ALHAMBRA – The organization that is helping success stories like in theAsian community is the Asian Business Association. The organization, founded in1976 near the time of civil rights to promote the cause of governmentprocurement among minorities of all sorts, including Asians. The group wasfounded by Dale Fukamaki and Lnn Choy Uyeda Gin.

“Beinga part of the ABA is both rewarding and satisfying, to know that capablebusiness are being given a shot,” said Dennis J. Huang, ABA executive director.“In the past, these businesses may have been discriminated upon.”

Huang was quick to point out the disparity between theapproximately 12 percent of Asians in California, compared with less than 2percent actually employed by businesses like corporate America. He said thatsmaller companies oftentimes have more to offer, because they put their mostseasoned veterans to the task. Larger firms may find it more expedient to put arookie to the test, even though the smaller firms may be offering lower bidprices.

The ABA works by connecting corporate America with smallbusinesses. The Association has ties with Toyota, Nissan, Verizon and AT&Tand takes advantage of their ability to match some of their group with memberswith any of their 31 mega companies.

Those companies represent the buyers, who buy products andservices made available by the ABA. A group out of Diamond Bar, APR, wasrecently retained by Northrop Drummond. Other ABA groups are procured based ona large company’s other needs, say IT consulting, for example.

The Association is also making change through employment inother ways. Huang said the ABA helped save jobs from Macy’s by writing to theirCEO, imploring them to save some jobs. So the giant retail store agreed.

Most recently, Alhambra Councilman Gary Yamauchi has workedwith Huang and others to tell California legislators that they disapprove ofthe potential move to require businesses to provide health care after anemployee is hired for 30 dyas. They feel the time frame is too quick and unfairto those businesses who may not be completely committed to an employee in sucha shore period.

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