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‘Think Asia, Think Hong Kong’ comes to Los Angeles

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Mega event to connect US businesses with Asian opportunities

Los Angeles, CA – September 10, 2019 – More than 1,500 business leaders and participating companies, representing a broad spectrum of industries, are expected to attend “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong”, a one-day symposium taking place on Friday, September 20 at the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles. Hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the mega event provides a seamless and thorough guide to help American businesses with a global focus use Hong Kong as a platform to successfully enter the Asian marketplace.

The event will see industry leaders from the US and Hong Kong share their insights on the city’s business advantages and offer advice on how US companies can seize global opportunities through the Hong Kong platform. Among the speakers are some of today’s hottest entrepreneurs, investors and start-up executives, including representatives from Impossible Foods, HSBC and many others who will share their personal experience on why Hong Kong is the right choice as a base for doing business in Asia.

Hong Kong remains the Asian business center most closely aligned with US business values and interests, offering low taxes, no tariffs, a vibrant stock market and ease of access for overseas companies looking to do business in the city.

The symposium’s morning program will feature two panel discussions – “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” and “Growing Businesses in the New Economy” – featuring prominent US and Hong Kong business leaders, including Ray Conner, retired Boeing Vice Chairman and President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Ken Hitchner, Retired Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs, Asia Pacific; Kent Ho, Founder and General Partner, S28 Capital; Yangbin Wang, Chairman, Executive Director and CEO, Vobile Group; and Jimmy Tao, CEO & Managing Director, Vitargent Biotechnology Limited. The panelists will address the current economic outlook and share their experiences having successfully leveraged Hong Kong’s platform and international business network for global success.

From Healthcare to Fintech to Smart Homes and More

In addition to the plenary symposium, the event will include thematic breakout sessions featuring globally prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, designers, investors, service professionals and a Hong Kong start-up showcase, all representing a variety of high-growth industries. One-on-one business consultations with professional services experts from Hong Kong will be arranged throughout the day, along with business-matching meetings.

Top executives and thought leaders representing a cross-section of industries and disciplines − including finance, food, logistics, technology, e-commerce, fashion/lifestyle and business

investment − will share their experiences, success stories and best practices for capitalizing on opportunities in Asia.

Attendees at the “Doing Business in Asia” breakout session will learn insights on pan-Asian branding and marketing, e-commerce and setting up a business in Hong Kong. Speakers include Nick Halla, Senior Vice President, International & Retail, Impossible Foods; Henry Ko, Managing Director, Asia, Flexport; Bonnie Chan Woo, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Icicle Group; Michelle Leung, Senior Vice President, Head, Fung Omni Services (HK) Limited; and Stephen Phillips, Director General, Invest Hong Kong.

Other important and fast-growing business topics to be highlighted include digital entertainment, health innovation and biotech, fintech, and legal services, intellectual property protection, fundraising, smart living, design and technology, and more.

Hong Kong’s Many Advantages for Global Commerce

One of the world’s most vibrant commercial hubs and an important financial center, Hong Kong offers numerous advantages to US companies looking to move into the Asian marketplace. Hong Kong has received high rankings from various US and global sources, including:

For more about “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” and registration details, please visit www.thinkasiathinkhk.com/2019.

Media enquiries
In the first instance, please contact the HKTDC’s Los Angeles press office:
Chris Huppertz (Bob Gold & Associates)
Tel: 310-320-2010
Email: hktdc@bobgoldpr.com

The HKTDC New York office:
Mandy Lo
Tel: 212-868-8688 E
mail: mandy.mk.lo@hktdc.org

And for Hong Kong-related specific enquiries, the HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department in Hong Kong:
Angel Tang
Tel: (852) 2584 4544
Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

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Fire Helmet Manufacturer Helps Disabled Community find Employment

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Riverside’s Phenix Technology Leads with Inclusion, Empowering the Disabled Community Through Workforce Training and Employer Education

Written by Logan Rosselli, IEBJ Content Contributor

In the heart of Riverside, off of Chicago Avenue, a small, but mighty team has been quietly manufacturing life-saving equipment for firefighters across the world for over 50 years. Phenix Technology Inc. is an internationally recognized fire helmet manufacturer who builds their products from start to finish right here in the Inland Empire. For their great products, they’ve received numerous awards such as the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, a 2016 “E” for Exports award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, a finalist position in the “Coolest Thing Made in California” competition and more. However, their most recent accolade doesn’t involve their products at all.

In 2024, Phenix founded the ground breaking “Opportunity for All” program to provide disabled community members with the opportunity to access career education, hands-on experience and employment opportunities through an 11 week training cohort. In this program, neurodivergent individuals wanting to find stable employment learn about standard hiring practices, writing a resume, effective interviewing and professional attire while getting on-the-job training with a partnered employer in the community. It has helped dozens of disabled community members to find a new sense of independence and achieve their full potential while helping local employers find dependable employees who bring a unique perspective to the workplace.

It’s for this program that the National Association of Workforce Development Boards (NAWB), a representative of over 570 workforce development boards across the United States, honored Phenix with the prestigious W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award in late March.

