Lani Wong
Chair
Lani Wong, Chair of NACA-Atlanta, is a recognized community leader at the local, national, and international levels. She has been at the forefront of community service and community leadership for 30 years.
Ms. Wong is a true pioneer in her vision and foresight in promoting U.S.-China relations, excellence in education, participation of Asian Americans in the American political process, and the importance of charitable organizations to serve the greater needs of the community.
Board and Community Organization Memberships
Development Authority of DeKalb County, Secretary
Delta Air Lines Global Diversity Alliance, Board of Directors
Georgia Perimeter College Foundation, Board of Trustees
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Global Business Council
Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Board of Directors
Georgia Women’s Institute, Charter Board of Directors
International Women Forum of Georgia, Board of Directors
Public Broadcasting of Atlanta, Board of Directors
Mayor Kasim Reed’s Transition Team Member (former)
Leadership Atlanta Foundation, Board of Trustees (former)
Georgia Perimeter College Presidential Search Committee Member (former)
Coca-Cola Scholars National Selection Committee Member (former)
Saint Joseph Hospital Health System, Board of Trustees (former)
International Recognition
2009
Appointed as the 3rd term advisor for the China Overseas Office and the International Culture Exchange Association during a ceremony in Beijing
Attended the 60th Anniversary Celebration of China as a selected distinguished overseas Chinese
2008
Recognized as an Honorary Chinese Citizen, as one of only 16 people to receive the honor in 2008
Reappointed by the Chinese government as Advisor to the 8th National Congress of All China Federation of Return Oversea Chinese
2007
Received the first annual International Luminary Award from GlobalExecWomen
Attended the 5th Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as a nonvoting delegate, as one of only five U.S. citizens invited to attend
2004
Reappointed by the Chinese government as Advisor to the 7th National Congress of All China Federation of Return Oversea Chinese
1997
Invited to attend the Hong Kong handover ceremony
1996
Served as an attaché during the Centennial Olympic Games
National Recognition
2009
Attended a dinner reception honoring Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Cai Bingguo and their Ministerial delegations to the Strategic and Economic Dialogue with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner
2006
Received a special invitation to attend several functions during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s State visit to the White House
2004
Member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations
Invited to the White House by President George Bush to celebration the Asian American Heritage Month
1998
Participated in a forum counseling President Bill Clinton on United States-China policies
1987
Invited to a White House policy briefing on Asian American affairs
Steven Gu
President
Steven Gu is a CPA (Licensed in Georgia) and Attorney (Licensed in New York). He works for Mergers & Acquisition – Tax department of KPMG LLP. His practices include tax Reorganization and Restructuring, Bankruptcy workout, Basis and E&P study, Tax Carve-out (Spin off & IPOs), Due Diligence and other tax planning services. He has represented clients from different industries including Energy & Alternative Energy, Hotel Management, Aerospace, Private Equity, Financing & Banking, Healthcare, Telecommunication, etc. Steven also plays a key role in KPMG’s US China Practice which assists Chinese companies seeking to access U.S. markets – expanding operations, raising capital and/or engaging in M&A. KPMG US China Practice, in collaboration with the member firm in China, also helps U.S. companies implement cross-border investment strategies and navigate the associated risks, whether they contemplate market entry, M&A or optimization of existing operations.
Prior to joining KPMG, Steven worked in the Legal Department of the Central Bank of China from 1999 to 2002. His professional experience involves Financial and Banking law, Central Bank took-over, foreign exchange and foreign investment.
Steven is actively involved in the local Chinese and Asian Pacific American communities. He has been serving as a NACA board member since 2007. He served as NACA Vice President, Senior Vice President for the term of 2009 and 2010, respectively. He was the committee chair for the Inaugural NACA US China Business Conference held in November 2010, which attracted more than 250 attendants, including many multinational corporate senior executives and mayor of Atlanta.
He is an active member ASCEND, a premier professional organization dedicated to enabling its members, business partners and the community to leverage the leadership and global business potential of Pan-Asians. He served as a mentor to ASCEND Emory Chapter.
Christina Liao
Immediate Past President
Christina is the Vice President of Marketing Science at CMI, a full-service marketing research and consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. She has over 15 years of experience in conducting a wide variety of marketing research studies in both public and private sectors. She is also a member of her company’s
Leadership Team. In her role, Christina helps shape the company’s strategic direction and new product development initiatives. She is in charge of the budget and day-to-day operations and performance of the analytical services group. In addition, she provides training to clients and consults with them on the use of analytical strategies in brand equity, price elasticity, customer purchase behaviors, customer value, customer loyalty, customer acquisition and retention, market share, advertising effect, and a company's competitive strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace.
