As a business owner who thrives in philanthropic endeavors, Abe Ng (pronounce “ing”) is unique. As founder and CEO of Sushi Maki, South Florida’s awardwinning leader in innovative Japanese cuisine, Ng handles the strategic development and management of the 16 locations owned and operated under the Sushi Maki, Pao Town and Canton Chinese brand names.
In addition, he is a partner with Whole Foods Markets for sushi stations in the South Florida Region stores and thus manages a large staff. While these responsibilities are great, Abe has gained a welldeserved reputation for giving back through volunteerism that incorporates his leadership skills and passion to serve a higher purpose.
A Miami native born at Baptist Hospital, Ng graduated from Miami Palmetto High School where he first became involved in volunteer activity through the Key Club. After graduation from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, he went on to receive post graduate degrees at California Sushi Academy, a professional culinary program in Los Angeles, and then to Harvard Business School to complete the Owner/ President Management program.
Abe’s community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau, Business Improvement District of Coral Gables, Baptist Health Foundation, Florida Restaurant Association and Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.
A humble man with compassion for the underserved in a town where there are pockets of great need, Ng wanted to serve. With a large transient population, he found it was a challenge finding like-minded individuals who want to help others and who are ambitious, family-oriented, and responsible.
That said, it did not take long to find his niche in the non-profit world that enabled him to hone his leadership skills, improve his knowledge of how to run organizations and laugh, always a good way to release stress and make friends. Ng realized that managing volunteers and for-profit employees is not so different.
“Leaders need to cast vision, mobilize resources, embrace accountability and sense,” Ng said. “When things are really moving, competent leaders need to ‘get out of the way’ of the people who are really doing the work.”
With that quote in mind, it is not surprising Ng’s accolades include being named as one of the Miami Herald’s 2011 “20 Under 40” as well as the South Florida Business Journal’s 2010 “40 Under 40.” In addition, Sushi Maki was listed as a 2011 Top 100 Minority Business and received the Outstanding Minority Business of the Year by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, in June 2012, Sushi Maki received the “Good to Great” award — also from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, Sushi Maki was named as a finalist for South Florida Business Journal’s Business of the Year Award for the 101-400 Employee category.
When Abe is not taking care of business and volunteering, he enjoys time with his wife, Christina, and his three children — ages 8, 6 and 4.
