NECINA Leadership
Letter from NECINA President
August, 2020
It is during times like these that I am extremely proud to lead a nonprofit that has stood strong for more than two decades. For the past 25 years all the stakeholders of NECINA have worked collectively providing resources and addressing the pressing needs of professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses in the New England region, and this effort is now expanding without borders thanks to the pandemic.
No one would have expected that the word would suffer a worldwide threat that would take away basics we take for granted. Early in the lockdown, each trip I took to the grocery was fraught with fear. Every night before bedtime, I would read stories from the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal. Stories of how ordinary people fought for their own lives and their loved ones; stories of how doctors gave all they had to care for their patients. As citizens all over the world are making a great effort as a whole to fight for Covid-19, I have seen the same degree of responsibilities and ownership exhibited by NECINA’s volunteer officers while performing their undertakings and contributing to strengthening our brand name. I have the ultimate respect for this quality that has made NECINA long lasting and sustainable.
I joined NECINA as a volunteer about 8 years ago after attending NECINA’s annual conference in 2012. The new president at the time, Mingsheng Hong’s speech was extremely informative and inspiring, and the vibe of the crowd was so positive and upbeat. I found it difficult to wrap up a conversation with anyone I spoke with. I started as a junior officer at sponsorship engagement team, pitching sponsors by delivering presentations at Harvard Pilgrim and Delta, then scouting venues at CIC or KPMG’s office, inviting speakers or judge panels by sending emails or calling a lead given by a senior management, writing thank you emails to speakers and panelists after the events, facilitating workshops at New Entrepreneurship Workshop and Youth Entrepreneurship Services, the list goes on. There are always goals to reach, projects to complete and progress to make. Many nights returning home, I did not get to say good night to my kids. Many workdays, I juggled between daytime work and performing duties for NECINA. But simple acknowledgements or compliments from our members on a speaker or a session let go all the struggles. All I can reflect on is, it worth it.
NECINA’s goal is to become one of the best content providers in embracing technology trends, encouraging innovation, facilitating entrepreneurship, and enhancing career and professional skills for our members and volunteers. I view the unpredictable challenges presented by Covid-19 and massive global crisis as opportunities rather than threats. They stimulate changes and innovation; encourage people to adjust life and work style; and enables all of us to think beyond box and tap into uncharted territories which would otherwise not have been reached. All these positive collateral benefits will drive NECINA up to a new landmark.
The momentum has already begun. About one month into my term, we have successfully recruited twelve (12) new volunteers. Now our volunteer team stands at thirty-one (31). Unprecedently, two (2) new volunteers are directly appointed to key roles: Lynn Zheng as Director of Marketing and Technology; and Libby Wang as President’s Assistant and Director for Innovation Challenge. They have demonstrated phenomenal capabilities and accountabilities in leading department directors to active engagement and planning. We will host all programs via remote means at least by the end of the year. Remote conferences reduce burden on meeting logistics and leads to broader and expansive market reach. We are poised and excited about being pushed to the other end of the spectrum.
I feel privileged to part of the leadership team at NECINA. What I care most about is to continue creating value and benefit to members, volunteers, sponsors and partners through our programs and events. I want our people and programs to reflect the world, we all are participating in it, to make NECINA a perpetual platform for generations to learn perspectives, develop all sorts of skills needed for all you do regardless of employment, startups or you daily life, and exchange and express ideas, and make friends.
Together you and I bring to NECINA our passion, open mind, dedication, and accountability. And together, we will make NECINA a better place for everyone. Come join NECINA, I look forward to working with you and seeing you around!
Connie Dai
NECINA President 2020-2021
Executive Team | ||
Connie Dai, Esq. | President | Connie.dai@necina.org |
Harry Gao | Vice President – Programs & Events | Harry.gao@necina.org |
Joan Ni | Vice President – Membership, Sponsorship and Partnership | membership@necina.org |
Lynn Zheng | Director - Marketing & Technology | marketing@necina.org |
Claire Jin | Director – Career & Professional Development | career@necina.org |
Susan Xu | Director – YES (Youth Entrepreneurship Service) | yes@necina.org |
Jackie Yang | Director – Partnership Engagement | partnership@necina.org |
Function Teams | ||
Marketing & Technology | ||
Nan Deng | Officer | |
Nikhil Sadarangani | Officer | |
Laura Huang | Officer | |
Xiaojie Yin | Officer | |
Annie Xu | Officer | |
Peijun Yang | Officer | |
Delia Wu | Officer | |
Jian Xu | Officer | |
Technology Conference & NECINA Lab | ||
Arthur Xu | Co-Director | |
Hongming Fan | Officer | |
Shengchen Liu | Officer | |
Career & Professional Development | ||
Johnny Liao | Co-Director | |
Monica Wang | Officer | |
Florence Gu | Officer | |
Vivian Pei | Officer | |
Season Sun | Officer | |
Youth Entrepreneurship Service (YES) | ||
Aaron Weni | Co-Director | |
Katy Jiang | Officer | |
Tracy Huang | Officer | |
Innovation Challenge & E-Club | ||
Jamie Chang | Officer | |
Chen Chen | Officer | |
Johnny Liao | Co-Director (Career & Professional Development, Innovation Challenge) | |
Aaron Wen | Co-Director (YES) | |
Annie Xu | Co-Director (Innovation Challenge) | |
Membership | ||
Anhua Song | Officer | |
Rainnie Wang | Officer | |
Sponsorship & Partnership | ||
Annie Xu | Officer | |
Yi Ke | Officer | |
Treasurer | ||
Melissa Qian | Officer |