[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO PEGGY TSIANG CHERNG

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2007

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Peggy Tsiang 
Cherng. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we 
pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our 
Nation's women.
  Born to Chinese parents, Dr. Cherng was raised in Burma and Hong 
Kong. She attended Baker University in Kansas before transferring to 
Oregon State University, where she earned her bachelor of science 
degree in applied mathematics. Dr. Cherng then received her master's 
degree in computer science and a doctorate in electrical engineering 
from the University of Missouri.
  Following graduation, Dr. Cherng married and settled in southern 
California, where she became a member of the technical team at 
McDonnell Douglas. Later, she worked at Comtal-3M, where her highly 
technical background allowed her to quickly move up the corporate 
ladder to become software development manager. During this time, her 
father and husband decided to open a restaurant they named Panda Inn--
which featured gourmet Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine--in Pasadena, 
California.
  While at Comtal-3M, the Panda Inn business grew steadily and in 1982, 
Dr. Cherng decided to join the family business. As executive vice-
president, Dr. Cherng's leadership and skills played a vital role in 
creating the vision, mission, and value statements for the Panda 
Restaurant Group, and established a solid foundation for future 
corporate growth. In 1997, Dr. Cherng served as president and in 1998, 
she also took on the role of CEO until 2004. During the time she held 
both roles, the company flourished and more than doubled in size from 
about 250 locations to nearly 650. In 2004, Dr. Cherng took the 
position of co-chair and CEO, and now focuses primarily on her co-chair 
responsibilities.
  Dr. Cherng is a firm believer in giving back to the community. The 
Panda Restaurant Group has supported the community and charitable 
causes such as United Way, City of Hope, Children's Hospital Los 
Angeles and Children's Miracle Network. In 1999, Dr. Cherng launched a 
company-wide community involvement initiative called Panda Cares, which 
gives back to the community and provides assistance for the care and 
education of children. Panda Cares has committed nearly $3 million to 
non-profit organizations nationwide.
  Dr. Cherng is active in a number of organizations including the 
National Restaurant Association, the board of directors of the 
Methodist Hospital of Southern California, East West Bancorp, Inc., the 
board of visitors for the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and the 
board of trustees for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
  Dr. Cherng's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to 
the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. 
I ask all members of Congress to join me today in honoring an 
extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Dr. 
Peggy Tsiang Cherng.

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