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Biographies
Rennie Alston,
a licensed Customhouse
Broker, has provided
services as a
professional educator on
topics such as import
regulations and
documentation, Customs
entry preparation,
Customs brokerage
license preparation and
export compliance at the
World Trade Institute at
Pace University for more
than twenty years. In
1990, he served as the
International Import
Manager for the Wilson
Group. Rennie was named
the National Customs
Brokerage Advisor for
Nippon Express USA inc.,
where he served for
nearly a decade
providing national
Customs regulatory
expertise to over
twenty-two national
brokerage operational
facilities. He has
offered several papers
and written pieces on
import and export trade
over the past ten years.
In 1995, he became the
CEO/President of the
Alston Group
International Trade
Consultants, a private
international trade
management and
development firm
specializing in
educational services and
consultation. Through
auspices from the
Academy for Educational
Development in
Washington, D.C., he has
provided training to the
Customs agencies of
Armenia and the Republic
of Georgia, India,
Nepal, Brazil, and
Guyana on U.S. Customs
Regulations and
Procedures.
Rennie is an
accomplished author
publishing advanced
literature on Import and
Export Compliance
issues. He has
provided professional
services in
international trade for
the past twenty-three
years. His career began
in 1980 at United
Customs Inc., providing
Customs brokerage field
services. He is
currently a senior vice
president of American
River International and
President of American
River Brokerage
Services, Ltd.
Allie Baldarassi
is a Senior Loan Officer
at Bank of
America. Ms. Baldarassi
has been involved in the
loan business for over
10 years, and has closed
over 500 million in
loans during her career.
Her specialty is in
Co-Ops, Condos,
Townhomes, Single Family
Homes and new
construction.
Larissa Buerano
is a current resident of
Staten Island, NY. She
started her own State
Farm Agency in October
2008, offering insurance
for auto, home, life &
health as well as
financial products such
as vehicle loans,
mortgages, and deposit
products. Within 4
months, she became the
fastest growing agent on
Staten Island in terms
of new production.
Larissa is a second
generation State Farm
agent, following the
footsteps of her father.
Prior to State Farm
Insurance, Larissa
worked for JPMorgan
Chase’s commercial
banking division,
Midtown Manhattan. Her
primary role was to
analyze small to
mid-sized businesses
($10 million to $500
million in revenue) and
provide them with
financial products and
support. Larissa is a
cum laude graduate of
Georgetown University in
Washington DC, where she
received her bachelor's
degree in business
administration.
Savio S. Chan
is a pre-eminent expert
on doing business in
China. He serves as
President and CEO of US
China Partners Inc., a
privately held business
development firm
specializing in Market
Entry, Strategic
Sourcing and Marketing
Development in China for
U.S. companies, and
facilitates local and
cross-border joint
ventures among leading
Chinese multinationals
as well as Fortune 1000
companies.
Savio is a frequent
keynote speaker and
panelist at business and
technology events
including the American
Express Minority Small
Business Seminars, and
the e-Business
Conference and Expo,
co-organized by
BusinessWeek and
InformationWeek. Among
his many awards and
recognitions are :the "40
Under 40" Business
Leader Award ,
and Top 10 Movers
and Shakers on
Long Island, Top
100 Most Influential
and in 2007,
ExecuLeaders presented
him a special award in
the category of
International Business
Leadership.
Savio,
started his career in
international marketing
and business with his
studies at Baruch/CUNY.
He has been
featured in numerous
industry and trade
success profiles,
including articles in
The New York Times,
Chief Executive
Magazine, and
InformationWeek. He
serves as Vice Chairman
of ITP China and is the
president of the
Northeast Chapter of
US Pan Asian Chamber
of Commerce, the
largest Pan Asian
Chamber in the country,
senior advisor for the
Outsourcing Institute,
on the boards of
Executive Council of New
York and Association of
Commerce, Industry and
Technology (ACIT). Savio
also hosts the PBS
syndicated TV show,
Asian America,
sponsored by Wal-Mart.
Stephen Chen is a
financial services
professional and expert
in creating platforms
for innovation.
Stephen is the former
Vice President of
Business Strategy at Bear
Stearns where he
helped launch
BearXplorer, an
award-winning
international hedge fund
software company.
BearXplorer was a
macroeconomics analytics
platform that helped
asset managers quantify
the impact of economic
shifts on their
portfolios. It was
named Best Risk
Analytics Initiative of
the Year by the American
Financial Technology
Awards in 2006 and Buy
Side Innovation of the
Year by The
Banker in 2007.
