Winnie Wong, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Winnie Wong
Country Manager, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, Asia Pacific, Mastercard
Winnie Wong is responsible for growing Mastercard’s business in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. With her experience in consumer and corporate payments and banking, she brings fresh perspective to the markets on digital payments and solutions.
Prior to her current role, Winnie was the Commercial B2B Sales Head for the region, where she was responsible for driving growth for Mastercard’s Business-to-Business (B2B) solutions across Asia Pacific. This includes working with governments, banks and corporations on trade digitization with the aim of improving efficiency and transparency, especially for cross-border trade.
Statement
It’s my honor to submit my application for the above.
Mastercard is a new member of AmCham Vietnam-HCMC. With Mastercard’s vision of World Beyond Cash, we are actively working with private and public entities to promote digital payments in Vietnam. As a payment technology company, we provide innovative, digital solutions to banks, governments and strategic partners here and around the world. Having Mastercard on the Board will bring expertise and diversity to AmCham, especially on digitalization in payments, financial sector and fintech.
As the Country Manager of Mastercard and a woman leader, I am also very keen to contribute to the growth of women in Vietnam. I believe sharing my personal experiences in growing my career as an Asian woman in American/multinational companies yet balancing my roles as a wife and mother will add value to AmCham, your members and the communities we serve.
My vision for AmCham-HCMC is for it to keep growing its relevance and trust as the preferred partner to Vietnam’s growth and development through the value that its members bring to Vietnam.
Walt Power, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Walt Power
CEO, The Grand Ho Tram
Walt Power, the CEO of The Grand Ho Tram, is one of Asia’s longest serving gaming industry executives. Prior to his arrival in Vietnam eight months ago, Walt spent the last 18 years as one of the leaders of Macau’s gaming industry. He was instrumental in the development, opening and operation of the “Sands”, the first western casino in Macau.
A 28-year gaming industry veteran, he has accumulated extensive international experience through executive leadership positions at gaming resorts in the United States, Argentina, South Africa and the Philippines, in addition to his work in Macau.
Mr. Power is a former United States Marine Corps Major and Naval Aviator. During his time in the cockpit, Walt earned the designations of Helicopter Aircraft Commander, Flight Instructor/Evaluator, and Functional Test Pilot. He also served with the first International Peace Keeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon in August 1982, participating in the initial evacuation of non-combatants from that war torn country.
Walt earned his Bachelor Degree and Master Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Walt holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and was a medalist in his age group at the 2014 and 2019 World Master Championships.
Uyen Ho, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Uyen Ho
Director of Public Affairs, Intel Vietnam and Malaysia
Uyen leads a regional Public Affairs team for Intel Vietnam and Intel Malaysia. In Vietnam, Uyen is the first local senior manager sitting on the Site Steering Committee for Intel Vietnam. Her priorities are to ensure licenses to operate for Intel Malaysia and Vietnam sites with public policy advocacy from local to central government levels, support Intel business growth and drive Intel reputation with communities to promote Intel RISE2030 goals for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Uyen has been with Intel since 2006 as one of the pioneers involving in the setup the $1B Assembly and Test factory of Intel investment in Vietnam. Intel is the first largest high-tech US investor and the first mover of this industry into Vietnam. Prior joining Intel, Uyen worked for Nike Inc. Vietnam in its early establishment for over 10 years as the Director of External Relations.
Uyen has a strong passion to support female in leadership, especially female students in engineering to promote a diverse and inclusive skill-based talent pool for Intel and Vietnam. Under her leadership, the Public Affairs team has been running many programs with academic partners and business association include the first public private partnership in Higher Engineering Education Alliance (HEEAP), Intel Vietnam Study Abroad program (IVSA), AmCham Women Engineering Scholarship (AWES) and Dariu Foundation Scholarship which awarded over a thousand young students to study in Vietnam, USA and Australia. Uyen is one of key contributors to many prestigious recognitions in her career from the US-VN government include the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) by US Secretary of State, and the Intel Achievement Award for her efforts to transform the diverse workforce for Intel Vietnam factory.
