Asian American Entrepreneurs Driving Houston’s Growth

Schedule

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
7 p.m. Panel Discussion
8 p.m. Networking Reception

Join Asia Society Texas as local Asian American entrepreneurs share their journeys through Houston's business landscape.

Between 2021 and 2023, Houston’s economy grew by nearly 25 percent, ranking the Bayou City among the top 20 largest cities in the US. An important part of this growth was due to an increasing number of dynamic and successful Asian American entrepreneurs: locally, more than 17 percent of businesses are Asian-owned, which is 70 percent higher than the national average. These businesses add tens of billions of dollars to the Houston economy and provide thousands of jobs throughout the area.

Tokyo Gardens Company president Robert Gondo and The Physicians Premier Group cofounder and managing partner Dr. Christopher Kwon, and Kin Dee, MaKiin, and Thai Tail (MaKiin Concepts) founder and CEO Lukkaew Srasrisuwan will reflect on their careers and share their perspectives on the economic opportunities available for current and future entrepreneurs. They will be joined in conversation by Microsoft’s Global AI Innovation Storytelling Communications Manager Rose-Ann Aragon.

About the Speakers

Robert Gondo is the President of Tokyo Gardens Company (TGC) which provides sushi to HEB and major U.S. grocery chains. TGC has worked with HEB for over 20 years and today is the largest sushi company in Texas. Robert is also President at Sushic, a local catering company that serves private clients, major events, universities and hospitals. TGC/Sushic is a family business, which originally started as a Japanese restaurant in Houston by Robert’s grandparents in 1966, before transitioning to retail in 2001.

Robert received his MBA from the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan and undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. He is part of the American Leadership Forum – Houston (Class LIX – 59).

Dr. Christopher Kwon is an emergency medicine physician and entrepreneur, being one of the founders of The Physician Premier Group. He currently serves as a board member and managing partner of the group, as well as serving on the boards of the Korean American Medical Association’s Texas chapter, Healing Hands International, and the Korean American Association and Community Center of Houston. Dr. Kwon is passionate about impacting the next generation of leaders in medicine and business, and the promotion of the voice of the Korean American community.

Dr. Kwon received his Biomedical Engineering degree from Johns Hopkins, his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and a Masters of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins

Lukkaew Srasrisuwan is the restaurateur behind Kin Dee, MaKiin, and Thai Tail, winning the hearts of Houstonians with her food and her story. After studying engineering in her native Thailand, she traveled the world as a representative for Schlumberger, eventually moving to Houston to manage one of the company’s largest global projects. Inspired by the diversity of the city, Srasrisuwan wanted to share the richness of Thai culture with the community. Through her restaurants, she has helped create jobs, support charitable organizations, and mentored community members. She is a key supporter and promoter of Thai culture in Houston, through her involvement in organizations such as the Thai Cultural Center, the Wat Buddhavas Thai Temple & Cultural Center, and more.

About the Moderator

Rose-Ann Aragon is an Emmy Award-winning Filipina American storyteller with a firm belief in the power of storytelling. She graduated summa cum laude at the University of Illinois for Broadcast Journalism. In her work at Microsoft as a Global AI Innovation Storytelling Communications Manager, Rose-Ann and her team lead global AI innovation storytelling and strategy to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. In addition to creating storytelling and public speaking workshops to empower student voices, she is the External Comms co-lead for the new Asians @ Microsoft ERG chapter in Houston and co-created programming with ColorComm, the nation’s leading women’s platform addressing D&I across communications and media.

Before coming to Microsoft, she was KPRC2’s Space Reporter and led KPRC's committee dedicated to increasing diverse and community-driven storytelling. As a multimedia journalist and interim anchor, Rose-Ann pursued stories from all walks of life and spearheaded her own award-winning series on education and safety, telling stories from all over the world. Her reporting has been recognized by a Telly, Lone Star, Edward R. Murrow, and Emmy Awards.

Asia Society Texas Business & Policy Programs are endowed by the Huffington Foundation.

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, and ExxonMobil. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by bp America, Inc, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional support is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.

At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

Presenting Sponsor of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Sponsors of APAH Month
Comcast
CITGO

APAH Month 2025 Calendar

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Past APAH Month Calendars

2024: Highlights | Details
2023: Highlights | Details
2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.