[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E448-E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING RICHARD K. LAI ON RECEIVING THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS 
      ADMINISTRATION 2012 SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate 
Mr. Richard K. Lai for receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration 
2012 Small Business Person of the Year Award. Richard is the Chief 
Executive Officer of Wing On Corporation, a family-owned company 
operating five restaurants in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.
  Richard migrated to Guam from Hong Kong at the age of 16. He received 
his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the 
University of Washington, where he graduated with honors. In 1987, 
Richard returned to Guam to help his mother, Shirley Lai, run her 
coffee shop in Guam's capital of Hagatna. As the Chief Executive 
Officer of Wing On Corporation, Richard oversaw the expansion of 
Shirley's Coffee Shop from a single 28-seat coffee shop with four 
employees to a franchise with 212 employees operating four restaurants 
in Guam and one in the CNMI. He also opened Samurai Teppenyaki Japanese 
Restaurant in 2006 to expand Wing On Corporation's product offerings. 
Samurai offers Japanese-fusion cuisine to many residents and tourists 
in the heart of Guam's tourism center, and currently has a staff of 62 
employees.
  Richard is also an active member of our community, and he contributes 
to many charitable organizations. As an advocate of sports on Guam, 
Richard serves as the president of the Guam Football Association (GFA). 
Under his leadership, the organization has expanded significantly to 
become the largest sports development organization on Guam. Richard's 
leadership has substantially raised the bar for athletes, from amateurs 
to professionals, to harness their talents and love for sports. In the 
last 10 years, his tireless efforts have garnered international 
recognition of Guam athletes for competitive titles, and this momentum 
grows each year.
  Richard is a proven business leader in our community, and he 
continues to set the example for the next generation of small business 
leaders on Guam. On behalf of the people of Guam, I congratulate 
Richard Lai and his family on receiving this national recognition as 
the 2012 Small Business Person of the Year. I wish him many years of 
continued success.

[[Page E449]]



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