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2009 Board of Governors - Biographic Information
Click here for a list of 2009 Board of Governors.
 Tom is Senior Advisor of Indochina Land, a real estate development company. He came to Vietnam in 1995 as General Director of American Standard Vietnam, a start-up manufacturing and marketing operation focusing on the domestic market. In 2002 he accepted an assignment to help reorganize American Standard’s Philippines operation. In 2004 Tom returned to Vietnam as General Director of Stickley International Ltd, a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary of L. & J. G. Stickley Inc., a high-end American furniture manufacturer.
Tom served on the AmCham Board of Governors from 1998 through 2002 and was chairman of the AmCham Vietnam in HCM City and National Chairman in 2000-2001.
During Tom’s tenure as Chairman, AmCham welcomed U.S. President Bill Clinton, the first US president to visit Vietnam since 1969, at a very successful AmCham-organized Business Forum also attended by several Cabinet members and legislators. In May 2001, he teamed with members of the National Board to keep the still-in-negotiations US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement moving toward approval within 2001. Tom was also chairman of the AmCham Trade Committee that among other activities teamed with leaders from Johnson & Johnson (China) and members of that country’s Quality Brand Protection Committee to share their successful Intellectual Property Rights enforcement techniques with AmCham’s membership. The Trade Committee also focused on the specific issues of textile trade and Vietnam’s rapidly developing textile and seafood export businesses.
Tom holds a BS from Miami University in Ohio and did graduate work in business at The University of Cincinnati.
 Chris Muessel is Partner of Watson, Farley & Williams LLC. He advises multinational companies based in Asia, North America, Europe and Australia on matters related to cross-border M&A (esp. real estate projects), international trade, project finance and corporate/commercial law. He formerly worked for the law firm of Baker & McKenzie in Vietnam (2001-2006) and Arent Fox in Washington, DC and Tokyo (1997-2000), from which he was seconded to the World Bank to advise on banking reforms in Mongolia (1998) and commercial law reforms in Cambodia (1998-9). He was Chairman of AmCham HCMC in 2007, is currently a Vice Chairman, and has been an active participant in the last five APCAC “Door Knocks” in Washington, DC. Mr. Muessel is a frequent speaker on Vietnamese legal and business issues (esp. related to Vietnam’s accession to the WTO), and has taught courses to Vietnamese law graduates concerning the fundamentals of legal ethics and professional conduct.
He graduated with a B.A. (magna cum laude) in Political Science and International Relations from Colorado College, and has a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center with a concentration in International Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Washington, DC bars, and is a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam and Singapore.
 Jocelyn arrived in Vietnam in 2002 as the Managing Director/Country Manager for the Vietnam Representative Office of MAST Industries, where she is responsible for the operation and administration of US$ 50 million/year of apparel products export to the U.S. MAST is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Limited Brands and is one of the world’s largest contract manufacturers, importers, and distributors of apparel for men, women, and children. Product lines range from sportswear and ready-to-wear to lingerie. MAST delivers over 200 million garments a year to Limited Brands retail and catalog divisions, and to other leading fashion brands. Advanced networking technology and the internet create a robust, reliable global network to link MAST associates, manufacturers, customers, and shippers. Her prior experience with MAST includes seven years as Sourcing Director, Western Hemisphere for The Limited, Lane Bryant, and Express. Positions as designer, merchandiser, import director, with brands such as Guess, Inc., Contempo Casuals, and Broadway Stores round out her 20 years in the fashion industry.
Jocelyn has been active in AmCham since she arrived in Vietnam, and was invited to join the Board of Governors in March 2003 in recognition of her personal and MAST’s corporate leadership of the Apparel Committee and AmCham’s efforts to develop a favorable VN-US Agreement on Trade in Textiles and Apparel. She helped forge a strong coalition of AmCham and other apparel industry associations with similar interests (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam) and played an important role in supporting the successful quota negotiations and then helping the Vietnamese government develop a quota allocation system that is “transparent,” efficient, and fair.”
