National ACE Brings 700+ Leaders to Houston to Shape the Future of Small Business
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2026
PRESS CONTACT
Phuong Nguyen
National ACE Brings 700+ Leaders to Houston to Shape the Future of Small Business
Annual Conference convenes entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, policymakers and innovators to advance conversations on AI, business growth and economic opportunity
HOUSTON, TX — September 18, 2026 — The National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) welcomed more than 700 entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and policy makers from across the nation to its 2026 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas, where conversations spanning artificial intelligence, access to capital, procurement, entrepreneurship and business growth took center stage as small businesses navigate a rapidly changing economy.
Hosted at the Westin Galleria Houston, the conference centered on the theme, “Navigating the New Frontier: Business, Community & the AI Revolution.” The day featured mainstage conversations, six expert-led breakout sessions, high-level insights from elected officials, an engaging exhibitor marketplace with over 20 booths, and an Awards Gala celebrating leaders making an impact across business, innovation, public service and the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and broader small business community.
Featured participants included Dr. Kjell Lindgren, NASA astronaut and Deputy Director of the Flight Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center; Ram Palaniappan, Founder and CEO of EarnIn; Sylvia R. Garcia, U.S. Representative (TX-29); Pavan Pidigu, former Chief Digital & Information Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation; Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner; Carol Alvarado, Texas State Senator (District 6); Texas State Representatives Gene Wu (District 137) and Christina Morales (District 145); Gigi Lee, Chief of International Affairs for the Office of the Mayor of Houston; Tiffany D. Thomas, City of Houston Council Member of District F; Dr. Martha J. Wong, former Texas State Representative; Steve Kean, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership; and Jimmy and Cindi Ferguson, McDonald’s Owner/Operators.
From Entrepreneurship to Multi-Million-Dollar Growth
The conference opened with business and civic leaders examining the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs in an era of rapid technological and economic change. The Morning Plenary was kicked off by Tony Waller, Vice President of Constituent Relations at Walmart and National ACE Board Member, who welcomed attendees to the event. National ACE Board Chair Garrett Gin, Senior Vice President of Local Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Bank of America, underscored the role small businesses play in creating jobs, building local wealth and strengthening communities: “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, build local wealth, and give families a path to pursue an idea, take a risk, and build something of their own.”
The opening session also showcased key perspectives from Mark Winchester, U.S. Small Business Administration Houston District Director and Steve Kean, Greater Houston Partnership President & CEO, who highlighted Houston’s historic business growth, capital access opportunities, and critical resources to empower entrepreneurs.
One of the day's featured conversations brought Ram Palaniappan, EarnIn Founder and CEO together with Chiling Tong, National ACE President and CEO for “From Vision to Impact: A CEO Conversation on Entrepreneurship & Innovation.” Palaniappan shared the origin story behind EarnIn and the experiences, challenges and vision that shaped his journey as an entrepreneur.
The mainstage also turned its attention to what it takes to reach the next level of business growth. In “Unlocking the Secrets of Multi-Million Dollar Growth,” moderator Mario Salazar, Principal of Public Policy at Amazon, joined Donna Cole, Founder of Cole Chemical; James Mincheng Jin, President and CEO of General Mortgage Capital Corporation; and Cindi Ferguson, Owner/Operator of J-C’s McD’s Ltd., for a candid conversation about scaling businesses, reaching new customers, accessing capital and making the critical decisions that turn steady growth into major expansion.
From Policy to Practice
Government and business leaders took the main stage to examine the unique policy environment in which entrepreneurs are operating. Moderated by Bret Perkins, Comcast’s Senior Vice President of Community Growth and Economic Development, the main stage conversation, “Shaping the Business Environment: A Conversation with Texas Officials,” included expert analysis from panelists Carol Alvarado, Texas State Senator Carol (D-District 6); Tiffany D. Thomas, City of Houston Council Member of District F; and Dr. Martha J. Wong, former Texas State Representative. This policy dialogue dissected the impact of state and municipal policies on entrepreneurs, covering topics including workforce development, access to capital, taxes, and infrastructure.