Christina conducts various webinars every year and is a frequent presenter at national conferences, including the recent Society for Insurance Research annual conference and the Institute for International Research’s (IIR) The Market Research Event. Christina is also an active member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and teaches at AMA’s annual Advanced School of Marketing
Research.
Christina has served on the NACA Board for the past 7 years, and currently serves as the President on the board. In addition, she serves on the National Selection Committee for the Coca-Cola Scholars, and she is a member of the Leadership Johns Creek Class of 2011.
Zheng Li
Senior Vice President
Mr. Li holds a management degree from University of Science and Technology of China (1991) and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering from University of Notre Dame (1997), Li Zheng worked for the State of Kansas and multiple international consulting projects for 10 years before returning to his family business Shanghai Top Motor Ltd in 2007. Currently Li Zheng runs Shanghai Top's North American operation with its fast growing distribution network and solution oriented customer services and tech-supports from Atlanta.
Olivia (Yin) Wu
Senior Vice President
Yin (Olivia) Wu is currently the CEO of Chinamex USA, a company headquartered in Beijing and the US office serves as a consultant and a platform to forge strategic partnerships and business opportunities between China and the U.S.
Prior to Chinamex, Olivia was the Relationship Manager with East West Bank, he largest bank serving the Asian American community in the U.S. In 2007, after three years of focused work in financial analysis and investment industry, Olivia became the Vice President for Heritage Capital Advisors, a corporate advisory and investment firm based in Atlanta. In this capacity, Olivia expanded the new- client list and advised Chinese companies investing in the U.S. Olivia has made multiple trips to many cities in China to establish cross-cultural and cross- business partnerships. With more than eight years of consistent involvement in Atlanta, Olivia is well connected in the metro economic development community and the local Asian community and has extensive access to local businesses at all sizes. She is currently the Vice President of National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA). Previously, Olivia served as Secretary of the Board for four years and on the Board of Directors for two years.
Olivia is originally from Hunan province of China. She obtained a BA in International Banking from Hunan University, and obtained a MBA in Finance from Georgia State University. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder.
Ethel Mar
Treasurer
Ethel is currently the Treasurer of NACA. She has been an active NACA member for many years and pleased to be part of and to see the growth and the success of many community commitments during that time.
Originally from Canada, Ethel relocated to Atlanta with husband Jung, a retired corporate executive, who is presently a Senior Advisor with NACA. She has been involved in teaching ESL to foreign students and worked as a volunteer at local hospitals.
Hong Wills
Secretary
Hong Sun Wills is an attorney at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, a full service leading Atlanta law firm with approximately 170 attorneys. Her practice concentrates in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, international business transactions, aircraft finance, leasing and acquisitions, and general corporate representation. She represents both domestic and foreign corporations that are acquiring or selling businesses and establishing operations. She has represented clients across a broad range of industries including manufacturing, construction, aviation and healthcare in their mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, private financings, and other corporate transactions. Hong has also represented various U.S. and foreign commercial airlines and aircraft leasing companies in a wide variety of complex domestic and cross-border financing, acquisition and leasing transactions for new and used U.S. and non-U.S. registered and operated aircraft. Prior to joining Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, Hong worked at Kapoor & Associates, LLP, Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, the International Law Department of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and the Georgia Supreme Court (Justice Robert Benham).
Hong was born and raised in China. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Fudan University in Shanghai. She earned her Master’s degree in International Affairs from Georgia Tech. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law. Hong has lived in Atlanta since 1997 and is actively involved in the local Chinese and Asian Pacific American communities. She has been serving as a member of the board of directors of NACA since 2006 and she served as Vice President – Secretary for the 2010-2011 term.
Connie Yip
Vice President
Connie currently works as a Legal Assistant at the law firm of Fellows LaBriola LLP, a litigation boutique specializing in a diverse range of practice areas with focuses in business and commercial litigation such as commercial contract and shareholder disputes. She supports two Partners and one Of Counsel, managing case files and executing the legal procedures and processes involved at a trial and litigation firm. She also supports the Firm Administrator and holds responsibilities in the maintenance of the firm’s operating and IOLTA accounts, coordinating the firm’s marketing projects and managing attorney membership and attendance at all bar functions.
