Business Concept Magazine August 2022

Location: RAYMOND VINEYARDS @raymondvineyard Marissa Paz Israel, D.D.S. was preparing for a nursing career when fate stepped in. She was in her third year at Bicol University’s highly regarded nursing program in the city of Legaspi when she had a toothache. She went to her family dentist and decided on the spot that she wanted to be a dentist. “That toothache changed my life,” said Dr. Israel. Marissa was born in Manila but grew up in Bicol Region in the town of Lake Buhi. Her grandparents owned a coconut plantation where they sold coconut oil to wholesalers for food products, shampoo, and soaps. It was a wonderful childhood which produced fond memories, one of which was her mother’s flavorful cooking. With plenty of coconut products, one of her favorite food was…

Evie Jeang is a mother, a founder, an attorney, and an advocate. She is a multitude of things to a community of people. A testament that a woman is only limited by what she holds over herself. In 2017, Evie Jeang founded Surrogacy Concierge, a service agency that provides assistance and support to people intending to become parents through assisted reproductive technology. More than just a venture, it’s an amalgamation of professional and personal experiences that shaped this stage of her life. For over two decades, Evie has practiced international family law, where she finds herself akin to the children caught in the crossfires of a divorce or separation. She has dedicated her career to serving her community—whether for immigrants, women, Asian Americans, surrogacy, and more. “…It always has to…

Heddie Chu recognizes that leadership looks different for everyone, however, the common thread that ties it all together is passion, agility, and the heart to empower others. Leadership comes in different packages. There are those in sharp suits and leather shoes, others in black turtlenecks and gray sneakers, and there are leaders with bright red earrings and even redder lips. Heddie Chu is the latter. BŌK Modern’s co-founder and owner bring a human face to leadership. She acknowledges the difficulty of being an Asian American woman of creative background, running an architectural metal systems firm. She recognizes that her wins coexist with her struggles. One must grow into the role and embrace everything that comes with it—both the good and the bad. Coming into a more leadership position, Heddie felt…

Location: RAYMOND VINEYARDS @raymondvineyard People always ask me how I got into politics. I tell them that “I kind of fell into it.” I have done and seen a lot in my lifetime by saying “yes” to invitations to learn new things and meet new people. When the doors of opportunity open, I like to check them out. As I think back, my sense of curiosity and experiences in my childhood have shaped my path to public service. My childhood stories have never been documented in full so I dedicate this writing to my parents and to the pivotal moments in my upbringing that led me to being elected as the 34th California State Treasurer, the fifth highest position in California government, and the first woman of color and first woman…

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Charles K. Lee, integrates art and science to guide his patients in undergoing a transformation so he can find the true essence of natural beauty and turning back the clock. Dr. Lee’s childhood dream was to become a firefighter. He would shriek in delight each time he heard the sirens and saw the red fire engines bracing through the streets. “These brave firefighters are real-life superheroes who have extinguished the fire and saved a lot of people,” he shares. Dr. Lee grew up in a small town near Chicago as one of the few Asians in the community. As a Philosophy major, Dr. Lee dreamed of discovering the meaning of life and the values that resonate with him. “The values that would always take me…

Wine serves a fundamental role in Cecil Park and Jeannie Kim’s life, who share a strong vision of enabling people to communicate their stories and celebrate their milestones. Working behind the scenes, the business partners define wine’s true ingredients, demonstrate its benefits, and deliver a lifestyle to be valued and loved by all. Winemaker, Viticulturist, Negociant, and Founder of Winefornia, Cecil grew up in Korea and is the third generation of the Korean War. While growing up in a modest home, Cecil recognized back then the lack of opportunity for women to engage in a professional career. “Knowing education would forge the path to acquire job security for women, I dreamed of becoming an engineer hoping this job profession would offer a little more flexibility in the field,” Cecil shares.…