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Lina Hu |
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Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer |
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Lina Hu is Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Corporation, which she founded in 1994.
Sixteen years ago, Lina came to the United States with a dream to create a better life for herself. Although she had earned her Master’s Degree in Business in China and worked in exporting, she felt that by living in the U.S., her chance for success would be up to her. With no knowledge of the English language or American culture, Lina enrolled in English classes and researched continuously to gain a greater perspective about the needs of restaurants and was determined to start a company that would become one of the foodservice industry's top suppliers. Lina states, "I thought that if I tried, I would have a 50% chance of success, but if I didn't try, I would have a 100% chance of failure."
Lina's first big break came when Burger King hired Clipper Corporation to supply their uniforms. Now, Clipper provides supplies and uniforms to some of the largest names in the foodservice industry and related industries to include, California Pizza Kitchen, Denny's Restaurants, FedEx Kinko's, Home Depot, UPS, IHOP, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster and Sizzler, just to name a few.
When asked how Lina has brought Clipper Corporation from a small start-up to a multi-million dollar company, she attributes it to four things; dedication, commitment, knowledge and delivery. "What I enjoy most is the feeling I get when I go to a restaurant and see that the products they’re using to help them carry out their jobs better are made by Clipper. It makes me very proud that Clipper has contributed to their success. I am also very proud that the company I built now provides jobs for over 500 people with our headquarters in Los Angeles, our East Coast Distribution and Customer Service center in McDonough, Georgia and factories in China. What I have learned is that if you have a goal, believe in yourself and are passionate, dedicated and committed, you can achieve anything and you will
be successful.
Lina is affiliated with the MultiCultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Chinese American Association and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Hampton University. Lina was the proud recipient of the prestigious "Ernest Royal Pioneer Award" from MFHA which is presented to individuals who best exemplify Ernie Royal’s pioneering spirit and commitment to leadership in supporting diversity, mentoring and providing career opportunities in the foodservice industry. Her other honors include receipt of a "Leadership Scholarship;” a 2004 nomination from Ernst & Young as an "Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist along with an "Emerging Leader Award" from the Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF). Lina continues her contribution and commitment to the development and advancement for women by her formation of the "Asian and Pacific Studies Lina Hu Entrepreneur Scholarship" at Loyola Marymount University which provides resources and inspiration to women who need help and have demonstrated the initiative to help others.
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