Who Are We?
Founded on March 15, 1971, CAAC has served the Greater Cincinnati area more than 4 decades. For better serve our Chinese community in Ohio, 2011, July we have established American Chinese Association in Ohio (ACAO).
The American Chinese Association in Ohio (ACAO) is to serve our members by providing social and culture events that promote our heritage, networking and a sense of community. It is also our intention and responsibility to organize activities that enhance the culture exchange between the East and west towards creating a diverse, multi-culture society for which everybody in the broader community benefits.
Meet our Team
Easton Wang
Chairman
Mr.Wang is a business professional with training and experience in both the U.S. and China enabling him to create effective business, training, and consultation connections in companies, government and Universities in both Asia and North America.
He has a broad range of experience during the past 20 years in acquisitions, sales, capital sourcing, turnaround management consulting and Chinese American technology exchange programs.
He has extensive experience in the success in the brokering of profitable growing businesses as well as market challenged enterprises. Led acquisition search initiatives for middle-market, privately held clients, divisional searches for billion-dollar-plus publicly traded clients, and Chinese publicly traded and privately owned clients.
He started Chinese-American technology and academic scholar exchange programs which established long-term relationships and exchange programs with over 30 universities in China such as Peoples University, Beijing University, etc. This program has sent more than 100 American teachers to China teaching college students at locations such as Jilin University, Shijiazhuang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing University, etc.
Sandy Stein
Vice Chair
For more than 40 years, Sanford M. Stein has served governmental and private sector clients in an array of legislative, regulatory and judicial activities. Combining his skills in business and government-relations law, he has extensive experience in infrastructure development, public finance and public-private partnership economic development, government regulations and procurement. He is a leading authority in the regulated cannabis industry in the United States.
He began his practice with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he was responsible for numerous enforcement and policy matters. His practice today encompasses a broad array of business regulatory matters in Illinois and across the country. He also is active in international trade matters, particularly in China, Central America and South America.
His law practice is also highlighted by his work for land developers in brownfield redevelopment, annexation, urban development, zoning and land use litigation. He has been successful in complex mixed-use developments and commercial, industrial and residential projects. He also is skilled in municipal tax incentive programs, including tax increment financing, sales tax sharing programs and special service area financing.
He has significant experience in energy and environmental law, including biofuels and biomass conversion, waste-to-energy technology, energy finance, wind turbine and photovoltaic siting, battery technology, carbon reduction and green buildings.
He appeared and successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in The Steel Company v. Citizens for a Better Environment.
He counsels clients on the environmental and energy aspects of mergers, acquisitions and property matters, as well as day-to-day operational matters and finding means for implementation of alternative energy systems. He has been a registered lobbyist in the United States and several states.
Hulian Yin
Vice Chair (since 2018)
Dr. Hulian Yin graduated from Suzhou Medical College in 1982 with an MD degree. She completed her Post-Doctoral research at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1998, where she earned a Certificate for Meritorious Work at the Department of Ophthalmology. In 1999, she came to the University of Cincinnati Medical School as a visiting scientist. Her various research projects included work in lung cancer, diabetes, and optic nerve development.
Since 2015, Dr. Yin advises and leads the Digital Health practice of China-US Business Development Corp., including market development within the Chinese medical segment. Dr. Yin has over 30 years of experience working for both Chinese and US hospitals and medical schools.
Dr. Yin is also a certified nutritional consultant helping clients live happier, healthier lives. Dr. Yin has clients around the world, including North America, Asia, and Oceania.
Currently, Dr. Yin serves as Vice President of EnviroTech International. Her main focus is to develop environmentally sustainable business practices and partnerships to help Chinese and American companies work together to build a greener world.
Marvin Hawkins
Vice Chair (since 2017)
Marvin currently serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advancement for the Over-The-Rhine International Film Festival produced by LADD. Marvin is also a entrepreneur leading his newly rebranded talent development and management agency Group Hum Entertainment Inc.
Mr. Hawkins brings more than 20 years combined experience in corporate sponsorships, event production, entertainment promotion, politics and hospitality.
Before joining LADD's executive team, he served as programming and sponsorship manager at 3CDC, Cincinnati's renowned development organization dedicated to revitalizing Fountain Square, the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine (OTR). In his role at 3CDC, Marvin helped curate unique entertainment experiences, managed and raised sponsorship dollars, and was part of the team responsible for the cultural evolution of downtown Cincinnati.
Marvin is a founding member and president of the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation and a sitting board member (Mayoral appointment) at the Cincinnati Arts Association. He is also the creator of Washington Park's Friday Flow Music Series and Vice President of Global Arts and Culture for the Chinese American Association of Cincinnati. In addition Marvin began his professional career in the film and television community while developing a stellar reputation as a regional and the international entertainer.
David Lane
International Trade Director
David specializes in international relations mainly with Chinese, European, and Latin American clients. He advises IvyBank Foundation on incoming transactions, business development, and mergers and acquisitions.
David also represents Castamere Group in Hong Kong for international business development.
As an international business and real estate adviser, specializing in property acquisitions and advisory services for international clients, he provides transaction management services that are tailored to each client’s individual needs and brings a wealth of experience and strong negotiation skills to every transaction.
David is also a real estate broker focused on land sales, redevelopment opportunities, real estate portfolio sales and institutional apartment dispositions and acquisitions in Europe, the US and Latin America.
David’s company, 21 CIG, provides a range of services to investors and owners of real estate, including equity and debt investment opportunities, investment sales, debt and equity financing, renovations, remodeling, and brokerage.
David has close relationships with private and institutional investors, as well as developers and condo converters.
Evan Bennett
Assistant to Chairman
Evan recently graduated from Ohio University with an MBA in International Studies with a focus on East Asia. Double minoring in Political Science and Business Consulting has allowed Evan to become an internationally-oriented, highly skilled leader. Having received the Yamada scholarship for gifted international studies students, he was given the chance to study abroad at Beijing Language and Cultural University. Evan’s experience abroad at Beijing Language and Cultural University has allowed him to develop his skills in Chinese language and culture. Along with studying in Beijing, Evan has spent four years studying Mandarin here at home. He is always trying to develop his cross-cultural communications abilities.
Evan’s academic experiences have allowed him to grow his skills in Environmental Policy, International Relations, strategic communications, and international trade. Having traveled to Beijing, Qing Dao, Shanghai, and Huzhou in the spring of 2018 with Easton Wang, Evan fell in love with China and its culture. He developed many professional connections and came home to start Envirotech International. Envirotech International focuses on biodegradable and compostable tableware. He hopes to expand the company to eventually get involved in a vast array of green technologies. Being a young and ambitious leader Evan hopes to bring a new youthful energy to CAAC.