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Published by info, 2022-10-10 19:47:07

AAa/e 2022 Banquet Program Book

AAa/e 2022 Banquet Program Book

October 6, 2022

Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Los Angeles, California

ASIAN AMERICAN ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION

44TH ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
2022

2022 BANQUET PROGRAM

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS AWARD PRESENTATIONS
DIANNE LEE 2022 HONOREES
A Aa/e Banquet Chair & Immediate Past Community Award
President A LICIA WACHTEL
Kitchell Executive Director
TAY VIN SAKS Cedars Sinai
A Aa/e Banquet Co-Chair/VIP Reception & Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
President-Elect Leadership Award
Jacobs DR. RUEBEN SMITH, D.C.SC.
Vice Chancellor & Chief Facilities Executive
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Los Angeles Community College District
DARCI WONG Visionary Award
A Aa/e President ADEL HAGEKHALIL
Cuningham General Manager & Chief Executive Officer
Metropolitan Water District of Southern
MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES C a l i f or n i a 
JESSICA M. CALOZA
Deputy Chief of Staff KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Office of Attorney General Rob Bonta STEPHANIE WIGGINS
California Department of Justice Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATIONS Authority
JANICA LEY BAKER
A Aa/e Foundation President ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & CLOSING
NAC Architecture TAY VIN SAKS
PAULETTE DA LL AS A Aa/e President-Elect
A Aa/e Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair Jacobs
ACE Mentor Program

DINNER

Silent Auction will close at 8:00 PM. All proceeds benefit the AAa/e Scholarship Program. Please check your bids.

ABOUT AAA/E

The Asian Ameri- nization has grown
can Architects and both physically, with
Engineers Association increasing member-
(A Aa/e) is committed ship and establish-
to providing a platform ment of the A Aa/e
for empowering profes- Foundation, but also
sionals working in the influentially in the
built environment in personal community through its pro-
and professional growth, business grams, networking opportunities,
development and networking, student scholarships, and commu-
and leadership in our community. nity awards. The growth of our
organization is the direct result
A Aa/e was founded by four of the dedication and hard work
architects and an engineer as of the past Board of Directors,
an organization to help Asian Advisory Council, and countless
American businesses penetrate number of other volunteers who
the architectural and engineering have given their vision, time and
community in Southern Califor- efforts through the years.
nia. Since that time, the orga-

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It has been such a great honor serving At the beginning of the year, we have
as President of the Asian American also introduced the role of Historian for
Architects and Engineers Association the organization. We have strategic plans
(AAa/e) in 2022! It has been a true to steer us to where we would like to
pleasure to work closely with my fellow go, but we would also like to make sure
board members, to learn from our past that we have the full story of where we
presidents and our advisory council, as came from. Michael Enomoto, who is a
well as to engage with our members. mentor and the one who brought me to
my first AAa/e event, will be leading us
We continue to stay true to our to write our story. The story would begin
mission—“The AAa/e is committed to like this: “Four architects and an engineer back in
providing a platform for empowering professionals 1978 came up with an idea….”
working in the built environment in personal and It really takes a village for AAa/e to get to where
professional growth, business development and we are today in the industry, with board members
networking, and leadership in our community”—and throughout history from both the Association and
work hard every year to provide this platform. We the Foundation—the two sides that make up one
hope that the connections with the community and coin!—working together tirelessly to meet if not
engagement with the local AEC industry at the monthly surpass our goals each year. And this helps to grow
events have been a valuable experience for everyone. the annual student scholarships that AAa/e is known
for awarding!
Because we are truly committed to supporting We would like to acknowledge and thank our
the next generation of leaders, we have reignited the members, speakers, and sponsors, without whom we
Master Series and the Student & Young Professionals would be just 20 people getting together for dinner in
Networking event this year for professionals just early October. This annual awards banquet is sold out
starting in the industry as we emerge from the year after year, and we would like to thank everyone
pandemic and fully return to in-person events. Our here tonight, all 600+ sponsors and continued
annual appreciation event “An Evening Under the supporters. Thank you for taking part in our mission
Stars” now takes place in the spring, and this year, and our goals. Together we will be “Charging Ahead
we have seen the largest turnout as we celebrate YOU With Courage” into the next year!
– our members and our supporters! Our monthly Darci Wong, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
lunch programs have continued to be well attended, AAa/e President
and we have been receiving feedback on how valuable Cuningham
and enjoyable these events have been. We appreciate
our speakers, moderators, and sponsors who are truly
our partners in producing these successful programs.

