Carol Wei, president of the Mid-America Asian Culture Association, is earning regional and national attention for her work.

Wei was recognized as a 2014 Small Business Influencer in the leadership category of the Small Business Influencer Awards, sponsored by Small Business Trends, a national online publication for entrepreneurs and community leaders. The Small Business Influencer Awards are presented each year in New York.

Earlier this month, Wei also was selected as the 2014 Kansas Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Minority & Women Business Development. The award was presented to Wei by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback at the annual Kansas Minority Enterprise Development Week Awards luncheon in Topeka.

In 2007, Wei moved from China to the United States. She founded the Mid-America Asian Culture Association (MAACA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering interest in Asian cultures and assisting Asian-owned businesses. Her duties include planning the group’s activities, attending business and cultural events, and staying in touch with Asian business owners and corporate sponsors to advance MAACA’s cooperative business and community agenda.

This year, Wei organized the inaugural MAACA Asian Cultural Festival, featuring more than 50 Asian-owned businesses displaying products and services for 2,000 attendees. Festival partners included 15 Asian country organizations, and the event drew attention to Asian arts, foods, activities and performances.

Wei also recently produced and hosted the 2014 MAACA Annual Awards Luncheon to acknowledge Kansas City area Asian country organizations and corporate sponsors for helping MAACA to achieve its goals.

For more information about MAACA, go to maacaweb.org.