Ascend Midwest was proud to volunteer at the 20th Anniversary of the Chicago Chinatown 5K! With almost 1,000 registered participants, beautiful blue skies, and fresh air after the recent air quality concerns, it was the perfect day to celebrate community, wellness, and the vibrant spirit of Chicago’s Chinatown.
The Ascend Midwest team came together with thousands of AAPI leaders, sponsors, and allies from across the nation to learn, grow, and moveForward with Purpose. From thought-provoking keynote panels and mentorship roundtables to inspiring breakout sessions, our team returned home with fresh perspectives, actionable leadership strategies, and strengthened bonds.
We are proud to represent the Midwest and can’t wait to keep this momentum going throughout the rest of the year!
Recap: Chicago Dim Sum & Then Some Race Volunteer Event
A big thank you to our Ascend Midwest volunteers who supported the CMAA Dim Sum & Then Some: The Uptown 5K/10K & Kids Dash! Your time, energy, and enthusiasm helped make this community event a success and supported CMAA's mission of helping low-income immigrants and refugees learn English, pursue citizenship, grow academically and socially, and build stronger communities through employment, entrepreneurship, and mutual aid.
Ascend Midwest brought together professionals, students, and community partners in both Chicago and Columbus to connect and keep the momentum going after the national convention!
A huge thank you to Crowefor hosting the Chicago event at their incredible downtown space, and to the Crowe representatives for sharing their inspiring reflections with our group.
Steven is a Senior Associate in RSM’s Deal Advisory Services practice, where he focuses on quality of earnings, working capital, and net debt analyses for M&A transactions. He is a CPA and earned his MBA from DePaul University, with prior experience in audit at Wipfli and commercial roles at NCC Group and CarMax before transitioning into deal advisory. Most recently, he instructed a firm-wide presentation exploring best practices and use cases for using artificial intelligence in employees day to day.
Steven became involved with Ascend to build community, learn from other Pan-Asian professionals, and help create opportunities for the next generation. He serves on Ascend Midwest’s University Relations Committee and Ascend National’s Emerging Leaders Council. Outside of work, he enjoys training in his home gym, traveling with his wife, following Chicago sports, gaming, and trying unique restaurants around Chicago.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: Robert Half & Protiviti
Who We Are
Robert Half and Protiviti share a focus: helping people and organizations move forward with confidence. Robert Half is a global talent solutions and consulting firm connecting organizations with skilled professionals and individuals with meaningful careers. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Protiviti, is a global consulting firm that solves complex challenges across technology, risk, internal audit, finance, operations, compliance, and digital transformation.
Building Connection
Connecting, growing, and leading is central to our culture. Through our Employee Network Groups—APEX at Robert Half and ASPIRE at Protiviti—employees build relationships, find mentors, develop leadership skills, and celebrate different experiences and perspectives.
Partnership
As a proud Jade-level sponsor of Ascend Midwest, we support Ascend’s mission to advance professionals and future leaders through IAG conferences, mentorship, networking, and leadership programming.
This year, nearly 20 of our professionals attended Ascend Engage. We've also partnered with Ascend Midwest on local programming, including a View from the Top event featuring Andrea Chin, where members heard candid perspectives on leadership, career growth, and navigating the path to senior leadership.
We’re grateful for this partnership and look forward to continuing to create opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together.
Student Chapter Spotlight: The Ohio State University
A Message From Viren Patel, Ascend OSU Chapter President Coming into Ohio State, I wanted to prove myself. I applied to several competitive clubs my first semester, determined to find where I belonged. I landed interviews but came up short every time. I had given it my all, but felt I hadn’t had the chance to show myself.
Then over fall break, my mother brought me to a corporate event for an organization called Ascend. I was a college student surrounded by professionals with no idea what I’d walked into. A few conversations opened my eyes. I learned that Ascend had student chapters, and I figured a school as big as Ohio State surely had one already. It didn’t.
That was the moment I decided to start something of my own. I gathered an outstanding group of students, and together we built Ascend Ohio State from the ground up. This fall, we’re focused on hosting guest speakers and creating professional and competitive events.
To anyone who’s ever been told no, sometimes that door closing is what pushes you to build your own.
Have an idea for future editions or want to be featured in a spotlight? We’d love to hear from you. Until next time, thank you for your continued support and participation in building a stronger Ascend community.
Want to Help Our Chapter Grow?
Ascend Midwest thrives because of passionate members like you! Whether you’re interested in joining a committee, helping organize events, or supporting our leadership team, we’d love to have you involved.
Volunteer for an Event – Assist with event logistics, check-ins, and more
Join a Committee – Help shape our programming, outreach, or operations
Take on a Leadership Role – Get involved in shaping the future of Ascend Midwest
.png?upscale=true&width=400&upscale=true&name=Mars%20(1).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=300&upscale=true&name=Riveron%20(1).png)
