HERE ARE YOUR 2026 BUSINESS AWARDS
Finalists
2026 Business Awards presented by
Business of the Year Finalists
This award identifies and recognizes an AAPI-owned business that has made a significant contribution to the community while supporting the economic growth of the community it serves by practicing great work ethics, processes and systems at their business to provide quality service/product to their customers. Must be an operational and profitable business for at least 30 months.
K Barbershop
K Barbershop owner Ka Lor began his career at just 17 years old, when he opened his first barbershop in a refugee camp in Thailand.
Encouraged by a teacher to consider learning a trade, Lor discovered barbering without imagining that it would become a lifelong passion. After immigrating to the United States with his family in 2004, he worked to learn English, attended technical school and earned his barbering license while building a better future for his family of six.
Despite the challenges of starting over in a new country, Lor never gave up on his goal of reopening his own shop. In 2018, after 14 years of persistence and preparation, K Barbershop opened its doors in Madison.
Today, Lor brings nearly 30 years of experience to the Dane County community. K Barbershop continues to grow while providing traditional haircuts, beard trims and mustache-grooming services to its customers.
Kid Boogie down
Founded by Luke and Lan, Kid Boogie Down grew from DJ Lukewarm’s desire to share the joy of music with his own children.
In 2017, the couple created an indoor family dance party where parents could escape the winter blues, children could feel free to be themselves and every generation could share the dance floor. What began as a small Milwaukee-area gathering has grown into a beloved family experience featuring music, custom visuals, bubbles, lights and high-energy fun.
Today, Kid Boogie Down brings its interactive experience to public dance parties, schools, private events, community celebrations and major festival stages. Through every event, Luke and Lan remain rooted in the same purpose: creating lasting memories through a shared love of music and dance.
Kid Boogie Down offers families something increasingly rare—a chance to be fully present with one another while moving to music and experiencing genuine joy.
Emerging Small Business of the Year Finalists
This award recognizes an AAPI-owned small business that has demonstrated significant growth and success in the areas of economics, job creation and market demand. Must be an operational and profitable business for at least 18 months.
Mochiunni
Founded in 2023 by Pa Houa Vang, MochiUnni is Wisconsin’s first brick-and-mortar self-serve boba tea and bakery café, combining the artistry of Asian-French baking with the creativity of a self-serve experience. Guests can choose their favorite boba tea flavors and toppings while exploring an array of Asian-French-inspired pastries. MochiUnni’s mission is simple: food should be an experience that sparks joy, creativity and connection.
Vang is a certified pastry chef who earned her degree in pastry arts from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. She began baking at 18 and carried the dream of opening her own bakery for more than a decade. For Vang, baking is her love language—a way to pour her heart, creativity and passion into creations she hopes will make every bite feel magical.
MochiUnni also grew from Vang’s personal journey. Raised in poverty, she was taught that higher education was the primary path to success. While education became an important part of her story, her experiences showed her that success can take many forms.
Through MochiUnni, Vang hopes to inspire others to pursue their passions, embrace their creativity and have the courage to build something of their own. The café reflects her resilience, perseverance and belief that there is more than one path to achieving a dream.
Your mechanic shop
Founded by YuPheng and Coua, Your Mechanic Shop provides routine automotive maintenance and repair services. The business traces its origins to a 2019 conversation in which YuPheng—long considered a “lifer” at his job—first shared his ambition to own a repair shop.
The couple began planning a garage on their rural property that could eventually support the business. Construction began in 2020, but the unfinished garage remained untouched for two years as they balanced work, family life and the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. During that time, YuPheng’s experience working for another employer helped clarify the type of shop he wanted to build and how he wanted customers to be treated.
Your Mechanic Shop opened on the couple’s property in August 2022 and has since expanded into its current facility. Its growth began with one consequential decision: to leave behind the security of lifelong employment and build something of their own.
This award recognizes an AAPI-owned new business startup that has demonstrated an upward trajectory towards sustainability and growth, while venturing into non-traditional business development industries. Must be an operational and profitable business for at least 12 months.
New Business Startup of the Year Finalist
Bright deli
Founded by Paderlee Vangnenglee, Bright Deli brings the flavors of Laos to the Wausau community through freshly prepared dishes rooted in tradition.
Born in Laos, Vangnenglee moved to the United States in 2019 and began sharing the food of her homeland with her new community. Bright Deli’s menu includes Lao pâté sandwiches prepared daily with house-made sauce and pâté, hand-pounded papaya salad made without premixed sauces, crispy nam khao, Lao barbecue pork, crispy pork belly and beef laab.
Vangnenglee also creates an assortment of baked goods, including sponge cakes, roll cakes and macarons, showcasing her creativity beyond traditional savory dishes.
