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2 August 2010 – San Francisco, CA Rodney Fong is waxing rapturous about his recent trip as part of San Francisco’s official Delegation to the Shanghai World Expo. Perfectly appropriate, since besides representing San Francisco as its Port Chairman, Fong is the owner of San Francisco’s internationally renowned Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf, one of America’s most popular tourist destinations.

 

“Being part of the 30th Anniversary San Francisco / Shanghai Sister City Delegation was a distinct honor,” said Fong, 46. “These two cities straddle the Pacific like the Golden Gate Bridge straddles the Bay: unique, vital to commerce and beautiful. I’m glad I wasn’t asked which city is more beautiful. How can you compare two sisters.”

 

Led by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Sister City Chair James Fang,  the City’s official Delegation to the World Expo included former Mayors Frank Jordan and Willie L. Brown, Jr. – the first time that three such urban executives joined together on such a trip. Other high level Bay Area representatives included California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin, Marvell cofounder Weili Dai, whose company was the presenting sponsor of the trip, San Francisco Assessor Phil Ting, attorney Joe Cotchett, PG&E’s Vice President of Corporate Environmental Affairs Steven Kline, ChinaSF Director Ginny Fang, United Airline’s Vice President James Keenan, San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Joe D’Alessandro, Visa’s Director of Global Government Relations Nathan Nayman, Leo Lin of Monster Cable, Lawrence Lui of the Hilton Group and Mary Lau, widow of San Francisco / Shanghai Sister Committee original chairman Gordon Lau.

 

Presenting sponsor for the trip was Marvell with major sponsorship from United Airlines, PG&E and HOK Architects. Additional sponsors included ChinaSF, The Ritz Carlton, Monster Cable, Beringer Wines,  Cubic, Heller Manus Architects, Suntech, YogaVive, the law firm of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, BART,  San Francisco’s Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf, David Perry & Associates, Inc.,  MarketWire,  Hilton Hotels and General Motors.

 

 “Rodney and his family have been active in the San Francisco visitor industry for three generations,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the Bureau. “Having his insight, wisdom and experience in Shanghai was invaluable. Plus – he brought along ‘President Obama’ and ‘Yao Ming’ from his personal collection.”

 

As part of his participation in the trip, Fong provided the iconic figures of Barack Obama and Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming, as part of the “San Franisco Week” display onsite at the Shanghai World Expo.

 

“I have to admit that I was overwhelmed at their reception,” Fong smiled. “Every time I visited Expo, there were lines of people waiting to shake hands with ‘the President.’ I’ll never forget watching a group of 50 Chinese mayors pose respectively with our Obama.”

 

Next on Fong’s agenda: spearheading San Francisco’s efforts to construct a landmark new cruise ship terminal.

 

“When I was in Shanghai, we received a formal tour of Shanghai’s cruise ship terminal,” said Fong. “It’s spectacular in every way: right downtown, modern, efficient and – about the right size for San Francisco. We came home with a lot of good ideas that I hope will take anchor here on our own waterfront.”

 

Fong joined the San Francisco Convention Center board of directors in 2000 and the executive committee in 2007. He was a founding member of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District, is the president of the San Francisco Port Commission and was an active participant in bringing the Fisherman’s Wharf Public Realm Plan to fruition.  Additionally, Fong oversees The Thomas & Eva Fong Foundation – named for his grandparents --  established in 1980 for the sole purpose of benefiting and educating the public through local Bay Area charities. Such organizations such as Self Help for the Elderly, On Lok, The Little People's Fishing Program, Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation have been long time recipients of annual gifts.

 

“Our hope for the work of the Foundation is that these donations will be able to help our neighbors in need within the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Fong. “Plus, it is our ongoing mission as well to preserve our rich Chinese Heritage.”