
Keynote Speaker
Deepak Chopra, M.D.
New York Times Bestselling Author, Internist/Endocrinologist, Founder, The Chopra Foundation
DEEPAK CHOPRA™ MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a whole health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization.
He is the author of over 90 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book and national bestseller, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential (Harmony Books), unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. For the last thirty years, Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution and his latest book, Total Meditation (Harmony Books) helps to achieve new dimensions of stress-free living and joyful living. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.”

Honorary Chair
Andrea Hendricks
Senior Executive Director and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Cerner
Andrea Hendricks is the senior executive director & Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Cerner Corporation. Hendricks leads Cerner’s global diversity and inclusion, community engagement and philanthropy efforts in over 26 countries and the U.S. She is making an impact on Cerner’s culture by driving strategy and engagement initiatives that foster organizational learning and enhanced corporate diversity and inclusion vision for Cerner associates, leadership and community collaborative partners.
With over 25 years of experience, she held roles in academic, corporate, and nonprofit environments with responsibilities in human resources, diversity and community engagement and organizational development where she seamlessly embedded best practices strategies across those organizations.
As a passionate, active citizen in the Kansas City community, Hendricks participates in several professional and community organizations such as the National World War I Museum Board, National Association of Asian American Professionals Advisory Board, YMCA Board and the United Way Board to name a few.
2021 Awards
We will be presenting awards for the following categories:
Professional Leader of the Year
Entrepreneur of the Year
Corporation Above & Beyond
Honoring Our Community Heroes
We will be recognizing community heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including frontline workers, volunteers, etc.
We are no longer accepting nominations nor submissions for community heroes.
Please contact aacckc@asianchamberkc.com for any questions regarding the awards presentations.
Please note the Asian Chamber reserves the right to use/edit submitted materials for the Annual Awards Gala program.
Previous Award Winners

2019 Professional Leader of the Year
Dr. Dhanunjaya (DJ) Lakkireddy
Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, HCA MidWest

2019 Civic Leader of the Year
Catherine Duong
Vietnamese American Community of Greater KC

2019 Entrepreneur of the Year
Neal Sharma
DEG, Linked by Isobar
2019 Corporation of the Year
Lead Bank
Dhanunjaya (DJ) Lakkireddy, M.D., 2019
Heart Rhythm Institute of HCA Midwest Health
Dr. Dong Chang Lee, 2018
Lohan Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic
Dr. Haseeb Ahmed, 2017
LiveActive Primary Care
Victor Zhang, 2016
American Century Investments
Peter Chung, 2015
BLC Firm
Neal Sharma, 2019
DEG, Linked by Isobar
Mukesh Goel, 2018
Fuel Expresso & Star Transport
Mike Bosch, 2017
RG Fiber
Erlinda Tjhai-Aydulun, 2016
MindLift LLC
Manoj Manathumaril, 2015
Nuvento, LLC
Catherine Duong, 2019
Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City
Thuy-Tien Dang, 2018
Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City
KCCAA Youth Hope Fund, 2017
Hope Fund
Filipino Medical Mission, 2016
Philippine Medical Society and Nurses Association of Greater Kansas City
Barbara Cusick, 2015
Shawnee Mission Health Board of Trustees
Lead Bank, 2019
Burns & McDonnell, 2018
Polsinelli, 2017
First National Bank, 2016
Bank of Blue Valley, 2015