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE BOARD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP CHAIR HISTORIAN
DARCI WONG BILL KOBAYASHI MICHAEL ENOMOTO
Kajima Construction
Cuningham Gruen Associates
Services West
VICE PRESIDENT / PROFESSIONAL
PROGRAMS CHAIR COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
CINDY IONITA
TAY VIN SAKS SWA Architects NATHAN KIM
Jacobs Gensler

SECRETARY SMALL BUSINESS & METRO POLICY & PROCEDURES /
QUYNH HO JAMES OKAZAKI BY-LAWS CHAIR
City of Los Angeles,
Bureau of Engineering Okazaki & Associates SA IK-CHOON POH
DRP Engineering
TREASURER JANICA BAKER
STEVE HIRAI NAC Architecture SUKHO JANG
Brown and Caldwell Leo A Daly
KEITH KAJIYA
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT / AECOM TAN CAO
BANQUET CHAIR C a ltr a ns
DIANNE LEE PUBLIC POLICY /
Kitchell GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS VENU KOLLI
CHAIR / DEI TASK FORCE Stantec Consulting

KEN SUSILO Services, Inc.
Geosyntec
EVENT & ASSOCIATION
MANAGEMENT

DIANNE OCHOA
Co-Pilots

BANQUET CHAIRS MESSAGE

On behalf of the 2022 Banquet Additionally, our commitment to
Committee, we would like to welcome supporting the next generation of in-
all our guests, sponsors, and distin- dustry professionals will never waiver,
guished awardees to our 44th Annual so tonight we would like to congratu-
Awards Banquet at the beautiful and his- late all the Foundation Scholarship
toric Millennium Biltmore Hotel. This winners.
year our theme and awardees were care- We would also like to thank the
fully selected by the committee based Banquet Committee for their contin-
on two main factors. We concluded DIANNE LEE, Banquet Chair ued dedication and enthusiasm and
that the industry has risen with cour- their commitment to ensuring that the
age to meet these challenging uncertain AAa/e Awards Banquet continues to be
times, and we recognize the Year of the the premier networking industry event
Tiger from the Chinese lunar calendar in Southern California. With ten months
as a year of enthusiastically taking on of planning in place, our mission is for
these challenges head on. Based on that, everyone to leave this banquet more en-
the distinguished awardees we have se- ergized, empowered, and encouraged to
lected have shown their enthusiasm by embrace each other and in support of
being vigorous and ambitious, daring TAYVIN SAKS, Banquet this growing and exciting industry.
and courageous, as well as generous and Co-Chair, Programs Chair & The committee is also thankful to
self-confident with a sense of justice and
President Elect the Board of Directors, Advisory and

commitment to help others for the greater good. Past President Council for their input and guid-
So, this evening, we are here to acknowledge and ance throughout the year. Lastly, we would like to
celebrate their prowess and many accomplishments. express our sincere appreciation to our members,
As they continue to lead with courage, under their awardees, sponsors, public and private owners, vol-
leadership, our industry will continue to make great unteers, and students for their support of this great
strides that will impact many generations to come. organization. As an industry we hope you will join
Tonight, we honor four outstanding individuals us as we “Charge Ahead with Courage.”
for their commitment to the construction industry
and invite all of you to join us on this journey of DIANNE LEE, Banquet Chair & AAa/e Immediate
“Charging Ahead with Courage.” Past President and TAYVIN SAKS, Banquet
Co-Chair, Programs Chair & President-Elect

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Jessica Caloza is the Deputy Chief implement strategic initiatives from

of Staff to California Attorney General immigration policy to scheduling and

Rob Bonta, the state’s top lawyer and operations. Prior to joining the Mayor’s

law enforcement official. She is a senior Office, Jessica served in the Obama

member of the executive team that Administration in the U.S. Department

oversees the California Department of of Education. She has also been a

Justice, a statewide operation of over campaign aide to several members of

4,500 lawyers, investigators, sworn peace Congress, including former Rep. Xavier

officers, and other employees. Jessica has Becerra. In 2012, she was a community

spent over a decade in various executive JESSICA CALOZA organizer for President Obama’s
Deputy Chief of Staff
roles, including as a Commissioner on Office of Attorney General campaign and helped lead key field
the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, offices in Virginia. She is also passionate
the governing and oversight body of Rob Bonta about giving back to the community
nearly 6,000 employees responsible California Department of and serves on various nonprofit boards.

for delivering critical services and Justice Jessica graduated from the University

infrastructure projects for 4 million of California, San Diego with a double

residents. She was the first Filipina American on the major in Political Science: International Relations

