ACA and Ford Asian Association Present Leadership & Mobility Career Summit
The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), in collaboration with the Ford Asian Association (FAA), will present the ACA × Ford Leadership & Mobility Career Summit on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Chinese Community Center.
Under the theme “One Team. One Mission. Countless Futures.”, the one-day summit will bring together professionals and community leaders from Ford, ACA, and the Asia Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) to help high school students, college students, and young professionals explore career possibilities and prepare for an evolving workforce.
The program will focus on career development, leadership, emerging technology, mobility, professional communication, and networking. Participants will have opportunities to hear directly from experienced professionals, learn about different career paths, strengthen their interview and communication skills, and consider how their education and experiences can translate into future professional opportunities.
Preparing Young People for a Changing Workforce
Today’s students are preparing to enter a workplace being rapidly transformed by artificial intelligence, electrification, advanced engineering, software, and new approaches to mobility.
At the same time, employers continue to value skills that extend beyond technical knowledge: communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, leadership, and the ability to build meaningful professional relationships.
The Leadership & Mobility Career Summit is designed to bring these two sides of career preparation together.
Participants will explore questions such as:
- What skills are employers looking for in students and young professionals?
- How can students turn academic, volunteer, extracurricular, and leadership experiences into professional strengths?
- How should students approach choosing a college major, internship, or first job?
- How are artificial intelligence, engineering, electrification, and mobility creating new career opportunities?
- How can young people begin developing professional networks?
- What does it take to communicate effectively and confidently during an interview?
The goal is not simply to help participants prepare for their next interview, but to encourage them to think more broadly about the careers and opportunities ahead of them.
Meet the Moderator and Panelists
The summit will feature professionals and community leaders representing engineering, artificial intelligence, education, business, and community leadership.
Hong Jiang, Moderator
Chief Engineer, Electrified Drivetrain (eDrive) and Chassis, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford
Hong Jiang will moderate the discussion and guide conversations about engineering, innovation, leadership, career development, and the future of mobility.
Yao Ge
Senior Technical Leader, Artificial Intelligence, AI Advancement Center, Ford
Yao Ge will offer insights into artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including how AI is changing industries, creating new career opportunities, and influencing the skills that future professionals will need.
Chelsey Revita
Off Road and Trailer Tow Attribute Engineer, Ford
Chelsey Revita will share an engineering perspective and help participants understand how technical knowledge, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication come together in a professional automotive and mobility environment.
Richard Mui
President, Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) | Educator
As both ACA President and an educator, Richard Mui will discuss the connections among education, leadership, community engagement, personal development, and long-term professional success.
Rachapa Lau
Associate Executive Director, Asia Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC)
Rachapa Lau will bring a business and professional-development perspective to the conversation, with insights into networking, communication, career development, and the importance of building meaningful professional relationships.
More Than an Interview Workshop
An important part of the summit will be helping students understand how to present themselves effectively in a professional environment.
Participants will gain practical insights into preparing for interviews, introducing themselves with confidence, communicating their strengths, developing professional networks, and translating their academic and community experiences into skills that employers value.
But the program goes beyond interview preparation.
By meeting professionals working in engineering, artificial intelligence, business, education, and community leadership, participants will have an opportunity to learn about career paths they may not previously have considered.
For a young person, sometimes the most valuable career lesson comes from meeting someone, hearing their story, and realizing for the first time: “I could do that, too.”
Professional Headshots Available
The summit will also offer attendees a practical opportunity to strengthen their professional presence.
A professional photo booth will be available during the event, allowing participants to have a professional headshot taken for use on LinkedIn, professional biographies, résumés and portfolios, internship and fellowship applications, and other career-related platforms.
Participants who would like to have a professional headshot taken are encouraged to attend in business or business-casual attire.
For students and young professionals who have never had a professional headshot, this is an opportunity to leave the summit with something they can immediately use as they begin building their professional identity.
From Education to Career
For more than four decades, ACA has supported young people through its scholarship and youth development programs. The Leadership & Mobility Career Summit builds upon that commitment by connecting educational achievement with career readiness and professional development.
ACA believes that helping young people succeed requires more than supporting their education. Students also need opportunities to meet mentors, learn from professionals, understand emerging industries, build networks, and develop confidence in their own abilities.
A scholarship can help open the door to education.
Mentorship, professional exposure, and career knowledge can help young people decide where that door might lead.
Through its collaboration with the Ford Asian Association, ACA hopes the summit will give participants a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them and the skills they can begin developing today.
Who Should Attend?
The ACA × Ford Leadership & Mobility Career Summit is particularly suited for:
- High school students beginning to explore college majors and career possibilities;
- College students preparing for internships, interviews, graduate school, and entry into the professional workforce; and
- Young professionals interested in career development, leadership, networking, and strengthening their professional presence.
Participants do not need to have a career path already chosen. The summit is equally valuable for young people who are still exploring their interests and discovering what opportunities are available.
Sometimes discovering what you want to do begins with discovering what is possible.
Event Details
ACA × Ford Leadership & Mobility Career Summit
One Team. One Mission. Countless Futures.
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Chinese Community Center
The program will include career conversations, professional insights, leadership and interview development, networking opportunities, and professional headshots.
Space is limited, and advance registration is encouraged.
Please use the registration QR code on the event flyer to secure your seat.
The Association of Chinese Americans encourages students, families, educators, counselors, and community partners to share this opportunity with young people who could benefit from greater exposure to career pathways, professional mentors, and the future of mobility.
One Team. One Mission. Countless Futures.
We look forward to welcoming the next generation of leaders on September 13.