Jason Paguio is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Business Association San Diego (ABASD) and the Asian Business Association Foundation. As a recognized leader in the San Diego region, Jason brings vision and expertise across a multiplicity of sectors, including development of minority-owned business; establishment and coordination of high-impact multi-agency collaborative efforts; advocacy for San Diego’s many diverse communities; and first-hand experience as a first-generation Filipino-American. Beyond San Diego, Jason also provides statewide leadership as the Director of Statewide Strategic Partnerships and Political Director for the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce with its more than 56 MOU partners.
Since becoming President and CEO of ABASD, Jason has grown the organization to its largest size in thirty years, more than tripling its revenue, eliminating all debt, and establishing reserves. ABASD has expanded its impact through community-based outreach and partnerships while more than doubling its office size to provide a free cultural co-working hub for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Jason’s achievements have garnered attention across the San Diego region. Jason was recently named “CEO of the Year'' by the San Diego Business Journal, and was the youngest person to be recognized as one of "San Diego's 500 Most Influential People'' while in his early 30s. He has also been named one of “San Diego 40 Under 40” by San Diego Metro Magazine.
In an historic effort, Jason partnered to establish the Strategic Alliance, comprised of the region's three largest ethnic chambers of commerce: the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Business Association San Diego. As the Strategic Alliance, this trio of agencies operate as the Alliance Small Business Development Center (SBDC), focusing on delivering a comprehensive array of services to minority-owned small businesses. Focusing on economic equity for the region’s underserved communities, Jason led his organization through the recent pandemic by assisting thousands of minority-owned small businesses, helping them receive no-cost technical assistance and tens-of- millions of dollars in COVID-19 disaster relief capital.
To address the recent surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans, Jason co-launched the COVID-19 Legal Aid Task Force, providing pro bono legal representation to Asian Americans in civil rights discrimination cases. As part of its advocacy, ABASD collaborated with the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, composed of 40 local API organizations, in denouncing xenophobia, racism, and increased acts of violence towards API communities.
In addition to his work at ABASD, Jason established AdvanceAPI with Mission Driven Finance, the first Asian and Pacific Islander Impact Fund of its kind. Most recently, Jason helped to formally designate the Convoy District in Kearny Mesa as the Pan Asian Cultural and Business Innovation District in the City of San Diego. Jason is one of 15 outstanding San Diegans selected by Mayor Todd Gloria to serve on the city’s new San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Advisory Group, and he also serves as a member of the San Diego Small Business Advisory Board.
Jason’s additional civic commitments include the Board of Directors, NTC Foundation (Arts District Liberty Station), LEAD San Diego, the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, the City of Coronado Mobility Commission and is a volunteer member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Jason and his wife Rebecca are residents of Coronado.
Since becoming President and CEO of ABASD, Jason has grown the organization to its largest size in thirty years, more than tripling its revenue, eliminating all debt, and establishing reserves. ABASD has expanded its impact through community-based outreach and partnerships while more than doubling its office size to provide a free cultural co-working hub for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Jason’s achievements have garnered attention across the San Diego region. Jason was recently named “CEO of the Year'' by the San Diego Business Journal, and was the youngest person to be recognized as one of "San Diego's 500 Most Influential People'' while in his early 30s. He has also been named one of “San Diego 40 Under 40” by San Diego Metro Magazine.
In an historic effort, Jason partnered to establish the Strategic Alliance, comprised of the region's three largest ethnic chambers of commerce: the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Business Association San Diego. As the Strategic Alliance, this trio of agencies operate as the Alliance Small Business Development Center (SBDC), focusing on delivering a comprehensive array of services to minority-owned small businesses. Focusing on economic equity for the region’s underserved communities, Jason led his organization through the recent pandemic by assisting thousands of minority-owned small businesses, helping them receive no-cost technical assistance and tens-of- millions of dollars in COVID-19 disaster relief capital.
To address the recent surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans, Jason co-launched the COVID-19 Legal Aid Task Force, providing pro bono legal representation to Asian Americans in civil rights discrimination cases. As part of its advocacy, ABASD collaborated with the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, composed of 40 local API organizations, in denouncing xenophobia, racism, and increased acts of violence towards API communities.
In addition to his work at ABASD, Jason established AdvanceAPI with Mission Driven Finance, the first Asian and Pacific Islander Impact Fund of its kind. Most recently, Jason helped to formally designate the Convoy District in Kearny Mesa as the Pan Asian Cultural and Business Innovation District in the City of San Diego. Jason is one of 15 outstanding San Diegans selected by Mayor Todd Gloria to serve on the city’s new San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Advisory Group, and he also serves as a member of the San Diego Small Business Advisory Board.
Jason’s additional civic commitments include the Board of Directors, NTC Foundation (Arts District Liberty Station), LEAD San Diego, the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, the City of Coronado Mobility Commission and is a volunteer member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Jason and his wife Rebecca are residents of Coronado.