winning numerous awards including ournal's 40 Under 40, Mayor Walsh's Spark Impact Awards, Smart CEO's nd GetKonnected 25 Most Influential Millennials of Greater Boston.

irman and Chief Connectivity Officer

community and serves on more than seven boards and advisory service includes the Advertising Educational Foundation, Asia Society Southern California, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Center for Asian American Media, Coalition for Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, LAGRANT Foundation and PBS National. Bill also co-‐founded the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) more than ten years ago and established the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE), an organization that is based in Washington, D.C three years ago. His efforts were recognized by The White House and he was invited to meet President Barack Obama with 12 other Asian/Pacific Islander American leaders Later, Bill was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by President Obama

BREAKFAST PLENARY

8:00AM - 9:45AM

E NextGen

Kid's Dream, a special occasion girl's dress brand established in 2012 n designing elegant, high-quality dresses in sizes 3 months to plus size own Los Angeles Kid's Dream is sold in over 30 countries through as featured in Vogue and Brides Magazine Chewy is also the Chief of Staff ech platform accelerating the growth of the next digital economy by building and agencies to monetize their intellectual property in the metaverse

AANHPI WOMEN EXECUTIVE FIRESIDE CHAT

10:15AM - 11:45AM

ang

y Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency

w

BALLROOM B

lth-Ade Kombuchaef Sales Officer, Dew brings an invaluable knowledge of sales and marketing abled Health-Ade to grow from a farmers' market commodity to a nationwide mpany's burgeoning sales team while continuously working to boost availability kets The company's consistent growth speaks to Dew's expertise in educating g the Health-Ade brand She has made her mark as an integral member of the unwavering focus on the key metrics necessary to keep Health-Ade's projected

Linglong He ip Advisor, Rocket Central

ef Leadership Advisor of Rocket Central With more than 25 years of experience leadership, Linglong is currently responsible for the overall strategy and ket Companies executive leadership succession planning and development She ocket Central, where she held the position of President and Chief Operations 20 to February 2022 Prior to that role, she was Chief Information Officer of Rocket own as Quicken Loans Inc ) for 10 years As the CIO, Linglong was responsible for nment, deployment, and leadership for technology initiatives across the business O, the company placed in the top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best hnology” for six consecutive years

tional ACE

is to inspire courageous actions in others so they can lead more Global Client Service Partner at EY with over 25 years of erience She served clients at Accenture for 16 years and joined EY erved as Regional Advisory Managing Partner and Americas

At EY, Thear is a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity and ons leadership development programs that build inclusive, us leaders for the 21st century

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of Supplier Diversity, Walmartherry leads the strategy and team responsible for building an inclusive art that is reflective of Walmart’s customer base She is tasked with art’s direct and indirect spend with certified diverse owned businesses siness partners to Walmart’s merchant and procurement teams, helping er connections and drive internal engagement with certified diverse team also works to engage external stakeholders all in service of helping d for diverse owned businesses to grow with Walmart

BREAKOUT 1 EQUITY AND ALLYSHIP

11:00AM - 11:45AM

EO, National ACE

ensive domestic and international experience in economic and business d on enhancing the growth of minority-owned small businesses. Tong's vate, nonprofit, and public sectors. She is the President and CEO of the cific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship senting the interests of 2 65 million Asian American & Pacific Islanders s owners and entrepreneurs National ACE collaborates with over 120 ers and partner organizations across the country to advocate for AAPI nhance capacity building and to foster the next generation of AAPI xecutives

Sr.

O, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), Ron Busby, Sr. brings business s well as a lifetime of community development experience to the sby is a former successful business owner himself, and he has been the nation’s best CEOs Ron grew his first company, USA Superclean, alized revenue, to over $15 million in only 10 years Early on in his career, s recognized as the largest Black-owned janitorial firm in the country Mr ed and grown two other janitorial firms, both resulting in over $7 million in in

of Stakeholder Engagement Center, National LGBT mmerce (NGLCC)

eholder Engagement team with NGLCC, he assists corporate partners pportunities He is a recognized leader in telecom, customer service, agement and sales Born in Texas, Sean is a graduate of Stephen F ty with a degree in Business Administration Now based in West n’s career spans over two decades with proven success to lead multito meet aggressive process and project goals Sean has expertise in ocess improvements and systems analysis His key strengths include motivation, detailed oriented, organized, self-directed and able to work in a ent

BREAKOUT 1 EQUITY AND ALLYSHIP

11:00AM - 11:45AM

Director, Electronic Arts

uct Development Director at Electronic Arts (EA) He also serves nd board member at organizations centered on equity for Asian his work with Stand with Asian Americans, Asian Justice aders Alliance, ACE NextGen, APAs vs Hate, Elimin8hate, Racial Equity Screen Office, YPC, and Asians in Gaming, Brian is for marginalized communities, for-justice initiatives, and systemic ure diversity, equity, inclusion

