Wells Fargo, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Honor Three Asian-Owned Small Businesses With 3rd Annual Asian Business Leadership Awards

CHICAGO - In recognition of the continuing growth and success of Asian small business owners, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC - News) and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) today presented the third annual Asian Business Leadership Awards at USPAACC's 21st annual Asian American Business Conference in Chicago.

Three recipients of the Wells Fargo/USPAACC Asian Business Leadership Award were selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and were evaluated based on their business innovation, the success of their company, and their approach to community service. Each winner received a $5,000 cash prize. The 2006 winners include:

-- New York-based Different Roads to Learning, Inc. -- Julie Azuma
-- Minnesota-based S&P Marketing, Inc. -- Chareonsri Srisangnam and Vinod Padhye
-- Texas-based Radio Saigon Houston -- Vu Thanh Thuy

"This year's winners reflect the critical role Asian-owned businesses play in driving the US economy, and are a great testament to the strength, diversity, and character of this growing market," said Iris Chan, Head of Commercial Banking at Wells Fargo and National Spokesperson for the Asian Business Services program. "Asian business owners continue to succeed and thrive all across the country, and we are excited and honored to continue the tradition of recognizing and celebrating their tremendous achievements."

Wells Fargo launched the Asian Business Services program in 2002 to provide outreach, education and increased capital to Asian business owners. The program focuses on forming community alliances, investing in primary research, and sponsoring key events in the diverse communities where Asian business owners live and work.

Measuring its progress with a public goal to lend $3 billion to Asian businesses within 10 years (by 2012), Wells Fargo has lent more than $1.6 billion to Asian business owners since the program's inception in 2002.

"We are honored to partner with Wells Fargo in recognizing these very special Asian business owners -- not only for their business success, but also for their contributions to their communities," said Susan Au Allen, national president and CEO of USPAACC. "As Asian-owned businesses continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, we are confident that the future will bring great success for this thriving community of entrepreneurs."

Different Roads to Learning, Inc. is a New York-based online and mail order catalog that sells learning materials to specifically address the educational needs of children diagnosed with autism. Owner Julie Azuma started the company after her seven year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism. By understanding the struggle customers face in educating developmentally challenged children, the company prides itself on offering the right products, services and advice to help parents, educators, and most importantly, children, with autism.

Owned by Chareonsri Srisangnam and Vinod Padhye, S&P Marketing, Inc., is a Minneapolis-based technical marketing company specializing in fruit-based products including fruit pulp, dried fruits and fruit blend products. Under the unique ownership of both Thailand and India natives, S&P, founded in 1985, conducts business in the US and abroad with more than 50% of its business involving countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, China, South Korea and Thailand. An integral part of S&P is its commitment to community and, in 1992, the company founded the Young Scientist Roundtable, a community support program for K-12 students.

Radio Saigon Houston of Mass Media Inc. founded in 1999, is a leading Asian radio station providing daily local news and information to the Houston metropolitan area. As the only full-time, full-service Asian broadcast station in the area, Radio Saigon Houston is not only provides a source of information but also connects the Vietnamese community to mainstream America. Operated by Vu Thanh Thuy, Radio Saigon Houston focuses on understanding the needs of its listeners as they acclimate to Western culture.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $492 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,200 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the United States to receive the highest possible credit rating, "Aaa," from Moody's Investors Service.

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 the most recent CRA data (2004).

The second largest national SBA lender in dollars, Wells Fargo is an SBA Preferred Lender in 30 states and the District of Columbia, and originated 4,165 loans for $579 million in 2005. Its diverse 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 $30 billion to women and minority business owners.

About USPAACC

The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) was formed in 1984 as a national non-profit 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, the federal government, and the minority business community.

USPAACC regularly holds Business Connections 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. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., USPAACC has a nationwide presence through its seven regional chapters in Northern California and Southern California in the West Coast, Texas in the Southwest, Georgia in the Southeast, Illinois in the Midwest, New York in the Northeast, and the National Capital Area.