Hoang Nguyen

Hoang Nguyen's career experience includes working as a small business owner. She has served as the managing partner of Sapa Investments and the chief executive officer of Dragonfly Wellness. Nguyen has earned an MBA.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hoang Nguyen has invested in and led Utah’s community through family owned businesses: Sapa Sushi, Purgatory Bar, Fat Fish Sushi, and Dragonfly Wellness. Hoang came to America as a young child with her family as refugees from Vietnam. Hoang grew up on the west side of Salt Lake and later moved to the east bench where she lives with her husband and two sons. Hoang has spent the last decade building a business that is people-centric by putting others first. Hoang believes that leadership is about taking care of others, the people and community around you. These lessons have shaped the very foundation of who Hoang is as a mother, a business owner and a community leader.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Utah’s breathtaking landscape is second to none, and that is evident in the explosive growth the state is experiencing. Utah's unparalleled natural beauty attracts visitors from around the globe and is a driver of our economy. However, the continued degradation of our environment poses a significant threat to both our way of life and our economic prosperity. The Great Salt Lake is experiencing significant water loss and is at risk of collapse. Protecting its water supply is crucial for our air quality, and our health. Utahns deserve clean air. I am committed to championing policies aimed at reducing emissions, conserving water, and advocating for clean air regulations to protect both the environment and health of all Utahns.Did you know our state ranks at 49th in per-student spending? As a youngest sibling of seven who was raised on assistance programs, I've experienced firsthand the inequities in access to quality education resources. Over the years, we have seen an attack and dismantling of our public education system. The very education system that my family and I heavily relied on and credit for getting us out of poverty. Quality education often increases chances for upward economic mobility. That is why I am committed to crafting policies that prioritize investments in our schools. I will propose education policies that move past party and ideology—a plan focused on investing in our students, educators, and learning environments across Utah.Growth is an essential part of becoming an economically thriving city, and Utah is growing at a rapid rate with no signs of slowing. This means more jobs for our residents—more opportunities to pursue passions and explore new ideas, but we cannot sustain that growth if we are not responsible throughout the process. As a business woman, I understand the importance of responsible growth—remembering that at the core of expansion are the people who each play a vital role in achieving success. We must create jobs while also advocating for affordable housing. We must encourage and celebrate diversity so that the vibrancy of this community expands and reverberates throughout the state and beyond.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Policies around saving and preserving the middle class. When we do not have a strong and thriving middle class we do not have a healthy and balanced economy. We need to deploy policies that guarantee livable wages, provide good benefits, opportunities for career-driven training and education, affordable housing, and policies that promote upward mobility. In order to achieve a healthy middle class, lawmakers need to take a holistic approach that involves government policies, corporate social responsibilities, and mechanisms in society that will support these structures.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, Equity, Sense of Duty

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

My family are first generation immigrants from Vietnam. Our father was a soldier fighting alongside Americans against the communist regime. After the war, we were granted political asylum to immigrate to the U.S. However, in order to do this, we first had to escape from post-war Vietnam. People who fought on the American side were watched very closely after the war. Our father devised a plan where he secretly stockpiled enough gasoline to make it to Hong Kong, the closest port to seek asylum. A year later, we were able to escape on our father’s small fishing boat along with several other families. After six tumultuous days at sea, we finally made it to the port of Hong Kong. We lived in a refugee camp for more than a year awaiting clearance to come to the U.S. We arrived in Oakland, California in the Spring of 1983. The nine of us lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the projects. Our mother worked part time as a dishwasher and a seamstress. Our father delivered newspapers and studied to be an automotive mechanic at the local community college. In 1987, four years after arriving in the U.S., our father was killed during an armed robbery by a 16-year old boy. Our mother was 35 years old and widowed with seven children in a country where she did not speak the language. We moved to Utah in 1992 and settled on the west side of Salt Lake City in the Glendale area. Our mother found work as a line cook at Little America working long hours. Our eldest sister, Mai, was responsible for raising all the siblings. Eventually, our mother was able to save money and opened up the very first pho restaurant in Utah. Fast forward to nearly thirty years later, our family owns and operates Sapa Investment Group. We employ more than 500 employees in Utah. We’ve always been well-supported here and grateful to have the opportunity to build a business that helps drive the local economy. Moreover, we are so proud to be able to give back through our philanthropic efforts.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall

SL County Mayor Jenny Wilson

South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood

Senate Leader Senator Luz Escamilla

Senator Nate Blouin

Jani Iwamoto, former Senator

Rebecca Chavez-Houck,

former Representative

David Litvack, former Representative

Jackie Biskupski former SLC Mayor

Ralph Becker, former SLC Mayor

Councilman Dan Dugan

Councilwoman Victoria Petro

Councilman Darin Mano

Councilman Chris Wharton

Councilwoman Sarah Young

County Councilwoman Ann Granato

Former Councilwoman Ana Valdemoros

AFL-CIO

Teamsters Local 222

Operating Engineers Local 3

UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 140

Laborer’s Union Local 295

American Federation of Teachers Union

Professional Firefighters of Utah

Utah & Salt Lake Education Association