Kija Kim Featured Speaker at NAAAP National Convention

For Immediate Release

Cambridge, MA ... Kija Kim, President and CEO of Harvard Design and Mapping (HDM), was a featured speaker at the 2002 National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) National Convention held August 16-18 at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel, Boston, MA.

Ms. Kim spoke on Community Involvement: Mobilizing the Youth and Balancing Your Commitment. An active participant in minority and women affairs, Ms. Kim discussed her diverse experiences in volunteerism and reflected on how her service has impacted her professional and personal life.

For over thirty years, Ms. Kija Kim has brought her unique brand of energy, insight and innovation to business and civic matters. A pioneer in the field of geographic information systems (GIS), Ms. Kim was among the first to apply the CAD techniques to automated mapping, leading to present day GIS technology.

As CEO of HDM, a firm specializing in GIS since 1988, Ms. Kim's accomplishments have resulted in numerous awards and recognitions. Most recently, Ms. Kim was named one of Enterprising Women's Top Ten Women in Technology.

An advocate for minority and women business issues, Ms. Kim has participated in a number of White House conferences, including the Minority Business Summit and the Economic Development Conference. She has served on the Massachusetts Governor's Advisory Committee on Women's Issues, the Massachusetts Asian American Commission, the Massachusetts Governor's Advisory Commission on Welfare to Work, and the MassJobs Council, and has acted as a trade ambassador for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, visiting both Korea and Mexico.

A founding member of the U.S. Library of Congress GIS Center, Ms. Kim serves on a number of civic and professional boards, including the Massachusetts Software and Internet Council, Clark University Board of Trustees, Bentley College Graduate School of Management Advisory Board, Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) Advisory Board and BostonFed Bancorp, Inc. Board of Directors.

Recognized for her outstanding communication skills, Ms. Kim has served as a keynote speaker and participated in numerous panels and workshops. With a firm grasp of contemporary issues, Ms. Kim has often been featured in various print and electronic media outlets, including Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and The Boston Globe. "I believe participation must go beyond just belonging. You must be active, taking on leadership roles and roles of visible responsibility where your ideas are noticed and your voice is heard," Ms. Kim explained. "I am honored to be part of the NAAAP conference on its 20th anniversary providing Asian American professionals with the tools and resources to better their career development."

For more information about HDM or Ms. Kim visit www.hdm.com.