ARDA
David Zhu
Secretary General
American Restaurant Development Association
David Zhu (Zhu Liye), courtesy name Shiquan, is originally from Fujian, China, and immigrated to the United States in 1991. He has long been dedicated to serving the overseas Chinese community, advancing media communications, and promoting Chinese culture and the arts. He currently holds leadership positions in several community and cultural organizations and is also active in investment, media, and the arts. He is a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award, as well as numerous honors and commendations from the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and city councils.
Ricky Fang
Assistant to the President
Ricky Fang currently serves as Assistant to the President of the American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA). She holds a master's degree in International Marketing and brings ten years of experience in brick-and-mortar business operations, international e-commerce, and global trade. Her background combines a strong foundation in strategic marketing with keen insight into cross-cultural business dynamics. She has worked with multiple restaurant and food-service brands on brand positioning, in-store marketing campaigns, and digital promotion, with a firm grasp of customer acquisition, audience engagement, and brand growth in the F&B sector. Previously, she worked at a Wall Street financial institution, specializing in fundamental research and investment opportunity assessment. She also focused on U.S. equity day trading, achieving an annual return of up to 900%. Her core strengths include project evaluation, strategic planning, and execution, with a proven ability to translate market insights and analytical findings into practical business solutions.
Fay Lin
Deputy Secretary General
Fay Lin is the Founder and CEO of Hefinity Consulting Services Inc. and holds a degree in Hospitality Management. With years of experience in corporate services and the financial sector, she focuses on business development, risk management, wealth and retirement planning, resource integration, and talent development. Through cross-industry professional collaboration, she is committed to providing business owners and families with long-term planning and development support. In 2025, Fay received the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) “40 Under 40” Award in recognition of her professional achievements, leadership, and community involvement. In addition to managing her business, she has remained actively engaged in community service, supporting educational, cultural, and community initiatives while promoting collaboration among businesses, professional organizations, and local communities. Before entering the fields of finance and business consulting, Fay accumulated nearly a decade of experience in immigration consulting and related services, working extensively with Chinese American families, business owners, and newly arrived immigrants. This multidisciplinary professional background has given her a deep understanding of the practical needs and challenges Chinese Americans face when starting businesses, managing companies, building their families’ futures, and integrating into American society. It has also shaped her distinctive ability to connect diverse professional sectors with valuable community resources.
Henry He
Office Director
Henry He has extensive experience in the U.S. business sector and Chinese American community, with expertise in corporate operations, real estate, insurance, property management, and international trade. He currently operates businesses related to real estate brokerage, insurance consulting, property management, and international trade. In the fields of industry and community service, Henry currently serves as Director of Administration of the American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA), Executive Vice President of the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce, Executive Vice Chairman of the U.S.–China Development Foundation, and one of the community leaders of the Asian American Coalition Alliance (AACA). He has long been actively involved in U.S.–China business exchanges, corporate services, and community development. He is committed to promoting resource sharing, business collaboration, and cross-industry engagement. Drawing on years of business experience and an extensive network of corporate and community resources, he serves as a bridge connecting the association with businesses, communities, and professionals across various sectors. At ARDA, Henry is primarily involved in the association’s operations and administration, member services, external relations, and resource integration. He also helps develop partnerships with businesses, chambers of commerce, community organizations, and other sectors of society, contributing to greater collaboration, growth, and innovation within the U.S. restaurant industry.
Zaozao Wang
Senior International Affairs Advisor
Master’s Degree, Columbia University Ph.D., Shanghai Theatre Academy Board Member and Vice President of Admissions, HGLART, a private school in Manhattan Co-Founder, Global Youth Culture and Arts Foundation Director of External and Public Relations, Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra Cultural Communications Advisor, Memor Museum, Manhattan, New York Brand Ambassador, New York Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) North American Co-Initiator of Shining Youth, Zhejiang Television Organizer of the North American Edition of Zhejiang Television’s Children’s Spring Festival Gala Founder, ZAO Brand
Terry Cai
Director of International Partnership Development
Terry Cai serves as the Partnership Development Officer at the American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA) and Vice President of Key Accounts at Chowbus. With over 15 years of executive experience across international business development, cross-border operations, and enterprise client strategy, he previously built and scaled Chicago’s largest inbound tour operation from the ground up as Vice President. Since 2021, he has led enterprise merchant partnerships and strategic ecosystem initiatives at Chowbus. At ARDA, Terry spearheads strategic alliances, bridges global culinary networks with the North American market, and drives impactful cross-industry collaboration to empower restaurant brands worldwide.