Uyen holds a general MBA from the Columbia Southern University (CSU) and a BA in English of the HCMC Teaching University.
Statement of Interest
I have been an active member in AmCham over the past decade and deeply involved in CSR-Education Committee which initiated the AmCham scholarship and AmCham Women Engineering Scholarship (AWES) from the beginning. In addition, I am also a co-sponsor of AmCham Women in Leadership (AWIL) committee. 2020 is my first time to step up representing Intel as a member of the Board.
If I get elected, I would like to work with other Board members and related committees to focus on policy influencing with Vietnam government helping to attract more US investments choosing Vietnam for business expansion, especially for manufacturing sector to grow stronger as Vietnam has proven its success of controlling Covid-19 pandemic to move into a new normal environment. I will continue driving local talent development, increasing Diversity and Inclusion in the workforce and helping more young Vietnamese women in engineering and technology field to be more successful. I will also continue to promote Social Equity to AmCham members and local community as the right thing to do to in the workplace and the marketplace.
Sasha Stinchfield, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Alexandra Sasha Stinchfield
Associate Managing Director and Chief of Staff, Arizona State University
Sasha is the Associate Managing Director and Chief of Staff of Arizona State University Vietnam Representative Office.
Ranked the past four years by US News and World Report as the #1 most innovative university in America, ASU is the largest comprehensive public university in America with 120,000 students and over $500M in annual research expenditures. Since 2009, ASU has been a force in Vietnam leading public-private partnerships to improve the quality of higher engineering education. These capacity projects leverage deep and diverse government-industry-academic partners that share a goal of tightly linking science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction in Vietnamese higher education institutions to produce work-ready engineers and scientists. By strategically working with industry and government partners, we extend ASU research, faculty and programs to support the development of a world class and competitive workforce and technology innovation ecosystem for Vietnam. To date, over 10,000 Vietnamese faculty have been trained at ASU in Arizona and in Vietnam with many programs achieving peer-evaluated regional and international level accreditation creating sustainable quality and assessment systems to validate student learning outcomes are achieved.
Since 2016, Sasha directs the ASU Vietnam project operations and leads a portfolio of education innovation and workforce development projects working closely with the public and private sectors. Before joining the ASU Vietnam team, Sasha was the global portfolio manager in the ASU International Development Office where she led the strategic development of new grants, project management, processes innovation and relationship management. In this role, she led technical project activities in Brazil, El Salvador and Kenya.
Sasha graduated from Arizona State University with BA in Global Studies and Master’s in Sustainability Leadership with research focused on strategies for corporate social responsibility programs. As a former collegiate track and field athlete, Sasha enjoys kickboxing, Muay Thai, running and traveling.
Vision for AmCham
My vision is to collaborate with AMCHAM members to develop a results-oriented education and workforce development solution to support member companies to recruit, attain, and continuously develop an effective and agile workforce in Vietnam. With Industrial Revolution 4.0, organizations are going to have to develop a culture of lifelong learning to develop and attain human capital to contribute to the innovation of projects, processes, and people systems. Already, many sectors are reimagining how they design and manufacture products in Vietnam moving from high-tough labor to advanced automation and additive manufacturing processes. To remain competitive, it will be imperative for industry-government-education institutions to reconsider how we approach education and training and a mindset of lifelong learning. AMCHAM members can convene and lead this discussion and develop national scale projects to innovate and create more access to scalable education and training programs leveraging technology platforms.
Sai Ponugoti, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Sai Ramana Ponugoti
General Director, P&G Vietnam
Sai Ramana Ponugoti (Sai) leads P&G’s Vietnam operations since 2019, serving Vietnam consumers through leadership brands across all P&G categories. He works with distributors and retail partners to create value for consumers through defining Commercial strategies, leading Business Operations and building Go-to-market strategies – to ensure joint category growth.