Stephen is also
the cofounder of GreenSoul
Shoes, a charitable
100% recycled shoe
company. It is a
platform built on public
private partnerships
that has created a
network of local
shoemakers, orphanages,
and large NGOs to donate
one pair of shoes for
every pair sold. By
identifying local
shoemakers in
communities of shoeless
kids, GreenSoul Shoes is
using a market-based
restoration model to
provide microfinancing
opportunities for Third
World entrepreneurs
while shoeing their
community’s youths.
He has spoken at Yale, Brown, NYU,
and Columbia
University on topics
of social
entrepreneurship and
technology platforms. He
has been covered by the New
York Times, Wall
Street Journal, Washington
Post, ABC and NBC.
Elizabeth Cho is
a Licensed Real Estate
Sales Associate for AC
Lawrence & Company -
Real Estate. Having
lived and traveled all
over the United States,
Asia and Europe,
Elizabeth carries a vast
knowledge of cultural
diversity. She has
closed a record number
of deals and was named
number agent in February
2010. She speaks
Korean fluently and
English masterfully.
She received her
Bachelors of Business
Administration, double
majoring in both
International Business
and Marketing from
Florida International
University in Miami,
Florida. Among her many
interests ranging from
music to athletics, she
is a long distance
runner and tri-athlete
who loves to train in
her free time.
After moving to New
York, Elizabeth fell in
love with the energy and
all of the great
opportunities it had to
offer. With over ten
years of experience in
the hospitality
industry, her ability to
listen and understand
people’s needs make her
a great fit for the real
estate market.
Charles Dugan
is a Vice President in
TD Bank’s Global Trade
Finance Department. He
joined the bank’s
predecessor, Commerce
Bank in June 2005,
bringing an extensive
background in trade
finance and banking. He
has 16 years of
experience working with
small and medium sized
exporting companies in
the New York metro,
upstate New York and
western Pennsylvania
markets. Earlier in his
banking career, Charles
lived, worked and
traveled extensively in
Africa, the Middle East
and Mediterranean. He
joined Irving Trust
Company in 1982, where
he remained for eight
years, including several
years based in Bahrain.
Prior to joining TD
Bank, Charles completed
a twelve year career at
JPMorgan Chase Bank.
Charles has BA in
International Relations
from the University of
Pennsylvania and an MBA
in Finance from Columbia
University. He began
his international career
as a Peace Corps
Volunteer, in Tunisia
(1976-1978) where he
built public drinking
wells in rural areas.
Delvis Estrada is
a Licensed Real Estate
Sales Associate for AC
Lawrence & Company -
Real Estate.
Estrada
has lived his whole life
in the NYC area,
experiencing all of the
amazing things NYC has
to offer. Growing up in
Williamsburg, Brooklyn,
Estrada worked at his
family’s restaurant in
midtown Manhattan during
the summer months. He
has sold a record number
of properties in NYC and
is a rising star in NYC
real estate.
Estrada worked as a
professional in the
financial industry for
the past 30 years and is
also an investor in a
multi-tenant apartment
house and a vacation
rental property in
Windham, NY. Helping
people is Estrada’s
heart and sole of his
life. He loves to
volunteer and together
with his son, an Eagle
Scout, he has completed
the MS 150 mile bike
tour twice to Montauk.
During his spare time he
is also active in his
local community as a
board member helping to
make life better for
all. Years of experience
in the financial
industry makes Estrada
an asset to A.C.
Lawrence clients. He
works in all capacities
and provides an
experience that will
last a lifetime.
Amy B. Goldsmith,
Esq., is a Principal
of Gottlieb, Rackman &
Reisman, P.C.. Ms.
Goldsmith is involved in
all areas of litigation,
prosecution, and
licensing regarding
trademarks, copyrights,
and patents, and she has
extensive litigation
experience.
Ms. Goldsmith protects
the global interests of
both national and
international clients in
a variety of industries,
including pet products,
telecommunications,
publishing, and consumer
and designer goods such
as jewelry, eyewear, and
apparel. She has a
specialized background
in genetics and is a
member of the New York
City and American Bar
associations. She served
as co-managing editor of
the Cardozo Arts &
Entertainment Law
Journal.
Ms. Goldsmith is a
frequent lecturer on
intellectual property
topics at Pratt
Institute in New York
City, and she is the
author of several
articles pertaining to
intellectual property
for Tableware Today
magazine.