Peter Au
Chief Financial Officer
Peter Au currently serves as CEO of Zhongcheng Insurance. With extensive experience in the insurance industry, he specializes in commercial insurance, risk management, and consulting services, providing professional insurance solutions to numerous Chinese American businesses. Originally from Fuzhou, Peter comes from a family with a background in the restaurant business. This experience has given him an in-depth understanding of restaurant operations, management, and business risks. He has long provided tailored insurance services to restaurant businesses, helping them manage insurance costs effectively, reduce operational risks, and receive efficient claims support. Drawing on his extensive expertise in finance, risk management, and corporate services, Peter also serves as Director of Finance & Treasury of the American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA). In this role, he oversees the association’s financial and treasury management and provides professional support for its sound and sustainable operations. Beyond his professional career, Peter is actively involved in community service. He currently serves as Co-President of CCLI (Chinese Center on Long Island), where he is committed to preserving Chinese culture, advancing the Chinese American community, and promoting交流 and cooperation between the Chinese American community and mainstream American society.
Jessica Xiao
Chief Accounting Officer
Jessica is originally from Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. She graduated from Brunel University London with a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management. She currently serves as a Senior Loan Officer at a licensed financial institution in Manhattan, New York. Jessica brings a unique professional background spanning both restaurant operations and financial risk management. While living in Cambridge, United Kingdom, she co-founded and participated in the establishment and operation of a British afternoon tea restaurant. She later entered the U.S. financial sector, where she has accumulated more than eight years of experience in lending, compliance, and risk management. She previously served as an Underwriter and Compliance Officer at a New York-based bank, leading multiple internal and external compliance audits and developing extensive expertise in financial regulations. Jessica currently also serves as Director of Accounting for the American Restaurant Development Association. As the Association’s financial lead, she combines her international restaurant entrepreneurship experience with her extensive expertise in financial compliance and risk management. She is committed to establishing a standardized, efficient, and transparent financial management system, providing the Association with strong financial oversight and risk-control support, and contributing to the continued growth and development of the U.S. restaurant industry.
Gao Weiwei
Brand & Public Relations Department
Gao Weiwei(高娓娓), formerly known as Gao Wei, is a Chinese American media professional, television host, and entrepreneur. Born in Chongqing, China, she currently resides in New York City. With extensive experience in journalism and communications, she has worked as a reporter, television producer, advertising planner, and media strategist. She is the founder and CEO of MGM Media and MGM Capital, as well as the producer and host of the interview program Weiwei Talks. Over the years, Gao has focused on American society, the Chinese American community, business development, and cultural exchange between China and the United States. Her articles and programs have been published and featured across major Chinese-language media platforms, accumulating more than 200 million online views. She has been recognized as one of Sina’s “Top Ten Bloggers” and NetEase’s “Top Ten Bloggers.” She is also the author of My Career as a Journalist in America: A Closer Look at the United States. Through international media and cross-cultural storytelling, she remains committed to sharing the experiences of overseas Chinese communities and promoting people-to-people, business, and cultural exchanges. She also serves as an Overseas Advisor to the Chongqing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
Jiang Jiansheng
Andy Jiang, originally from Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China, is a seasoned media professional, brand communications expert, and community leader. Having lived in New York for more than two decades, he has built extensive cross-disciplinary experience in media, brand development, and community public relations, demonstrating strong expertise in public communications and exceptional organizational and coordination skills.
Lead to be announced
Appointments will be updated by the Secretariat as they are confirmed.
