History & Awards

Organization History & Accolades

 2004 As little efforts to address the interests and great potential of 37 Asian American community groups were made at local, state, and regional levels the Vietnamese immigrant and social entrepreneur Mr. Tinh D. Phan, P.E. from Ashland, Virginia sought a way to respond to the increasing needs of this new wave of immigrant Asian businesses seeking resources, education, advocacy, and guidance. The Asian community began to grow at an increasing rate, and with new immigrants (from various large and small Asian countries) arriving in great numbers, looking for opportunities in the US, Mr. Tinh D. Phan founded the Asian American Business Assistance (AABAC) in Central Virginia (Henrico and Richmond).  

As a 501 (c) (6) non-profit organization, AABAC created workshops, training sessions, classes, forums, and mini networking sessions to educate and develop hundreds of Asian American entrepreneurs. By creating learning opportunities regarding the U.S procurement system and business contracting strategies, we guided them in pursuing the American Dream. Through our platforms and activities, they were able to connect with key decision-makers in the mainstream marketplace.

2006 The Virginia Asian Foundation, an IRS Bonafede Education Charitable organization was created to meet the increasing demand for technical assistance, education, guidance, and mentoring by thousands of new Asian American entrepreneurs and career changers during challenging times. Its signature CareerConnect fellowship scholarship winners are honored annually to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in Asian American students within the context of global business opportunities and challenges.

2006 The first small Business SWaM and 8A Minority Business certification class series were developed in Richmond and taught to hundreds of Asian American entrepreneurs in collaboration with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE), now known as the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

2005 The first annual Procurement Conference was held at Nanking Chinese restaurant in Henrico with 15 buyers. We discussed current sourcing and supplier diversity challenges and opportunities, supply issues, buyers’ needs, and potential win-win partnership connections.

 2005 The first edition of the Dominion Asia Review Newsletter was created.

 2006 The first AABAC Richmond office was opened at 919 East Main Street in SunTrust Bank, a Class A suit office.

2006 The first AABAC Career Fair was held at Ukropt’s Headquarters Office in Henrico.

2007 The first AABAC Introduction classes on Export-Import business curriculum were created and introduced to the business community in Richmond and Henrico in various locations (SunTrust Bank and Dominion Energy).

2007 Richmond office was opened at 919 East Main Street in SunTrust Bank, a Class A suit office.

2008 The VACC’s Best Asian Business Excellence Award was created with the support of Dominion Energy and Altria to honor Asian Americans who have excelled in business and community service for their involvement in the ProcureCon EXPO each year.

2009 The First Virginia Asian Chamber Gala was hosted at the Jefferson Hotel to celebrate Asian American entrepreneurship spirit

2009 The Virginia Asian Chamber ‘s First Annual Excellence In Service Award was created to celebrate the spirit of Valuing Supplier Diversity by corporations and government agencies with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

2010 The first ASIA Speak Radio show was introduced via FM 93.7 and AM Radio 990 featuring international business and community news from all over Asia and the United States in several Asian languages..

2010 The signature VACC “One-on-One Business Matchmaking Meetings” program concept was developed and introduced to the Asian business community during the 6th Annual ProcureCon EXPO in Richmond.

2010 The AAABC Supplier Diversity Round Table was held at Nanking Restaurant (Central Virginia) to express appreciation for the AABAC’s support and initiatives designed to champion supplier diversity as a growing industry trend.

2010 The AAABC launched its first Asian Policy Summit and Tour at the Virginia General Assembly Building and SunTrust Bank (Downtown Richmond) allowing small Asian American and other diverse businesses to speak directly to their legislative representatives during the Virginia General Assembly session between January and March each year. Challenging state procurement issues and solutions created by the policy were discussed.

2010 The First Annual ProcureCon EXPO NOVA in Fairfax was created with 20 buyers from all over the DC Metro region.

2011 The AABAC officially became Virginia ‘s official statewide Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce (VACC) with the vision to create multiple regional satellite offices.

2011 On July 1, 2011, the AABAC Richmond operation was launched statewide with offices managed by VACC Regional Directors in Chantilly, Herndon, Charlottesville, followed by Newport News, Ashburn, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach.

2011 The First Workforce Development Forum was created at SunTrust Bank in downtown Richmond to discuss career exploration for professionals, and the HR requirements of firms looking for new diverse talents.

2012 Beginning 2012, other offices followed with representatives and monthly events in Ashburn, Herndon, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.

