Asianati Appoints Paraag Maddiwar as Executive Director

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Asianati, producers of Asian Food Fest & Asianati Night Market, is proud to announce the appointment of Paraag Maddiwar as its new executive director.

“Paraag is exactly the leader Asianati needs at this moment,” said Qorinah Wardhani, President of Asianati’s Board of Directors. “His nonprofit experience, corporate leadership background, and lived understanding of AAPI cultures make him a perfect fit to guide Asianati’s next chapter.”

Maddiwar brings more than 20 years of leadership experience, including a long tenure at Procter & Gamble, where he built and led capability development across global teams. Most recently, he served at the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), where he helped shape nationally recognized programs for Asian American leadership and technical talent development. His expertise in program design, learning and development, and nonprofit scaling uniquely positions him to elevate Asianati’s community impact.

“Paraag has a long track record of showing up for the AAPI community,” added Koji Sado, Board Treasurer. “His vision for how AAPI professionals, creatives, and community members should be supported aligns closely with our mission.”

Under Maddiwar’s leadership, Asianati is preparing to significantly expand its impact across Greater Cincinnati and plans to introduce new cultural and educational initiatives. He sees enormous potential to build on the organization’s volunteer-powered success by strengthening its infrastructure and deepening community engagement.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Asianati team,” said Paraag Maddiwar. “As our world becomes more virtual, it’s more important than ever to build in-person spaces where people can connect, feel seen, and celebrate who they are. Asianati creates those spaces—through food, culture, arts, and storytelling—and I’m honored to help grow that impact.”

“I love the idea of expanding our signature spring festival into neighborhood-based mini Asian Food Fests in the fall. I also want to explore partnerships with schools and libraries to bring an “Asian World Fair”–style immersive cultural learning experience to students across Greater Cincinnati,” Maddiwar added. These efforts aim to elevate AAPI visibility, create new opportunities for cultural exchange, and ensure that Cincinnati becomes a place where Asian heritage students, professionals, and families feel deeply connected and proud to call home. Maddiwar emphasized the importance of belonging in shaping the region’s future. “Asianati plays an essential role in Greater Cincinnati as a connector—bringing people together, expanding cultural understanding, and celebrating the vibrant diversity of our communities. My goal is to work closely with our community to deepen that sense of belonging and create new opportunities for people to feel valued here.”

About Asianati Founded in 2010, Asianati — formerly Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati (AACAC) — is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) organization that celebrates Asian food and culture through events, stories, and a directory of local Asian American and Pacific Islander-owned businesses. Asianati produces Asian Food Fest, Asianati Night Market at BLINK, Asian Cuisine Week, Asianati Hanami Picnic, and AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati.