SUSAN AU ALLEN came to the U.S. from Hong Kong on an invitation from the White House in recognition of her volunteer work on behalf of people with disabilities. She received her Juris Doctor from the Antioch School of Law and LL.M. in International Law from Georgetown University. She is nationally recognized for her work on immigration, international trade and investment.

In 1984, Susan founded the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Education Foundation (USPAACC) with a group of business and civic leaders in Washington, DC and California, to bring the diverse Pan Asian American business and professional people together as one unified voice in business, commerce and trade. In 2001, she won two Federal cases for her clients, took a sabbatical leave from her law practice, volunteered for USPAACC as its National President & CEO, and took USPAACC to a new level. She is now National President & CEO.

Long an effective advocate for Asian American business and professional issues on Capitol Hill, the White House, government, corporate America and the media, Susan achieved a new level of influence when President George H.W. Bush appointed her to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the U.S. (ACUS) where she served from 1991 - 1996.

Susan is a frequent guest at the White House and Congressional events that address issues affecting small, minority and women business communities. Her participation in these forums plays an important role in shaping the national agenda on the economy.

She is frequently approached by the media to comment on Asian American businesses, US-Asia commerce and trade, and Asian American women executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

Susan draws an analogy between USPAACC and the acorn that has grown into an Oak tree since its founding 28 years ago. USPAACC’s strong roots and wide branches now extend to thousands of Asian American businesses and professionals across the country. She's proud of their ability to open doors to contract, educational and professional opportunities for Asian Americans which are the fastest-growing group with the highest business growth in the U.S., connect business to business, and to build relationship and trust. Once an immigrant, she knows the obstacles that must be overcome to achieve the American Dream, and she has dedicated her life to help others to pursue their Dream — develop, grow and build a successful business.

Susan is a member of Pfizer's Small Business Advisory Council; Diversity Council of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Int'l Franchise Association and American Red Cross; Nat'l Association of Women Business Owners National Advisory Council; and the Kennedy Center Community Board.

In the business sector, she has served on the Small Business Advisory Committee of the U.S. Dept. of Energy and U.S. General Services Administration; U.S. Small Business Administration National Women's Business Council; NASA's Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee; Women Small Business Summits Nat'l Advisory Board; Washington Board of Trade Board of Trustees for The Washington Initiative; Diversity Councils of Time Warner, Wyndham Int'l, Premier Automotive Group (Aston Martin, Jaguar, Volvo & Landrover); U.S. Marine Transportation System Nat'l Advisory Council; Board of Directors of the Virginia Small Business Finance Authority; Diversity Boards of AMTRAK and the U.S. Marine Corps; and as Commissioner of the Minority Business Opportunity Commission of the District of Columbia.

In other sectors, she served on the President's Council on the 21st Century Workforce Committee on the Future of the Workplace, and the Board of Trustees of Excelsior College in New York.

She has contributed op-ed articles to USA Today, The Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, Asian Week, and Asian Fortune, and appeared as commentator on C-Span, CNN, CNBC, ABC, Fox News, The News Hour, To the Contrary, This is America, and The Editor.

Susan has received numerous awards and distinctions for her contributions to ethnic, minority and women inclusion, supplier diversity, Asian American businesses succeeding in the mainstream, and international trade.

Among Susan's awards are the Diversity Journal's 11th Annual Women Worth Watching (2012), Urban Wheels Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), DiversityBusiness.com Top Diversity Advocates (2007), Minority Business Hall of Fame (2005), Nat'l Association of Minority Automobile Dealers' Diversity Advocacy Award (2006), NASA Special Recognition Award for Extraordinary Efforts in Promoting Small Business Programs Nationally and Internationally (2002), Business Person of the Year Award from the League of Korean Americans-USA (2002), AT&T Spectrum Award for Advocacy for Minority Business Opportunity (2001), and Skirt in Power Award from the D.C. Chamber of Commerce (1992).

Susan speaks (Cantonese and Mandarin) and writes Chinese fluently. Married with two sons, she lives in McLean, VA and Washington, DC.