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25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia
In conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we offer our annual listing of the state's most powerful citizens - the 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia, a roster of individuals who wield influence in arts, business, government, politics, public policy, social work, education, the judiciary, and other areas that impact every aspect of every Georgian's daily life.
Some of the 2006 names are familiar, well known to anyone who picks up a newspaper. These are the individuals who exercise their influence in a mostly public fashion. Other names are less familiar, representing individuals whose positions - or temperaments - require or allow them to operate behind the scenes, away from the limelight. The list was compiled by the editorial staff of Georgia Asian Times.
Many of this year's names have appeared on other listings; others are newcomers to the list - and to their positions of influence and power. Several important selection criterias for this year nominees included positive contribution to the Asian Pacific community and the enhancement of Asian Pacific American image in mainstream community.
The makeup of the list from this year represents the editors' view of the
continual shifting and changing of power and influence in the state of Georgia.
A complete profile and detailed report is available
in the print edition of May 2006.
GAT's 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia:
Judge Al Wong - DeKalb State Court Judge
David Yu - Founder, Chairman, Summit National Bank
Charlice Byrd - House of Representative, District 20
Josephine Tan - Chairperson, Asian American Commission For A New Georgia;
Manager Corporate Relations Manager - Georgia Power
Mukesh "Mike" Patel - President, Diplomat Hotel Company
Peter E. Chang - President/CEO A.C.T. Investments; Principal, International
Village - Chamblee
Lani Lee Wong - Chairperson, National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA)
Marianna Mayer - Vice President, Indonesian Community Heritage Foundation
P.I. Joy - Chairman, American United Bank; Founder, Think Communications
Brenda K. Tran - President NAAAP, Publisher AutoPilot Magazine
Sister Christine - Good Shepherd Services
Charley D. Jin - Founder & President, Frontech Inc.
Christopher L. Tsai - Executive Director of Logistics Operations,
BellSouth Corporation
Pang Y. Royals - Korean Association of Savannah
Beheruz N. Sethna, PhD., C.C.P. - President, The University of West Georgia
Monica Pang - Miss Georgia 2005
Connie Jee - Executive Director, Asian American Resource Center
Henry Yu - Managing Director and Diversity Council member of SunTrust Bank
Kenneth L. Lee - Vice President, International Security UPS
Sueling Wang - Founder & President, Color Imaging Inc.
Dr. Jagdish N. Seth - Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing - Goizueta
Business School
Emory University
Dr. Narsi Narasimhan - CEO, Paalam Inc.
John Lee - President, Korea Southeast US Chamber of Commerce; President -
BR Investment Group
Subash Razdan - President, Asian American Chamber of Commerce; Chairman,
Gandhi Foundation
Joanne Liew - Principal, Joanne Zheng Studio