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, MGM Resorts

the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), Ron Busby, Sr. brings nt skills as well as a lifetime of community development experience to Busby is a former successful business owner himself, and he has one of the nation’s best CEOs Ron grew his first company, USA 50,000 annualized revenue, to over $15 million in only 10 years Early A Superclean was recognized as the largest Black-owned janitorial firm usby has also started and grown two other janitorial firms, both million in annualized revenue

Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources

f 51, Feltch-Malohifo'ou co-founded her nonprofit, PIK2AR, tural preservation, economic impact, and wellbeing for Pacific programs of PIK2AR is the Pacific Island Chamber of ission is to support business and entrepreneurs in Utah In d by Forbes Magazine as one of the 50 most impactful women he age of 50 In August 2022, Walt Disney hired Feltche of two Pacific Islander Cultural Advisers She was also e 40 most influential women in Utah in September 2022

BREAKOUT 1 AARP PRESENTS: STAYING IN BALANCE: HOW AANHPI MEN NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, PARENTHOOD, AND PARENTAL CARE

BALLROOM F

r, Strategic Financial Group, LLP

Ky Eap

l Sales, Lorde + Belle

eran in the direct selling industry, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven the table Having served as an executive for several top-tier direct selling nstrumental in driving growth and expansion His strategic acumen and deep markets have enabled him to successfully open and significantly expand the oth the Asian and African markets Ky's expertise and commitment to excellence ader and a valued asset in the field of direct selling

er of Asian Pacific, Joint Venture LLC

nd founding member of Asian Pacific Joint Venture He was appointed by Governor egislature of Nevada as Commissioner of Minority Affairs, chairing the Economic tee under the Department of Business and Industry Evan built a business egas Visitor and Convention Authority as one of three enterprises representing Las Evan represents several commercial real estate developers working on site plans, gal teams for approval of commercial and mixed-use developments His public ed some of the most prestigious brands ranging from companies featured in Forbes -leading business establishments, and successful global award-winning companies

NBC & NBC News

winning journalist with more than 30 years in media, technology, and business, and or at MSNBC and NBC News since 2010, and previously at CNN Worldwide Before 15 years in business, launching six brands over three tech cycles, patenting a has held board seats for a fintech firm, a Silicon Valley AI firm, and various nond Freedom United He is a fellow at the National Association of Corporate Directors, Traveling Speakers, a Senior Fellow at think tank GMF, and ambassador for NGOs ty and human trafficking. In 2021, his first book, Enough About Me, was published an, focusing on the unexpected power of selflessness and his caregiving

elopment, ZNEST

ng at renowned advertising agencies such as Droga5, McCann Worldgroup, and m account management to diversity and inclusion He had opportunities to not ampaigns for iconic brands such as Google Pixel, Dos Equis, and Scion but also ms and bonafide partnerships to diversify talent pipelines and understanding of nds Leo took a pivot out of advertising and has since held roles as an Adjunct of Oklahoma and Co-Director of the A100 for Gold House He currently is the Development for ZNest (a senior housing vertical SaaS), Owner & Operator of re & Assisted Living Home in North Las Vegas, Senior Marketing Strategist at s, and a Realtor in Nevada

BREAKOUT 1 DELEGATING & ELEVATING TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS

11:00AM - 11:45AM

or, ACE NextGen

s initials “KFC” is the Co-Founder and CEO of Best Delegate Kevin has N in 20 countries around the world and spoken twice at the United Nations LA with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and completed an executive School of Management at Northwestern University Kevin serves as the e He has developed and scaled the Model United Nations Institute nationwide programs that serve thousands of students every year He has authored over UN on BestDelegate.com, and helped create online MUN resources that are dents and teachers every year He has organized over 35 Model UN ozen conferences held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York active in giving back to the entrepreneurial community He serves as the Chair f the national Asian American Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and extGen), and as the President Elect of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO)

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, MGM Resorts

Chicken & Rice Guys & Co-Founder of Momentium

er, Polianna

training as a U S Naval Officer, John Victoria has always believed in the countability, and a commitment to excellence With these core values, John al marketing agency helping contractors profitably grow their businesses online cross 8-figures in revenue, add hundreds of additional inbound calls every onsistent lead flow in their business by implementing effective internet marketing he host of the HVAC Financial Freedom podcast John currently resides in