Yan Li Jiang
is a Loan Consultant
at Accion USA
working to provide
access to capital
and financial
education to low and
moderate income
individuals. A
recognized leader in
U.S. microfinance,
AUSA empowers
individuals to
create sustainable
businesses, increase
family incomes, and
contribute to the
economic development
of cities across the
U.S., including the
metropolitan New
York and New Jersey
region. Prior to
joining Accion USA,
Yan Li Jiang,
interned for both
Women’s World
Banking and Count Me
In for Women’s
Economic
Independence. She
contributed to the
fundraising efforts
for a network of
international
microfinance
institutions and
making financial
education assessable
for women
entrepreneurs. Yan
Li Jiang is a
graduate of Barnard
College, Columbia
University with a
degree in Economics.
Rajeev Kaul,
CPA has over 25 years of
experience in tax and
accounting. In addition
to being a Certified
Public Account licensed
in the State of New
York, Rajeev is also a
Chartered Accountant in
India. He is a principal
in the NYC based firm of
Rajeev Kaul CPA P.C.
with a client roster
that includes Fortune
100 companies, major
financial
institutions as well as
medium and small
businesses. The firm
represents clients
throughout the United
States.
Rajeev serves as a Board
Member of the Northeast
Regional Chapter of the
US Pan Asian American
Chamber of Commerce
among other organizations. Rajeev earned
his MBA in Finance from
St. John's University.
Susan Kim
is a Vice President of
Retail Banking at
Capital One Bank
developing business and
personal relationships
in the Tri-State area in
Retail and Commercial
Areas. Ms. Kim joined
North Fork Bank in 2003,
which is now Capital One
Bank N.A. Prior to
that, worked several
years for another major
bank in Manhattan ,Fleet
Bank N.A.
In addition to a career
in the financial sector,
Ms. Kim has worked for
famous Pop artist Peter
Max and as as a
freelance reporter
covering people like the
Mayor of New York
City to events such as
the World Series & Super
Bowl.
Ms. Kim is a Member of
the Board of (USPACC) US
Pan Asian American
Chamber of Commerce, a
not-for-profit
representing all Asian
Americans to promote,
nurture and propel
economic growth by
opening doors to
contracts, and
developing educational
and professional
opportunities for Asian
Americans and their
business partners in
corporate America and
government agencies.
Ms. Kim is also a member
of (KACF) Korean
Community Foundation a
not-for-profit which
provides support for
underserved Korean
American social service
agencies often serving
as the first source of
outside funding. She is
an active member of (AWIB)
Asian Women in Business,
a not-for-profit
assisting Asian women
entrepreneurs and
promotes the inclusion
of minority and women
owned business and
professionals.
Ms. Kim is a graduate of
Baruch College with a
Bachelor of Arts in
Corporate
Communications. She is a
native New Yorker.
Simon Lee
is the Branch Manager of
China Trust Bank on 8th
Avenue in Brooklyn, New
York. Mr. Lee has been
in the banking industry
for 20 years of which
more than 10 years was
spent in Small Business
Lending. He has
previously worked for
major banking companies
such as Chase, HSBC, and
community banks such as
East West Bank and
China Trust Bank.
Shirley Leung is
the Economic Development
Director at the Manhattan Chamber of
Commerce. Ms. Leung has
spent most of her 10
year career working
directly with small and
minority-owned
businesses. Her
expertise lies in
consulting SMEs to
access state and local
government programs,
marketing to the
agencies, as well as
project management.
Shirley Leung is the
Director for Cornerstone
Financial Corp. where
she works to identify
and evaluate
investment opportunities
and provide due
diligence covering
various industries. From
2002 to 2007, Shirley
Leung was the Director
of Queens County for the
Empire State Development
Corporation, served as
the liaison for the New
York State Economic
Development Agency, with
business, trade
associations and
governmental agencies in
NYS and NYC. Prior to
joining ESDC, Shirley
was the Director for
U.S. China Chamber of
Commerce, New York where
she lead to build the
programs between U.S.
and China
trade/investment
exchange and the
development of the
organization.
Man-Li Kuo Lin
is the Business
Development Specialist
at U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA),
New York District
Office. Her service area
covers Queens County,
Rockland County and the
Asian communities,
business owners and
business organizations
in 14 New York
counties. Prior to
joining the SBA
employment, she worked
as an Employment
Services Representative
in the NYS Department of
Labor Employment
Services Division. She
established the Asian
Job Service Employer
Committee (Asian JSEC)
in 2004 providing
employment services and
government policy
educational programs to
employers.
Ms. Lin is the principal
of the Families Adopt
Children from China
(FCC) Long Island
Chinese School. She is
the author of
The Resume Writing
and Interview Skills,
The 214 Radicals of
Chinese Characters,
Adult Chinese
Conversation Textbook I,
II, and III, Children
Chinese Reading Book I,
II, and III”, and
English Phonics. She
received a
Bachelor’s degree in
Chinese Literature and
Education from National
Taiwan University, a,
Masters in Teaching
English as a Second
Language and Master’s
degree in Management
Engineering , from Long
Island University C.W.