Sai joined P&G in 2001 in India. In his various leadership roles in P&G, he has got extensive experience in leading diverse businesses across trade channels spanning different consumer goods categories. He has demonstrated expertise on developing markets, having worked across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa markets and by leading P&G’s Global Innovation center for low-income-markets.
He is passionate about making a difference to the lives of consumers in developing markets through P&G brands. A strong advocate for talent development, Sai has worked across diverse cultures through his P&G career. He has lived in India, Singapore, Switzerland and now Vietnam & has traveled to over 50 countries.
Sai graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, and holds an MBA degree in Marketing & Operations from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow.
Sai is married to Swetha and has 2 children: Anshul, 12 years old and Aditi, 8 years old.
Statement of Interest
In my strategy for leading P&G Vietnam, in addition to managing internal company business affairs, I will also focus on actively working the external business environment. My personal action plan includes (i) actively promoting mutually beneficial US/Vietnam trade and investment relations, (ii) intensify and elevate the support to the American business community, (iii) work key areas of business development with local and national authorities and (iv) imprint corporate social responsibilities.
My vast experience in emerging markets, leading large businesses across India, Middle East, Africa & South East Asia will serve as an asset in making this happen. In the past 18 months, I have also gained rich experience in Vietnam, understanding the business landscape and culture, building strong relationships in both government/industry & realizing the tremendous further potential that exists for an organization like Amcham. P&G has also had a tremendous year under my leadership across business, organization, government relations & being at the forefront on areas like corporate social responsibility, women leadership & sustainability.
I am eagerly looking forward to making a meaningful difference to this exciting Amcham organization leveraging my immense experience, passion/energy & my current position in one of the premier US companies in Vietnam.
Minh Nguyen, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Minh Nguyen
Country Manager, Vietnam, Aetna International
Nearly 18 years’ experience in leadership roles in insurance in emerging markets, general management responsibilities include full P&L, strategy, underwriting, risk management, managing relations with fronting partner and reinsurance companies, ensuring operational excellence, merging and acquisitions, distribution management, talent development and driving profitable growth.
As a bridge person, a Vietnamese national who serves as a US multinational executive and actively cultivate strong US-Vietnam trade and investment relations, would be of use to many American business interests seeking to navigate Vietnam.
Co-founder of AmCham Women in Leadership Committee in 2019, provide strategic directions to Healthcare committee and support driving the growth of AmCham membership since 2018.
Vision Statement
Alignment with Chairman & Board of Governor’s vision for AmCham in the future is: AmCham Vietnam is widely recognized by its members, the business community, the US Mission to Vietnam and the Government of Vietnam as a being an active champion for enabling the continued sustainable growth of Vietnam’s private sector and balanced growth in trade between the United States and Vietnam.
- Stay focused on a clear strategic plan for 2021 with the Board responding to challenges of the pandemic, solving future needs of our chamber’s members and becoming their trusted source of solutions.
- Drive the growth Membership revenues, our cornerstone in maintaining our leading position as one of the most respected, dynamic and strategic chamber association in Vietnam. Active engagement in expansion membership in Da Nang basing on our core values.
- Increase the engagement of women members to Women in Leadership Committee’s events with various supporting platform of thoughtful women leadership mentoring or sponsorship programs to young women/entrepreneurs in various industries. With the participation of all the great female leaders from every aspect of industries, sport, art fields, consulate leaders, giving recognition our top AmCham Women of Influence Award featuring women working in fields that are crucial to the future of our global world.
- Take on additional leadership accountabilities on ESG committee maintaining an emphasis on the corporate social responsibilities of foreign businesses investing and operating in Vietnam.
- Bringing more global best practices on driving innovation in the Healthcare landscape, preparing for supporting various measures in regulations, smart investing in digital health, foreign assets, and assistance for partnerships and M&A activities to foster the investment from foreign investors who are eyeing stakes in Vietnam’s Healthcare sector.
