Clarence Low, 2013 Asian American Hero of Colorado

By Patricia Kaowthumrong

Clarence Low’s professional accomplishments are proof that passion and dedication are key ingredients to a successful business career.

Low is the board chair for Colorado’s Asian Chamber of Commerce and the co-founder and president of Byte Technology, a company that creates websites and solutions for companies seeking to improve their Web presence. He has been an active member in Colorado’s Asian-American community since he moved to Colorado ten years ago from the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Having immigrant parents from China, Clarence understands the challenges facing Asians in the business community, and works diligently to advance our cause, but at the same time supporting all small businesses in any way he can without regard to their ethnicities,” says Jamie Borremeo, executive director of the National Council of Asian American Business Association (NCAABA), who nominated Low for the Asian American Hero award.

“Clarence is articulate and passionate about his work and his heritage, and values the work that he performs in the local community,” Borremeo says.

Always to connect with the Asian-American business community, Low has served on the advisory board for the Denver Small Business Development Center and the board of directors for Youth Biz, a Denver inner city leadership skills development organization and as the technology community chair for NCAABA. Low also works with Goodwill Industries to assist local high school students prepare for the labor force and provides guest lectures.

Low says he learned to “pay it forward in the business community” from a mentor and consultant who helped him build his business. He advises younger generations to be passionate about personal and professional endeavors, and always try “to do the right thing.”

“I know there are times when we are faced with different types of challenges,” Low says, “But in the end, if we can do the right thing and be true to ourselves and to the people we serve, then our path will be clear.”

Although he has a multitude of professional accomplishments, Low says his greatest success is his family. His two sons, ages 12 and 16, perform with Denver Taiko, so Low also spends a lot of time at the Denver Buddhist Temple at their practices and performances. He volunteers at events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival and Turkey Bingo Day. He is also an active parent and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America as assistant scoutmaster for the local Boy Scout troop in Evergreen.

As if Low’s schedule wasn’t already full, he recently launched Archipelago Web, a company that produces online marketing solutions for corporate clients, nonprofits, academic institutions and small businesses.

“Clarence has shown great leadership and has demonstrated that he and his businesses represent the new face of Asian Americans in the community,” Borromeo says. “He has taught me that through desire and hard work ethic, even the busiest and most active business owners can still always make time to serve their community.”