Campus, 1991.
Chunyee Miot
is a Certified Public
Accountant whose
firm provides tax and
accounting services to
individuals and
businesses.
Prior to establishing
her own firm, she worked
for 10 years, with
public accounting firms
in New York City and
Long Island. She is
also a former business
advisor at the Small
Business Development
Center at LaGuardia
Community College/ CUNY
where she
counseled individuals on
starting a business; and
existing businesses on
getting financing and
developing marketing
plans.
She is a frequent
speaker in seminars and
workshops to educate
individuals and business
owners about tax and
financial matters for
such organizations as
Asian Women In Business.
Chunyee Miot holds
a Bachelor’s degree in
accounting from Baruch
College/CUNY.
Joyce Moy
is the Executive
Director of the Asian
American/ Asian Research
Institute. She was the
first Asian American
director of a NYS Small
Business Development
Center. Her area of
expertise is
entrepreneurship and
economic development.
She has taught business
law and taxation at
Queens College, the CUNY
School of Law, and at
Cornell University
School of Law. She is a
former practicing
attorney with over 15
years experience in
corporate law,
franchising, taxation
and commercial areas.
She recently served on
the NYS Governor's
Taskforce on Small
Business and currently
co-chairs the NYC
Comptroller's Taskforce
on Community Benefit
Agreements.
Daniel Sung Park
is the Founder,
President & CEO of
eclaro
International.
eclaro
International
is a business and
technology services
provider; whose mission
is to provide the
knowledge base that our
clients rely on to
deliver on their
commitments and drive
business success.
eclaro
International
provides a variety of
services, including
business
process/functional
consulting, staff
augmentation,
professional services
consulting, vendor
management services and
custom application
development.
eclaro
International’s
clients range from
midsized firms, to some
of the largest
technology firms in the
world.
Eclaro International has
won numerous
distinctions such as:
2007 Class III national
supplier of the year by
National Minority
Supplier Development
Council. 2007 Class III
supplier of the year
NY/NJ Minority Supplier
Development Council.
2006 Top Diversity
Business by
DiversityBusiness.com 4
years running, 2004
Class II supplier of the
year NY/NJ Minority
Supplier Development
Council, and 2004 Class
II national supplier of
the year finalist
National Minority
Supplier Development
Council.
Mr. Park was recognized
as the 2005 Asian
Entrepreneur of the Year
for High Technology by
Asian Enterprise
Magazine.
Prior to founding
eclaro
International,
Mr. Park was an analyst
at Merrill Lynch. He
holds a BA from Rutgers
University and an MBA in
Finance from the Leonard
N. Stern School of
Business of New York
University.
Mr. Park is the 2nd
Vice Chair of the
National Minority
Supplier Development
Council (NMSDC) Minority
Business Enterprise
Input Committee (MBEIC).
As 2nd Vice
Chair, Mr. Park provides
informal guidance and
mentorship to the West
Coast chapters of the
MBEIC from Washington to
California. Mr. Park
serves on the
prestigious NMSDC
Corporation of the Year
selection committee. The
committee consists of a
9 member panel that
annually selects the
Fortune 1000 company
with the best supplier
diversity program.
Mr. Park is the
Chairperson of MBEIC for
the local New York
chapter. The New York
and New Jersey MBEIC is
a collective of minority
business owners, whose
mission is to help the
greater New York/New
Jersey minority business
community grow and
expand by providing
counsel and specific
program recommendations.
Mr. Park has worked with
World Vision, which
helps restore and
develop poor communities
around the world. Mr.
Park was part of a team
that worked to restore
two communities in
Uganda, Africa, one of
which Mr. Park visited
and is considered to be
the epicenter of the
AIDS pandemic in
Africa. The project is
scheduled to last 15
years, initially
bringing clean water and
eventually establishing
commerce in these
Ugandan communities, so
that they would be self
sustaining. The project
will also educate and
implement AIDS
prevention strategies to
decrease the mortality
rate in Uganda
Mr. Park is also an
active Board Member of
Joy Christian
Fellowship, an Asian
American Church in
Tenafly NJ. As a board
member, Mr. Park has
helped oversee the
distribution of over
$1,200,000 in charitable
contributions to support
missionaries and mission
organizations in over 10
countries, including
China, India,
Philippines and South
East Asia.
