User:Emlass/DRAFT

'''THIS IS A DRAFT THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE DON'T TAG IT.'''

History
Kim Le is the visionary of A2Q2. As the founder and CEO, she surmounted many obstacles before making the decision to create a lasting, meaningful legacy – an accounting firm named A2Q2. Kim Le is a survivor and a natural leader, a woman who can only be truly appreciated by peering into her past. In 1978, Kim Le, at the age of six, fled Vietnam with her mother and brother to join the “boat people” in a refugee camp in Malaysia. //ref// There, they survived on food and water rations provided by the United Nations, lived on dirt floors, and waited for a sponsorship//ref.//1, never losing faith or hope. Finally a church sponsored them to the United States. Upon moving to Tucson, Arizona, Kim and her family began the integration process into American culture and society. Kim’s mother worked hard and tirelessly as a dishwasher to support the family while Kim and her brother learned to speak English by watching programs such as Sesame Street. At this juncture of Kim’s life, critical values such as hard work and dedication were instilled in her that would eventually propel her to future success. Kim Le carried these learned values and childhood lessons with her to Phoenix, Arizona where she attended college full-time and worked to support herself. Despite living with four other women in a two-bedroom apartment, Kim never lost focus. She persevered to eventually //ref//graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Arizona State University //ref.//2. This achievement served to underscore her belief that in order to be successful, one must never lose the momentum that comes from discipline and hard work. Upon her graduation, Kim found the opportunity of a lifetime in a position working at Arthur Anderson. She was confident that this would be the firm that would offer her the career success she had dreamt of, hoping she would eventually make partner. At eight months pregnant, however, the unthinkable occurred. Arthur Anderson was shut down as a result of the Enron scandal. Paradoxically, during this dark moment in Kim’s life, a seed was formed in her heart and an idea began to take shape. All she needed was a little encouragement from her husband for her to establish a consulting accounting firm called A2Q2. Despite being five months pregnant with her second child, Kim drew from her acquired skills and her internal drive to create her vision: a company that would provide results-oriented services, high quality solutions, and long-lasting professional relationships. //ref// Kim is a certified public accountant in both Arizona and California. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), California Society of CPA, and Institute of Internal Auditors (the IIA) //ref.//3. Founded in 2003 A2Q2 is a consulting accounting group built on the idea that relationships with clients are personal, employees can be as successful as they allow themselves to be and hard work and dedication can pay off.

Charitable Causes
A2Q2 is committed to improving the communities in which it lives and works. Their philanthropic activities have mostly centered on causes supporting women and children by providing pro bono services and contributing resources. HiPower Kim is part of Hipower, a select group of women corporate leaders focused on accelerating each woman’s leadership role from professional success to wide-reaching significance. Kim Le regularly promotes women and Asian leadership through Ascend Leadership. Kim Le is in Silicon Valley American Leadership Forum’s Class XXV, a network of regional leaders committed to serving the common good in Silicon Valley.

Recognition
2013- Silicon Valley 100 Women of Influential by Business Journal 2012, 2013- President’s Award by Ascend Leadership 2010- Asian Business Woman of the Year by the National Council of Asian American Business Association

Board of Director Assignment: Audit Committee Chair- MidPen Housing which provides high quality, yet affordable housing in the bay area. Vice President- Silicon Valley Directors’ Exchange, which promotes corporate governance education for board of directors. //ref// Asian Business Woman of the Year[[ in 2010 by the[[ National Council of Asian American Business Association //ref.// 4. Recognized for her contributions and efforts to promote minority businesses and their growth. California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Diverse Women in Business Excellence award in 2009. The CPUC celebrated women entrepreneurs who have achieved success in working with corporate America. 2009 AT&T Women of Color Businesses Growth Initiative program.

Side Bar (Company info) Type Private

Industry ERP Implementation Business process reengineering Internal audit Financial control Sox Compliance

Founded 2003

Founder Kim Le

Headquarters 303 Twin Dolphin Drive Suite 600 Redwood City, CA 94065

Area served Silicon Valley Phoenix (coming soon)

1 Contents 1.1 History 2.2 Charitable Causes 3.3 Recognition 4.4 References 5.5 External links