Dedicated to the Businesses of the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District: Past, Present & Future.
Welcome to the bold and vibrant epicenter of San Diego’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community known as the Convoy District, located in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood.
Convoy is marked by a landmark sign, proudly illuminating one of the largest Pan-Asian business districts in the US. It represents the rich traditions, eclectic flavors, and diverse experiences that shape the AAPI diaspora, and aspires to create a sense of belonging.
Erected in September 2024, the Convoy Sign culminates decades of resilience and determination by immigrant communities who persevered in transforming Convoy into a hub of cultural exchange and innovation.
Councilmember Chris Cate, District 6 (2014-2022)
Convoy Sign Designer Bennett Peji
The Convoy Sign needed to be as unique and bold as Convoy itself, while also representing the convergence of diverse cultures that have shaped the identity of the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District.
Local designer Bennett Peji took on that difficult and very personal challenge. As a Filipino-American who grew up and still lives in Kearny Mesa, Peji saw first-hand how Convoy became the bustling center that it is today.
While most placemaking signs across the country are horizontal, Peji came up with a vertical sign concept, with letters that represent a potpourri of different cultural patterns and colors.
HOW THE SIGN WAS MADE
VOICES OF CONVOY
VOICES OF CONVOY
Voices of Convoy will be a series spotlighting those who have transformed Convoy into the bustling cultural hub it is today. They represent resilience, determination, creativity, and perseverance. Behind each business are unique individuals with incredible stories that span geography and generations.
Dedicated to the Businesses of the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business District:
Past, Present & Future.
Asian Business Association Foundation 2023-2024
Jason Villar Paguio, President & CEO
Lois Fong-Sakai, Chairwoman
Robert P. Ito, Vice Chair
Elvin Lai, Treasurer
Robert W. Brownlie, Secretary
Ron T. Cho, Director
Travis Kiyota, Director
Danielle Lam, Director
Madalene Mielke, Director
Teresa Stivers, Director
Simon Wong, Director
Asian Business Association San Diego 2023-2024
Jeni Burgess, Chairwoman, Board of Directors
City of San Diego
Mayor Todd Gloria
Councilmember Kent Lee, District 6
Councilmember Chris Cate, District 6 (2014-2022)
County of San Diego
Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe, District 4
With Funding Support From
San Diego Foundation
Lai Family Foundation
East West Bank
THE DESIGN TEAM
Bennett Peji Design
Bennett Peji
Nicolette Peji
Lilia Peji
Trang Thi Kieu Dang
Christian Poblete
Elle Gamboa
Visual Asylum
MaeLin Levine
Amy Levine
MS Signs Inc.
Creative Builds
Website and Media Content Creator
Lee Ann Kim
Videographer
Michael Mora
MCM Consulting
Josh McKeown
West Coast Civil
Sean McCarty
Angela Gonzalez
Kelsey Structural
Guy Kelsey
Dian Zhang
Mizuta Traffic Consulting
Marc Mizuta
Asian Business Association Foundation
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone (858) 277-2822
The Asian Business Association Foundation is dedicated to strengthening underserved Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities through leadership and education.
Funding provided in part by the City of San Diego and County of San Diego