2012 The Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce began to offer Chinese Mandarin Language classes for businesses wishing to do business in China.  Classes were taught by native professionals and scientists who are native Chinese speakers.

2013 The VACC’s first Industry Forum was created to address innovations in procurement as well as science and technology trends.

2013 Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell appointed VACC Chairman Mr. Tinh Phan as Commissioner to advise the Commonwealth on Virginia’s Workforce Development Board.

2014 The Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Buyer Expo in Fairfax, Virginia with 15 buyers and 100 small business attendants.

2014 The Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce began to offer monthly Procurement BASH networking events all around Northern Virginia to encourage professional business networking activities among Asian firms.

2016 The signature First Annual Procurement EXPO Hampton Roads was held in Norfolk with 20 buyers in 20 industry sectors.

2017 Loudoun County Economic Development Office Director, Buddy Rizer, offered VACC its first official Ashburn office.

2017 The first ASIA TV Show series featuring a talk show discussing education, international news, culture, and local business and community news was introduced at Cox Communications studio in Newport News.

2017 VACC’s Executive Director became Advisor to the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Blueprint, a proposed VCC “Economic Business Plan” to help move Virginia forward.

2017 The First A&E Network Forum was held in Vienna and Richmond offering our Asian A&E (Asian Architects and Engineers) firms an opportunity to connect with decision-makers and new construction projects.  Several firms from DC, MD, and VA took part in this initiative.

2018 VACC’s Executive Director became Advisor to the Commonwealth’s Mega Region Project on economic growth strategies for the Richmond Region (RVA) and the Hampton Roads (Region 757).

2018 VACC’s Executive Director became Advisor to the Commonwealth project Board of Directors of the state law, Go Virginia, on economic competitive grants.

2018 The first Industry Forum was created and held in Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, and Hampton Roads to address innovations in procurement, science, and technology trends

2018 VACC leaders were invited to oversee the Commonwealth system – now set to become state law – by the nation’s first-ever Minority Business Commission.

2019 VACC’s Executive Director was invited by Dominion Energy to become Advisor to the Clean Energy Community Committee. The committee addresses business opportunities, workforce development needs, and issues among underserved communities.

2020 The first series of Virtual Procurement Forums was launched to address the needs of small businesses during the Covid 19 pandemic. They discuss where financial resources can be offered, grant opportunities, and information on medical resources as well as updates given by state and regional chief medical officials.

2020 VACC’s Executive Director became Advisor to the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia on Procurement Strategies for an Inclusive Region, helping to address underserved businesses and communities of color in Northern Virginia.

2020 VACC’s Executive Director was invited by Dominion Energy to become Advisor to the Windfarm project to address business opportunities and the future of workforce development.

2020 Foundation Director of the Virginia Asian Foundation (VAF) became Advisor to the Massey Cancer Center on Immigrant Population and Cancer Education, Prevention, and Treatment.

2020 On behalf of all small minority businesses in Virginia, VACC Founder Tinh Phan strongly opposed the Virginia Department of Labor Industry’s making the vaccine mandate a permanent regulation.

2020 VACC created our South West Virginia Office in Blue Ridge. Created series of webinars with focus on rural Southwest Virginia and promoting Asian immigrants contributions to the South West Virginia region’s economy and workforce.

2021 VACC’s Executive Director became Advisor to Kaiser Permanente ‘s National Fellow Program on Growth and Recovery Strategies for Small and underserved businesses in the DC Area.

2021 VACC’s Founder Tinh Phan was invited to become a Committee Member of the State Committee on Small Minority Business Procurement Policy by the Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Office.

2021 VACC’s Executive Director My Lan Tran became official Advisor of VOICES, a regional committee on the future economic development of Hampton Roads.

2021 Foundation Director of the Virginia Asian Foundation (VAF) became Advisor to the Kaiser Permanente’s Fellow on Health Care Research Project on Covid 19’s Impact on Minority communities.

2021 Foundation Director of the Virginia Asian Foundation (VAF) became Advisor to the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia on Research Project with focus on building community wealth for Northern Virginia in collaboration with the Democracy Collaborative.

2023 Trade Conference -Richmond City Mission to Cape Town, South Africa – This event is expected to launch as a result of VACC leadership at the City of Richmond Sister Cities International where VACC Executive Director My Lan Tran led this government body off and on between 2010 and 2023 as Commission Chairperson.

2023 VACC’s Executive Director My Lan Tran became official Member of George Mason University ‘s “Democratization NOVA Council”, a community-engaged civic research project by GMU Center for Social Science Research, VACC advocating for Asian American business community in this region, among others.