Board and was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti in and Ethnic Studies. She is a proud first generation

2019. Previously, Jessica served as a senior member immigrant from the Philippines.

of Mayor Garcetti’s executive team and helped

2022 SCHOLARSHIPS

High School Scholarship: Graduate Scholarship:
Allen Shen, Princeton University (Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship)
Mina Boukhris, University of California, Berkeley Yuna Kim, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Semoi Khan, Pratt Institute
Undergraduate Scholarship: Community College
Aliya Formeloza, University of Southern California Candelette Vergara, Cal Poly Pomona
Miho Asada, SCI-Arc
Peter Otoshi, Biola University Student Loan Grant
Kayla Ching, RIOS
Victoria Dam, Gensler

A special thanks to our 2022 SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION SPONSORS

Named Sponsor Kimley-Horn & Associates Hongjoo Kim Landscape
Stantec KPFF Consulting Engineers Architects
Diamond Sponsor Langan Engineering and JCE Structural Engineering Group
NAC Environmental Services, Inc. Kewo Engineering Corporation
Gold + Sponsor Murakawa Communications, Inc. LCS Contractors, Inc.
VCA Engineers, Inc. P2S Engineers Leo A Daly
Gold Sponsors Pacific Architects, Inc. Leslie Scott Consulting Matt
AECOM PBS Engineers, Inc. Construction Corporation
Allegion Selbert Perkins Design Michael Chang
BnBuilders Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. Miyamoto International
Brandow & Johnston
The Swinerton Foundation Parsons
Collins + Collins LLP ZGF Architects, LLP PCL Construction Services
DPR Construction Silver Sponsors PSOMAS
DRP Engineering, Inc. ACCO Engineering Systems RDH Building Science, Inc.
Enclos Corp. Armstrong Ceilings Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Gruen Associates FPL and Associates, Inc. The American Engineers
HKS Architects Bomel Construction Company, Inc. Uniplan Engineering, Inc.
Jacobs Buehler Va n i r
John A. Martin & Associates Cuningham Walter P. Moore
Destination Enterprises Program Sponsor: ARC
Glumac

2022 COMMUNITY AWARDEE

During this time of dedicated her career
system transformation to Healthcare Design.
and geographical growth Prior to joining
for Cedars Sinai, Alicia Cedars-Sinai in 2017,
is responsible for the Alicia Wachtel was a
management and Healthcare Principal in
leadership of capital the Los Angeles office
projects related to the of HOK.
health system’s expansion, Wa c ht e l ’s
the Medical Delivery professional career has
Network growth, and been focused on the
the built platforms ALICIA WACHTEL delivery of complex
supporting care delivery Cedars Sinai replacement projects and
transformation. Her the multiple delivery
responsibilities include Executive Director methodologies associated
hands on work with Facilities Planning, with them, including
Real-Estate strategies that hospital P3s.
Design and
Construction

support the robust Alicia holds a
portfolio of new clinical space. Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Wachtel leads multiple initiatives from the Technion, Israel Institute
related to Process Improvement, of Technology, where she transferred
Diversity Equity and Inclusion from the School of Architecture,
and Departmental Growth and Universidad del Estado, Montevideo,
Evolution. Uruguay.
Since 1995, Wachtel has

2022 LEADERSHIP AWARDEE

Dr. Rueben Smith design, development,
serves as the Vice and post construction
Chancellor and Chief management of dozens
Facilities Executive for upon dozens of projects
the Los Angeles of varying delivery
Community College methods including the
District (LACCD). With implementation of zero-
undergraduate degrees net energy (ZNE) master
in civil engineering plans and integrated
and mathematics, an energy resource plans
MBA in environmental at various college and
sustainability and a DR. RUEBEN SMITH, K-12 Districts across the
doctorate in computer D.C.SC. State of California. As
science, and enterprise a Southern California
information systems. Vice Chancellor & Chief native who was raised
Facilities Executive in Long Beach, Dr.
As a multi-faceted Los Angeles
Professional with over Community College Smith completed his

District

20 years of experience undergraduate studies
in engineering design, construction, at California State University-Long
facilities, and environmental Beach, and his post graduate work
sustainability, he has led the at Colorado Technical University.