BREAKOUT 2 THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AND OUR WORKFORCE - AI AND AUTOMATION

1:30PM - 2:15PM

Misa Chien

CEO & Co-founder, The Authentic Asian

BALLROOM

E

Misa Chien is an authentic leader who is known for inspiring others, and helps people feel less alone and more connected through positivity and transparency Misa’s engaging and charismatic communication style stems from her experience through multiple forms of communication through being on TV (food network), speaking at renowned institutions (HBS), and gracing the runway for brands such as Neutrogena and Target Misa's exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial style have propelled her into high demand as a speaker, podcast host, television personality, and has even earned her the distinction of being ranked as the 23rd most viewed woman on LinkedIn worldwide and #1 most viewed AAPI woman nationwide with 16 million+ views per month

anager, Meta d communications professional with a track record of working with policymakers tion of emerging technologies, and partnering with them to leverage these most value and impact to the communities they serve She is passionate about or the public and private sectors to work together to solve some of the toughest s face today. She thrives in roles that require diving into gray areas, flexing uscles to define policy positions, and developing the strategies to successfully e roles that make her happiest are ones where she is able to have deep impact th communities and external stakeholders

Anna Wang CEO & Co-founder, Searchlight.ai

Anna Wang is the CTO and co-founder of Searchlight At Searchlight, Anna leads our engineering and AI efforts to help companies match the right talent to every role In a prior life, Anna co-taught the Computer Science, Ethics, and Public Policy class at Stanford as she was getting my Master's in Artificial Intelligence In her free time, Anna works through cookbooks; she's currently perfecting recipes from Xi'an Famous Foods and Ottolenghi's Jerusalem

Kevin Zhang Principal, GSV Ventures

Kevin is a Principal at GSV Ventures based in San Francisco Prior to joining the GSV team, he spent four years as a management consultant at Bain & Company, where he worked with clients in a variety of sectors including consumer products, technology, education non-profit, and private equity Prior to Bain, he led a financial turnaround of The Stanford Daily Publishing Corporation as the COO and General Manager. Kevin is a 2015 graduate of Princeton University, where he earned an A.B. in Philosophy and was a member of the water polo team

Le Zhang

Co-founder & CEO, Spaceport

BREAKOUT 2 FIDELITY PRESENTS: BUILDING WEALTH WORKSHOP

BALLROOM F

Thought Leadership

Thought Leadership team, Ali Ahmed helps craft research-backed insights and es on how to create better workplaces He regularly connects with senior leaders etirement, financial wellness, and the employee experience

a Customer Inclusion Community Leader, Fidelity

rican, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community Lead and Data Inclusion team at Fidelity Investments She has been a passionate Diversity, cate and has contributed many volunteer hours to various affinity groups, lusion in everyday life. She was the founding chair for Fidelity’s Asian ERG, now AIM – Asian Inclusivity & Multiculturalism) She also co-chaired Rhode Island ivers Forum) Her current focus is to leverage community data & cultural insights nclusive experience & financial wellness initiatives for our next generation of have been historically under-represented & under-served by the financial

or, Wells Fargo

inancial Advisor currently working at Wells Fargo Advisors in the Bay his industry in 2011 to help families, accomplished professionals, as well ners preserve and grow their wealth key to a sound wealth plan is to increase control against risk and prioritizes wealth planning on clients’ values and goals as part of his urrently holds FINRA Series 7 & 66 Registrations, and the Certified ment Analyst® (CIMA®) designation Tony also holds life and health the state of CA, TX, IL, NY, and NJ

r, Qubits Ventures

s an investor and organization development advisor Her career spans three financial services with roles spanning sales, technology, HR, open innovation, network builder One network, intrapreneurs@allstate (i@a), grew to over 800 a corporate incubator. i@a ran internal “shark tanks” and startup challenges, corporation’s external recognition as one of Fortune’s 2023 Most Innovative xt leap was to Co-Founder and Managing Partner of FilKor Capital, a venture Asian American women founders

BREAKOUT 2

HEALTH & WELLNESS CIRCLES

BALLROOM G

Zoey Gong

nese Medicine (TCM) Chef, t, Registered Dietitian

itional Chinese Medicine (TCM) chef, food therapist, registered or based in Brooklyn, New York Born in Shanghai, China, she has pop-up dinners, workshops, and events featuring TCM food therapy in United States since 2018, bringing healing foods and Chinese cultural ds of guests Her first cookbook was released in February, 2023 by s also the co-founder of The Red Pavilion, a unique TCM tea parlor by ght club after dark, in Brooklyn She has been featured in VOGUE, ne, NBC news, Eater, Bon Appetit, and more

eGenius Institute

ted himself 5x His journey spans from doing leadership development for ouses, building a soft-skills education company for teens, running ech startup, and now the founder/creator of a personality test company sign fulfilling lives and careers centered around their natural genius. passion for teaching, coaching, and empowering others to become their ting and video content have garnered over 20 million views and has been utlets like Inc com, TIME, BBC, and HuffingtonPost On the side he , learns new languages, and works on fun side projects

