Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman presented the inaugural Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Awards to 15 distinguished AAPI business owners and community leaders during a ceremony held on May 28, 2025, at the Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building in Annapolis. 

The event, part of AAPI Heritage Month celebrations, recognized the honorees for their outstanding contributions to the state and to Maryland’s business and civic communities.

In her remarks, Comptroller Lierman highlighted the significant presence and impact of AAPI communities in Maryland, noting that more than 420,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reside in the state. According to her office, Maryland is home to over 14,000 Asian-owned businesses that collectively employ more than 118,000 people.

“The AAPI communities in Maryland are culturally rich, help drive economic activity, and serve as sources of leadership to strengthen our state,” Comptroller Lierman shared. “You uplift and enrich our communities, solidifying Maryland as a culturally rich place where everyone is welcome to live, raise a family, start a business, and thrive. We are proud to support and celebrate you.”

The Community Champion Awards recognized individuals for their leadership, community engagement, mentorship, and ability to inspire collective progress. The Public Service Awards honored individuals and organizations advocating for sustainable advancement within the AAPI community.

Small Business Community Awards 

• Gopinath “Gopi” Swamynathan, owner, Dosa & Chaat Indian Restaurant (Montgomery County) 
• Xiaonao Liu, PhD, CEO, NanoBioFAB (Frederick County) 
• Venkat Subramanian, founder, president and CEO, ANGARAI, (Prince George’s County) 

Emerging Leader Awards 

• Stephanie Yu, founder and general partner, Sunwater Capital (Montgomery County)
• LieAnne Navarro, founder, Dear Globe Coffee Roasters, and arts advocate, Cotyledon Arts, (Baltimore City)
• Jessie Su, Associate Director of Development at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore City)  

Business Leader Awards 

• Bangalore Shivacharan, founder, Turning Point Global Solutions (Montgomery County) 
• Peter Chang, chef and restaurateur, Peter Chang Group (Montgomery County) 
• Elizabeth Chung, executive director, Asian American Center of Frederick (Frederick County) 

Public Service Awards 

• Indian Cultural Association of Howard County (Howard County) 
• Korean-American Senior Citizens Association of Maryland (Montgomery County) 
• Linda Han, founder and first president, Korean American Women’s Chamber of Commerce (Prince George’s County) 
• Shahan Rizvi, advocate for AAPI civic engagement (Howard County)
• Archana Thakker, Comptroller’s Faith Leaders Advisory Council (Montgomery County)
• Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, who is the first Asian American to serve as the Maryland Secretary of State.

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