This website is dedicated to the hearts, minds, and spirits of great people who have made a difference in our world.
To mentors and heroes everywhere.

A special tribute to Alvin Joe, Jr. who is looking down on us and smiling knowing that we are carrying on his lifelong work of encouraging others to achieve their dreams. Alvin took the concept of networking and mentoring to a "higher art form" and helped hundreds of people to develop the courage and necessary skills to start their own businesses and expand their professional careers, even while he was just starting out on his own himself. He was one of the original founders of the Asian Business Association 20 years ago as well as numerous other organizations which continue today as dynamic forces within the Asian American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nearly 1,000 people gathered together to honor him in an extraodinary tribute in San Francisco. They came from all walks of life, from all ethnic backgrounds, Asian, African American, Hispanic, and told emotional stories of appreciation of how one man, Alvin Joe had inspired and mentored them to achieve their dreams.

To Dr. Stephen Rakower, AsianConnections.com's biggest cheerleader of all.

A Special Thank You to AsianConnections.com's Inaugural Launch Team!:

AsianConnections.com Co-Founder, Suzanne Joe Kai is a former Emmy nominated award winning television broadcast news journalist and documentary producer from San Francisco and investment firm owner in Newport Beach. Holding a Masters Degree in Communications from Stanford University and a BA in Sociology and Economics from Mills College, she is frequently requested to speak at national and regional investment conferences. Drawing on two successful careers, a pioneer as one of America's first Asian Americans and women in TV broadcast news and today a leader in the world of international investments, Suzanne has developed AsianConnections.com to help others expand their own horizons. Suzanne was a delegate, accompanying San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown on his recent Trade and Friendship Mission to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. She was one of only a few Americans to be able to witness events surrounding Great Britain's Handover to China in Hong Kong and later the same day invited to Beijing to attend the official Chinese Handover celebration at the Great Hall of the People. She has learned from her own personal experience that proper introductions can lead to great connections - which in turn can make all the difference in the world.

Co-Founder, Mike Kai, age 15, brings fresh, youthful ideas to his direction of the concept and content of AsianConnections.com. He has participated in Johns Hopkins University's Center For Talented Youth, G.A.T.E (Gifted and Talented Education), as well as the Gifted High School Student Program at the University of California at Irvine. Aside from his studies, Mike is a webmaster for other websites including racing and snowboarding under his web design label, 2FeetUp.com Productions. He is currently ranked #1 in his division nationally in the Quarter Midget Racing Association and competes regularly around the country. Mike also enjoys extreme snowboarding, is an Advanced Certified SCUBA diver, and goes fishing regularly with his cousin Jason.

Katie Noel Joe, age 17, "Design Princess," created AsianConnections.com's mascot bear. Katie is a scholarship recipient of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project for 1998 where students are encouraged to discover and develop their leadership potential and enhance their understanding of effective public service, community leadership and what it means to be a member of the Asian Pacific community in today's ethnically and culturally diverse society. Katies loves printmaking, fashion, photography, origami, travel, and training her parakeet "Budgie" to talk. Katie is also a "power shopper."

Jeanie S. Joe, is a member of AsianConnections.com's "Cheerleading Team." Jeanie is president of GeoResource Consultants, an award winning geotechnical and environmental consulting group in San Francisco founded by her late husband, Alvin Joe 22 years ago. She is active in numerous organizations in the SF Bay Area including, former board member of the Asian Business Assoc., Asian American Architects and Engineers, Asian American Manufacturers Assoc., and Women Construction Owners and Entrepreneurs. She was a delegate accompanying San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown on his Trade and Friendship mission to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Steven Scott Joe, age 21, is AsianConnections.com's "College Correspondent." Steve is a senior Economics Major at the University of California at Irvine. A member of the Asian American Lambda Theta Delta fraternity, Steve loves sports and was star center for a championship basketball team, captain of the volleyball team and is a snowboarding enthusiast. Steve was a scholarship recipient of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project. He is active in community and charity work for the Asian American community, the Boys and Girls Club tutoring and after school program, the Soup Kitchen of San Francisco and numerous other organizations.

Cherie Campbell, "Web Princess," brings her brilliance to AsianConnections.com with her experience in marketing, design, finance and business development. She holds a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Mills College and has completed graduate studies at the University of Arizona in Urban Planning. Cherie has owned her own successful engineering and planning company, managed a 28 project $250 million real estate development empire, and directs a regional planning agency. Cherie brings her dynamic and multi talented skills to the creative, editorial, business and finance development of AsianConnections.com.

