January Business After Hours was a
Magical Moment!
Jan 14, 2010
at the City
Arts Factory Downtown Orlando
By Kathy Llamas
Photo by Gary Lau
The Asian American Chamber of Commerce
of Central Florida (AACC) ushered in
2010 with a Business After Hours hosted by
the Orlando Magic last January 14
at the City
Arts Factory Downtown Orlando. The event
also coincided with the Installation of the 2010
Officers and Board of Directors. Alex Martins,
Orlando Magic’s COO, swore in AACC’s new
leadership team consisting of
Glenn Leong
(President), Victor Alzona (VP- External Affairs),
Nina Yon (VP-Internal Affairs), Kathy
Llamas (VP-Media Relations & Governmental
Affairs), Coco Johnston (Secretary), Roberto
Acevedo (Treasurer), Judi Lebredo (Director),
Gail Rayos (Director), Julie Dallas (Director),
Long Hoang (Director) and Kim Tran (Director).
The Orlando Magic, who hosted the event
made sure the evening was a memorable one
from the complimentary valet parking for attendees
to the Magic-inspired cupcake favors
inside little Chinese take-out boxes given to
guests as parting gifts. The program began
with a film clip of the Orlando Magic in action
followed by a
short talk by Linda Landman-Gonzalez and an inspiring talk by Orlando
Magic COO, Alex Martins. This was followed
by a speech from 2010 AACC president,
Glenn Leong and a presentation of a framed
Chinese work of art to Alex Martins
as a token
of appreciation. Nina Yon (VP-Internal), helped
to translate
the Chinese characters.
Throughout the evening, AACC members
and guests enjoyed the catered delights
provided by Arthur’s , drinks from Pepsi and
the open bar. Saxophonist Philip Mahoney
provided the entertainment. Also on hand to make sure everything went smoothly were the
Orlando Magic’s Deborah Rios-Barnes, Ana
Padilla, Lucas Boyce and Magic Ambassador
Bo Outlaw.
It was a wonderful event that provided
business networking opportunities for
all
and
convinced seven new members to join the
chamber. The new members
who signed up
at the event were William Merritt (Lockheed
Martin), Paulett Korr
(Five Group), Dorothy
Benson (Send Out Cards), Pamela Loudon
(JYPA Inc – Photography), Jay Shah (New
York Life), Cecilia Farmer (Martha & Farmer,
LLC),
and Isao Obatake (WA restaurant).
Also participating at the Business After
Hours were representatives from AACC sponsors:
Maria Urbino Diaz of the Orlando Orange
County Convention and
Visitors Bureau, Judi
Lebredo of Universal Studios and Asia Trend’s Gary Lau.
Other special guests included
members of the Orlando Regional REALTOR®
Association (ORRA), among them, Zola Szerences,
Chairman of ORRA’s
International
Council, Rich Harger, Broker of Connect Realty.com and
Joe Huntington of
RE/MAX 200.
Be sure to join the Asian Chamber for the
next event to celebrate the Chinese
Lunar
New Year, the year of the Tiger to be held on
Feb.18 at Ming Court.
For more information on the event or how
to join the AACC, visit the AACC
Web site at www.asianchamberofcommercecfl.org.
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