WHO WE ARE
Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit, membership-driven organization based in Washington, D.C. with over 50 chapters and affiliates around the country. Touching hundreds of thousands of AAPIs each year, OCA works with its organizational partners, members, chapters, and supporters to empower the next generation of leaders.
POLICY PRIORITIES
Immigration: We fight for comprehensive immigration reform that will improve the family visa system and create a clear pathway to citizenship.
Education: We advocate for a more inclusive and accessible education system for all members of our community.
Fair Treatment: We promote fair treatment and the elimination of discrimination, stereotyping, and hate crimes.
Broadband Access: We support efforts to expand opportunity by increasing broadband access to low-income, immigrant, and elder communities.
A President’s Letter
Dear OCA Members and Friends
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-DFW), I want to thank our sponsors, members and friends for their continual support. I am honored to serve as President of OCA – DFW, and I want to make my time in service to OCA – DFW meaningful.
OCA is a national organization with over 50 chapters and affiliates across the nation, dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. This year, the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter (OCA-DFW) celebrates 35 years of cultural awareness, diversity, and leadership development in our mission to embrace the hopes and aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.
Our OCA-DFW chapter continues to strongly support our local community. With the coming new year, we have another active year of programs planned with hopes and aspirations to build on our community programs and service to address some of the growing needs in these ever-changing economy, and foster youth leadership and volunteerism. We are appreciative the continual support of all our corporate sponsors, non-profit community organizations, our members, our families and our friends.
I am thankful to be part of a wonderful Board of Directors that works very hard to achieve the goals of OCA-DFW that are set forth on our Mission Statement. Following in the footsteps of past Presidents, I have a great appreciation for our members that will help guide us as we move forward.
Lunar New Year is an important tradition celebrated by many ethnic groups in America and around the world. It falls on February 12th this year. For the special occasion, OCA-DFW will host the Annual Lunar New Year Virtual Youth Banquet on February 26th as a signature community event. 2021 is the year of the Ox in Chinese zodiac which represents hard work and wealth. Let’s all united and work hard to recover from the pandemic and make it a successful and fruitful year!
If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Shuwen Cai
President Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-DFW Chapter)
Meet Our Board of Directors of 2024
Suzy Fulton (President)
Suzy Fulton is a co-founder of the innovative law firm of Grable Martin Fulton, PLLC, which is certified as a women-owned business through the WBENC. She has previously served as VP, Operations and General Counsel of Appspace, Inc., an international, enterprise business communication technology company, and the General Counsel for SoftLayer Technologies, Inc., which at the time was the largest private hosting company in the world until it was purchased by IBM in 2013 (after her departure from SoftLayer).
In her role as legal counsel, she concentrates on technology transactions, such as Software-as-a Service (SaaS) or cloud agreements, software licensing, data privacy, including advising on GDPR matters, and cybersecurity.
She also advises on areas ranging from general corporate and business planning to protecting intellectual property assets (including trademark and copyright filings), managing issues related to employee benefits, executive compensation, commercial real estate transactions, and overseeing litigation as it arises.
Suzy was previously named the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Corporate Counsel in the “Heavy Hitter” category and has been selected by her peers as a D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas for Technology Transactions.
Outside of the office, Suzy serves as general counsel and community adviser to the DFW chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well- being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States, and she is on the Executive Committee (Treasurer) and Board of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. In a former life, she worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer
Shuwen Cai (Past President)
Shuwen Cai is the secretary and longtime supporter of OCA, has assisted in planning the current 2020 annual OCA-DFW Lunar New Year Banquet. Shuwen is actively involved in Chinese American culture organization volunteer activates. She got her bachelor degree from University of Texas at Austin. She lives with her husband in Frisco and has been in Texas for more than a decade.
Shuwen has been a real estate agent since 2014 helping new immigrated families finding a home, a place they can call their own, in Texas. Currently, she is working as a realtor for Tong-Parsons Realty and is the owner of Golden Shanghai LTD company, a family business that has been in Texas for over decades. She hopes to use her skills and resources in helping the Chinese community organization and promote diversity.
Cynthia Chao Clingenpeel (Vice-President)
Cynthia Chao Clingenpeel leads Slalom’s Business Advisory Services, based in Dallas-Fort Worth. With over 25 years of business and information technology consulting experience, Cindy’s expertise is in leading global companies through the organizational and personal transitions essential to successful enterprise-wide transformation. Cindy holds degrees in Management Science Engineering and Mathematics with Operations Research from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Active in the community since 1992, Cindy has held OCA Board and Executive positions since 2000.
Gowa Borzigin (Secretary)
Gowa is an IT and Data Analytics professional with US Concrete. A marathon runner, she enjoys photography, video and film production, and fashion design. Gowa was active in community services at San Antonio and Fayettville, AR. She helped organize many community events to promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness and introduced Asian and eastern music and arts to local communities.
Sara Cai (Treasurer)
Ms. Sara Cai has 30 years of experience in international trade import and export. She has also established businesses and trading companies in many countries. Her specialty is art and accounting. So in her spare time, Ms. Cai is very active in participating in various activities of the Chinese community, and has participated in the organization and planning of many large-scale Chinese community performances and activities for art, charity and cultural promotion. Ms. Cai has also taught dance at Morning Star Dance School for more than 10 years. She has trained many outstanding students and has won awards in various professional dance competitions in the United States.
Diana Wang Madsen (Immediate Past President)
Diana Wang Madsen is founder, Chairman of the board & President of the Marco Polo World Foundation. In 2007, she started the first Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival in North Texas. Since then, she has devoted herself to organizing this event every year and its continuous development.
