20th Annual Awards Gala

Gala Registration

Registration is required for ALL attendees. Registration is CLOSED.

Speaker BioS

Keynote Speaker

Sahra Nguyen

Founder & CEO
Nguyen Coffee Supply

Sahra Nguyen is the Founder & CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, America's first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and the leading proud champion of the resilient robusta bean. Importing directly from farms in Vietnam and roasting in Brooklyn, NY, the company's mission is to transform the coffee industry through diversity, sustainability & cultural integrity. Nguyen's efforts have led to the acceptance of robusta products in the premium coffee industry, as well as with national retailers. In 2023, Nguyen Coffee Supply launched nationally in Whole Foods Market, becoming the first company to sell 100% robusta cold brew at a major national retailer.

Nguyen is often credited as the leader of the Vietnamese coffee movement in North America and has served as an expert voice on Good Morning America, Bloomberg TV, NY1, CNBC, The Drew Barrymore Show, and CBS Saturday Morning. She has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Forbes, VICE, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, and countless other media. As of 2024, Nguyen Coffee Supply’s products are sold in stores nationwide including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Gopuff, HEB and Albertsons.  

In early January 2020, Imbibe Magazine featured Sahra Nguyen as one of the #Imbibe75 - people, places and directions that will shape the way you drink in 2020. In 2021, Nguyen graced the July cover of Food& Wine as one of their 25 Game Changers and in 2023, she graced the cover of Inc. Magazine as one of their Most Dynamic Women Entrepreneurs. Additionally, the 2023 Sprudgie Awards awarded Nguyen "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence" for writing anew chapter in the story of Vietnamese coffee in America. 

HONORARY CHAIR

paul fischer

President & Chief Operating Officer
Burns & McDonnell

Paul Fischer is the president and chief operating officer for Burns & McDonnell. Fisher provides valuable guidance and vision for all U.S. regional offices as well as major markets of Transmission & Distribution, Global Facilities, Aviation, Federal, Water, Environmental, Power, Transportation and Oil, Gas & Chemicals. He inspires and enables future growth to further strengthen service for critical infrastructure clients.

He grew up in a construction family, joined Burns &McDonnell in 1988 and soon became a project manager specializing in design-build delivery of a variety of market sectors and eventually working his way up to lead the Denver office before taking leadership of the firm’s regional offices.

Fisher turned the small Denver office into a thriving regional center of excellence as well as expanded the firm’s presence across the U.S. from eight regional offices to nearly 60 offices domestically. In 2015, he was selected to join the board of directors.

Fisher is actively involved in his local community. He supports organizations including the Civic Council of Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, and the ACEC Water, Energy & Environmental National Committee to name a few.

2025 Award winners

Entrepreneur of the Year
Grace Ahn
NvisionKC, LLC
Professional Leader of the Year
Marissa Love, MD
The University of Kansas
Health System
OutStanding community partner of the year
Ewing Marion
Kauffman Foundation
For past award winners click here.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Esther Tommy
Business
Exp. Graduation:
Spring 2026
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Isabelle Morrow
Associates in Biology
Exp. Graduation:
May 2027
Metropolitan Community College
Muhammad Bazil Samdani
Corporate Finance
Exp. Graduation:
December 2029
Park University
Aurora Marie Ivester
MBA
Exp. Graduation:
May 2025
Rockhurst University
Karnissa Caldwell
MBA
Exp. Graduation:
Fall 2025
University of Missouri Kansas City
View previous scholarship winners here.

2025 Silent Auction

All proceeds from the 21st Annual Awards Gala Silent Auction will be donated to student scholarships.
To place a bid, please email Lauren Inman at lauren_inman@asianchamberkc.com in increments of $25. Please include your phone number in the email. The website will reflect the latest bid.

View More Details Here
Donated by:
T-Mobile

Apple iPhone 16

Starting bid:
$
750.00
Value:
Priceless
$
1030.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel & Aqua Penny's

Weekend Getaway Package

Starting bid:
$
350.00
Value:
Priceless
$
650.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Mazuma

Sporting KC vs. Dallas FC Tickets for 4 Guests

Starting bid:
$
275.00
Value:
Priceless
$
550.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Argosy Casino & Hotel

Argosy Staycation Package

Starting bid:
$
250.00
Value:
Priceless
$
500.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Stinson

Diamond Club Seats to Royals vs. Reds

Starting bid:
$
200.00
Value:
Priceless
$
400.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Garmin

Garmin Vívoactive® 5 Smartwatch

Starting bid:
$
175.00
Value:
Priceless
$
300.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Kansas City Ballet

Two Tickets for Swan Lake by Kansas City Ballet

Starting bid:
$
150.00
Value:
Priceless
$
250.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
KC Current

4 Tickets to KC Current Game

Starting bid:
$
150.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
RSVP Med Spa & Cosmetic Eye Institute

Elevate Your Summer Glow with RSVP Med Spa

Starting bid:
$
150.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
ABC Cafe, JINYA Ramen Bar, Bamboo Penny's, Bruu Cafe

Taste of Asia

Starting bid:
$
150.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Lyric Opera

2 Tickets to Madame Butterfly at Lyric Opera

Starting bid:
$
125.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Lotus Rain Wellness Spa

Relax, Renew, Rejuvenate at Lotus Rain Wellness Spa!

