The Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses (AAAB) will host the seventh annual “East Meets West” Lunar New Year Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Robinson Center’s William Grant Still Ballroom, 426 W. Markham St., in Little Rock. The event, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will include the presentation of the inaugural Arkansas Asian-Owned Business Award (AOBA).
Seven finalists, representing industries ranging from real estate and hospitality to logistics and manufacturing, are in the running for the award. These businesses, employing anywhere from 5 to more than 800 Arkansans, were selected from a pool of 15 nominees across Central, Northwest and West Central Arkansas. The finalists were evaluated by a panel of judges from Arkansas’s entrepreneurial and economic development sectors. They are:
- ARt deCentrale – Springdale
- Big Box Karaoke – Fayetteville
- FR8relay – Bentonville
- The Goat House – Fort Smith
- Tokyo House – Rogers
- Verma and Associates – Hiwasse
- Welspun Tubular LLC – Little Rock
The AOBA was established to recognize the contributions of Asian-owned businesses in fostering economic growth, job creation and cultural diversity in the state, according to Yang Luo-Branch, founder and president of the AAAB.
“The winners will be those that best exemplify the ‘AOBA spirit’ in their business innovation and growth, customer satisfaction and community impact practices, while also excelling at employee relations and honoring their Asian roots and heritage,” Luo-Branch said.
The luncheon will feature remarks by Andrew Wylegala, president of the National Association of Japan-America Societies, on U.S.-Asia relations, and Neal Jansen, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Asia Office in Tokyo. Guests will also hear from Mary Zunick, Arkansas’s honorary consul of Japan.
The event will conclude with cultural performances by dancers of Indian and Filipino heritage.
During the luncheon, Luo-Branch will address the future of the AAAB, which has operated as an all-volunteer organization since its founding in 2017. To expand its capacity and continue its mission of fostering Arkansas-Asia relations, the organization plans to hire a part-time executive director by May, funded through a new membership campaign.
“This synergy has been fueled over the past eight years by networking activities we have sponsored, such as this annual luncheon, to foster knowledge and understanding of Asian culture in both business and in daily life throughout our communities. It is important for us, at the grassroots level, to stay committed and connected towards having a vibrant community, especially in a time when geopolitical dynamics are of much uncertainty,” Luo-Branch said. “Today, we are being called upon to do more for growing Asian-Arkansas relations in our state, especially where the steel and lithium industries are growing. This means a growing need for new businesses – from the large companies to those on ‘Main Street’ – to support the influx of new opportunities and people coming into these cities and counties.”
Corporate sponsors for the “East Meets West” luncheon include Arkansas Capital Corporation, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Startup Junkie. For registration details, click here.
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