In an uplifting conversation, Heart, Hustle, and Community: Women Leading Small Business Forward, moderated by Vivian Young, Global Head of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs of JPMorganChase, trailblazing panelists Hong Ogle, President & Division Executive, Bank of America Houston & Bank of America Private Bank; Dr. Anne Chao, Founder of the Houston Asian American Archive; and Dr. Jody Lee, Chairwoman of Southwestern Bank spoke about the opportunities for young women in their respective fields and the importance of community and relationships.
Turning Conversation Into Action
Throughout the day, six expert-led breakout sessions turned the day’s conversations into practical strategies, giving entrepreneurs direct access to experts on long-term business sustainability, digital transformation, government contracting, telecom innovation, supply-chain opportunities and capacity building.
Leaders from Edward Jones, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, McDonald’s, PMI U.S., T-Mobile, Toyota North America, Verizon and other organizations shared tools, industry perspectives, and strategies attendees can take back to their businesses and communities.
The conference’s lunch plenary continued the focus on technology and economic opportunity with a keynote from Pavan Pidugu, former Chief Digital & Information Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation; remarks from U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, representing Texas’s 29th Congressional District; and remarks from Larry McManus, Director of Business Development at the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, who presented a welcome letter on behalf of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The afternoon also celebrated the partnerships powering National ACE’s work nationwide. Wells Fargo’s Ruben Barrales introduced the Corporate Excellence & Recognition Ceremony, honoring corporate champions whose investment and collaboration help create opportunities for entrepreneurs and advance National ACE’s mission.
The Texas Strategic Partners Awards Ceremony turned the spotlight to the local chamber leaders and community stakeholders whose leadership, expertise and support were instrumental in bringing the Houston conference to life and strengthening National ACE’s impact across Texas.
New Data Highlights the Impact of AAPI Small Businesses
New research presented in Houston also underscored the growing economic influence of AAPI-owned businesses.
Bill Imada, Founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group and a National ACE Foundation Board Member, presented findings from Resilient, Rooted, and Rising: The Growth & Economic Impact of AAPI Small Businesses. Published in spring 2026, the report examines national trends in technology adoption, workforce investment and the economic contributions of AAPI-owned enterprises.
As Bill emphasized, 77% of companies surveyed have less than 4 employees, but emerging AI tools have helped small and micro businesses tackle core tasks like financial management (58%), digital marketing tools (55%), and data analytics (55%), allowing them to compete with larger firms.
2026 National ACE Awards Gala
The conference culminated with the 2026 National ACE Awards Gala, celebrating leaders whose work has advanced entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and the AAPI community.
The evening featured keynote remarks from NASA astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren, Deputy Director of the Flight Operations Directorate, NASA, who received National ACE's Space Exploration Leadership Award in recognition of his leadership in exploration, innovation and inspiring future generations.
Additional honorees included Ram Palaniappan, Founder and CEO of EarnIn, who received the Business Innovator of the Year Award; Marlin Ramsey Chan, creator and YAY'S Snacks founder, recipient of the Rising Star Award; Dr. Martha J. Wong, former Texas State Representative, recipient of the Pioneer Award; and Jimmy and Cindi Ferguson, McDonald’s Owner/Operators, recipients of the Legend Award.
Gigi Lee, Houston Chief of International Affairs also presented a proclamation from Mayor John Whitmire declaring September 18, 2026, National ACE Day in Houston. The evening included special messages from national and state leaders, as well as performances by award winning international singer Mary Millben.
Next Stop: Los Angeles
As the Houston gathering came to a close, National ACE announced the next destination for its flagship event: Los Angeles, California, will host the 2027 National ACE Annual Conference on September 10, 2027 at The Westin Bonaventure.
The announcement sets the stage for another year of collaboration, innovation and meaningful connections, as entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers and partners come together to share ideas and expand opportunities for small businesses nationwide.
###
About National ACE: National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI and all small business interests and positive change on issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE supports policies and programs that strengthen small businesses, expand economic opportunity, and foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives. Learn more at www.nationalace.org.