 Christopher Twomey was appointed CEO & General Director of ACE Insurance Company, Ltd. in Vietnam in February, 2007. In this role, Mr. Twomey opened-up ACE Insurance’s Non-Life insurance activities in Vietnam and now oversees the operations and business development of ACE Non-Life’s key business lines in Vietnam, namely, Property & Casualty, Accident & Health and Travel insurance. He is also responsible for the management of regulatory relationships, strategic partnerships and other affinity business relationships within Vietnam.
Mr. Twomey has been working with ACE Insurance since 1990 and living in Asia since 2003. Over that time he has been responsible for various product lines and portfolios in Philadelphia, PA (USA), Hong Kong and Singapore. He was previously ACE’s Regional Underwriting Manager for SME and concurrently ACE’s Regional Worker’s Compensation Manager and Casualty Cluster Manager for North Asia.
Mr. Twomey participated in the Vietnam Prime Minister’s Advisory Council (PMAC) Conference in November, 2006 just prior to his appointment in Vietnam, and since arriving to HCMC in early 2007 has been very active with AmCham HCMC including sitting on the Board of Governors in 2008 as he completed the remaining two-year term of a departing governor.
Mr. Twomey is originally from West Hartford, Connecticut and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Certificate of Soviet Studies from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH (USA). He lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his wife Valerie and two young children.
 Landis Hicks is Chief Representative in Vietnam, and Executive Vice President of Pacific Architects and Engineers Incorporated, Los Angeles. PAE provides design, construction management and facilities management services at locations throughout the Asia Pacific region. Landis was a founding member of AmCham HCMC. He is currently Chairman of the Asia Pacific Council of Chambers of Commerce and has participated in the annual Washington Doorknock for several years. He lived in Vietnam during the period 1967-1975 and was a member of the American Chamber of Commerce at that time. From 2001 to 2003, Landis served as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and a member of the Board of Governors from 1990-2003. He is Vice President of the Singapore National Employers’ Federation and a member of the Singapore National Wages Council, and was appointed a member of the First Council of the Singapore Business Federation. He is a graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University and attended Lamar School of Law, Emory University. Landis is married to Nhung Hicks.
 Lee is senior consultant for Legget and Platt Global Services. Leggett & Platt is a Fortune 500 Company, made up of over 250 branches in 35 countries Lee’s business experience in Vietnam has been in its “lifestyle” sector, where she has successfully established, and at times managed, a sourcing and consulting/advisory company (Indochina Sources), a boutique furniture factory (Temple Design), three restaurants in (Temple Club and qing in Ho Chi MInh City, and qing in Hong Kong), an event planning company (RSVP) and a wellness and fitness venture (NTFQ2). Lee is on the Advisory Boards of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, Nutrifort and the prior Saigon Town & Country Club, and has been a regular lecturer on the academic, business and legal circuits in and regarding Vietnam. She has also been active in corporate governance initiatives the International School of Ho Chi Minh City, which her children attend.
A lawyer by profession, her prior legal positions are extensive and include managing lawyer for Coudert Brothers’ Vietnam practice, resident legal advisor for the US-Vietnam Trade Council and consultant for the USAID-funded STAR legal reform initiative. Before coming to Vietnam, Lee worked in Hong Kong office of Jones Day, and as in-house counsel for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. And before coming to Asia in 1990, Lee was with the Washington DC office of McGuire Woods, following a federal judicial clerkship. Lee graduated from from Washington & Lee University School of Law, and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.
Lee served on AmCham’s Ho Chi Minh City Board of Governors from 1996 to 2004, and was Chairman from 1998 to1999, when the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement was signed. She has played an active advisory role to AmCham as a former Chair for five years, and was re-elected to the Board in December 2008.
Lee has lived permanently in Vietnam since 1995. She is married to Chip Baker, and they have two sons, Ford and Grey.
