Stephen S. Chen - 陈嵩生Professor Stephen Songsheng Chen has achieved great success in leading major U.S. corporations into the surging China and Far East markets, as well as establishing and operating his own companies: Amerihua International Enterprises Inc. & Red Circle Publishing & Cultural Exchange International. He recently published his Red Circle: China and Me, 1949-2009, the first book of its kind to cover the making of modern China through the author's true, fascinating stories. Seeking common ground while respecting differences remains to be Stephen's mission to improve cultural exchanges and mutual understanding among peoples in various countries for a better future of the world.Born in 1939 in Beijing, Stephen Chen grew up in a 120-room mansion that had been the palace of a Qing dynasty aristocrat. He graduated from the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute in 1962. After three years in prison and in a desert labor camp as the son of a labeled Rightist, he was called back to Beijing unexpectedly to become a member of the translation team preparing for the visit of President Nixon in 1972. His colorful business experience began in 1978, when China started its open policy. Stephen, with dozens of colleagues, pioneered the initial development of China International Trust & Investment Corp. (CITIC) which became China's largest investment group and holding company. He and his colleagues negotiated, concluded and implemented many significantly large trading transactions and cooperative programs between China and western companies, such as Beatrice Foods, Xerox, Siemens, SAAB, Lockheed, Renault, Terex, Fiat, and major Hong Kong companies. He also served as an interpreter for China state leaders.After establishing permanent residence in the USA in 1981, Stephen was successfully enrolled into the PhD program in the University of Arizona, majoring on Oriental Studies. His first full time job was with American Motors Corp., playing a main role from 1981-1984 in coordinating, negotiating, establishing & operating the first U.S.-China joint venture, Beijing Jeep Corp. His initiative and creativity were amply demonstrated when he served as the Director, China Program for General Motors Corp. He led and coordinated GM divisions with five major Chinese corporations in negotiating a multi-product joint venture umbrella program with planned total investment of 1 billion US dollars. Stephen served also as the Vice President, Pacific-China Operations of Otis Elevator Company, the world's largest elevator manufacturer and servicer. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Tianjin Otis Elevator Company. As the Co-Chairman of the China Committee of United Technologies Corp., Stephen advised on business development in China, the Soviet Union and countries in the Far East for UTC divisions in the industrial and aerospace markets.Stephen's over 45 years of business practice have demonstrated proven expertise in initiating, planning and negotiating complex multi-party ventures, organizing and managing major cross-cultural projects. Among his accomplishments has been the development and implementation of over 280 major joint venture projects and trading transactions between China, the USA and other areas of the world. Much of his business success has occurred in the context of promoting cultural exchange, mutual understanding and relations between China and the world.An adjunct professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Hebei University, and the University of Ningxia, Stephen is well-known for his cultural activities. He is Chairman of the Overseas Peking Opera Association and helped to found the Committee of 100, a national nonpartisan organization composed of American leaders of Chinese descent. Stephen has published a dozen volumes of technical papers, literary translations, and essays and been interviewed extensively by the broadcast and print media.Stephen's wife, Yuying Meng, is the co-founder of Amerihua and an indispensable part of his success. They are blessed with two sons, David and Leighton, and two grandsons, Michael and Matthew.