A native of Georgia, Connie graduated from Oglethorpe University, a private liberal arts university in Atlanta with a dual degree in International Studies with an Asia Concentration and Spanish. As part of her curriculum, she had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Guadalajara and the Dongbei University of Finance & Economics as an exchange student studying Spanish and Mandarin. Post-graduation, she returned to China for one year to teach English at Shane English School in Dalian and with the goal of continuing her studies in Mandarin.
Connie holds a passion for community service and has been a member of NACA for over two years. She volunteers for NACA in multiple capacities, serving as a member of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Public Relations & Communications Committee and as Editor-in-Chief.
Elaine Yu
Board Member
Elaine Yu currently serves on NACA Board. Married to Henry Yu, our past president and current Advisor, the Yus have been associated with NACA since moving to Atlanta in 2000. Elaine has been working closely with NACA Board on many activities since joining NACA as regualr member in 2001. Quite ofter she stays behind the scene in making sure that there is enough support and production on key NACA events.
Elaine was previously an Administrative Assistant of the Marketing Group of Atlanta Journal Constitution in Gwinnett County. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Elaine was an Associate with an Insurance company in Chicago. The Yus have 2 daughters, Amanda and Vivian and an old dog Cody!
Joanna Jin
Board Member
Joanna Jin is from Shanghai, China. Before she came to the U.S. in 1999, she was an account manager of the biggest employment agency, CIIC, located in Shanghai finding local talent for foreign enterprises and rep. offices and successfully recruiting about 730 employees within 3 years. Her biggest clients include GE, GM, Motorola, IKEA and Samsung to name a few. After she came to the U.S., she worked for AIG Atlanta providing administrative and management support.
Joanna graduated from East China Normal University in Shanghai with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Lacrosse University in 2007. Recently, she received a TESOL certificate from Kennesaw State University as she is also interested in language teaching in both English and Chinese Mandarin.
Joanna has a passion for community service and has been a member of NACA for more than 2 years. She volunteers for various NACA events. In 2009, she served as a membership Co-Chair with NACA Board Member, Danny Pian. In 2010, while she did not serve as a committee member, she continues to devote much time in helping with the membership database and event logistics.
Wang Xu
Board Member
Wang is an Auditor at Ernst & Young, LLP. Her professional experience includes insurance company and healthcare auditing. She is also a representative for EY's China Overseas Investment Network in the Southeast area. Prior to joining in EY, she was an Associate Marketing Manager at Round Hill Furniture, a furniture wholesaler based in Columbus, OH. She has experience in opening new markets, building and maintaining customer relationships, and managing and coordinating office and warehouse operations. She acquired entrepreneurial experience as one of founding members of Shanghai Anzo Cloth Ltd. during her undergraduate in Shanghai, China.
Wang graduated from Fudan University in China. She obtained a Master of East Asian Languages and Literature from Ohio State University, and a Master of Accounting degree from Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).
Wang joined NACA at the end of 2009 and has been actively involved in several events held by NACA since then.
Henry Yu
Advisor
Jung Mar
Advisor
Jeff Smith
Legal Advisor
Jeffrey Smith is a Principal Shareholder in Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in the Atlanta office. His practice primarily involves securities law, trademarks and entertainment.
He is included in The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the World, The American Lawyer Top Lawyers and Georgia Super Lawyers.
He presented over 200 seminars in 36 states and 10 countries, including a securities law seminar for the China Supreme Court. He is an Honorary Professor and Lecturer at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, where he teaches securities law and trademarks.
He has lectured at 15 universities on securities law, legal opinions and trademarks. This includes the MBA programs at Shanghai University in Shanghai, China and Suzhou University, in Suzhou, China.
He has participated in writing several books:
1. Co-author with Dean Baoyun Qiao of the China Academy of Public Finance and Policy at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, Municipal Bonds in The People’s Republic of China (expected publication date in 2011);
2. Co-author, Legal Opinions in Business Transactions (PLI 2010);
3. Co-author, 8,000 page treatise entitled Legal Malpractice (West 2010); and
4. Editor, Levinson, Accountant’s Legal Liability (Harcourt Brace, 1981).
Jeffrey Smith is pro bono Legal Counsel to the National Association of Chinese Americans. He was on the Board of Directors for the United States Fund for UNICEF. He was the pro bono general counsel for the Atlanta Community Food Bank for 20 years and was a member of its Board of Directors.
Ed Cunningham
Advisor
Ed Cunningham serves and manages US Renewable Energy Group’s $1.3 billion renewable energy portfolio, which promotes marketplace integration of renewable and environmentally sound energy technologies.
