1940
Mr. Chao is born in Dairen, China.
1949
Mr. Chao immigrates to the United States.
1965
Mr. Chao receives a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
1966
Mr. Chao serves as an intermediate draftsman at Spencer, Lee & Busse Architects in San Francisco, California.
1967
Mr. Chao serves as assistant to the president at Import Plus Inc, in Santa Clara, California.
1968
Mr. Chao marries Kirsti Helena Lehtonen.
1969
Mr. Chao serves as a job captain at Hammaberg and Herman Architects in Oakland, California.
1971
Mr. Chao serves as a project manager for B. A. Premises Corporation.
1979
Mr. Chao serves as a construction manager for The Straw Hat Restaurant Corporation.
1981
Mr. Chao is promoted to senior manager and director of real estate and construction at The Straw Hat Restaurant Corporation.
1987
Mr. Chao becomes an architect in private practice throughout Berkeley, California.
1988
Mr. Chao becomes a member of the marketing committee of the Straw Hat Cooperative Corporation.
1991
Mr. Chao serves as principal architect for Alpha Consultant Group Inc.
1996
Mr. Chao authors “The Street-Smart Restaurant Development Handbook.”
1997
Mr. Chao is appointed chief executive officer of Nuts and Bolts Books.
1998
Mr. Chao becomes a certified architect through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
1998
Mr. Chao becomes the director of real estate at Papillon MDC Inc.
2002
Mr. Chao becomes a patron charter member of the Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.
2014
Mr. Chao authors “Secrets from Macau” and “The Green Kayak.”
2017
Mr. Chao is honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who.