Kathy Cheng

Kathy Cheng is the President of Redwood Classics Apparel, one of Canada’s leading full-service apparel manufacturers, offering an in-stock apparel line to branded merchandise and retail distributors with garments handcrafted in North America. In 2022, Kathy was honored with the inaugural Ascend Canada Woman of Distinction Award, recognizing her work in helping advance the careers of other Pan-Asian women through leadership, sponsorship, and by making a significant contribution to the community. 2021 saw Kathy receive three prestigious honors: She was named to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Power 50 List as one of only a handful of women; she made the Bay Street Bull Magazine inaugural Women of the Year List; and she received the George Brown College Sustainable Production Post-Grad Honorary Credential. Kathy’s other recent achievements include being named to Inc. Magazine’s 100 Female Founders List for 2020, receiving the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) Special Recognition Award for her philanthropy and inclusive local procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving the WBE President’s Award for her commitment to Supplier Diversity, and receiving the LGBTQ+ Ambassador of the Year Award from Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her continued championing of diverse voices in her community. Kathy was also selected to appear on the front page of the 2020 Annual Financial Report for the Royal Bank of Canada - Canada’s largest bank - to represent all of the small businesses across the country, focusing on diversity and inclusion in a very challenging year.

Previous honors have been presented to Kathy by the Advertising Specialty Institute® (2016 Counselor Supplier Woman of Distinction Award) for her positive influence in the promotional products industry. In 2014, Kathy was one of only three Canadians inducted into The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program, and in 2013, she was named by the Women’s Executive Network as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. Kathy's steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion has found her serving on the Board of Directors for CAMSC and as an Ambassador for Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC). She proudly lends her time, voice, and talents to ensure supplier diversity is not just a talking point but a reality. In 2021, she became a member of the PPAI DEI Task Force to help educate others in the promotional products industry about the importance of diversity and uplifting marginalized voices. Building on her passion for mentorship, she also participates as a “Sous-Chef'' for PromoKitchen, a non-profit organization that promotes education and networking within the industry.