Running A Restaurant Without Burning Out

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NY Public Library, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center

Women restaurateurs share candid insights on balancing business, family, health and personal well-being in this most demanding industry.

**This event will be online only*Join us for this panel discussion moderated by Megan Nakano, Founder &amp; Executive Director, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois,featuring Mary Aregoni, CEO &amp; Flounder, Saigon Sisters and Kathy Vega Hardy, Owner, A Taste of the Philippines. Our panelists share their stories and discuss:<ul><li>Navigating the unique pressures and expectations placed on women entrepreneurs.</li><li>Balancing life in the restaurant industry with family and personal life</li><li>Redefining success and identity beyond work</li><li>Building a team and learning to delegate.</li><li>Using technology and automation to improve efficiency and reduce burnout. </li></ul>

<h3>About the Presenters:</h3><h3> </h3>

MEGAN NAKANO is the Executive Director and Founder of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois (AACCIL), advancing economic opportunity for Asian American- owned firms by expanding their visibility and access to corporations, government agencies and other stakeholders. She brings 25+ years of experience developing strategic partnerships, across the business, private and non-profit sectors with a focus on minority certification, procurement, and supplier diversity. Through the AACCIL, Megan provides pro bono management consulting guiding entrepreneurs through complex institutional systems, and facilitating targeted introductions. Chicago native, she has served on numerous boards and advisory councils at the city, state, and federal levels.

KATHY VEGA HARDY is the owner and chef behind A Taste of the Philippines. Born in Manila, she launched her concept as a food truck in Denver in 2012 before relocating to Chicago in 2018, where she has grown it from farmers markets to the Chicago French Market and now her Jefferson Park restaurant. Kathy has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Eater Chicago, and Block Club Chicago, and gained national recognition competing on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped. Her dishes—lumpia, pancit, and ube creations—blend tradition and innovation, bringing Filipino cuisine to wider audiences while showcasing the resilience and staying power of Asian American women restaurateurs.

MARY AREGONI is the CEO and Founder of Saigon Sisters, a Chicago-based restaurant recognized for bringing the vibrant flavors of Vietnam to the mainstream. Since opening in 2009, she has grown Saigon Sisters across diverse service models—from restaurants and food halls to airports, hospitals, catering, and delivery—demonstrating resilience in the competitive dining industry. Mary is celebrated as a trailblazer for Asian American women in food, empowering others through leadership and mentorship. She is active in Let’s Talk Womxn, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and the James Beard Women’s Leadership Program, and is widely recognized as a champion of Vietnamese cuisine.

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Running A Restaurant Without Burning Out

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Running A Restaurant Without Burning Out

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