Boeing

Gary Toyama, a Boeing [NYSE:BA] executive who is a role model and mentor, is among several men and women who will receive a National Asian American Corporate Achievement Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans, Inc. next week.

Toyama, of Seal Beach, Calif., is the deputy to the vice president/general manager of operations for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. He will be recognized for his professional achievements and for the support and guidance he offers to many Asian Americans in his community and professional life. The Organization of Chinese Americans, Inc. and its Business Advisory Council will honor Toyama and 11 other recipients, including Dianne Chong, a Boeing engineer in St. Louis. The awards ceremony will be held Oct. 18 in Hollywood, Fla., at the Westin Diplomat Hotel.

"I am delighted and honored to accept this award and recognition, " Toyama said. "I credit the Boeing Company with giving me the opportunities that have made this all possible, including the chance to give back to my community."

Volunteering in our communities, mentoring and leadership development are important responsibilities as a member of corporate America, Toyama said. "Community service is everyone's responsibility and, for those lucky enough to be in the corporate world, the opportunities to serve are endless. By using the benefits that come with corporate jobs, Asian Americans can lend highly visible support to many worthwhile causes and bring recognition to many, including their companies and the Asian-American community," he said.

As deputy of operations, he oversees the day-to-day manufacturing and production at more than 20 Integrated Defense Systems' sites with 21,000 employees across the United States. Younger professionals, who are developing their careers, frequently seek him out for advice and counsel. He is an executive sponsor for the Asian American Professional Association. In 1997, he was named Manager of the Year for Southern California by the local Valley chapter of the National Management Association. He is a motivational speaker for youth in his community and has served as an advisor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Toyama began his aerospace career in 1978 when he joined Rockwell International in the Autonetics and Collins Communication Systems divisions. He has held a variety of management positions in finance, operations and business management. He received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's of business administration from the University of California at Irvine. Toyama was born in Chicago, Ill. and lives in Orange County, Calif. He and his wife have two daughters.