Gregory J. Karns, AsianConnections.com's "Legal Emperor" is one of the nation's leading authorities on successful cross-cultural business ventures. Greg is the Pacific Rim Partner at the distinguished Los Angeles law firm, Cox, Castle & Nicholson, LLP in Los Angeles. Many major Asian-US investments as well as Wall Street ventures are handled through Greg's office. Greg is Co-Founder and has Co-Chaired for five years Pacific Resources, the nationally recognized annual conference on U.S. - Asian real estate investment. Greg holds a law degree from Loyola Marymount and a Bachelor's degree from University of California at Santa Cruz. Greg is featured in a Chinese costume that was presented to him as he toured the Great Wall of China the day after he was an invited guest in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People celebration of the Hong Kong Handover.

Mr. Albert Huang, AsianConnections.com's revered "Chief Mentor" is a U.S. attorney and for 15 years a senior executive and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai operations of Mr. C.H. Tung's conglomerate, OOCL. While Chairman C.H. Tung was appointed as Chief Executive of Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) after Hong Kong's Handover to China, Albert has continued his brilliant business advisory role and has been appointed Chairman of a major company in Shanghai. Albert is responsible for pioneering numerous successful Pacific Rim joint ventures and enterprises including advising major multinational corporations. He has a special interest in media, internet and entertainment development for the U.S. and China market.

Ben Chen, the "Web Wizard" mentors the AsianConnections.com web team with round the clock work ethic training, "like boot camp." He's so incredible, he inspires all of us with his famous saying "Can Do!" even if it is one of the most complicated web design and development tasks. Ben is a graduate of UC Irvine with a Computer Science B.S. and is a webmaster for a computer group for major multinational clients. Ben can work non-stop, always with a smile while his better half Alice is on the internet teaming with him on complex programming. Alice is also a very busy computer genius with a major international consulting firm, with multiple degrees including a Masters Degree in Computer Science and an MBA. Ben likes C++, Java, Java Script, Perl, Lotus Notes, HTML, DHTML, XML, and other esoteric programming which he thrives on after a very spicy bowl of Thai noodles. Ben and Alice are perfectly poised to take AsianConnections.com into the internet's millenium.

David Kawika Talisman, the "Web Kahuna"mentors the AsianConnections.com web team with his special lovable qualities. From his studio paradise in Hawaii, David inspires and guides us with expert technical advice and lots of patience. David is President of True Digital, an award winning website, film and video production company. David's company has a fully digital broadcast quality editing and production facility, develops proprietary web based software, and specializes in CGI, Java, Digital Audio, and Internet Video. Prior to forming his own production company David was a film and television writer for Disney and Norman Lear productions.

Nori Ohtomo "Design Princess" is a shy and very talented graphic design artist. Always with a smile, she "plays like a piano" with some of the most sophisticated digital computer equipment to produce many of the elegant images on the website. Nori holds a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Arts from Cal State Fullerton.

David Chia is AsianConnections.com's "Chia Pet." Dave has been immersed in the internet world since its early inception and provides strategic and business development planning. Dave is a Medical student and popular webmaster for University of California at Irvine Graduate School of Management's commercial and academic website. One of his projects since earning his MBA is helping to take his family's biotechnology company public.

Derek Vu Powell, the "Roadrunner" is a graduate of University of California at Irvine's Graduate School of Management. Derek is a one man "connections-central" and the epitome of AsianConnections.com's Mission Statement. This high energy, upbeat, "can do" leader inspires AsianConnections.com web team with his encouraging, motivating and energizing e-mails, telephone calls and brainstorm sessions over clams and black bean sauce. Derek studied at the University of Hong Kong and is part of the Andersen Consulting Group's international trade team.

John Suh, "John Boy" as his close friends endearingly call him since the days he was just a teenager working in the garment industry, is one of the Korean American community's brightest young leaders. As a supportive member of AsianConnections.com's web team. John is well versed in international trade, business and the internet. He was the youngest president of the Korean Garment Wholesalers Association, one of the most influential Asian industry groups in Los Angeles, the center of the nation's largest garment industry. Born in Seoul, Korea, raised in LA's multi-ethnic urban community and educated in the U.S., including a degree from UCLA's Anderson Executive Management program, John is a perfect cross cultural "bridge." As president of the FIA, Fashion Industry Alliance, and principal with international consulting firm, Global Business Exchange John leads trade delegations from the U.S. to Asia and Europe and is an advisor for Asian based garment and textile manufacturers entering the U.S. market.