- Collaborate with Healthcare Committee and Sports & Wellness Committee for the healthy policy involvement and assets to achieve the mission of improving health and well-being of AmCham’ s community and strengthen society as a whole.
We witness a game changer since last several years, while these steps are just a snapshot of everything big that has happened, the journey is not going to stop anytime soon. In 2021, there will be a new landscape, new domains, and new processes. This makes it crucial that we look beyond the conventional and take the right steps towards a better future of our chamber. I am so proud that we are leading a diversity initiative which having the passion, the drive, the focus and the support. I also know that we’ll take our commitment to lead in times of constant change with vision and courage, to build a whole AmCham community of game changers. My strong commitment on time and resources to support AmCham the effective leadership with provided directions and value proposition. Priority to promote the best interests of AmCham where possible which align with the Board and the Chair’s vision in 2021.
Milton Hagler, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Milton D.Hagler
General Director, Fluid Power & Controls, Co. Ltd.
Milton is the General Director of Fluid Power and Controls. Established in late 2007, FPC is a wholly-owned division of Deltrol Corporation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin a world leader in the development and manufacture of electromechanical controls, valves, hydraulic systems and components. Prior to joining FPC, Milton was the General Director of BriskHeat Vietnam manufacturing flexible cloth heater jackets for the semiconductor tooling industry a subsidiary of BriskHeat, Corporation a worldwide leader in industrial heating products. Under Milton’s leadership both Vietnam investments have successfully allowed the companies to significantly grow market share, enhance customer support, while growing Vietnam’s operations, production and engineering capabilities.
Milton served on the AmCham HCMC Board of Governors 2020 and was the Board Liaison to both the Manufacturing Committee and the Logistics and Supply Chain Committee. He has been active on the core leadership team of the Manufacturing Committee since 2014 promoting SMEs and growing the supply chain through the annual seminal event “AmCham Supplier Day”.
A native of San Francisco, California, Milton first visited Vietnam in 1992 and he has been living continuously in Ho Chi Minh City since 1998. He earned an MBA from the University of Hawaii and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Sonoma State University (California).
Vision for AmCham
It has been a privilege to serve on the AmCham Board of Governors during 2020 and work with business leaders to help grow the Chamber and contribute to the success of Vietnam and making it the most attractive investment destination in Southeast Asia. The lessons learned by overseeing and managing all aspects of business operations, along with active participation in the Manufacturing Committee, has provided valuable awareness and understanding of the regulatory environment for manufactures and conducting business in Vietnam.
I will continue to advocate for small and medium enterprises to ensure they have a voice among larger players in industry. There are specific challenges in Vietnam’s development which I hope to promote continuous improvement on, such as: modern and transparent policies, simplification of the legal and regulatory environment, flattening of rules and regulations to streamline and reduce compliance costs, strengthen more open and flexible labor laws that benefit all employees, management and businesses, and proactively build the Vietnam supply chain for both manufactures, suppliers and services to drive Vietnam’s success in the global supply chain.
Towards these ends, I will continue to advocate for the manufacturing industry and its leaders via the Manufacturing Committee. And if I am fortunate enough to be elected again, through the Board of Governors. While embracing and stepping into the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Michael Kelly, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Michael Edward Kelly
CEO, BRG Hospitality
Since September 2020, Michael Kelly has served as the CEO of BRG Hospitality. BRG is the premier hospitality company in Vietnam operating and developing numerous local and International brand hotels, resorts, restaurants, and golf courses thru out Vietnam; including Sheraton Grand in Da Nang, Sheraton Nha Trang, Hilton Opera Hanoi, Hilton Garden in both Hanoi and Vung Tau, Intercontinental Hanoi West Lake, and Four Seasons Hanoi.
