National ACE, CAPAW, and WEOP Host Small Business Leadership Roundtable to Advance Small Business Growth, Innovation, and Opportunity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2026
PRESS CONTACT
Phuong Nguyen
pnguyen@nationalace.org
National ACE, CAPAW, and WEOP Host Small Business Leadership Roundtable to Advance Small Business Growth, Innovation, and Opportunity
[April 23, 2026, Atlanta, Georgia] – The National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), in collaboration with the the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW) and the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEOP), convened small business owners, policymakers, and business leaders for a Small Business Leadership Roundtable at Georgia State University.
The gathering created opportunities for intentional dialogue on advancing growth, addressing key challenges, and expanding new opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Through dynamic Power Talks and networking opportunities, participants explored strategies to strengthen leadership voice, build civic confidence, and elevate community-informed solutions shaping Atlanta’s economic future.
Georgia’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business community plays an important role in the region’s economy and culture. These businesses help power neighborhood corridors, create jobs, and contribute to the innovation that drives the state forward. The roundtable focused on ensuring business owners have stronger access to capital, technical assistance, digital tools, and the partnerships needed to scale sustainably.
“Atlanta’s small business community is a powerful engine of innovation, job creation, and economic growth across the region. By uniting entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders, we can accelerate access to capital, resources, and strategic partnerships that empower Atlanta’s business owners to scale, create jobs, and shape the city’s economic future,” said Chiling Tong, President & CEO of National ACE.
"CAPAW, National ACE and WEOP brought together leaders who are goal-oriented, motivated and compassionate in one room to create connections,” said Sue Ann Hong-Whitaker, President & CEO of CAPAW. “These individuals are solution-oriented, business-minded, and deeply committed to their communities. I am proud to demonstrate what true collaboration can look like with my partners."
"This event showcased the power of partnership, when purpose-driven organizations come together, they unlock opportunity and create an ecosystem where businesses can thrive through access to resources and connections,” said Antionette Ball, Executive Director of WEOP.
The event featured notable attendees and speakers including Representative Kim Schofield (GA-63); Representative Long Tran (GA-80); Susan Jin Davis, Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Comcast Corporation and Former Social Impact Officer, Al Roker Entertainment; Veronica Reyes, Vice President & Deputy Director of National Market Operations at TruFund Financial Services; Shené Commodore, Founder and CEO of Commodore Consulting, LLC; and Patrick Cheng, Founder & CEO of General Tso’s Restaurant & Catering.
Key topics discussed by participants included artificial intelligence and innovation, digital access, economic growth and opportunity, and access to capital and business resources.
“Although Maka Maka Lifestyle has established a global presence, we are still in our startup phase here in the U.S. The Small Business Leadership Power Talks was an incredibly valuable experience,” said Mitun Chaudhuri, Owner & Founder of Maka Maka Lifestyle. “I gained actionable insights on using AI to grow my business, learned from fellow entrepreneurs’ successes and challenges, and was reminded of the importance of using our collective voice to create meaningful change in the business community.”
“I walked away with clear direction on how I can supercharge my business by utilizing specific AI tools to target my ideal customers with laser focus,” said Chivonne Hyppolite Smith, Event Execution Expert at Abstract Elements Corporate Meetings & Events. “It was also amazing to link up with other business leaders who are facing some of the same challenges in business and learn about solutions and create opportunities to collaborate moving forward. I believe strengthening our local ecosystem will help us all win!”
This roundtable is part of National ACE’s ongoing commitment to support entrepreneurs and advance policies that help small businesses grow and compete in today’s economy.
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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.
About CAPAW:
Founded in 1995 as the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute, CAPAW was established by the “Warrior Sisters,” who sought to address the challenges faced by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women and to cultivate leadership within their communities.
Today, CAPAW works to strengthen AANHPI communities by expanding leadership capacity, raising awareness of key issues, creating supportive networks, and fostering community growth. Over the years, the organization has expanded its programming to include initiatives for early-career leaders, book clubs, and mentorship opportunities for entrepreneurs and community leaders.
For more information, contact CAPAW at info@capaw.org, visit their website at capaw.org, or connect on LinkedIn.
About WEOP:
The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEOP), launched in 1999, is a trusted organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and advancing economic empowerment for women in business through education, innovation, and community-driven initiatives. Learn more at www.weop.org.