For Vangnenglee, food offers a way to preserve culture, build connections and introduce customers to authentic Lao cuisine. Customer feedback continues to guide Bright Deli as the business improves its offerings and strengthens its presence within the Wausau community.
Vang Creative studios
Founded by Fong and Evelyn Vang, Vang Creative Studios provides custom apparel, design and production services for businesses, organizations, teams and individuals.
The company grew from HMoobWear Apparel Co., an apparel brand the couple developed through custom orders, community events and customer relationships. They later launched Crafted Hats & Apparel Co. while investing in the equipment and production capabilities needed to serve a broader market.
In 2026, the Vangs opened Vang Creative Studios in West Allis, consolidating apparel printing, embroidery, custom headwear, laser engraving, UV DTF printing and design services under one roof. Fong leads the company’s creative and production operations as owner and creative director, while Evelyn has remained instrumental in its development.
Community investment continues to shape the company’s direction. Through sponsorships, fundraisers and partnerships, Vang Creative Studios supports local teams and organizations while pursuing its broader goal: building a sustainable creative business that produces quality work and creates opportunities for others.
2026 PROFESSIONAL Awards presented by
Professional of the Year Award (40+) Finalists
This award recognizes an AAPI professional who has achieved significant milestones in their professional career, elevating the community with their accomplishments.
Tou Long Yang
Tou Long Yang is a Wisconsin real estate professional and entrepreneur whose work centers on expanding access to homeownership, investment and business opportunities.
Since entering real estate in 2017, Yang has guided hundreds of transactions involving residential and commercial properties, multifamily developments, vacant land and business sales. He currently serves clients statewide as regional manager for Creative Results and as a real estate consultant with the Apex Real Estate Team.
Fluent in Hmong and English, Yang helps clients navigate cultural and communication barriers while building their understanding of real estate and generational wealth. His entrepreneurial work also includes Nurse Ready LLC, a training provider for community-based residential facilities, and Generations of Care, a home health care company he co-owns with his sisters.
Yang also speaks with middle and high school students about professional opportunities. He views success not only through business performance, but through the trust he earns and the opportunities he helps others pursue.
Ziming wu
Ziming Wu is CEO of the Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) and was named one of Wisconsin’s 20 Most Influential Asian American Leaders for 2025 by Madison365. A business owner since 2009, Ziming brings firsthand entrepreneurial experience alongside more than 20 years in information technology, including a career as a software engineer at Northwestern Mutual. A founding board member of WCCC in 2017, he served in volunteer and leadership roles before becoming CEO in January 2024. His leadership is guided by a simple model: “Know Yourself. Know Your Business. Know Your Community.” This philosophy connects personal growth with business development and community engagement, encouraging people to understand their strengths, build their businesses, and contribute to the communities they serve. Through WCCC, Ziming works to connect entrepreneurs, strengthen partnerships, and create opportunities across cultures and industries. He believes lasting progress begins when people grow together.
Young Professional of the Year Award (39 & under) Finalists
This award recognizes an AAPI professional who is an emerging leader who showcases their passion and drive to move the community forward through their innovative community projects and efforts.
may see yang
May See Yang is a Hmong American community organizer and photographer based in Wisconsin. She currently serves as the Community Organizing Manager at the Hmong American Women’s Association (HAWA), where she gets to do work that feels deeply connected to who she is and where she comes from. Her devotion for culture, identity, and storytelling eventually led her to photography in 2016, where she began documenting and uplifting stories that are often overlooked, especially those of women, LGBTQ+ people, youth, and elders. In 2024, she published My Mother’s Earth, a photo book documenting her family’s farmers’ market journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, photographs from the project were displayed at the Wisconsin State Capitol in recognition of Southeast Asian resilience and Hmong-Lao veterans, commemorating 50 years of Hmong in America.
At the heart of May See’s work is her desire to help people feel seen, valued, and connected to who they are. She hopes to continue creating spaces where Hmong people can show up as their full selves, celebrate where they come from, and feel empowered to shape where they are going.
xai xiong
Xai Xiong is the marketing manager at the Morgridge Center for Public Service where he has spent nearly a decade elevating mutually respectful and beneficial partnerships through collaborations and connections in Madison and the campus community. Xai has worked on major projects including institutionalizing a campus voter initiative, expanding communications outreach, rebranding, and mentorship. His work encompasses both traditional and new media, interacting with students, faculty and community members. Xai is also a board member of Our Scholarship Inc., a nonprofit that aims to increase access to higher education through community-funded scholarships for Southeast Asian Students in Wisconsin. Throughout his career, Xai has devoted his time and efforts to support students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds in pursuing higher education.