Ms. Yman Huang Vien, a Chinese-American leader from Vietnam, is the president of Lotus Financial Partners, Inc., president of the Chicago Chinese Benevolent Association, co-founder & board member of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA), and elder advisor of the Buddha Light International Association of Chicago (BLIA Chicago).
In 1978, Ms. Vien arrived in Chicago as a Chinese refugee from Vietnam and enrolled as an English as a Secondary Language (ESL) student. While working full-time for Jewish Vocational Services where she helped Vietnamese refugees find employment in Chicago, Ms. Vien also attended Loyola University at the same time, where she successfully earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
From 2016, Lotus Financial Partners provides financial consulting services to local developers and business owners for raising private funding and obtaining bank financing for real estate projects. Meantime, as president for one of the oldest organization in Chinatown, Ms. Vien is leading a senior affordable housing project for Chicago Chinatown to address the desperate needs of senior housing and community services.
For 27 years, Ms.Vien worked in the banking industry in various positions such as auditor, accountant, president & chief executive officer (CEO) at local Chicago community banks. Ms.Vien was recognized by the American Bankers Association for her efforts in executing outreach to unbanked and underbanked markets while serving the immigrant community in Chicago.
Along with her father, Mr. Duc Huang, Ms.Vien helped founded the Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) in 1981. Ms.Vien has been involved with CMAA since its inception and served as the executive director from 1994-1998. Under Ms. Vien’s leadership, CMAA continues her father’s vision in helping thousands of refugees and immigrants through vital services and helping them improve
Due to Ms.Vien’s exceptional leadership, she has received a number of awards including the top “100 Women Making a Difference” in Today’s Chicago Woman; the Athena Award, the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Horatio Alger Award; the Found Asian Award from the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the Damen Award from Loyola University, Business Leader in Colors Award from Chicago United, International 2016 Women who Make A Difference from International Women Forum (IWF) and 2017 Honoree of Outstanding International Women Leaders from Chicago Women Magazine.
In giving back to the community for serving on various Not for Profit organizations, Ms. Vien is grateful to all the people and organizations who have helped her along the way.