Asian Journal

Southern California Edision (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities serving nearly 14 millions customers within Central, Coastal and Southern California, hosted its fifth annual Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration May 7 at the utility’s Customer Technology Application Center in Irwindale.

A Filipina American businesswoman, Linda Reyes Stone, was among the recipients of the five annual awards SCE gives to outstanding Asian business and community leaders. Linda Stone, the president and CEO of APR Consulting, Inc, was honored with the Diversity Supplier Award. Since the early 1990s, APR Consulting has been providing staffing, payroll and supplier services, human resource functions, and information technology and engineering consulting to SCE and other clients nationwide.

"Thank you for this very prestigious award," Linda said as she also praised SCE and Joe Alderete, SCE manager for supplier diversity, whom she referred to as "the best diversity manager in the world".

More than 500 people attended this year’s program, including community leaders, business leaders, elected officials, and SCE employees and executives. With the theme, "Asian Fusion: Energy & Entrepreneurship", SCE highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and the company’s commitment to helping its business and residential customers save energy, money and the environment.

SCE presented the Leadership Award to William Wang, CEO of VIZIO, Inc, as Taiwanese-American businessman and visionary who built a digital television empire. The Corporate Award was given to Huy Fong Foods, a successful family-owned business that produces a popular line of sauces with broad cultural appeal. The United Cambodian Community received the Community Service Award for its commitment and dedication to serving the Cambodian-American community in Southern California.

To highlight SCE’s commitment to maximizing opportunities for women, minorities, and disabled-veteran business enterprises, the company also gave awards to diverse suppliers DT Graphics and Stone’s APR Consulting. The event also addressed SCE’s dedication to partnering with Asian-American community organizations to better serve the needs of this diverse group.

"We want to embrace diversity for it strengthens family and community," said Al Fohrer, SCE CEO and Chairman. "We’re excited to partner with all of you," he told the API community.

US district judge Ronald Lew delivered the keynote address. Special guest Yakout Mansour, president and CEO of California Independent System Operator Corporation (California ISO), also made remarks. ted Chen, NBC4 television news anchor, served as master of ceremonies.