Ray Zhang, our "Hong Kong Correspondent" is one of Asia's leading investment bankers in charge of corporate finance at Jardine Fleming. Ray leads one of the busiest travelling lifestyles and is ideally suited to advise on AsianConnections.com's "Best of the Best" advice columns for travel, hotels, restaurants, and places to go. Born in Shanghai, one of China's star physics students, he earned an MBA from Stanford University before becoming an advisor to SRI, the Stanford Research Institute, Schroders and currently Jardine Fleming. Ray has many special interests including the entertainment and media industries and taking wild, cliffhanging theme park rides.

Tom Chin, co-author of AsianConnections.com exclusive interview with Jerry Yang of Yahoo! is an international investment banker based in San Francisco. He is co-founder and president of SinoAmerican Investment and Development with operations in Shanghai and San Francisco. An astute investor and observer of internet ventures, Tom has mentored the AsianConnections.com web team with fiscal and entrepreneurial advice and encouraged us to build a new innovative business model that can bring inspiring and positive energy to the world.

Many people, on both sides of the Pacific Rim from New York City to San Francisco, and from Singapore to Shanghai, Seoul to Taipei, Tokyo to Manila helped to launch this exciting project. We wish to thank the following mentors and those who encouraged us to create this exciting website:

Tom Yuen, former founder AST computers and other ground breaking ventures for your inspiring words and friendship; to Carol Lin for your comradery and technical excellence in this fast breaking internet world; to Jack Ong and Jasmin Wynd, for your words of encouragement, two Asian American leaders in Hollywood who have "made a difference" at the Screen Actors Guild on the images of the Asian American in the media and entertainment; Tom Chin, investment banker and words of wisdom; Teresa Wang, Angel Huang, Vivien Lu Wen and Robert Lee for your tireless efforts to translate our site. ABCFlash.com's co-founders Chinworth Yau and Pierre Wuu for believing in our Singles Network concept; Shel Weisel, founder of Love@1st-Site who has demonstrated that websites can promote the highest integrity and have the power to change people's lives positively; authors Lillian Too and Angi Ma Wong for your support of our web concept; Bonnie Wong and Yunah Kim, networking and mentoring experts of the Asian Women in Business, New York for your encouragement; Mark Bisgeiere, Hollywood entertainment attorney; April Minnich, the ultimate multimedia and web maven and president of SF's Sky Rocket Films, Victor Wang, Investment Banker and internet pioneer in China, Lu "Vivien" Wen, China media and film company president, Jia Horng and Susan Lin in Taipei, dear friends and first investors almost 20 years ago who have stood by us all these years; Hirofumi Hayashi in Tokyo for your lifelong friendship and my first computer tutor; MGM Grand's executive Bill Bralla; UC Irvine's Professor Louis H. Masotti; Stanford University Professor and Co-Founder Asia/Pacific Center Dr. Daniel Okimoto; Peking University Professor Dai; in Seoul, senior executives and dear friends: Mr. Paul Hoe Won Yoo, Daewoo's Mr. Hyun Chung Kim, Mr. Kang Ko, and S.H. Lee, Mr. K. S. Kang, Mr. Sang Cheon Yim, and the global team at Daewoo; Posco and former Samsung's Mr. Peter Hun Yung Park, Samsung's Mr. Yong Nam Kim and his incredible team, Shinhan's distinguished former Chairman Hong, Professor Kimm, globe trotters Mr. Chull Yang Park, Mr. Hyo Bahng, Ms. Peggy Kim, Mr. Sun Man Charles Noh, and the talented international team of Dong Ah; family members Justice Harry and Mayling Low, Larry Low, Allan Low, Kathy Low, Warren, Andrea, Sandra and Noni Yee, and pals, Suyin Stein, Tom and Clara Timmons, Stacey Smith Orme, Maria Wang, Celeste Budd, Sarah Weddington, Angel Huang, Nancy Ning, Helen Coffey, Kelly Howard.There are so many others we wish to thank. Life's a journey...and wow, what a journey it is!! Thank you, all!!

...the web team of AsianConnections.com

To Grandpa Alvin Joe, Sr. who at 85 years is still inspiring us all!

To "Scrappy-dog," the cocker spaniel/Llasa apsa dog we rescued from the pound who has brought us joy, happiness and laughter.

To "Pepy Le Pieu," aka "Pepy" the crazy loud mouthed green parrot whom we brought with us from an Arizona farm to California, and who now helps us edit the content of our website and keeps Scrappy-dog in line.