-
About Us
-
-
The Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is a membership organization based in Denver, Colorado. Its mission is to provide economic development and business opportunities for its members. Our members include large corporations such as MillerCoors, Xcel Energy, Wells Fargo Bank and Comcast, academic institutions – from Denver Public Schools and community colleges to private universities, and small businesses such as The Menya Group and Domoto Brands.
ACC is guided by a working Board of Directors, currently there are 14 board members, chaired by Travis Tom of Wells Fargo Bank. The board of directors has helped the chamber grow and extend its reach in the community. Other ACC positions include the President and the Special Projects Coordinator, who take care of membership, programming, events and community outreach.
ACC represents over 130 member companies in the Denver Metro area. The newsletter and email distribution list reach over 830 community participants.
ACC partners with community organizations and non-profits such as the Asian Pacific Development Center and the American Red Cross to help promote and cross-resource programs and initiatives.
ACC connects with member business units such as Asian Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help support and provide their diversity and inclusion efforts. ACC has given its AAPI Diversity and Inclusion presentation to companies such as Comcast, the VA Hospital and Denver Botanic Gardens. This presentation shares the changing demographics of Asians in the Denver Metro area, the history of Asians in Colorado, e.g., Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Executive Order 9066, the Model Minority Myth and elements of Asian culture and identity.
ACC represents its community and region with local and state government. Representatives of ACC have met with state and U.S. representatives on topics such as affordable access to healthcare and pay equity. ACC has traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and the White House, providing support for efforts such as the Trans Pacific Partnership and disaggregated data for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. ACC has provided nominations for candidates to serve on local and regional Boards and Commissions.
ACC participates in delegations to help foster international trade – having traveled to China, Japan and Taiwan in recent years to learn of innovative industries and exportable technologies. ACC has hosted seminars with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
ACC provides many opportunities for its members to network and develop business connections – monthly Business After Hours, lunch seminars addressing timely policy topics, and special events. ACC also holds two signature fundraising events – the Golf Tournament in the summer and the Annual Dinner and Gala at the end of the year, celebrating its accomplishments over the year, Scholarship Fund recipients, and initiatives for the upcoming year. The Annual Dinner and Gala has sold out in recent years, attended by many companies and visited by community leaders such as the Denver Mayor, Consulates Generals of China (PRC), Japan and the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
ACC provides a number of marketing and promotional opportunities for its members. ACC’s e-newsletter is sent at least two times per month that features articles and event postings from its members and partners. Those impressions are also leveraged into ACC’s Facebook channel. ACC’s website features space for member web banner ads, sponsor listings, and job postings. ACC has also retained its members for event catering, promoted its members by hosting events at their place of business, and provided referrals from calls received at the chamber office.
ACC is proud of its partnership with local academic institutions – helping nurture and mentor college students in their career paths with an endowed Scholarship Fund to help students with financial aid. To date, it has awarded four scholarships; one student recipient (a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant) recently was accepted to the CU School of Dentistry with a $100,000 scholarship.
In 2017, ACC created the Scholar’s Program to Washington, D.C. Undergraduate students from CU Denver and Red Rocks Community College with interest in public/legislative policy development apply to receive a scholarship to participate in a delegation with ACC leadership, where they meet with White House officials, Federal agency representatives and members of Congress to gain insight into our government and the business of policy making.
Businesses can join the Asian Chamber of Commerce at various levels – Small Business ($200 - $800/yr) Corporate ($1,500 - $10,000/yr) Non-Profit ($150/yr) or Academic/Government ($500/yr). Membership benefits include a listing in the business directory, access to e-newsletters, member discounts at monthly events and seminars, the Golf Tournament and Annual Dinner and Gala. ACC leadership would be happy to meet with your company representative to discuss membership options.
Ms. Maileen Hamto, editor of Colors of Influence provides an interview with former President/CEO Clarence Low, which beautifully describes the forward-thinking and engaging work of the Chamber:http://colorsinfluence.blogspot.com/2017/09/unifying-diverse-asian-american-pacific.html