 Walter Blocker is Managing Director of GANNON Vietnam Limited, an American licensed, 100% foreign invested service company with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa City, and Hanoi, Vietnam. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Gannon Vietnam Company Limited, The Gannon Companies (Hong Kong) Limited, and the Missouri-based Gannon Distribution Company of Vietnam LLC.
Born in New York and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Blocker has been a permanent resident of Ho Chi Minh City since 1994 and has been involved in a variety of trade, trade development, manufacturing, and asset management activities since that time. In January 1999, his firm, Asian Trade Alliance (ATA GROUP) merged with The Gannon Companies Ltd. to form Gannon Vietnam Limited.
Mr. Blocker has pioneered a number of business units over this period, including the first retail trade model in Vietnam for L’Oreal, Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Maybelline cosmetics, Disney, and a variety of food service entities. He conceived and developed a business for Gannon Services: a warehousing, delivery, and asset management company supporting dozens of international firms including Dow Chemical, Rohm and Haas, and BF Goodrich. Gannon’s Commercial Division, representing Yale Lock, Milliken Carpet, Ving Card, and Mohawk Industries, is one of Vietnam’s largest suppliers of premium floor covering and hardware. Gannon Beverages provides the most advanced aseptic dairy, juice, soya, and tea production available in Vietnam today and exclusively processes for several brand owners including Uni-President, Nestle, Hanoi Milk, and NutriFoods.
Mr. Blocker has served on the HCMC Chapter Board of Governors since 1997 and was Chairman of the Board in 2002 and 2003. He also serves as a member of AmCham Vietnam’s National Board, and is Vice Chair of APCAC (Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers).
 Fred has been active in AmCham in Vietnam since it was first established. He served as a member of the Board of Governors from 1995 – 2003 and was Chairman in 1997. After a hiatus of five years, he was re-elected to the Board in December 2007.
He has served as Chairman of the Legal Committee since 2004, focusing on articulating the American business community’s issues to the Vietnamese and United States governments in the contexts of the World Trade Organization negotiations, the Vietnam Business Forum, and more recently in the implementation of Vietnam’s WTO commitments. He has helped to write many of the Chamber’s position papers, he was one of the Chamber’s leaders in supporting the conclusion of the landmark 2001 Bilateral Trade Agreement, and he has represented the Chamber in numerous governmental and private sector briefings and seminars.
Before coming to Vietnam in 1991, he served as the Secretary and Member of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, China.
Fred is Managing Partner of Baker & Mckenzie Vietnam, with Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Finance, Foreign Investment & Securities, Financial Services, Real Estate, Construction/Projects, Taxation, International Trade & WTO, International Employment, Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer and Dispute Resolution. Baker & McKenzie’s international ties are complemented by strong roots in Vietnam, and helps bridge cultural and linguistic gaps which can stand in the way of success in international business.
 After 11 years in Viet Nam, I may be beginning to understand how things work here. I am proud of the 2 private healthcare clinics that we have started from scratch. Starting Victoria Healthcare with our own resources meant a sober reading of the market and country risk in VN, as well as accurately reading the cultural adjustments needed while not sacrificing quality. Our wisest observation (among many that were not so wise) was that the Vietnamese had the sophistication and means to support a high standard of healthcare and that expatriates could receive high quality care in country without an expensive flight overseas for relatively minor problems.
Advocacy for both high standards of healthcare and small foreign or jointly-owned businesses have become serious interests for me. As the recession downsizes many larger businesses, and makes the decisions of small businesses more acute, it is important for AmCham to hear these voices and feedback the best dialog and advice possible. I also believe that strong alliances with our own country and with our Consulate and the government of Viet Nam are critical to succeeding in the coming hard times.
In what seems like another life, I was Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, then successfully headed 2 rapid growth private practices, and was Chief of Surgery at a major children’s hospital before coming to Viet Nam. Geographically, I hail from MI, and continue to observe healthcare and best-practices all over the USA, literally from AK to ME. The experience of managing practices and institutional divisions with both a strong ethic and business sense, as well as integrating with the larger community, was a great education for what we must do in Viet Nam.
