On July 30, 2015, the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) will hold its annual Gala Reception and Awards Dinner, where it will bestow the Inspirational Leader Award upon Angela Chao for her industrious efforts and achievements in the corporate and non-profit communities. The award will be accepted by Angela’s sister, Elaine Chao; U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001-2009) in the Bush White House.

The ILF was founded in 2008. Through a network of advisory boards in 15 cities across the country, the Foundation is able to accomplish its mission of nurturing and creating the future generation of Asian Pacific American leaders, who will make their mark in the fields of public service, international affairs and entrepreneurship.

Annually, at the ILF awards dinner, the Foundation recognizes the special accomplishments of individuals and organizations who not only make an impression in their area of expertise but also contribute to the expansion of opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans.

Among her accomplishments, Angela Chao is being recognized for her leadership at the helm of the Chao Family Foundation, where she continues to give life to the legacy of her parents, James S.C. Chao and Ruth Mulan Chu Chao. ILF noted especially the outstanding efforts of Mrs. Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, whose courageous labors to bring economic and social opportunity through education to the Asian Pacific American community empowered them and gave them hope that they had a role to play in the unfolding American story. ILF mentioned also the Chao Family Foundation’s generous donations to many charitable projects. It is especially recognized for its support of facilities construction, endowed chairs and scholarships at institutions such as Harvard Business School, which are creating immeasurable opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Former honorees at the ILF annual Gala include the Honorable Norman Mineta, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Senator Mazie Hirono, Member of Congress, Ambassador Sichan Siv, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, and Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer.

Angela Chao, Deputy Chairman of Foremost Group, will be speaking at the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Shipping 2015 Conference, to be held on March 23-25 at the Hilton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. In spite of its name, the CMA Conference is actually the largest international gathering of shipping industry leaders in the world. And, the CMA is the largest international maritime association in the United States, which has been producing a conference and trade exhibition for 30 years.
Shipping 2015 will run over three days and is expected to include more than 2,500 attendees, with 14 panel discussions that follow the conference’s overarching theme; “Tradition: Celebrating the best, improving the rest”. 

On March 25th Angela Chao will participate in an afternoon panel discussion on the topic of “Generational Shift” . Joining her on the panel will be: Vassals Kertsikoff, Chairman and CEO of Eletson Gas LLC, Phrixos B. Papachristidis, CEO and Managing Director of Hellespont Ship Management GMBH & Co. KG, Fritz Heidenreich, President and CEO of Q88 LLC, and Nikolas P. Tsakos, President and CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. and Chairman of INTERTANKO. The panel discussion will be moderated by Dagfinn Lunde, Chairman of Executive Ship Management.