Diana is an active volunteer for the community and has served several different organizations. She was elected for eight term as the President of the DFW Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018, and 2020. Diana is the Former President of the Irving International Women’s Consortium (IIWC), and Former Vice-President of the Asian American Cultural Association (AACA). She is a lifetime member and Vice-President of the DFW Asian American Citizens Council (DFWAACC), and a member of the Greater Irving – Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Dallas Regional Chamber. Diana also serving on the Project Advisory Committee of Richland College Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and as director of the Miss Asian American Texas Pageant from 2009 to 2015. As an entrepreneur, Diana is the owner of Sen Can International. Before coming to the US, Diana worked as a producer/director of sports and entertainment programs at Xiamen TV station in one of China’s booming economic zones.
Alejandra Reyes(Board of Director)
Alejandra Reyes is an Executive with more than 10 years of experience providing high quality advisory support for business and governments in terms of political, security and military matters. Philanthropist/Non-Profit Management/Public and Media Relations Specialist. Proud member of some prestigious organizations such as the Marco Polo World Foundation and Organization of Chinese Americans – OCA.
She has worked in projects that involved Business Consultation, Set up Sales and Marketing Strategies for Companies, Venture Capitalism, Market Research, Lobbying and Government Relations for various countries such as Ghana, Ethiopia, Congo, Philippines, Tanzania, South and Central America. Also some of the industries she has experience such as: Oil and Gas, Multifamily, Commercial Projects, Sustainable Energy Resources, Hydroelectric Projects, Sustainable Water Resources, Agriculture, Medical Industry, Hospitality, Infrastructure, Entertainment TV and Film, and Wholesale and Retail Banking.
Also, she is a mother of a beautiful four year old daughter Alessandra Sophia. She enjoyed participating in civic engagement activities and contributes to making our world a better place. She empowers children, youth, education and entrepreneurship.
Chau Nguyen(Board of Director)
Chau Nguyen currently is the member of Marco Polo World Foundation. He has been served in BAE-SYSTEMS for twenty-seven years as Electronic Technician. Chau got his Digital Computer Electronics Degree in1980 from Lyons Institute, and certified as IPC J-STD-001 Specialist in 1990. He retired from BAE-SYSTEMS in 2012. Chau started to serve as volunteer in Marco Polo World Foundation since 2011 with his daughter Michelle Nguyen, after then he also joined in the program planning committee in Logistic Department since 2015
Jing Zhang(Board of Director)
Jing Zhang is Senior Product Marketing Manager for Fortune 500 High-tech Company with 18 years of experience in Telecommunication and Cloud technologies. She has background of business and technology that enable her to manage product portfolios to deliver business impactful, competitive offers for Enterprises and SMB. Jing is very dedicated to contribution for community with volunteering works and donations, and has performed in many culture events to promote diversity and Chinese culture. She also acts as bridge between Chinese non-profit organizations and American non-profit organizations to help culture exchanges. Besides being professional, community worker, and evangelist of Chinese culture, Jing won the first place of Texas Chinese Qipao Beauty Pageant in 2015.
Mei Lee (Board of Director)
Mei P Lee currently serves as the President of Green Advisers, a company whose mission is to promote environmental sustainable products through ‘green’ residential and interior design for the commercial business sector as well as to raise awareness for the general public. Fifteen years ago she started a home builder company and joined Green Built North Texas as a founding member within the Dallas Builders Association professional circle. As a prime example, May Lee constructed LEED compliant homes that achieved in more than 70% savings in energy consumption.
In addition, May Lee has also built affordable homes concurrent with low income housing to uplift desirability around depressed Oakcliff areas in South Dallas, setting an example for other builders to follow.
On the side, she is an innovative choreographer bringing together a dance team which routinely performed in community and cultural events. Her interest in art also resulted end-to-end involvement of Art Exhibition, otably served as the Planning Director of the Elite West Meets East Spring Arts Exhibition of 2019
William Yi (Board of Director)
William Yi is the founder of USA4STUDY that provides counseling services to international students on school planning, and, high school and college admissions, also the found of USA TOP RESOURCES that specializes in international trading. He received a BS in Engineering and MBA specialization in Finance. William has been actively involved in public welfare and charity events, also serving as Vice President of USCCC and Committee Member of ACP and CAST-TX. He is a powerful force in the working area and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.
Jessica Tolson
Jessica Tolson is the Senior Information Security Analyst for BEPCO, L.P., in Fort Worth, TX. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in the Information Technology field. Her most recent positions held include Information Security Manager and Senior Vice President – IT Manager for two community banks in Fort Worth and Weatherford, Texas. Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in 2016 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Applied Technology and Performance Improvement. Jessica also holds several IT certifications that provides an overview into her journey in the Information Technology field which are from technical to security – ISACA CISM, ISC2 CISSP, CompTia Security+, SBS Cyber CBEH, SBS Cyber CBSM, VMware VCP, Cisco CCNA.
Henry Leung (Community Advisor)
Henry Leung, a consultant in food technology, was appointed Visiting Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2008-2010. He retired from Frito-Lay after spending over 30 years in university research and teaching and industrial R&D. He was a professor of food science at Washington State University for ten years before taking industrial positions at Campbell Soup, Kraft, and Frito-Lay. Henry was the recipient of the 1984 Prescott Award for outstanding food research from Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and the 2001 Corporate Achievement Award and 2001 Community Service Award from OCA. OCA-DFW was named Chapter of Year in 2000 by OCA when Henry served as the president. He is a past president of North Texas Cantonese Association and a board member of Dallas Chinese Community Center.