From Vietnam to Everett, Washington
Ton's story began in Vietnam and continued in Everett, Washington, where his family built a life in a two-bedroom apartment along Casino Road. Space was limited, money was tight, and the entire family learned how to make a little go a long way—including squeezing into a small two-door Honda Civic whenever they needed to go somewhere.
Responsibility came early. For more than 13 summers, Ton spent long days picking berries, often beginning around five in the morning and working until eight or nine at night, to help bring money home for his family.
Those experiences shaped more than his work ethic. They gave him a lasting belief that a young person's circumstances should never determine their worth or limit what they believe is possible.
20+ Years with Young People
For more than 20 years, Ton has worked with youth and young adults, helping them build trust, think critically, communicate honestly, take responsibility for their choices, and recognize the influence they already carry. He does not speak down to young people or treat them as problems to solve. He creates spaces where they feel respected enough to participate, question, laugh, reflect, and grow.
A Decade of Service in Haiti
That commitment to service later took Ton to Haiti. After the 2010 earthquake, he spent more than a decade helping build schools and homes and working alongside orphanages, villages, and local communities.
Those years deepened his understanding of service, leadership, adversity, cultural humility, and the difference between arriving with answers and taking time to listen.
Bringing It to Teams and Organizations
Interactive team facilitation & group engagementHis career in public service and workforce leadership revealed that adults need many of the same things young people do: clarity, belonging, encouragement, purpose, and the opportunity to be heard. Ton saw that traditional professional development often falls short because it talks at people rather than creating meaningful experiences with them.
Today, Ton is passionate about helping young people know their worth, pursue their dreams, and become the people they are meant to be. He is equally committed to helping organizations create workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and at peace—places where they can give their talents without losing themselves in the process.
He brings those experiences together in sessions where people can laugh, participate honestly, reflect deeply, strengthen their connection with one another, and leave with practical language and tools they can continue using.
Faith & Foundation
Ton's Christian faith grounds his belief in the inherent worth of every person and the importance of grace, truth, and hope. His faith-based experiences are explicitly Christian, while every organizational and public-sector experience is thoughtfully adapted to the people, purpose, and setting in front of him.