Board of Directors

Chairman Tuan Dao retired from the corporate world in 2021 after 42 years of service where he held various senior management positions in capital project development, execution, and consulting for major chemical companies.

He has served as Chairman of Sunflower Mission since its inception in 2002. A graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Dao’s commitment to Sunflower Mission stems from his belief that education is the most effective means for the children of Vietnam to improve their lives.

This belief is supported by having witnessed many friends and acquaintances overcome childhood poverty and other obstacles to become highly successful people.

President Hoang Phi received his Doctor of Medicine, specializing in Internal Medicine, from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He has been in private practice in Houston since 1994. Dr. Phi strongly believes in giving back and has served the Vietnamese community through numerous health fairs, free monthly medical clinics at the Vietnamese Civic Center, and medical talk shows on Saigon Network TV. He supports Sunflower Mission because he believes education is the key to raising the standard of living and advancing society. He is an avid cyclist and triathlete. He has cycled across southeast Asia and competes in triathlons, including the Ironman.

Vice President Thanh Bui is a father and a life-long learner. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Currently, he is part of the People & Organization department for a chemical processing company.

He has been actively involved at a Vietnamese language and culture school since early 2000. Mr. Bui believes that the positive impact Sunflower Mission has on youngsters in Vietnam and the US is invaluable: it enables people to lift up their lives through education, it allows others to hone their leadership skills, and it bridges the cultural gap.

Secretary Dinh Ngo holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. After working for a number of years in Information Technology, he is now part of a Commercial Trade Monitoring Compliance program at ConocoPhillips.

He has been involved in the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association’s youth leadership program, Len Duong Camp, for over ten years. Mr. Ngo’s involvement with Sunflower Mission is about gratitude; he is thankful for the educational opportunity he has been given and wants to pay it forward.

Treasurer Hoa Ta is an energy trader at Repsol. He is responsible for generating and implementing a West regional natural gas strategy that aligns with the overall physical business plan.

Hoa holds a bachelor degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and has served as Treasurer of Sunflower Mission since 2008.

Mr. Ta’s first trip back to Vietnam with Sunflower Mission in 2008 gave him the opportunity to witness the direct impact the organization has on the children of Vietnam. He has chosen to volunteer with the organization since.

Director Kim Oanh Nguyen is a proud mother of 4 and a lifelong learner seeking to learn at least one new thing every day. Kim Oanh graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and an MBA in finance. She previously worked in regulatory affairs and strategic planning in the oil and gas industry and is currently managing a medical practice and is an investment property manager and realtor.

Kim Oanh believes in the transformative power of education and has witnessed its impact through her work with Sunflower Mission and other nonprofits. She is grateful for the educational opportunity she has received and wants to pay it forward to the students in Vietnam. Sunflower Mission’s goals align with her belief that a good education is the foundation for improving one’s life and ending poverty.

Director Thai Dinh Nguyen resides in Westminster, California where he currently practices medicine as an internist.

He remembers growing up reading about Vietnamese history and finding it difficult to not take pride in his Vietnamese heritage.

A few of his favorite heroes and stories are Hai Bà Trưng “Đuổi ngay Tô Định, dẹp yên biên thành”, Lý Thuờng Kiệt đánh Tống “Nam quốc sơn hà, nam đế cư..”, nhà Trần ba lần đánh đuổi quân Nguyên, Nguyễn Huệ 10 ngày đại thắng quân Thanh.

He credits his career and life’s successes to emphasis on education and hard work, in addition to the invaluable opportunities and resources available in the U.S. He sees how connecting students to those resources can make a difference.

He hopes to help students in Vietnam gain access to the education they need to be successful.

Director Elena Thuy Tran is a business professional with experience in organizational change and transformation, capability development, and workforce planning and deployment. She holds an MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and BSBA degrees in Business Management and Marketing from Rockhurst University.

Elena has held multi-year Board positions in a number of organizations, including the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP), Association for Women in Computing (AWC), Sunflower Mission, Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA), and Women in Technology International (WITI).

She co-founded Sunflower Mission and served as President for 10 years. Elena is a proud mother of four children. Elena and her family reside in Sugar Land, Texas.

Director Dalton Bui is an anesthesiology resident physician at UTHealth Houston. He has been a proud volunteer with Sunflower Mission since 2017. Since then, he has served as Vice President of SEEDS, attended three Work Camps, co-founded the English Initiative, and co-chaired multiple fundraising galas. He is an avid rock climber, amateur cook, and passionate teacher at Hung Vuong Vietnamese School. Dalton is thankful for the educational opportunities he has received and aims to pay it forward to his peers in Vietnam, many of whom he now considers lifelong friends.