“While we take tremendous pride in the products we make, we also believe we have a mission to create a better world through developing opportunities,” said Angel Sanchez, CEO of Phenix Technology in a statement released in early April. “Opportunity for All has helped prove that individuals who have historically been excluded from the workforce don’t just contribute — they elevate organizations. We are honored to receive this national award and grateful to the partners who have helped us make this vision a reality.”

CEO Angel Sanchez Jr. accepts the NAWB Award

CEO Angel Sanchez Jr. accepts the NAWB Award

Though “Opportunity for All” is certainly the cornerstone program for the company, Phenix’s leadership team was not satisfied to leave their mission there. Thus, in 2024, the company founded its nonprofit arm, Phenix Gateway to offer more programs and advocacy to the community. Through Phenix Gateway, the company offers workforce development workshops for individuals who don’t need the full scale of the “Opportunity for All” program, but want to improve a specific skill like resume writing or workplace social skills.

However, Phenix knows that preparing disabled people for the workforce is only one end of the equation; the workforce also has to be prepared to accept the unique skills, perspectives and challenges of the disabled community. For this reason, Phenix Gateway offers employer training workshops as well as educational materials available to businesses and the community. Training programs cover a lot of ground, ranging from assistance with optimizing interviews for people with neurodevelopmental disorders to creating sensory-friendly environments in the workplace.

In Riverside, these programs have had a huge impact on the local community. As of March 2025, Phenix’s Opportunity for All program has had over two dozen participants and 44% found stable employment through or after the program. Their one-off workforce development workshops have seen over 200 participants learn new skills and help them find employment and the nonprofit currently partners with close to 90 businesses to assist them in their endeavor to create a more inclusive workforce.

Phenix Gateway staff helps a program participant with his skills

For businesses or community members interested in learning how they can support or participate in these programs, Phenix encourages them to reach out by email to info@phenixgateway.org and to attend their First Annual Gala: Rising Together, A Phenix Gateway Celebration, on Thursday, May 15th. Tickets for this event are available at phenixgateway.org.

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Supported by Local Leaders, CALED’s Annual Conference will be in Ontario this May

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Empowering Economic Growth: CALED Conference Set to Unite Industry Leaders in Ontario

CALED’s ‘Growing Local Economies from the Ground Up’ Conference is being held in Ontario at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport on May 7-9. This event is co-hosted by the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County, with Jennifer McLain Hiramoto, CALED’s Chair of the Board and Derek Armstrong respectively representing their city and county as Co-Chairs of the event.

With over 950 members and 45 years of empowering economic developers, CALED is the largest economic development association in the country and the annual conference is the number one place to meet and connect with the boots-on-the -ground, decision makers in our communities. 

The conference will include a pre-conference teaching tour, ‘Building & Paying for Development Projects’ on May 6th and then begin in full on May 7th, with a welcome session and breakouts. Overall, there will be four general assembly sessions and 18 breakout sessions, which will delve into local economic development practices and innovative tools.

In addition to compelling content, the conference will have numerous opportunities to connect with community leaders and valued peers through networking receptions, the culinary crawl, and new this year, the Tournament of Champions, where conference attendees will navigate a gauntlet of games to win the grand prize on the evening of Thursday, May 8th.

To learn more about the conference and register, visit the CALED website at www.caled.org.

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Strengthening Community Connections: Our Exciting New Partnership with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL

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Contributed Content | By Chris Venhoff, Senior Vice President and Inland Empire Market Leader for Consumer and Business Banking at U.S. Bank

As the Inland Empire market leader for U.S. Bank, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: we are proud to be the Official Bank Partner of Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center. This partnership represents a reflection of our deep commitment to the Inland Empire and our dedication to fostering a vibrant, thriving community.

At U.S. Bank, we believe that strong partnerships drive meaningful progress. Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center are at the heart of the region’s culture and economy, bringing people together for world-class entertainment, business conventions, and community events. By joining forces, we’re not only expanding our presence but also creating opportunities to engage with residents, businesses, and organizations in ways that make a lasting impact.

Through our sponsorship, we’ll support concerts, sporting events, and conventions that showcase the diversity and energy of the Inland Empire. But this is only the beginning. As our partnership evolves, we’ll work closely with Toyota Arena, Ontario Convention Center, and GOCAL to introduce community-focused programs, including financial literacy workshops and charitable giving initiatives.

This partnership is designed to bring added value to the people we serve. For our customers, we’re introducing the U.S. Bank Fast Pass Lanes, providing priority access at Toyota Arena events. Special offers, exclusive event experiences, and tailored financial solutions for businesses operating in the region are just a few of the many perks we’re excited to roll out.

Our employees are at the core of our success, and this partnership allows us to recognize their dedication. Through exclusive access to events, corporate hospitality opportunities, and community volunteer programs, our team will have new ways to engage with and celebrate the community they serve.

The Inland Empire is a dynamic, fast-growing region, and we’re committed to supporting its continued success. By investing in Toyota Arena and Ontario Convention Center, we’re helping to create and sustain jobs while driving local business growth. These venues bring in visitors, revenue, and visibility, strengthening the region’s economy.

This collaboration is about more than just sponsorship—it’s about making a difference. By working together, we can elevate not just these venues but the entire Inland Empire. At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to being a partner in progress, supporting our customers, businesses, and communities every step of the way.

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