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Meet SOAR Texas Chapter Chairwoman

Tram Nguyen Excel at the
fundamentals
Published May 20, 2020
By Laura Osnard

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During the month of May, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated throughout
the United States. People take time to recognize the rich culture, history and contributions of Asian
major construction
Americans and Pacific Islanders. Southern Company’s strength comes from the people that make up
our diverse workforce and the communities we serve. In that spirit, we recognize Tram Nguyen.

Nguyen, director of regulatory & gas accounting

Support the building of
at Sequent, has been with Southern Company national energy policy
since 2004. Her story is one of perseverance, and
her path to joining the company has been a
harrowing yet rewarding one. Promote energy
Tram’s family applied to leave South Vietnam in innovation
1975. During this period, the Vietnam War ended
but hardship had just begun for Vietnamese
people who aligned themselves with the United
Value and develop
States government. Her father, an accountant
our people
affiliated with the U.S. military, was imprisoned
and her family was blacklisted. Nguyen and her
six siblings would not be allowed to go to
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college, and if they didn’t leave Vietnam on their
own, they would eventually be asked to leave.
After 10 years, the application to leave Vietnam
was approved in 1986. Nguyen and her family
found sponsorship in the United States and were
flown to the Philippines to learn about American
culture before their entry into Houston, Texas.

Upon their arrival, the Nguyen family had no money, no relatives in America and no understanding of
the language. She was 21 years old. During her first two years in Texas, she worked from 8-5 p.m. at a
candy store making $3.25 an hour and at a grocery store on weekends. Her evenings were spent with
an ESL teacher. She later went on to receive her GED, attend community college and transferred to
the University of Houston.

“I always wished I could speak English fluently. I gave up my dream of becoming a teacher when I
came to the United States,” said Nguyen. “I quickly learned accounting and joined the workforce doing
something I never thought I could do.”

Nguyen is a leader on her team and in Southern Company’s Asian Resource Group (SOAR), where she
serves as chairwoman. Many people encouraged Nguyen to become the chairwoman of SOAR’s 15-
month-old Texas chapter. Among them was Executive Vice President of Southern Company Services
Beth Reese.

“Thank you to ERG SOAR-TX and Beth Reese for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to
serve the Asian community at work,” said Nguyen. “I can give others an opportunity to become better
leaders or better American citizens.”

Since becoming chairwoman, she uses her platform so others can tell their story. For example, she
invited Major Tony Huynh of the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office to be the speaker for a virtual
townhall held May 7.

Tony discussed leaving Vietnam by boat at age 9, his journey to American citizenship, the trajectory of
his career from Marine Corps straight out of high school to working the major offender’s division of
the FBI and the impact that COVID-19 has had on him and his team.

Nguyen takes pride in her ability to help others the way people once helped her. She has been leading
relief efforts in her community during the pandemic. She joined her sister’s efforts in donating more
than 2,300 cloth facial coverings during the Texas shelter-in-place order.

“I have to say, I am a very lucky Vietnamese girl,” said Nguyen. “Throughout my entire challenging
 journey, God always has someone by my side to
give me guidance, motivation and hope.”

To find out more about SOAR and other

employee resource groups, click here.

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Last Modified on 05/20/2020 15:52:27 | Page Contact: Darryl Bennett: 8-506-0645 SO Today | Highlights