2022 VISIONARY AWARDEE

With over 32 of $1.8 billion, 1,700
years of public service employees and 30 facilities.
experience in the Previously, Adel was
management of water, appointed in 2018 by
environmental and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
infrastructure programs as the Executive
and initiatives, Adel Director and General
is an award-winning Manager of the City of
transformational Los Angeles’ Bureau of
leader anchored in Street Services(StreetsLA).
integration, innovation, ADEL HAGEKHALIL Adel was responsible for
and inclusion. Adel General Manager & managing, maintaining,
is a registered civil Chief Executive Officer and upgrading the City’s
engineer with the State Metropolitan Water Street network including
of California and a District of Southern streets, sidewalks, trees,
national Board-Certified and bikeways with focus
California

Environmental Engineer on safety, mobility, and
with specialty in water. sustainability.
Adel was appointed in June Prior to that, Adel was the
2021 as the General Manager of Assistant General Manager for the
the Metropolitan Water District City’s Bureau of Sanitation for 10
of Southern California, the years where he was responsible for
nation’s largest drinking water the wastewater collection system
provider. Adel is responsible for management, storm water and
leading Metropolitan’s daily and watershed protection program,
long-term operations and future and facilities and integrated water
planning, providing safe and planning. Under his direction, the
reliable water for 19 million people City prepared an award winning
in six Southern California counties 2040 One Water LA Plan “One
spanning over 5,200-square-mile Water.”
service area with an annual budget

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Board of Deputy CEO of
Directors of the Los Metro, where she
Angeles County Metro- assisted the CEO in
politan Transportation providing leadership and
Authority (Metro) voted to achieving strategic public
hire Stephanie Wiggins as transportation
Metro’s CEO on April 8, objectives, including the
2021. A lifelong trailblazer passage in 2016 of
and champion of equity Measure M, a half-
and inclusion, Wiggins is cent sales tax approved
the first African American STEPHANIE WIGGINS by 71 percent of LA
woman to lead the agency. Chief Executive Officer County voters. She also
As CEO of Metro, she established the Women
oversees an agency that Los Angeles County and Girls Governing
runs the third-busiest Metropolitan Council. During her

Transportation Authority

transit system in the tenure at Metro, Wiggins
United States and serves also served as the
as the lead transportation planning, Executive Director of Vendor/Contract
programming, and financing agency Management, where she implemented
for the 10.1 million residents of LA procurement streamlining initiatives
County. Before rejoining Metro as and greatly expanded Metro’s
CEO in June 2021, Wiggins served contracting of small and historically
for two-and-a-half years as CEO of underutilized businesses. Prior to
Metrolink, the nation’s third-largest that role, Wiggins was the Executive
passenger rail system covering 538 Officer and Project Director of the
route-miles throughout Southern Congestion Reduction/ExpressLanes
California. Program where she launched the
Prior to serving as CEO of first high occupancy toll lanes in LA
Metrolink, Wiggins was the County on the I-10 and I-110.

AAA/E LEADERSHIP

2022 ADVISORY COUNCIL JENN Y WA LK ER Independent

JOEL BENNETT JOEL BENNETT A Aa/e Advisor
Honorable GEORGE NAK ANO,
Former 53rd District California State Assembly KEITH K AJIYA AECOM

KURT YOSHII Ninyo & Moore

MICHAEL CHANG AC Martin

AAA/E BANQUET COMMITTEE MICHAEL LEE LG / GMS

A M Y CH A NG Stantec MIKE ENOMOTO Gruen Associates

CRYSTA L LEE City of LA, Bureau of SA IK-CHOON POH DRP Engineering

Engineering STEV E HIR A I Brown & Caldwell

DARCI WONG Cuningham TAN CAO Parsons

DI A NNE LEE Kitchell TAY VIN SAKS Jacobs

DIANNE OCHOA Co-Pilots Business Services V ENU KOLI Stantec

GEORGE NAK A NO A Aa/e Advisor VICTORIA DAM USC

JASON YA NG Thornton Tomasetti

AAA/E PAST PRESIDENTS

Dianne Lee 2021 Ken Wong 2008 Isidoro Alimento 1989
Hongjoo Kim 2020 Kurt Yoshii 2007 Anthony Ngai 1988
Steve Hirai 2019 Virgil Aoanan 2006 William Yang* 1987
Keith Kajiya 2018 Donna Clandening 2005 Robert Uyeda 1986
Nathan Kim 2017 Shelley Santo 2004 Russell Iwanaga 19 8 4 -19 85
Joseph Fong 2016 Michael Enomoto 2 0 01-2 0 03 Takashi Shida 19 83 -19 8 4
Young Nam 2015 Helena Lin Jubany 19 9 9 -2 0 0 0 Clifford Ishii 1982
Albert Leung 2014 Renie Meier-Wong 1997-1998 George Shinno* 1981
John Posadas 2013 Ming Yang Yeh 19 9 5 -19 9 6 Edward Endo 1980
Diana Ho 2012 Ted Tanaka 19 93 -19 9 4 Richard Tom 1979
Saik-Choon Poh 2011 Fred Y.M. Chen 1992 Charles Wong* 1978
Edwin Lee 2010 Seraphima Lamb 1991
Young Nam 2009 Calvin Abe 1990

