Meet Barry
Barry Wong is an American-born son of Chinese immigrant parents. Barry's parents lived amid the civil war in China between the Nationalist government and the invading Mao's Communists. They were among the lucky ones who were able to escape China and the eventual Bamboo Curtain as China fell to Mao and his army.
A lifelong Arizonan, Barry was born in Phoenix where he joined his parents and five siblings working at the grocery store in South Phoenix. The early days of building the business were difficult, but his parents were patient and persistent and eventually were able to send all six children to college and university.
Barry worked at the grocery on weekends and during the summer as he was attending elementary and high school learning the value of hard work, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and burdens of excessive government taxes and regulation. Barry attended Barcelona Elementary School, Glendale and Alhambra High School in Phoenix.
- ASU: B.S. in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude; Board of Regents, selection committee for ASU president; President's Advisory Council
- U of A: Law Degree; Represented law school at American Bar Association/Law Student Division; Alumni Association, Board of Directors
- Thunderbird School of Global Management: Leadership Program; Global Leadership Certificate
- Arizona House of Representatives: Four terms championing technology, renewable energy, higher education and small business
- Arizona Corporation Commission: Appointed to fill an open seat in 2006; involved with renewable energy, electricity, water, telecommunication and investment regulation
Community Service
- Luke AFB, Honorary Commander
- Law Enforcement:
- FBI Citizen's Academy, Graduate
- DPS Citizen's Academy, Graduate
- Phoenix P.D. Citizen's Academy, Graduate
- U.S. Marshal's Posse, Member
- American Red Cross, Grand Canyon Chapter, Board, former member
- Fiesta Bowl Committee, Life Member
- Phoenix Museum of History, Board of Trustees, Member
- YMCA, Chris-town, Board of Management, former member
- Valley Leadership, Class XXIII
- Government Boards and Commissions:
- Arizona Corporation Commission's Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, Member representing the Public (reviews applications of power companies on impact to environment of new power lines and power plant projects; makes recommendation to five member ACC)
- City of Phoenix' Industrial Development Authority, past president and board member (reviews applications for city industrial development bonds for business expansion-job creation, workforce housing, charter school construction and non-profit facilities)
- Arizona Supreme Court volunteer service: Committee on Character & Fitness (background check for prospective lawyers), past chair and member