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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Businesses on July 29

Verne Naito of Naito Corporation and Peggy Ross of the Governor's Office of Affirmative Action will be the keynote speakers at the kickoff event of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) of Oregon and SW Washington.

The event will be held at 5:30pm on Wednesday, July 29 at the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, 619 SW 11th Ave., downtown Portland.

APACC's mission is to cultivate and promote cultural and business relationships among Asian Pacific American chamber members, local businesses, non-profit organizations, government, media, and the general public in Oregon and SW Washington.

Learn about APACC, make new friends and meet prospective clients. Bring a guest, and spend a summer evening networking with a diverse group of Asian Pacific American professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs.

The event will also feature a live performance by Te Marama, Oregon's only all-Tahitian dance studio that brings the "tamarii" (children) to perform "Manu Otea" along with several "aparima" (action songs).

Cost is $10 for members/ $15 for non-members. Dinner included.

Click here to RSVP Today


About the Speakers:

Verne Naito
Verne Naito is a vice president of Naito Corporation, parent company of the chain of Made In Oregon stores, and is manager of Naito Properties LLC, a property management and real estate development company.

In his 30-year business career, Mr. Naito has been involved in a diverse number of fields from high tech to banking. Mr. Naito has been active with the Japanese American community his entire life. Mr. Naito with his father, Sam Naito, founded the Asian-American Business Club in 2001. Among his other community and charitable activities, including: board member of the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon, judge for the Oregon Entrepreneur Network annual awards and treasurer of the Japanese Garden, Mr. Naito also sits on the Mayor's Council of Economic Advisors for the City of Portland. He is a frequent speaker at industry associations and lecturer at university business schools.


Peggy Ross

 Peggy C. Ross is the Director for the Governor's Affirmative Action Office. Employed in private sector organizations and as an entrepreneur since 1977, Peggy brings extensive experience promoting diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Her primary objective is cultural/climate assessment and training to include diversity, outreach services and business development for large corporations, non-profits and government entities.

As the Governor's Affirmative Action Director she built on 20-plus years as a consultant and expert resource by creating the first statewide, comprehensive Cultural Competency Assessment, Training and Implementation program for all executive state agencies, & building relationships for state agencies with Oregon's nine Federally Recognized Tribes, ethnic communities and organizations, faith based organizations, Historic Black Colleges, women universities, and ethnic Greek Organizations.

Click here to RSVP Today:

Learn more about APACC at http://www.apacc-or.org

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