President of Entwine Community

nsed marriage and family therapist in CA, executive director of Yellow co-founder of Entwine Community Soo Jin's work focuses on Asian American identities through understanding intergenerational a, and immigration stories. She has a special interest in destigmatizing ons of mental health and bridging the gap of knowledge in the mental unique struggles of Asian American mental health. Soo Jin is a coWhere I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American se in January 2024

under of Yellow Chair Collective

s a licensed therapist and social worker specializing in supporting ealing journeys Drawing from personal experiences with C-PTSD and n adulthood, Linda has a deep commitment to the Asian American s of trauma, and those who are neurodivergent Her practice, Yellow amed after the color symbolizing resilience, joy, and hope She also Community, a nonprofit focusing on Asian and Asian American mental author of the book, "Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing tity," set to release in January 2024

BREAKOUT 2 HEALTH & WELLNESS CIRCLES

BALLROOM G

Better Days

nd postpartum depression, I found great relief with CBD Incorporating CBD into re patient, present, and mindful, able to respond to life’s twists and turns instead he difference in myself, I knew I had to help others understand how CBD/THC ways and became a Cannabis Coach Calm Better Days walks clients thru what o use it for, different delivery methods, and how to find their dosage Knowing the aximizing your results Clients also receive a tailored plant medicine regimen needs and lifestyle so they can dive into their plant medicine journey informed Calm Better Days has a highly curated selection of craft hemp from smallOC-owned brands

Facilitator, In Business & Life

is a trauma informed breathwork facilitator and certified Ontological Life and e practice focuses on the breath, the body and mindfulness as a pathway for e and transformation Her passion lies in supporting humans embody the clarity to lead a business, life and relationships on their own terms and in a way he full spectrum of their lived experience She has worked with clients all over and group coaching offerings as well as retreats/events She specializes on the /2nd generation immigrants through the transformational experiences, s she facilitates. She is proud Korean-American and daughter of immigrants delphia, PA

Muasau uMental

moan Mental Performance Consultant for professional athletes, performing artists, rs Manu serves as the Mental Performance Coach for Tennessee Titans of the a (The Samoan national rugby union team) Manu is a former NFL athlete who will e completes the final year of his doctorate degree in clinical psychology In egree in sport and performance psychology, Manu also has extensive training in ntegrates into his work with high performers Combining his lived adversity, academic acumen, Manu is an empathic guide with an authentic, vibrant and attitude He guides the world’s best athletes, performers and entrepreneurs toward eak performance

food and hospitality and lifestyle brand that infuses award-winning baked goods rally-legal hemp-derived cannabinoids like THCa and Delta9 Chi’Tiva currently ations in the Chicago-land area Charles is also an advocate of social justice, mpowerment in the Cannabis industry In 2017, he partnered with Boyce the Black Business School, one of the largest minority-focused online education program cannabis industry education and training In 2018, Charles became the Minorities for Medical Marijuana and is currently actively involved with a variety ons including E C C S C (Ex-Cons for Community & Social Change), al Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), the Cannabis Equity ocial Equity Empowerment Network)

BREAKOUT 3 BRIDGING CULTURES- THE NEXT GENERATION OF AAPI FOOD & BEVERAGE BRANDS BALLROOM E

na Carta

sed in Washington, D C , David has been in the wine business for over 15 years He found g at one of the nation’s oldest wine stores, Pearson’s Wine & Spirits (1933) He dove deeper importer and wholesaler In 2012, David was inducted into Jurade of Saint Emilion, the aux He was also awarded Merite Agricole by The French Ambassador and the Republic of deaux wines and his service to the wine regions of France David’s passion for Bordeaux ducing Magna Carta Mentored by two of the greatest winemakers in Napa Valley Peter nd Scott Palazzo (Palazzo) Together, they create a powerful synergy combining their ne vision of producing a world-class Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley

Founded

d as a TV reporter in Los Angeles where she often found herself to be the only or one of room After an Emmy-nomination, producing two presidential elections, and being recruited zed she wanted to do more for the API community Equipped with something she likes to uit her job to launch Asian Founded, a branding & marketing agency that now produces ecognizable brands in the API consumer space She is now heavily involved in the API annual demo day for consumer API-owned brands where businesses receive the of a panel of judges and get their products in front of investors Esther hopes to continue to clients while amplifying her mission to power Asian-owned businesses, no matter how big

uaka

er, STATUS Sparkling Wines ado Whiskey

, Hawaii, from parents who are of full Tongan decent, Hola was raised deep-rooted in d as a young entrepreneur to go outside the traditional norm Hola decided to create a diversity and her passions within the wine space Hola’s sparkling wine company quickly eptional quality and innovative approach when it launched in to Madison Square Garden in Texas, Wells Fago Arena in Philadelphia, and many other sports venues across the wn as an EMMY Award favorite beverage amongst the stars By blending traditional h a touch of Polynesian flair, Hola crafted a unique and unforgettable experience for e