Brian Schwartz is
Vice President for
Research and Sponsored
Programs, Professor of
Physics, and co-director
of the New Media Lab at
the Graduate Center of
the City University of
New York. Throughout
his scientific career as
a researcher at MIT and
CUNY, and through his
many public lectures and
his contributions to the
professional society of
physicists, Professor
Schwartz has focused on
the communication and
celebration of science.
Brian Schwartz obtained
his undergraduate degree
from City College of New
York and his Ph.D.
degree from Brown
University in 1963 in
the field of
superconductivity.
Dr. Schwartz has edited
8 books and published
more than 120 articles
in refereed journals.
He has presented
hundreds of invited
talks on his research as
well as on topics in
education and the
communication of science
to the public.
Christina Seid
is co-owner of the
Chinatown Ice Cream
Factory in New York
City, one of Chinatown's
oldest and most
well-known businesses.
Her ice cream has
received international
praise and accolades,
and was voted best ice
cream in NYC by
Citysearch since 2005.
She received her BA from
the University of
Rochester in psychology
and an MA in education
from Queens College.
Christina is an Asian
American advocate, and
is well-known in the
Chinatown for her
community involvement.
She recently published
her first children's
book Saturdays in
Chinatown; selling
hundreds within its
first month. Despite her
youth, Christina has
also been noted for her
business acumen both in
local and international
press. In her free time,
Christina enjoys
cooking, golf, reading,
and pastry classes.
Lene Skou
is the Deputy Director
of the Weissman Center
for International
Business and adjunct
professor of business
law at Baruch College.
Ms. Skou joined the
Center in October 2000.
Prior to working at the
Weissman Center, she
served as law clerk to
the Honorable Richard W.
Goldberg of the U.S.
Court of International
Trade and senior trade
policy analyst for The
Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey. Ms.
Skou earned her J.D.
from the University of
Copenhagen, Denmark and
has an LL.M. from New
York University School
of Law. She is admitted
to practice in New York
State. Ms. Skou is a
member of the board of
the Financial Women’s
Association and a member
of the board of the
Asian American Asian
Research Institute of
the City University of
New York.
Paul Taravella
is an Industrial
Specialist with the U.S.
Small Business
Administration
Government Contracting
Division. Being
attached to the Area I
Office which covers the
geographic area from
Maine to New Jersey, he
is responsible for
executing three primary
program areas designed
to aid the small
business community in
receiving maximum
opportunity to compete
for federal government
procurement dollars.
These program areas are
the Certificate of
Competency Program, the
Subcontracting Program
and the formal size
determination program.
He brings over 25 years
experience in this area.
Mr. Taravella holds an
MBA in International
Business from Baruch
College of CUNY and a BA
in Economics from Queens
College.
Darren Wan is a
co-founding partner of
Red Egg. Born and
raised in a restaurant
family, Wan developed
his understanding of the
restaurant industry
through the example of
his father David Wan.
Prior to opening Red Egg
in June of 2008, Darren
was an International
equity analyst for a
major investment
management company
located in Boston and
has focused his most
recent professional
career in business
development where he has
been an integral part of
growing and expanding
small companies in a
variety of industries
such as fashion design
and retail as well as
general construction.
Wan earned his B.S. in
Finance and Economics
from Carnegie Mellon
University and his MBA
in Strategic Management
and Finance from the
University of Chicago
Graduate School of
Business.
Brian Yeung
is a business advisor
with the New York State
Small Business
Development Center at
York College. With over
10 years of diversified
experience and expertise
in small businesses
development, Brian
focuses on small
business counseling,
business plan
development, and
business financing.
Entrepreneurs assisted
by Brian include the
2007 NYS SBDC Minority
Entrepreneur of The Year
and the 2005 NYS SBDC
Start Up Company of The
Year. His clients also
include the 2001 Queens
Success Story - World
Trade Center Disaster
Small Business Recovery
Loan and the 2008 Queens
Success Business of the
Year.
Prior to becoming a
business advisor, Brian
was a loan officer at
the Abacus Federal
Savings Bank, a small
community bank in New
York City’s Chinatown.
Brian holds a M.B.A. in
Computer Information
System from Baruch
College, and a B.S. in
Business Management and
Finance from Brooklyn
College. In addition to
his full time duties as
a business advisor,
Brian is an adjunct
lecturer for the
teaching business
management
and marketing in the
York College Accounting
and Business Department
. Brian is a member of
the Queens Chamber of
Commerce Minority
Business Development
Committee.
Disclaimer: The
information provided at
this conference is for
educational purposes
only, and in no way
represents legal,
financial or tax advice.
Individuals are advised
to consult their
attorneys, or other
professionals for
guidance.
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