 Rick Howarth is the General Manager and Factory Manager for Intel Products Vietnam. Rick is an engineer by education, earning a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Idaho. He has 24 years experience in the high tech industry including Texas Instruments, a startup called Marlow Industries, and over 9 years with Intel.
During his career at Intel, Rick has worked in three countries: the United States, China, and Vietnam. His work has included positions as the desktop plant manager in DuPont, Washington; co-General Manager of Systems Manufacturing Technology Development; Chipset Factory Manager in Shanghai, China; and Rick is currently the General Manager and Factory Manager for Intel Products Vietnam.
Rick enjoys all types of activities including basketball, running, cycling, golf and traveling with family. If there is one motto that encompasses his perspective on life, it is the following saying from Robert Noyce… “Don’t be encumbered by the past, go out and do something wonderful!”
 Brett Krause was appointed Citi Country Officer of Citi Vietnam in July 2008. Prior to coming to Vietnam, Brett spent six and a half years in Shanghai where he was the Head of Citibank China’s Global Transaction Service division. In that role, Brett was responsible for covering multinational companies in China as well as sales, account management, product management, and client delivery for the Trade & Treasury Solutions and Securities & Fund Services businesses. Since first joining Citi in 1993, Brett has held various positions in Citi’s Merchant Banking and Corporate Banking businesses in France, Taiwan, Japan and China.
Over the past decade, Brett has been an active Amcham member and held committee positions in the American Chambers of Commerce in Taiwan, Japan and China, and is eager to contribute to the growth and expansion of the Amcham in Vietnam. Brett has also been actively involved in the issue of climate change, serving as a strategic advisor for the Joint U.S.-China Cooperation on Clean Energy, a non-profit organization supported by private industry as well as both the Chinese and U.S. governments to promote and expedite the adoption of clean energy technology and policies in the P.R.C.
Originally from the state of Iowa, USA, Brett holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an MBA degree from Columbia Business School.
 Binh is a 29-year veteran with FedEx, the last eleven as Senior Manager, Indochina & Myanmar, and Chief Representative for Vietnam. He established FedEx operations in Vietnam in 1994 through a business alliance with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications, which are under Vietnam Post and Telecommunication. The company has representation in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong, Danang and other large provincial cities across Vietnam. Binh helped arrange for the first air carrier collaboration between FedEx, VASCO, and Corporate Air to begin direct service five times a week between FedEx’s Asia-Pacific hub in Subic Bay, the Philippines and HCM City in 2001. Binh has held various management positions with FedEx in customer service, marketing, airport and ground operations.
Binh has been an active AmCham member since 1994. He was elected to the Board of Governors in 2000 and was elected Chairman of the Board of Governors in 2004. He is a former manager at the Defense Attache’s Office (DAO) at the US Embassy in the former Saigon 1972-1975, and attended colleges in Virginia and Texas. He is past chairman of the Aviation Committee of the Amarillo TX Chamber of Commerce.
 Chad Ovel is the Chief Executive Officer of AA Corporation, a Vietnamese-owned company with 2,000 employees, which has been the domestic market leader for interior furnishings and construction since 1993.
Chad has been a resident of Vietnam since 1996. During 1996, Chad worked for San Diego-based venture capital fund Pacifica Vietnam. From 1997-2000, he served as the Development Director of World Wide Fund for Nature Indochina. From 2000-2006, Chad worked at ScanCom Vietnam where he served as the Managing Director of 6,000 employees. At ScanCom, Chad led the aggressive and innovative growth of the company to a turnover of US$ 150mil, making it the largest furniture exporter in Vietnam in 2006.
