Michael Chen (businessman and politician)
Michael Chen | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 20, 1987 |
| Education | Caribbean International School |
| Alma mater | Marshall School of Business University of Southern California (BBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, Civic Leader, and Politician |
| Title | President of the Colon Chamber of Commerce |
| Term | 2022-2023 |
| Political party | Independent |
Michael Andrew Chen Fong (born April 20, 1987)[1] is a Panamanian businessman, civic leader, and independent politician[2] serving as the youngest president of Panama´s oldest Chamber of Commerce, the Colon Chamber of Commerce for the 2022-2023 term.[3][4][5]In 2023, he was selected as one of the vice-presidential candidates to run in Panama's 2024 general elections.[6][7][5]
Early life and education
Michael Andrew Chen Fong was born on April 20, 1987, in the Republic of Panama.[1]Chen is a native of Colón[8] and hails from a family of Chinese descent that has been established in the Province of Colón for over three generations.[9] He completed his primary and secondary education at the Caribbean International School in Colón.[6]
Pursuing higher education, he earned a degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.[9][10][1]
Career
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Chen returned to his hometown and took the helm of his family's department store, Grupo Vanidades, the oldest in Colón.[11][4][10]
Prior to joining Grupo Vanidades, Chen served stints at the financial company Northwestern Mutual and the tech company Larta Institute.[10] He went on to serve as director and vice president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industries.[11][1]In February 2022, he became the youngest president of the Colon Chamber of Commerce, the oldest in Panama.[5]
Under his leadership, the chamber launched the "El cambio comienza por mí" ("Change Begins With Me") initiative, supported by the United Nations.[12]This project aimed to harness the strengths of Colón's residents and improve the province's conditions.[13]
Political career
In October 2023, Michael Chen was announced as the vice-presidential candidate for the Movimiento Otro Camino (MOCA) party, running as an independent politician[2] alongside presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana for the 2024 Panamanian elections.[13][14]
Chen's dedication to community service and development has been recognized through several awards, including the Guillermo Andreve Medal from the Ministry of Education,[7] the "Premio al Aporte Transcendental de la Juventud" from the Ministry of Social Development,[5] and the "Huellas del Istmo" award from the University of the Isthmus.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d "Michael Chen:'Si nosotros no tomamos acción, vamos a perder lo poco o lo mucho que queda de Colón'". laestrella.com.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Ricardo Lombana: 'Mulino cada vez da más señales de autoritarismo'". www.laestrella.com.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "Panamá no es un crisol, es un mosaico | Ellas". www.ellas.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Michael Chen es el nuevo presidente de la Cámara de Comercio, Industrias y Agricultura de Colón". www.prensa.com (in Spanish). 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b c d e "¿Quién es Michael Chen el vicepresidente de Ricardo Lombana?". ecotvpanama.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Michael Chen será el vicepresidente de Ricardo Lombana". Tvn Panamá (in Spanish). 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Lombana postula a Michael Chen como su vicepresidente". www.laestrella.com.pa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "Michael Chen: "Duele que Colón sea visto como Haití por la comunidad internacional"". www.ecotvpanama.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Elecciones 2024: Perfiles de candidatos a la vicepresidencia". www.ecotvpanama.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b c Irma (2023-10-27). "¿Quién es el candidato a vicepresidente de Ricardo Lombana?" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Cámara de Comercio de Colón será presidida por joven empresario". www.midiario.com (in Spanish). 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "La provincia más peligrosa de Panamá busca renovar su imagen". Yahoo News (in Spanish). 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "Jóvenes Colonenses aprenden sobre arte". First Quantum Minerals LTD. | Cobre Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "Ricardo Lombana postula a Michael Chen como su vicepresidente - La Gaceta" (in Spanish). 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2025-05-27.