Prior to joining BRG Hospitality, Michael for the past five years served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO and General Director of the Ho Tram Project Company. The Ho Tram Project Company wholly owns and operates The Grand Ho Tram Strip (the most awarded integrated resort in Vietnam) and the Bluffs Golf Course (ranked in the top 100 course in the World) in Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
Michael has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality/casino industry in both the private and public sectors and has served as the CEO, COO, President, CFO, and CMO of some of the largest hospitality companies in the United States. Prior to relocating fulltime to Vietnam in September 2015, Michael also owned and operated two integrated resorts in North America.
He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University (USA).
Vision Statement
I am a strong supporter of AmCham and I have seen first-hand the positive contribution AmCham has and can make to the community. I have over 30 years of business experience and have recently served (2018) as National Chair of AmCham. I am prepared to use my experience to promote both American and Vietnamese brands, continue to foster and expand the bi-lateral relationship, and advocate for fair and transparent tax and government regulations.
Again, I’m Michael Kelly, the CEO of BRG Hospitality as well as an investor in the Ho Tram Project Company (The Grand) and I respectfully seek your support to be elected to the Board.
Mark Gillin, Candidate for Board of Governors 2021
Mark Gillin
Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, AIM
Mark Gillin has been identifying, developing and investing in business opportunities in Indochina since 1993.
He is a founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of America Indochina Management Ltd. (AIM) a diversified Holding Company with operations throughout Vietnam and Cambodia. Since its founding in 1996, AIM has established market leadership in a variety of covering a diverse range of products, services and industries including Construction Materials, Specialty Furniture, Consumer Products and Industrial Consumables.
He is also a founder and Chairman of AIM Capital Management Ltd. an investment management company that has invested in a diverse range of companies in Healthcare, Media, Technology, Furniture, Hospitality, and Consumer Products. Mark served as an active board member of his fund’s portfolio companies applying decades of local market knowledge and a breadth of hands-on operating experience to help companies improve financial performance and structure.
Mark has served as non-executive board member of Navigos, AA Corporation, Japan Medical Corporation, and Indochina Assets Limited. He served 10 years as a member of Board of Governors of Amcham Vietnam including one year as Chairman and two years as Vice Chairman. He has served as Chairman of Amcham’s Advocacy Committee and is currently co-Chair of the Tax and Customs Working Group of the Vietnam Business Forum.
He graduated with honors from Duke University with a BA in Policy Studies.
Statement of Interest:
I would love the opportunity to continue to serve on Amcham’s Board of Governors.
Since 1993, I have been committed to increasing trade and investment between Vietnam and the United States, both as an American entrepreneur and as member of Amcham’s Board of Governors, where I served one year as Chairman and three years as Vice-Chair.
I have been particularly passionate about advocacy. I know the excitement and promise that comes with investing in Vietnam, and the frustration when that potential is compromised by laws and practices that undermine efficiency and predictability unnecessarily.
I have been privileged to contribute to multiple initiatives which have made a difference to the U.S.-Vietnam business relationship including the US-VN BTA, the WTO Agreement and the TPP. I have also advocated on numerous regulatory issues impacting everyday business operations, particularly in Tax, Customs and Trade.
Amcham serves its members through the three pillars: advocacy, information sharing, networking. I plan to help Amcham improve the quality and effectiveness of each.
We’ll improve advocacy by assisting the committees where appropriate to scale their operations and develop sub-committees to address the specialized needs of sub-sectors and to develop more independent financing capabilities to fund white papers, events and the dedicated resources needed to carry them out.
We’ll improve information sharing through a series of annual “signature events” which provide Information on issues and sectors that impact a broad section of members and provide higher value insights through high quality speakers. Examples include recent events on consumer behavior and real-estate.
In the case of networking, I would encourage regularly scheduled “link” events which link members who supply goods and services with the members who need them; Similar to supplier-day but extended to include a series of events targeting and specific trades such as HR, IT services, construction, logistics, facilities, banking, or even a Job fair.
I also believe in the benefit of “mixers” with other business groups, enabling Amcham members to truly broaden their network.
I truly enjoy contributing ideas and effort to helping Amcham improve Vietnam’s business environment and am grateful for another opportunity to do so.