, Bokksu

& CEO of Bokksu, the world’s leading direct-to-consumer subscription company that brings an to more than 100 countries worldwide Based in New York City and Tokyo, Bokksu makers with a global audience, making it easier for people to discover and love authentic YC and raised in NJ, Danny is the son of Cambodian-Chinese refugees He attended e earned a dual Bachelors in Psychology and Communication and a Master's in Sociology s a marketing strategist at Google for a year However, his passion for Japanese food and okyo, where he intensely studied Japanese at Waseda University and later worked at bilingual foreign employees, focusing on global business development It was during these became business fluent, met his wonderful husband, and developed an even deeper ulture and cuisine, which continues to fuel his passion for Bokksu In his spare time, Danny e board game competitor, and anime binge-watcher.

BREAKOUT 3 HOW ADVOCACY IMPACTS YOUR BUSINESS

Susan Jin Davis Officer, Al Roker Entertainment, Inc.

0 years of experience in the telecommunications, media, entertainment, and She currently serves as Social Impact Officer for Al Roker Entertainment, a , digital, branded programming and entertainment She is also an advisor for ting firm specializing in areas of sustainability, diversity, and corporate social serves as faculty for the Center for Creative Leadership in the areas of ip, women’s leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion Most recently, nior executive at Comcast Corporation, where she held a multitude of roles t the Company, including becoming the company’s first Chief Sustainability mework for the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance lizing its renewable energy and energy efficiency strategy, and contributing to low-carbon vehicles. She also has deep experience in the areas of cyber nline safety and security

ment Relations Officer, H&R Block

&R Block in 2021 As Chief Government Relations Officer, Gannon leads the y, regulatory and community relations efforts This includes managing the ry teams as well as executing H&R Block's strategic engagement on all policy the company Prior to H&R Block, Gannon worked at Mastercard, leading their cal government relations team and executed a strategic advocacy plan with r groups at the federal and state level Gannon previously worked in government on National Association where he focused on electronic payments, student financing, cyber security, housing finance and regulatory restructuring

Linh Hoang ner, The Outpost

ing Partner at the Outpost with a new approach to business development, n, and national security investment The Outpost has helped companies close in non-dilutive funding. His background includes experience at IBM and g digital transformation projects at federal government agencies He has 15 years m management, technology management, business development, joint venture ation He serves on the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority helping eneurs access capital He is a graduate of Georgetown University

President of External Affairs, Comcast

Associate Vice President of External Affairs for Comcast Corporation In this role ategic partnerships with Asian Pacific Islander American community groups and olicy advocacy organizations Joon works with these organizations to develop and ment with programs such as Internet Essentials, Comcast RISE, and digital equity ntorship, organizational development, designing and implementing culturally at combine targeted outreach and coalition building with digital and grassroots ing Comcast in 2021, he spent 21-years working political advocacy advising es, advocacy campaigns, labor unions and corporations in Australia, New he U S

BREAKOUT 3 THE POWER OF INNER WORK

2:30PM - 3:15PM

Andrea Maeng

h, Facilitator, In Business & Life

) is a trauma informed breathwork facilitator and certified Ontological Life and se practice focuses on the breath, the body and mindfulness as a pathway for se and transformation Her passion lies in supporting humans embody the d clarity to lead a business, life and relationships on their own terms and in a way the full spectrum of their lived experience She has worked with clients all over 1 and group coaching offerings as well as retreats/events She specializes on the t/2nd generation immigrants through the transformational experiences, es she facilitates She is proud Korean-American and daughter of immigrants adelphia, PA

McClintock, PhD, MTS Researcher and Clinical Psychologist

ing Partner at the Outpost with a new approach to business development, n, and national security investment The Outpost has helped companies close in non-dilutive funding His background includes experience at IBM and g digital transformation projects at federal government agencies He has 15 years m management, technology management, business development, joint venture vation He serves on the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority helping eneurs access capital. He is a graduate of Georgetown University.

under, 7 Leaves Cafe

r, Em Cosmetics

Esteemed digital and beauty pioneer, Michelle Phan, is one of the most well-known and recognizable stars in the global digital community She is a powerful businesswoman and one of YouTube's most legendary success stories Born to Vietnamese refugee parents, she posted her first YouTube video in 2007 and has since amassed over 1 billion lifetime views Michelle has been an early adopter of many tech innovations, including Bitcoin and AI She was named in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2015 She also founded Ipsy, a subscription service that mails beauty products to its subscribers and has been valued at 800 million dollars and various investments in Fintech and creator tools like Cashdrop, Thematic and more Today, seen as a big sister to millions, Michelle owns her own cosmetic brand named EM, which is the Vietnamese word for younger brother and sister “

