**This event will be online only**

Megan Nakano, Executive Director and Founder of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, moderates a conversation with Mary Aregoni, CEO & Founder of Saigon Sisters, and Kathy Vega Hardy, Owner of A Taste of the Philippines, on sustaining their brands through community.The discussion includes :

• Learn how Asian American entrepreneurs have leveraged community connections to launch, sustain, and grow their businesses
• Discover strategies for turning cultural identity and authenticity into a competitive business advantage
• Hear firsthand how Kathy Vega Hardy and Mary Aregoni navigated challenges, built loyal audiences, and expanded their brands
• Gain insights on creating partnerships between small businesses, corporations, and civic institutions
• Explore the role of mentorship, collaboration, and storytelling in scaling entrepreneurial success

Join Megan Nakano in conversation with Mary Aregoni and Kathy Vega Hardy

MEGAN NAKANO is the Executive Director and Founder of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois (AACCIL), where she provides pro bono consulting for Asian American entrepreneurs and those seeking to do business with them. With 25+ years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Megan is dedicated to bringing resources and opportunities to disadvantaged communities. She has previously served as Director of the Asian American Alliance Small Business Development Center, as a commercial lender and CRA Officer for an Asian American community bank, and with the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council helping Fortune 500 companies and government agencies advance their supplier diversity programs. A Chicago native, she has served on numerous boards and advisory councils at the city, state, and federal levels.

MARY AREGONI is the CEO and Founder of Saigon Sisters, a Chicago-based restaurant recognized for bringing the vibrant flavors of Vietnam to the mainstream. Since opening in 2009, she has grown Saigon Sisters across diverse service models—from restaurants and food halls to airports, hospitals, catering, and delivery—demonstrating resilience in the competitive dining industry. Mary is celebrated as a trailblazer for Asian American women in food, empowering others through leadership and mentorship. She is active in Let’s Talk Womxn, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and the James Beard Women’s Leadership Program, and is widely recognized as a champion of Vietnamese cuisine.

KATHY VEGA HARDY is the owner and chef behind A Taste of the Philippines. Born in Manila, she launched her concept as a food truck in Denver in 2012 before relocating to Chicago in 2018, where she has grown it from farmers markets to the Chicago French Market and now her Jefferson Park restaurant. Kathy has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Eater Chicago, and Block Club Chicago, and gained national recognition competing on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped. Her dishes—lumpia, pancit, and ube creations—blend tradition and innovation, bringing Filipino cuisine to wider audiences while showcasing the resilience and staying power of Asian American women restaurateurs.

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