National ACE and McDonald’s Host Chicago Roundtable Focused on Strengthening Local Small Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2026
PRESS CONTACT
Phuong Nguyen
pnguyen@nationalace.org
National ACE and McDonald’s Host Chicago Roundtable Focused on Strengthening Local Small Businesses
[February 27, 2026, Chicago, Illinois] – The National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), in collaboration with McDonald’s, convened small business owners, policymakers, and community leaders for a Small Business Roundtable at McDonald’s Headquarters in Chicago. The gathering created space for open dialogue about the challenges facing entrepreneurs and the opportunities ahead.
Chicago’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business community plays an important role in the city’s economy and culture. From the historic Chinatown neighborhood to Argyle Street and Devon Avenue, small businesses help anchor commercial corridors, create jobs, and serve diverse communities across the region. The roundtable focused on strengthening that foundation and ensuring business owners have access to the resources they need to grow.
“McDonald’s is proud to be a corporate partner to National ACE and its mission to advance the AAPI business community,” said Sam Tatevosyan, Vice President of Federal Government Relations and Global Policy at McDonald’s. “We appreciate our strong partnership in advocacy to protect and uplift small business owners. More than 95 percent of McDonald’s restaurants are franchised, operated by over 2,000 franchisees who are small business owners in communities across the country.”
“As a McDonald’s Owner/Operator and Chair of the ACE Foundation, I know how personal small business ownership is,” said Jimmy Ferguson. “Every decision affects employees, customers, and the community. Through conversations like this, we are committed to expanding mentorship, capital access, and leadership development so that more entrepreneurs can succeed.”
“Chicago’s AAPI entrepreneurs are building businesses that support families, strengthen neighborhoods, and contribute to the city’s long term growth,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Our role is to make sure their voices are heard and that they have meaningful access to capital and opportunities. Convenings like this bring together leaders who can turn conversation into action.”
Notable attendees included Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois’ 5th District and State Representative Theresa Mah of the 24th District. Representing McDonald’s were Sam Tatevosyan, Vice President of Federal Government Relations and Global Policy, and Brad Bogan, Vice President of Strategic Franchising. Other participating partners and community leaders included Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIA Vote; Dr. Karen Eng of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago; George Mui, Founder of the Asian American Executive Network; Judge Aurora Austriaco, First Executive Vice President of The Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce; Rhea Yap, Executive Director of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association; Susan Patel, Executive Director of the South Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois; Dominic Sanchez, Senior Manager of Federal Affairs at Grubhub; and Gladys Castillo, Senior Vice President, Market Executive Business Banking at Bank of America.
“Small businesses are the beating heart of Chicagoland's communities, and they have faced far too many challenges in recent years. I'm grateful that ACE brought together Chicago business owners for a discussion on how we can work together to help local entrepreneurs and local businesses thrive,” said Rep. Mike Quigley. “Chicago's AAPI business owners need the support of local and federal governments to thrive. I look forward to sharing what I learned today with my colleagues in Washington.”
Key topics raised by small business owners included access to capital, government grant opportunities, and language access for professional certifications.
“Today’s event at McDonald’s Global Headquarters was an amazing opportunity to meet with elected officials, executives, and fellow small business owners,” said Wanake Schaeffer, CEO of Chicago Flavas and 2025 Grubhub Grant Recipient. “It was truly an event of exploration and learning—from meeting with Dominic Sanchez of Grubhub to engaging in the roundtable discussions. I encourage others to look into National ACE’s work, as I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join this conversation.”
“I want to thank National ACE for bringing together small business owners and elected officials to engage in these impactful roundtable discussions regarding access to capital and the unique challenges our businesses encounter,” said Stephanie Wong, President of SWE Solutions. “Opportunities like this to connect and exchange ideas are vital, as they allow us to advocate effectively for our collective growth, visibility, and success.”
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.