Spotlight On...

 

Al Lun

Board Member & Facilitator

 

Al Lun exudes energy wherever he goes, and the Diversity Council is grateful that some of that energy is being expended on our behalf!  Al was elected as one of our new board members in January, and before that he was—and remains to be—one of our workshop facilitators. 

 

In anticipation of his retirement from IBM last August, Al began looking for opportunities to serve the community which he has called home for 31 years.  On the recommendation of his wife, Donna, who has been a Diversity Council facilitator for several years, Al became a facilitator trainee and attended more than 30 hours of training last summer, so he was ready to hit the ground running after he retired from his 35 years of employment with IBM as a software product manager.

 

“Donna was the conduit,” says Al, “but I chose the Diversity Council because I am passionate about diversity and was looking for opportunities to serve.”

 

Born in Shanghai, China, and raised from age 6 in Hong Kong, Al moved to California after he graduated from high school and studied applied physics and information science at UC San Diego.  He went on to get his masters degree in electrical engineering at Oregon State University and then moved to Toronto to join the rest of his family, who had emigrated there.  That’s when he met and married Donna and also where he joined IBM. 

 

After four years, Al and Donna moved to Rochester, where they have lived for more than three decades, working—Donna is a realtor for Re-Max--and raising three children.

 

Fresh on the heels of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, Al speaks proudly of his Chinese heritage and his efforts to work with the Asian population here to foster leadership skills and help create an inclusive and welcoming workplace and community.

 

Al was actively involved in the local IBM Asian Networking Group for more than a decade, and he founded and continues to lead a sub-group of that network: the Leadership Practice Group.  That group meets twice a month; Al serves as a mentor. 

 

The emphasis is on practicing leadership skills, with the focus first starting within the IBM Asian Networking Group, but later expanding to within IBM at large and then eventually extending outside IBM walls. 

 

Al’s goal in life is a lofty one:  “My life’s purpose is building a new earth and enlightened planetary civilization, a world that’s tolerant, respectful and compassionate, valuing uniqueness, but also knowing that we are one.” 

 

He continues, “The Diversity Council’s mission and spirit is a path consistent with the inclusive community I envision.  I want to devote my life to this and the Diversity Council offers me an opportunity to pursue that goal.” 

 

And everything Al does shows that he is committed to living out his philosophy by example.  From his recent membership in Kiwanis Rochester West; to his work guiding others as an Avatar Master (Avatar is a self-improvement program for managing your mind and attitudes); to his Diversity Council service as a board member, chair of the Governance Committee, member of the Activities & Events committee, and work as a Spark and adult education facilitator; Al is doing much more than just talking the talk! 

 

Even his new business venture as a consultant, founding Middle Way Group—building web-based solutions enabling clients to be open for business anytime & anywhere in the world—reflects Al’s commitment to helping others be the best they can be. 

 

The Diversity Council greatly appreciates the enthusiasm that Al brings to everything he does.  He is a fine ambassador for us and, more importantly, a living example of the economic, social, and cultural assets and richness that immigrants bring to our community.  Thanks, Al—and Donna, too—for your continuing work to make Rochester a place that welcomes everyone and values the many human differences represented by our increasingly diverse population!