Prior to USREG, Mr. Cunningham served as the CEO and Managing Director, Asia, for AEG. Under his guidance, AEG’s operations in the Asian region grew from a handful of employees to more than 5,000 employees in eleven Asian cities with real estate, infrastructure and development projects exceeding $1.8 billion. Prior to AEG, Cunningham served as the Asia CEO for Clear Channel Communications (Entertainment Division), a Fortune 500 Company. Cunningham worked with government leaders and companies to create China’s earliest joint ventures in the politically sensitive cultural, sports, entertainment, and media industries. Prior to Clear Channel, Cunningham was a partner and Director for the Global Media, Sports and Entertainment Practice at the Coudert Brothers Law Firm. Cunningham has visited and evaluated more than 100 Asian cities, and he has completed numerous landmark agreements in Asia.
Cunningham has served the United States throughout his career including serving as a member of President Barack Obama’s National Finance Committee, the Presidential Advisory Committee (Technology), the U.S. Foreign Affairs Budget Project Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Diplomacy (Co-Director of International Negotiations Program), the Democratic National Committee National Advisory Committee, a U.S. Senate Candidate and a City Councilman. Cunningham has far-reaching experience as a public speaker including serving as the keynote speaker for the Conference Board’s Global Conference, Beijing Olympic Games Strategic Initiatives Conference, China University Games Global Announcement Ceremony and serving on the Leadership Panel for the PricewaterhouseCoopers New Frontiers in Media Conference. Cunningham has been active in many charitable initiatives, including the China Earthquake Tent Relief Project to supply shelter for the millions of earthquake victims in China’s Sichuan Province. Cunningham speaks some Chinese and Vietnamese. He has also contributed to various White Paper publications, authored comprehensive Asian pandemic response plans and is an associate member of the American Foreign Services Association.
Cunningham grew up in a small West Texas town with a population of less than 1,000 people. Through his hard work and dedication, he was able to earn a spot on the University of Texas Football team where he eventually earned All-American honors and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player. In addition, he received one of the University’s highest honors, the D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award. Prior to law school, Cunningham had brief stints in the NFL with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns where he had the opportunity to learn from two of football’s greatest coaches, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.
Jack Wen
Advisor
Jack Wen was named Vice President and China Region Executive for GE Energy in 2008 based in Beijing, leading the Energy business in China.
Jack joined GE Energy in 1998 as part of GE’s Asia Leadership Development Program in Shanghai, China. Since then, he had held a variety of roles in China, US and Japan, including Sales Director for GE Energy in China. In August 2005, he was named Sales Operations Leader for GE Energy Services, based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Among his major accomplishments, Jack has driven growth for GE Energy in China by winning some major projects, leading cross functional team to lay out the foot print and structure to position GE Energy for long-term growth in China.
Jack holds master’s degree in electrical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and business administration from the China Europe International Business School.
Peter Lee
Advisor
Dr. Lee is the Executive Director of Rondabosh International Limited and Senior Advisor of Taffrail Group. He is on the board of directors of E-Business Solutions Limited (EBSL).
Dr. Lee began his career in 1972 as a research chemist for The Coca-Cola Company at its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 1978, Dr. Lee accepted a business development position in Hong Kong, and was instrumental in developing Coca-Cola's business in Mainland China, which led to the establishment of new plants in Beijing, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Zhuhai. He was appointed the first President of Coca-Cola China in 1979 and was named Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola Pacific in 1985.
Following his career at Coca-Cola, Dr. Lee held senior management positions with a number of US and UK based multinational corporations in the packaging, telecommunications, and industrial minerals industries. These included English China Clay Asia-Pacific Ltd, a British industrial minerals and pigments company; Riverwood International Asia-Pacific Ltd, a US specialty packaging company; Mead Coated Board Far East Ltd, a division of Mead Corporation; and Bellsouth International Asia-Pacific Ltd. He also established the China operations for Chesapeake Corporation and served as President Asia-Pacific Limited and a Corporate Vice President until his retirement in 2007.
Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Michigan State University and pursued his post-doctoral research at New York University and Cambridge University. He is a member of the American Chemical Society. He is also the Vice-Chairman/Secretary of the East Asian History of Science Foundation -Hong Kong.
Dr. Lee played a big role in NACA's development in 80s and 90s, and NACA could not have been here without his guide and support. We are thrilled that Dr. Lee have agreed to serve as a Senior Advisor to NACA. His knowledge, expertise and vision will be an invaluable contribution in helping NACA to define the organization and achieve our missions. Again, on behalf of NACA, we welcome and look forward to working with Dr. Lee.
| 
