Elaine Chao, Secretary of U. S. Department of Labor, spoke at the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Convention at The Mirage on July 24, 2001. As Bush administration official, she was given a standing ovation by union members meeting at the Mirage in addition to being presented with a "working man's knife." Chao told the Boilermakers that it is not right for some Republicans to say that they just can not work with unions. She told them also that it is also wrong for some Democrats and union leaders to say that they can not work with Republicans. Chao hopes to use her office to help bridge the gaps between business and unions. She talked about ergonomics during her speech to the Boilermakers. Ergonomics is the science of adpating working conditions to suit workers. Chao treats Ergonomics as one area that she is trying to get labor and business to find common ground on.
Soon after the Convention, on the noon of the Tuesday, a number of Asian American community leaders had the honor to lunch with this first Asian American female U. S. department secretary in American History. Chaired by Joey Villaflor, MD, Member of the Board of Health, State of Nevada; Rag Chanderraj, MD, Founder of the Friends of India; Dr. Tony Lei, Chairman of the Chinese American Academic Association of Nevada; James Yu, President of the Asian Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada; Toni Sison, Chairman of the Phillipine Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada; Ann Melton, President of the Thai Association of Las Vegas; among others of the community leaders were dinning with the noble and humane character as Elaine Chao herself. Important Nevada Officials participating the lunch included Bud Crano, Southern Nevada Director of the Governor Kenny Guinn's Office; Sonia Joya, State director of the U.S. Senator John Engsign's Ofiice in Nevada; Steve Wark, Chairman of the Nevada Republican Party; among others. Choa was accompanied by her staff Andrew Siff, Counselor to the Secretary, and Sue Hensley, Communication Director.
Chao's Professional expertise and modern knowledge accompanied by her good personal traits have earned her a nice reputation of concientious and dedicaded professionalism with famous popularlity. As a M.B.A. degree holder from Harvard University, she has positive thinking and charitable heart with sincerity. She encourages Asian Americans to full utilize our potential ability and wisdom with creative innovation. Chao reminds us the importance of the philosophy on "United we stand, devided we fall." The African Americans' united power to support Secretary of the States Colin Powell has been a good example for we the Asian Americans to understand that : If we have such a wonderful and achieved lady like Elaine Chao from our community to work sincerely and diligently for our country, we should unite together to push her up not least to pull her down.
"Brought her to States by her parents, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao has been helped by them realize her American dream through American formal education. The significance of her success has evidenced one of the reasons of what have made this country democratic, prosperous, and healthy," says Dr. Tony Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute.

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