BREAKOUT 4 YOU ARE THE BRAND

3:30PM - 4:15PM

Mik

eaker, Coach, Author

strategist for business thought leaders, coaches, and authors who want their ideas and get their message heard Mike’s refreshing approach has after speaker, online educator, and consultant for top thought leaders e New York Times bestselling authors and other experts featured on PBS, Mike has been featured in and written for Inc , Entrepreneur, and The e is the author of the Wall Street Journal best-selling book, You Are the lueprint to Showcase Your Unique Expertise and Build a Highly y Fulfilling Business He has spoken at industry leading events including ng World, Tribe Conference, and Podcast Movement He has been a casts like Smart Passive Income, Entrepreneurs on Fire, and Read to

Jerry Won

, Just Like Media

wned keynote speaker and creative entrepreneur who speaks on Economy, and Storytelling He is the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media, torytelling company home to the award winning Dear Asian Americans sts include Vice President Kamala Harris He is also Founder & CEO of and Asian Creator House, the premier community and events platform for rs Business Insider recently named Jerry one of the Top 23 Creator Follow His speaking and brand partners include The White House, ness School, Dartmouth Tuck, Google, Pepsi, Meta, Toyota, re. He also regularly works with Asian American community organizations sociation of Asian American Professionals, Asian American Journalist xtGen, and the Network of Korean American Leaders. Jerry earned his ministration from the University of Southern California Marshall School of A from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, where he of the Student Government Association He lives in Southern California wa and children

BREAKOUT 4 ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND FUNDING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

3:30PM - 4:15PM

ministrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

sion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and ir goals She has been a senior government official with more than 25 years of utive level and has established a successful record of collaboration with public and a range of issues including workforce development, disaster relief, and small recently served as the Northern California Director for External Affairs for m; before that, she served as a Senior Adviser and Outreach Director for Lt akis of California, the first woman ever elected to this position Ms Bermejo also ack Obama’s administration at the U S Department of Labor as the Regional Secretary and as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs She serves on the San on the Environment, The Women’s Foundation of CA, and as an Advisory rganized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Leo T McCarthy Center for Public Good

ctor, JPMorgan Chase

utive Director in the Commercial Bank at JP Morgan Chase She sits on the board ifornia as EVP and acts as Board Advisor to Ace NextGen and Ascend LA She board of California Asian Chamber of Commerce championing for small a Priscilla helped plan a fundraising gala for the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in warded AAPI women and non-binary individuals in Media and Entertainment and gel Island Immigration Station Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Gala Born in d immigrated to New Zealand during her teenage years, Priscilla has nearly 20 banking and law and have lived in seven different cities across five countries She iatives which aim to empower Women, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and the scilla was a recipient of 2023 SHEroes Award given by the USPAACC She also nsung Heroes Award from Asian Hustle Network in April 2023

itchell dent, Bank of America Small Business

head of small business, specialty, and consumer vehicle lending strategy at sponsibilities include building and investing in business growth related initiatives, nt experience for business owners and driving innovation and investment into atives for minority and women business owners Mitchell is passionate about the e opportunities for women leaders She is often called upon to share her of business owner topics by national and local media outlets She is also a School of the University of Pennsylvania committed to working with future s recently named one of the 2023 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business usiness Development Center (AABDC)

am Management, U.S. Small Business Administration

of Program Management for the U S Small Business Administration’s (SBA) s During his career, Mr Raju has represented the SBA in various capacities ates and it’s protected territories Mr Raju is passionate about utilizing his ing to the Nation’s diverse business community and engaging the many ies, and cultures he is surrounded by to create a strong eco-system where e to thrive locally and have a dynamic influence globally

BREAKOUT 4 ENTREPRENEUR MENTORING CIRCLES

3:30PM - 4:15PM

avis Officer, Al Roker Entertainment, Inc.

0 years of experience in the telecommunications, media, entertainment, and She currently serves as Social Impact Officer for Al Roker Entertainment, a , digital, branded programming and entertainment She is also an advisor for ALO irm specializing in areas of sustainability, diversity, and corporate social serves as faculty for the Center for Creative Leadership in the areas of ip, women’s leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion Most recently, Ms Jin cutive at Comcast Corporation, where she held a multitude of roles over a 15-year , including becoming the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, creating the pany’s Environmental, Social, and Governance disclosures, operationalizing its energy efficiency strategy, and contributing to transforming its fleet to low-carbon deep experience in the areas of cyber security, privacy, and online safety and

esident and CEO of CSMI, a privately held engineering firm specializing in the d industries Karen’s career demonstrates her flexibility to work with small growing m privately-owned companies to Fortune 100 corporations Her close work with tration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, Administration, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States has led CSMI to eering consulting services firms in both domestic and foreign markets Karen is prominent Boards, including National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of neurship (ACE) for which she Serves as the current Foundation Board Chair. She Board of Trustees for Illinois College of Optometry

ndi, have owned and operated 23 McDonald’s restaurants in Austin, and other the past 27 years Prior to owning McDonald’s franchises, Jimmy held the position ent and dean of students at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR As a Jimmy served the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) as the of directors and held an appointment by Gov Bill Clinton to the Arkansas ouncil on Volunteerism. During his Career with McDonald’s, Jimmy has served as s Asian Business Vision Team, president of Central Texas McDonald’s Operator’s of McDonald’s Houston Region Leadership Council, member of West Division ember of National Leadership Council, and chair of the McDonald’s National Asian Team Jimmy currently serves as the Chair of the Asian McDonald’s Operators

