[VT – Philadelphia, October 3, 2025] The Asian American Business Alliance of Greater Philadelphia (AABAGP) hosted its first-ever Golden Eagle Awards Gala at the Live! Casino & Hotel, marking a milestone event designed to recognize excellence and empower the community. Under the theme “Honoring Excellence, Empowering Communities,” the evening brought together government and business leaders, corporate executives, and community representatives to celebrate the individuals and organizations driving economic vitality and social inclusion across the Greater Philadelphia region.
Advancing AABAGP’s Mission
AABAGP Board Chair Hon. David Oh and President Ken Wong welcomed guests, outlining the organization’s mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit: fostering job creation, quality of life, talent development, and mutual support to strengthen Asian American businesses.
- Oh emphasized that funds raised from the gala will be used to hire full-time staff and establish a permanent office, enabling AABAGP to better serve the community and launch its first annual impact report.
- Wong noted that the Golden Eagle Awards are not only a tribute to outstanding leaders but also a reflection of the American Dream: “AABAGP will continue to instill confidence in the next generation and create a more supportive business environment.”
Honoring Excellence: Four Distinguished Awardees
Hanwha Philly Shipyard
One of the nation’s leading shipbuilding facilities, Hanwha Philly Shipyard builds and maintains both commercial and government vessels. Acquired in 2024 by South Korea’s Hanwha Group, the shipyard is entering a new era of growth with a planned $5 billion infrastructure upgrade and support from a $150 billion U.S. shipbuilding investment fund, aiming to expand its capacity from fewer than two ships a year to 20. Hanwha Shipping has already ordered 10 medium-range product tankers—the largest U.S. commercial ship order in over two decades—and two LNG carriers, creating thousands of high-wage jobs.
Accepting the award, CEO David Kim noted that 15% of the workforce is Asian American: “This honor belongs to all our employees and community partners. We’re not just revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding; we’re powering Philadelphia’s economy so that our workers and local businesses thrive together.”
Mohamed “Mo” Rushdy
As President of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia and Board Chair of both the Philadelphia Accelerator Fund (PAF) and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), Rushdy is a key leader in addressing the city’s affordable housing crisis. He is also Managing Partner of River Wards Group and founder of Maven. Through two Super PACs, he has advanced pro-city policies and broken barriers for minority developers—when he began, there were no Black or Brown developers earning over $2–3 million annually; today there are nearly 23, with a goal of reaching 50 by 2027.
Rushdy credited his family, especially his mother, for their support and reaffirmed his commitment to public-private partnerships: “We’re not just building houses; we’re creating dignified living for Philadelphia’s communities.”
Timothy Haahs (Posthumous Award)
The acclaimed architect, engineer, and bestselling author passed away on December 26, 2024. His firm, THA Consulting (formerly Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc.), operates with the mission of “helping those in need.” Twice a heart transplant recipient (1993, 1999), Haahs devoted his life to both professional excellence and public service—co-authoring the UN’s “East Asia Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap” and writing Korean bestsellers P31: Bible Based Business and Favor – A Special Gift of God, inspiring thousands of leaders.
Accepting on his behalf, his wife Janice Haahs recounted how he once gave up a heart transplant opportunity to save another patient’s life: “He proved that business can walk hand in hand with faith and kindness. THA Consulting will continue his legacy.”
Ocean Kingdom
Founded in 1998 and revitalized under Yong Lin and Doury Du in 2013, Ocean Kingdom is a leading importer and distributor of premium frozen seafood. Projected to surpass $200 million in revenue by 2025, the company partners with producers in over 10 countries—from Ecuador to Norway to Vietnam—to supply shrimp, tilapia, squid, and more to over 1,000 customers. With cold storage facilities in six states, Ocean Kingdom is poised for further expansion.
Receiving the award, CEO Yong Lin reflected on his upbringing as a fisherman’s son: “My father taught me to share and to love. Beyond ensuring seafood quality, we’re training the next generation of cold-chain talent and funding programs for war orphans in Myanmar—using business to spread warmth.”
In addition to the honorees and keynote guests, the gala also welcomed several distinguished attendees from the corporate and civic sectors, whose presence underscored the growing influence of Asian American leadership across industries.
Among the notable attendees were Susan Jin Davis, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania AAPI Commission, Vice Chair of the Board at National ACE, and former Chair of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), and Philip Kim, Senior Director of Local Government and Strategic Partnerships at Comcast and former Special Assistant to the President for Political Engagement at the White House.
Their participation highlighted the strong ties between business, government, and community leadership, reinforcing AABAGP’s mission to promote collaboration and representation across all sectors.
Voices from the Stage: Building a Stronger Region
Prominent guests offered insights on how public-private collaboration can accelerate regional growth:
- Michael Pearson, Chair of the Philadelphia Port Authority (PhilaPort) and President of PHMC, highlighted the strategic acquisition of the 152-acre “Musket Yards” deepwater port site, which will open new opportunities in shipbuilding, container shipping, and automotive manufacturing. “My father was a shipyard welder,” he said. “I know firsthand what port development means for families and communities.”
- Hon. Robert Gleason, Jr., Amtrak Board Member (appointed by President Trump), underscored the national importance of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station—the third-busiest in the Amtrak network—and invited AABAGP to join its advisory council to expand Asian American participation in the station’s modernization and surrounding community revitalization.
- David Taylor, President of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, spoke on National Manufacturing Day about manufacturing’s role as the state’s economic engine: generating over $110 billion annually, directly employing 500,000 workers, and offering some of the highest job multiplier effects. “We need more young people to understand manufacturing’s stable, high-paying careers,” he said.
- Michael Innocenzo, Executive VP of Exelon (parent of PECO), shared the company’s commitments to workforce development, cybersecurity, and partnerships with AABAGP: “When local businesses thrive, communities prosper. That’s our unchanging belief.”
- Sihwan Ryu, CEO of Hanwha International, outlined Hanwha’s global footprint in defense, chemicals, and energy, and its eagerness to partner with Asian American enterprises to boost U.S. competitiveness.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Jim Harrity announced a $150,000 city grant to support AABAGP’s community services: “David Oh has never let party lines prevent him from helping Asian American communities. This funding recognizes AABAGP’s mission and Philadelphia’s commitment to diversity.”
The evening was co-hosted by Denise Nakano, KYW Newsradio midday anchor and winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and seven Emmy Awards, alongside Oceane Qian-Feuillat, 2025 Miss Teen New Jersey USA, a Chinese-French-American entrepreneur who founded the GLOW leadership camp for young women.
A Night of Celebration and Connection
AABAGP Vice Chair Daler Khamidov and Secretary Susan Noh closed the evening with thanks to sponsors, honorees, and attendees. A silent auction, raffle drawings, and a performance by a string quartet—Yayoi Numazawa (violin), Daniel Han (violin), Hsiang-Hsin Ching (viola), and Hai-Ye Ni (cello)—added vibrancy to the gala atmosphere.
More than an awards ceremony, the inaugural Golden Eagle Awards Gala marked the beginning of deeper collaboration between Asian American businesses and regional stakeholders. As David Oh concluded: “Tonight is a new starting point. We will continue to empower Asian American enterprises, drive inclusive economic growth, and help everyone in Philadelphia achieve their dreams.”
