Wells Fargo and US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Present First Asian Business Leadership Award The Nation's Leading Small Business Lender Recognizes Exceptional Business Owner, Awards $5,000 to Tucson, Arizona-Based the Architecture Company SAN FRANCISCO, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) and US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) today presented the first Asian Business Leadership Award to Tucson, Arizona-based The Architecture Company. In partnership with USPAACC, Wells Fargo presented a $5,000 cash award to The Architecture Company at CelebrAsian 2004, USPAACC's 16th annual Asian American Business Conference in Irvine, California. "It is a great pleasure to honor the accomplishments, successes and innovations of Asian entrepreneurs," said Iris Chan, executive vice president and National Spokesperson for Wells Fargo's Asian Business Services Program. "Our winners exemplify the spirit of progress and entrepreneurship that has supported the significant growth in the Asian business market." Wells Fargo launched the Asian Business Services program in 2002 to provide outreach, education and increased access to capital among Asian business owners by forming community alliances, investing in primary research, and sponsoring key events in the diverse communities where Asian business owners live and work. To measure its success, Wells Fargo established a public goal to lend $2 billion over ten years to Asian business owners. The program was so successful that Wells Fargo increased its goal to $3 billion over the same period of time. In February 2004, Wells Fargo announced a national alliance with USPAACC and the creation of the Asian Business Leadership Award to acknowledge the business achievements and community leadership of exceptional Asian-owned businesses. The Award recipient and two finalists were selected from applicants across the country who were evaluated on business innovation, success, and legacy of community service. This year's recipient, The Architecture Company (owned by Richard Fe Tom and Nancy Tom) has been in business for 22 years. It offers architecture, planning and construction management, and is known for innovative architecture that is functional, structurally sound, and beautifully designed, striving to create buildings that enhances the community's visual and functional experience. The Toms attribute their company's success to a commitment to excellence, customer advocacy, supportive relationships, and community involvement. "We believe that integrity, optimism and the expectation of change are key principles that create a successful business and a successful life," said Richard Fe Tom. "It is a great honor for us to receive this award on behalf of Asian business owners everywhere." Two finalists will also be honored at the conference: -- Vu Thanh Thuy and Duong Phuc, owners of Houston-based Radio Saigon Houston KREH 900 AM, a Vietnamese language radio station established in 1997 as a source of daily, local news and information to the 150,000 Vietnamese living in Houston, as well as listeners in Dallas, Texas, Orange County and San Jose, California via syndication. -- May May Donna Lee Ng and Chi-Man William Ng, owners of C.K. International, a successful co-packer and exporter of pork products since 1994. Their business is headquartered in Waukee and Des Moines, Iowa. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $397 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance from more than 5,900 stores and the Internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only "Aaa"-rated bank in the United States. Visit Wells Fargo at http://www.wellsfargo.com/ Providing financial products and services to more than one million businesses with annual sales up to $20 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, Wells Fargo is the #1 lender to small businesses in the United States in total dollar volume according to 2001 CRA data. The second largest SBA lender in dollars and third largest in loans, Wells Fargo is an SBA Preferred Lender in 28 states, and originated 3,181 loans for $473 million in 2003. Speer & Associates rated Wells Fargo's online services #1 for small business and for consumers (2003). Its targeted business services programs provide outreach and education to women, African American, Latino, and Asian business owners about financial services. Since 1995, Wells Fargo has loaned more than $18 billion to women and minority business owners. About USPAACC The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) is a national nonprofit business organization representing all Asian Americans and Asian American-related groups in business. For the past two decades, USPAACC has been promoting, nurturing and propelling economic growth by opening doors of contract, educational and professional opportunities for Asian Americans and their business partners in corporate America and government agencies. USPAACC regularly holds business colloquies across the country to address issues that are important to the Asian American business community. USPAACC also certifies Asian American-owned businesses through the Asian American Suppliers Council (AASC), a unique one-stop shop where Asian American suppliers increase their contacts and sales, and corporate and government purchasers diversify their supplier base. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USPAACC has a nationwide presence through its regional chapters in the East Coast, Midwest, Southwest and West Coast. DATASOURCE: Wells Fargo & Company CONTACT: Matt Hurwitz of Wells Fargo & Company, +1-415-222-1679, or ; or JP Torres of US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-416-3677, or Web site: http://www.wellsfargo.com/

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