Chad is highly committed to environmental and social responsibility. Over the past ten years he has been a very active promoter of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), leading a “green revolution” in the garden furniture industry. Additionally, he has served on the Advisory Board of Social Accountability International (SA8000) in Vietnam. Chad has most recently founded an advisory company, Indochina Carbon, focusing on mitigating climate change in the region.
Aside from his passion for furniture, Chad is also an ambitious high-altitude mountaineer. He recently reached the summit of Broad Peak, 8,050m (Pakistan) and Ama Dablam, 6,830m (Nepal). Chad holds a BA from Carleton College and an MBA from University of Chicago.
 PGA of America member Jeff Puchalski is CEO of FOREGolf Asia, a management and consulting firm specializing in matters key to the successful development and operation of a golf facility. He spent more than a dozen years directing the award-winning Dalat Palace and Ocean Dunes golf clubs, and stood at the nexus of a dozen more development projects during his 13 years in Asia,
Jeff has served on the AmCham Board of Governors since 2002, and was Chairman of AmCham in 2005, a year that saw the U.S. and Vietnam celebrate their 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Jeff has been a key organizer for many major AmCham events throughout his tenure, including Governors Balls, July 4th Family Picnics, and the Dalat Winter Weekend. Jeff is active in the Tourism Committee, where he serves as the liaison for the Board of Governors. With more than 25 years of experience, Jeff has knowledge of the travel and hospitality industry that is extensive and diverse.
 Marc Townsend is a Managing Director of CB Richard Ellis (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. He is responsible for servicing the property requirements of multi-national corporations in Vietnam and the implementation of property management systems into new and existing developments, including presentations to new clients. Over the past 15 years in Asia , Mr. Townsend has been responsible for the sales and marketing, investment consulting to some major properties in and around Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
After graduating in 1980 Mr. Townsend spent 8 years in the Royal Marines. In 1988 he moved to Hong Kong and worked at Vigers (HK) Limited for 8 years specializing in Investment sales. He then moved to Richard Ellis where he opened their office in Manila in 1995. Mr. Townsend moved to Rockwell Land Corporation in 1997 as Vice President for Sales and Marketing. He was then appointed as General Manager for South East Asian in Regus in 1999 and based in Singapore for 4 years covering Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. Mr. Townsend opened CB Richard Ellis (Vietnam) Co., Ltd., in January 2003.
 Sesto has been a member of the Board of Governors since 2001, and served as Vice Chair in 2003. He manages the Vietnam practice group of the law firm of Russin & Vecchi. The firm is active in the practice of law in developing countries.
Sesto has lived and practiced law in Vietnam for 21 years. He began coming to Vietnam in 1965 as a US Navy Lieutenant on special assignment. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1966, he returned to Vietnam and opened Russin & Vecchi’s office. He practiced law in Vietnam until 1974. During that time he was twice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
In early 1993 he reopened the firm’s Vietnam offices and has lived continuously in Vietnam since that time. He graduated with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and received his law degree from Temple Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York and Washington, DC. Sesto teaches several courses to members of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association. He is married to Camille Vecchi, and they have two daughters.
Click here for a list of 2009 Board of Governors.
Note: The below Governors resigned from the Board of Governors during 2009.
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Tue, Sep 14: Bamboo Business Discussion
Sat, Sep 25: AmCham Scholarship 2010 Information Session
Tue, Sep 28: Asian Development Bank Finance and Development Priorities and Projects in Vietnam and the GMS
Tue, Sep 28: Business Networking Night: Credit guarantees for agricultural imports from the USA
Mon, Oct 11: Columbus Day 2010 (U.S. Holiday)
Wed, Oct 27: Young Professionals Palooza Party, Oct 27, 2010
Wed, Nov 10: AAFA: International Product Safety & Restricted Substances Conference
Thu, Nov 11: Veterans Day 2010 (U.S. Holiday)
Thu, Nov 25: 10th Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot Scramble Golf Tournament (Members and Invited Guests)
Thu, Nov 25: 11th AmCham Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner
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