This month, Bellevue-based Executive Development Institute (EDI) was honored as a recipient of the Top Contributor to the Asian Community Award. The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation presents this award annually to select individuals and organizations recognized for making a positive difference in the Asian Pacific American community. Ted Yamamura, EDI’s co-founder, also received an individual award for his contributions.
More than 300 people attended the award ceremony and dinner at the House of Hong Restaurant in Seattle on Dec. 9. Yamamura and Novak had a vision to build a community of diverse global leaders and created EDI in 1994. Its culturally tailored leadership programs are business relevant and empower participants to leverage their cultural and diverse attributes for accelerated professional growth. Nearly 17 years later, EDI has graduated more than 550 multi-ethnic professionals from its Leadership Discovery program.
Since 1990, the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation has been recognizing “Top Contributors.” This year 11 individuals and one organization received awards.
Other individuals honored as top contributors include: Chang Rae Lee, Pepper Jack Fast Food Restaurant in Bellevue; Christine Umayam, Child United; Debadutta Dash, Washington State’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA); Yoshi Minegishi, Celebrate Asia!; Vera Ing, community activist and author; Susan Lee, Korean American Chamber of Commerce; Thanch Nguyen, The Gift; Ruthann Kurose, Washington State Liquor Control Board; Theresa Pan Hosley, Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation; Ellen Abellera, CAPAA.
