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Left to right: Assembly Members Mary Salas (District 79), Alan Nakanishi (District 10), Mr. Pervaiz Lodhie, Founder and President of LEDtronics, Inc., Ted Lieu (District 53), Anthony Portantino (District 44). |
SACRAMENTO - The California State Assembly observed May as Asian Pacific
Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month with the adoption of Assembly Concurrent
Resolution (ACR) 135 and a special Floor ceremony featuring the presentation
of the Fourth Annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Awards. The awards were
presented to prominent APIs who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of
arts and entertainment, medicine, business, civil rights, community service
and journalism. Mr. Pervaiz Lodhie, CEO LEDtronics, and a prominent Pakistani
entrepreneur, was one of the award winners.
“This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the creation of Asian Pacific Islander
American Heritage week,” said Assembly Member Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), Co-Chair
of the Asian Pacific Islander Joint Legislative Caucus. “We are proud to recognize
these six honorees for the achievements they have made in their respective fields
while advancing the progress of the API community.”
“Each of these men and women has realized the American Dream,” Assembly Member
Nakanishi (R-Lodi), Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Joint Legislative
Caucus, said. “They worked hard, achieved greatness, and are an example of leadership
to Californians of every ethnic background.”
The 2008 Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Award recipients were as follows:
- George Kee Cheung - Excellence in Arts and Entertainment
- Dr. Parampal Gill - Excellence in Medicine
- Pervaiz Lodhie - Excellence in Business
- Lillian Nakano - Excellence in Civil Rights
- June Pouesi - Excellence in Community Service
- Joey Quinto - Excellence in Journalism
ACR 135 commends California’s Asian Pacific Islanders for their notable accomplishments
and outstanding service to the state. It is authored by the ten Asian American
Members of the Legislature: Assembly Members Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Warren
Furutani (D-Gardena), Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward), Shirley Horton (R-Chula Vista),
Ted Lieu (D- Torrance), Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi),
Alberto Torrico (D- Newark), Van Tran (R-Costa Mesa), and Senator Leland Yee
(D-San Francisco). The Floor ceremony was also attended by Board of Equalization
Vice-Chair Betty Yee (District 1).
The citation for the Award for Excellence in Business said:
“ Pervaiz Lodhie established LEDtronics in 1983 in Torrance, California.
Today, Ledtronics is one of the world's leaders in designing, manufacturing
and packaging of energy efficient, environmentally friendly light emitting
diode (LED) lamps to some of the world's largest Fortune 500 companies. Mr.
Lodhie was the recipient of the United States Small Business Administration's
Award for Excellence. He also founded and serves as Chairman of the Pakistani-American
Business Executives Association and is a Founding Director and Trustee of
President Musharraf's Pakistan Human Development Fund. He is an active member
of the US Trade Advisory Committee for Congresswoman Jane Harman, and was
recently invited to serve as a member on the International Circle of the World
Affairs Council. In addition, Mr. Lodhie has served as Chairman of the Industry
Advisory Board for the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology
at California State University, Los Angeles. In 2004, he became one of the
Founding Directors of PAL-C, a historic initiative that brought about the
successful Pakistan Congressional Caucus in the US Congress. He is a past
member of the World Affairs Council International Circle and is also a founding
member of MCAC (Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee), a community outreach program
initiated by the US Department of Justice on the west coast. Mr. Lodhie holds
a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State
University at Los Angeles and was honored as its Alumni of the Year in 1999.”