Starting bid:
$
150.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00
View More Details Here
Donated by:
Cafe Ca Phe

Perk Up with Authentic Vietnamese Robusta Beans: A Smooth & Bold Awakening

Starting bid:
$
125.00
Value:
Priceless
$
200.00

Sponsorship & Ticket Options

Platinum

—$

13500

• Premier reserved seating for 8 (1 table) • Full page commemorative advertisement in Awards Gala program • Logo on event entrance signage • Prominent logo/link on Chamber website and online marketing materials for one year • Dedicated social media recognition • On-screen logo recognition • Special acknowledgement from the podium at event • Complimentary AACC corporate membership for 1 year• Two complimentary bottles of wine

Sapphire

—$

10000

• Premier reserved seating for 8 (1 table) • Full page commemorative advertisement in Awards Gala program • Logo on event entrance signage • Prominent logo/link on Chamber website and online marketing materials for one year • Dedicated social media recognition • On-screen logo recognition • Special acknowledgement from the podium at event • Complimentary AACC corporate membership for 1 year

Gold

—$

7000

• Premier reserved seating for 8 (1 table) • Half page commemorative advertisement in Awards Gala program • Logo on event entrance signage • Prominent logo/link on Chamber website and online marketing materials for one year • Dedicated social media recognition • On-screen logo recognition • Special acknowledgement from the podium at event • Complimentary AACC corporate membership for 1 year

Silver

—$

5000

• Premier reserved seating for 8 (1 table) • Quarter page commemorative advertisement in Awards Gala program • Prominent logo/link on Chamber website and online marketing materials for one year • On-screen logo recognition • Complimentary AACC corporate membership for 1 year

Bronze

—$

3500

• Reserved seating for 8 (1 table) • Logo/link recognition on Galawebsite/Program/e-newsletters • On-screen logo recognition • Complimentary AACC corporate membership for 6 mos.

On-Screen Logo Sponsor

—$

2500

• Two reserved seats • Logo with link on Gala website/Program book/On-screen

Individual Ticket

—$

325

Gala Registration

Registration is required for ALL attendees. Registration is CLOSED.

Gala Registration

Registration is required for ALL attendees. RSVP before the deadline: Thursday, April 25th

2025 Gala Sponsors

Presenting

Platinum

VIP Reception

No items found.

Gold

Penny's in the Village

Silver

Hallmark
Lockton Companies
NvisionKC

Bronze

Angela and Neal Sharma
Aqua Penny's
Benny & Edith Lee
Clarkson Construction Company
Enerfab Power & Industrial
Garmin
Greater Kansas City Allergy Society
KPMG
KVC Health Systems
Kissick Construction Company
Lucky International Trading Inc.
Professional Engineering Consultants
Schmidtlein Excavating, Inc.
The University of Kansas Health System
UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management

Foundation Sponsor

Joseph & Jenny Melookaran

Scholarship Sponsor

ABC Cafe 釗記餐廳
Bukaty Companies
J. Douglas Cusick M.D., F.A.C.S.
JE Dunn
Tacos Borrachos
Terracon Consultants Inc
Tous Les Jours
UnitedHealthcare

2025 Annual Sponsors

Annual Gold Sponsors

No items found.

Annual Silver SPonsors

American Century Investments
Black & Veatch
Blue Cross & Blue Shield Kansas City
Catalyst
City of Overland Park
CrossFirst Bank
Evergy
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Husch Blackwell
KC Royals
Kansas City National Security Campus Managed by Honeywell
Object Technology Solutions Inc.
Stinson LLP
T-Mobile

Annual Bronze Sponsors

Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
Community America Credit Union
Johnson County Government
Mazuma
McCownGordon Construction
Modus Light, LLC
PK Tax & Accounting Svcs, LLC
Power & Light District
Saicon Consultants, Inc.
TranslationPerfect.com
Wyngate Solutions

Community Partners

Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City
Ethnic Enrichment Commission
Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City
Fountain of Life
Heart of America Japan-America Society
India Association of Kansas City
Kansas City Chinese American Association
Kansas City Chinese Association
Korean-American Society of Kansas City
NAAAP KC
Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City