*Founding Directors. Other Founding Members include DAVID HYUN and TOM MAKIN

SILENT AUCTION COMMITTEE

JASON YA NG, Board Member, MICHAEL CHANG, Board
Thornton Tomasetti Member, AC Martin

LAUREEN ABUSTAN, Board K EV IN LUI, Member, Gruen
Member, Brown & Caldwell Associates

MITCHELL SEKIYA, Board MIK E CHOU, Member, AC
Member, HKS Architects Martin

A MY CH A NG, Board Member,
Stantec

Silent Auction as of 09.20.22. Other items may have been added after the printing of this program.

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS

A big “Thank You” to the following individuals and businesses
in helping A Aa/e Foundation raise money for student scholarships
and programs!

Duck House Certificate, courtesy of the Duck House
Joseph Phelps Winery Bottles, courtesy of Hensel Phelps
VIP Passes to Magic Castle, courtesy of the Magic Castle:

Calvin & Victor
Lakers, Clippers, Rams Tickets, courtesy of VCA Engineering

Ducks Suite Tickets, courtesy of Bomel Construction
Dodger Tickets, courtesy of JAMA

Lakers Tickets, courtesy of PCL Construction
Ducks Tickets, courtesy of SCI Lighting Solutions
Bone Kettle Certificate, courtesy of DPR Constuction

Silent Auction as of 09.20.22. Other items may have been added after the printing of this program.

SPONSORS

PL AT I N U M
GOLD
SILVER

BRONZE

SPONSORS

COMMUNITY SPONSORS HALF TABLE
City of Long Beach-Harbor Dept. ATKINS
Clayco, Inc. BNBuilders
Corgan Brandow & Johnston
Geosyntec Consultants Carrier Johnson
Gruen Associates Citadel CPM, Inc.
HDR Engineering, Inc. CO Architects
Inland Empire Utilities Agency Collins, Collins Muir + Stewart
Jacobs Cordoba Corporation
PCL Construction DPR Construction
Skanska East West Bank
Thornton Tomasetti HGA
Triunity, Inc. IBI Group
VCA Engineers, Inc. John A. Martin & Associates, Inc.
LA Sanitation & Environment
Leo A Daly
Lutron Electronics
MATT Construction
NAC
Nevell Group, Inc.
Simpson & Simpson Management Consulting
Syska Hennessy Group
Turner Construction

Special Thanks to ARC Document Solutions for Program Printing



Metropolitan joins the Asian
American Architects and
Engineers Association in
honoring General Manager
Adel Hagekhalil as a
visionary

His “One Water” approach to resource
management reminds us how we are all
connected by the need for water and a
shared responsibility for its conservation
and equitable distribution. We also join in
the celebration of Dr. Rueben Smith and
Alicia Wachtel.



Charging Ahead
with Courage

Everything we do is designed
to deliver a better world

Uplifting communities, improving access,
sustaining our planet. We partner with
clients to turn ambitions into action

Metro is proud to support
Asian American Architects/
Engineers Association’s
44th Annual Awards.

23-1440jk ©2022 lacmta

Service Sectors

♦ Education
♦ Healthcare
♦ Governmental
♦ Commercial
♦ Hospitality
♦ Entertainment
♦ High Rise
♦ Industrial
♦ Transportation
♦ Aviation
♦ Historical

Metro Division 16 Southwestern Yard

www.jcesegroup.com ♦ [email protected]

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Building Better
Communities

Clark Construction is proud to support
the Asian American Architects and
Engineers Association.

Best wishes on your 44th annual
awards banquet!









LADWP is Proud
to Support the
Asian American
Architects/Engineers
Association 44th Annual
Awards Banquet
The Los Angeles
Department of Water
and Power salutes the
Asian American
Architects/Engineers
Association for the
important work they
do and sends hearty
congratulations to this
year’s award winners.

LADWP.com

Thank you

for supporting the 2022 Awards Banquet

www.aaaesc.org

Visit the AAa/e website for more
information about our upcoming events

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