Gordon Liao

About

Gordon CC. Liao, A life-long Chicago area native, is an investor, entrepreneur, operator and performer. Through Promise Holdings, a private Investment & Holding company he founded, Gordon is a co-owner and Board member of several companies including Hickory Farms, AKIRA, Annabelle Candy Company, Maya Romanoff, Uncle John’s Pride, Catalina Finer Foods, Uncle John’s Pride, WAVE Plastic Surgery, IgeneX Inc., Pear’s Snacks and Chicago Switchboard. He is Chairman of three companies, Co-CEO of one and CFO of another. Gordon is also a former board member of the Goodman Theater, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Co-founder of AAAIM, the Association of Asian American Investment Managers, and Board member of Leaders Forum. Earlier, Gordon was a Principal with Private Equity funds Baird Capital and Reliant Equity. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Toigo Fellow and Founder of the Asian American Business Association. He received his BS from University of Illinois, graduating with Highest Honors and receiving the Bronze Tablet. Gordon is a published author and speaker on diversity in corporate America, and is also a published poet, produced playwright, spoken word artist and wedding singer.

Gordon’s core mission in life is lifting up underserved/under-resourced communities, with an emphasis on (a) Entrepreneurship, Economic wealth creation, Professional development and (b) The enhancement of self-esteem through the Performing Arts.