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Mary Ning understands the challenges many entrepreneurs face in the business world. Although she struggled to launch her two businesses, she eventually became a partner in a restaurant chain and a publisher of a children’s book series.
She is the CEO of Nhinja Sushi, a five-location restaurant chain, and Ninja Life Hacks, an e-commerce business that sells educational books for children. She is a second-generation Asian and mother of three.
“When my husband and I first started our entrepreneurial journey, we wanted to open a restaurant,” said Ning. “We applied to 11 different banks and received 11 rejections. There was no leadership or advisory board, so I felt like I was alone on an island with no one to help me. I didn’t have an Asian room to turn to, and now, 19 years later, here I am, serving over 2,000 people daily at five Ninja Sushi restaurants.
“We lost $200,000 in our first year of business with Ninja Life Hacks,” says Nhin. “It cost a lot of money, but we figured out what worked and what didn’t. Three years later, in 12 countries, he has sold over 3 million books.”
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After overcoming these difficulties with his own business venture, Nhin hopes to empower other entrepreneurs to succeed through his work as a founding member and vice president of the Greater Oklahoma City Asian Chamber of Commerce. is.
Board members of the new Chamber of Commerce announced the organization’s grand opening at a press conference held at the Grand House China Bistro on January 25. Attendees included Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, prominent business owners, chamber of commerce sponsors, and many other professionals.
All the seats in the banquet hall were used and the remaining guests stood up to fill the room for the ceremony.
Thuan Nguyen, owner and CEO of THN Insurance Solutions, said there were specific reasons why the Grand House was chosen to host the kick-off event of the Chamber of Commerce. This is the first Chinese dim sum restaurant to open in Oklahoma City and has served as a successful business model and inspiration for the Asian entrepreneurial community.
Nguyen himself tells the touching story of emigrating from Vietnam with his mother when he was four years old. Although they had to leave his father and his two brothers behind and did not see each other again until he was 16, he has worked to establish himself. He contributed to Oklahoma City’s business and his community by participating in programs such as Leadership Oklahoma City, and was named City Design Commissioner by the Mayor.
The Asian Chamber of Commerce is the latest addition to the Oklahoma City-focused roster of chambers of commerce. The city is home to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma American Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of everything is to support the interests of member companies.
Why did Oklahoma City need an Asian Chamber of Commerce?
According to Census data, Oklahoma City is home to more than 50,000 Asian Americans, about 55% of Oklahoma’s total Asian population. These individuals make up many of his 5,300 Asian businesses on the Oklahoma City subway. And these companies generated him $203 million in labor costs and his $1.25 billion in sales in 2020.
The Asia-focused Chamber of Commerce was a long-awaited venture to establish a formal way of supporting the community on the business side.
“It is very important that every community in the city is part of our story and that communities in Asia are thriving,” said Mayor Holt. “There is still a lot to do, but today is a big milestone in that journey.”
Chamber President Scarlett Le Cao is co-owner of a real estate and development company called Omega Investments. During the ceremony, she shared her four pillars of the room.
- Connects, strengthens and advocates for Asian businesses and professionals in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
- Recruiting Asian owned companies and Asian talent.
- Promote fair and equitable access to opportunities for Asian businesses and professionals.
- Pursue educational and cultural initiatives for Oklahoma City’s Asian community.
“We want the younger generation to be proud to be Asian Americans and to continue to live up to our roots and culture. We are building a strong foundation and confidence.”
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How was the new Asian Chamber of Commerce launched?
Last year, a small group of business owners and community leaders, including Le-Cao, Nhin, Nguyen and others, came together to serve the needs of Oklahoma City’s Asian community. They felt that the Asian Chamber of Commerce was the missing link. That conversation evolved into a dedicated group of his 15 board members working to launch the Chamber of Commerce.
“At the first board meeting, I asked everyone, ‘Why are you willing to support Asian companies?’ Everyone responded with the same sentiment,” Le-Cao said. “They are passionate about serving their communities and proud to be Asian Americans. We want to reunite all the voices we have.” .”
Collaboration is the key to success. Board members said they were very fortunate to have the support of the community during the work of launching the Chamber of Commerce. They also said they would like to work with other minority chamber organizations in the city.
“Diversity is like a rainbow,” said Ning. “That’s what makes us beautiful.”
The Asian Chamber of Commerce receives community support from other companies such as Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, Paycom and Oklahoma City Thunder. On January 30, the Oklahoma City Thunder acknowledged “Asian-American Oklahomans and their impact on our state’s cultural fabric” during a game celebrating the Lunar New Year.
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