Ji F uson or, McDonald’s

BREAKOUT 4 ENTREPRENEUR MENTORING CIRCLES

Garret Gin

Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Bank of America

Garrett Gin serves as the Local Market Executive for Bank of America in Los Angeles In this role, he leads a team of professionals that is responsible for numerous local market initiatives, including local philanthropy; community reinvestment and development; community engagement; and corporate sponsorships in the region These local marketing strategies and programs help to drive brand visibility, employee engagement, and the integration of the bank’s business divisions throughout Greater Los Angeles Prior to joining Bank of America in 2009, Garrett served as the Director of Communications & Public Affairs for Merrill Lynch in California He is active with numerous business and civic organizations, including serving on the boards of the City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board, the Los Angeles Business Council, the Central City Association of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Family Housing, and the National Asian Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship For his civic engagement efforts, Garrett was named by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2023 as a “Leader of Influence” in the banking industry. A strong proponent of diversity & inclusion, Garrett serves as one of the enterprise chairs for the bank’s Asian Leadership Network – and is a member of the bank’s Asian Advisory Council In addition, he was selected as a recipient of Bank of America’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Award in 2022 Garrett is a native of San Francisco and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley He and his wife Live in Orange County, California with their two daughters.

Bill Imada Founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group

Bill is active in the community and serves on more than seven boards and advisory councils. His board service includes the Advertising Educational Foundation, Asia Society Southern California, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Center for Asian American Media, Coalition for Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, LAGRANT Foundation and PBS National Bill also co-‐founded the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) more than ten years ago and established the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE), an organization that is based in Washington, D C three years ago His efforts were recognized by The White House and he was invited to meet President Barack Obama with 12 other Asian/Pacific Islander American leaders Later, Bill was appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by President Obama

O, EHLP Corp

r and CEO of EHLP (pronounced “e-help”), a technology-focused company with barrier of access to quality healthcare products and services Born in Shanghai, Toronto, Canada at a young age, Norris experienced early exposure to gh his family small business After graduating from the University of Toronto, orking with large multinational corporations as well as smaller start-ups in the ed mainly on large enterprise business development and sales management In eam of becoming an entrepreneur and launched his first health-tech start-up In bra Health Solutions during the height of the pandemic to bring transparency and vices into the US healthcare marketplace Today, EHLP has expanded into uipment, mental-wellness telemedicine for school children, sexual health safety discount prescription drug access for the uninsured

WHITE HOUSE REMARKS

Erika Moritsugu

Deputy Assistant to the President & AA and NHPI Senior Liaison

AWARDS DINNER NATIONAL ACE AWARDEES

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER & DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

llas Guzman

U.S. Small Business Administration

man was sworn in as the 27th Administrator of the U.S. Small on on March 17, 2021 She serves as the voice for America’s inesses and innovative startups in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet n has made supporting small businesses her life’s work From a ng beside her father in his chain of veterinary hospitals in he gained a deep appreciation for the small business owners ets in neighborhoods across America, deliver our products and e to solve global problems Administrator Guzman spent her early ector as a founder, advisor, and consultant There she learned businesses play in creating paths to the American Dream. She rself to public service -- serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and SBA, and as Small Business Advocate for the state of California y and opportunity for all entrepreneurs

ARKS & EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Chief Brand Officer, sweetgreen

o-founder and Chief Brand Officer of sweetgreen, leading the brand and their award-winning creative team He oversees a team of thinkers and marketers who use creativity and storytelling to help redefine what the fast-food industry will look like in the years to come. He has been named as one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and one of Forbes’ Next 50 CMO’s. His team has collaborated with some of the world’s best chefs, athletes and musicians to amplify their mission In both 2019 and 2020 sweetgreen was named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of the Year His passion for storytelling has led him to work at the unique intersection of food, lifestyle and social impact Nathaniel and his co-founders started sweetgreen in 2007, opening their first location in Georgetown, DC, just three months out of college Their vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast-food, but far more transparent and honest Since inception, sweetgreen has served over 100 million healthy meals Nathaniel graduated from Georgetown University and lives in Los Angeles.

