Suzanne Chen was born and reared in Taiwan, then moved to New York City in 1985. While attending University of Maryland she met her husband and they later started a family. In 1999 the family relocated to Plano and Suzanne immediately began seeking opportunities to stay plugged into the Taiwanese-American community.
“I’m a financial advisor, but I also love to help out in my community,” Suzanne said. She has been volunteering at the Dallas Chinese Community Center (DCCC) since her move to Texas. She served as vice chairwoman and board director, but stepped down to focus on other local organizations.
The DCCC is a cultural center for Chinese or Taiwanese immigrants, but also for anyone who wants to learn Chinese culture. Every year, it holds a food festival, a gala, summer camps for kids, and classes including Chinese cooking, calligraphy, computers, Chinese language and English as a Second Language.
“I’ve always told my kids, ‘I love this country, but I never want to forget where I came from,’” said Suzanne. “I want my children to learn about Taiwan so they won’t forget.”
On top of involvement with the DCCC, Suzanne is founding president of the Dallas chapter of the Asian-American Insurance and Financial Professional Association (AAIFP), president of the Dallas chapter of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), vice president of the North American Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (NATCC), and previously served as president of the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce (GDTCC).
“I have known Suzanne for more than 15 years,” said colleague and friend, Maria Tu, a local attorney and Plano city council member. “I am always delighted to work with her because she brings new and positive means to promote the Chinese community. She is truly an inspiration.”
Through GDTCC, Suzanne has been able to take a group to visit Taiwan. Through ILF, she aided in connecting college students with policy makers in Washington, D.C. Through AAIFP, she helped educate Asian-Americans on insurance needs. Most recently Suzanne facilitated a donation of 10,000 hospital-grade surgical masks to Carrollton Fire Rescue through GDTCC.
“I’ve greatly enjoyed watching my children benefit from my involvement in the Community Center and other organizations. That’s the beauty of this country – the opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures,” Suzanne said. “I feel lucky that I can raise my kids in Plano.”
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