CORPORATE CHAMPION AWARD

Wells Fargo

AWARDS DINNER

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Richard Lui

News Anchor, MSNBC & NBC News

BALLROOM C

Richard Lui, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in media, technology, and business, and has served as news anchor at MSNBC and NBC News since 2010, and previously at CNN Worldwide. Before journalism, Richard spent 15 years in business, launching six brands over three tech cycles, patenting a fintech model in 2003 He has held board seats for a fintech firm, a Silicon Valley AI firm, and various non-profits, including AIISF and Freedom United He is a fellow at the National Association of Corporate Directors, one of 200 US State Dept Traveling Speakers, a Senior Fellow at think tank GMF, and ambassador for NGOs focusing on gender equality and human trafficking

WHITE HOUSE REMARKS

Erika Moritsugu

Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison

With a distinguished career in the federal government, politics, and non-profit advocacy, Erika L Moritsugu has dedicated her personal and professional life fighting for social justice and the empowerment of underserved and marginalized communities and individuals She currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President and the first-ever Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Senior Liaison at the White House, where she supports the Biden-Harris Administration on a wide array policies and outreach to advance the President’s priorities, and engage with a cross-section of communities to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPIs.

MARKS

on r - Community Affairs & Grubhub

munity Affairs & Social Impact at Grubhub, Brett Swanson serves as ad with business groups and non-governmental organizations in markets Through hyperlocal relationships and community-first hampions Grubhub’s philanthropy work focused on supporting independent restaurants, helping to close the hunger gap, and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry with key stakeholders across the country

AWARDS DINNER

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Friday, October 13, 2023

Island Chamber of Commerce m

merican and one of the Co-Founders of Pacific Island ources (PIK2AR), previous Neighborworks Salt Lake Resident uate & alumni committee member of Westside Leadership member of Sorenson Unity Center, Raise Your Pen Coalitionice Historian and Co-Founder, Founder of Roots Deep Pacific Conference, Follow Your Dreams Initiative, and Founder of Business. Cencira currently works as PIK2AR’s Program Cod Chamber of Commerce as well as the SBA Business County Co-Op Business navigator. She left her 12 year run in ustice field to pursue her passion in community work for her ity

EMONIES

a Financial Group, LLC.

onal experience has spanned the corporate, not-for-profit, and For the last 22 years, Derek has worked with individuals and heir top priorities and create investment strategies to achieve ek started Uehara Financial & Longevity Planning, an financial planning firm Prior to that, he spent 10 years with a Serving as the President of the Nevada Small Business ocate for small businesses, especially in the restaurant on of Chefs for Kids, a member of the Leadership Las Vegas ber of Las Vegas Host Lions Club, and a recipient of the s Award for Humanitarian Service from Lions Clubs

AAPISTRONG RESTAURANT FUND GRAND PRIZE FINALISTS

BALLROOM C

JP Pani Ioelu & Laukau Ioelu Co-Owners, Aloha Island Market

Paniani Ioelu (JP Pani) is the owner of Aloha Island Market, AZ where he specializes in providing Traditional Authentic Mom and Pops Polynesian Cooked food for all that wants to savor the flavors of the South Pacific Islands He is most active on Facebook and Instagram which he publishes weekly changeable menus to share with Arizona’s community He enjoys sharing his traditional dishes especially with the elderlies, as they delight and enjoy their meals just as if they are at their Ohana’s home JP Pani’s goal is to be able to help bring the Aloha Spirit through his traditional food He and his wife created the South Pacific Island Festival and the nonprofit South Pacific Youth Civic Association (SPYCA) to offer Arizona’s youth a space to learn our traditions (even food) and cultural, our way of life, and to help mentor them to have a better tomorrow

Li Ma Owner, Ranken Noodle House

Ranken Noodle House is owned by Li Ma, a scientist and mother of three She got her Bachelor of Medicine degree in China, Master of Science degree in Japan, and came to the U S A with her family after a few years of working in Japan After 7 years working at the U S FDA, 8 years working at AstraZeneca, she finally followed her heart, starting her American dream of opening an authentic Japanese restaurant, “Ranken Noodle House”. Her goal is to provide a healthy eating choice to young Americans.

Jinah Kim Owner, Sunhee's Farm and Kitchen

Jinah Ahn is a Korean American immigrant born in Incheon, South Korea and raised in upstate New York. She graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, and recently obtained her JD from Albany Law School She was a case manager and taught English and employment education with Catholic Charities Community Services in New York City, and worked as a Job Developer at the U S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Albany She then took her experience to start a social venture in the form of a farm-to-table Korean restaurant in Troy, New York Sunhee's Farm and Kitchen opened in May 2016 and has since provided employment opportunities for immigrants as well as in-house educational services such as English classes and computer literacy programs with plans to add on legal services in the near future. She is also the mother of two children, a 15-month old son and 2month old daughter.

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