Candidate for
Director; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Ward 2

Continuing a Legacy

After 10 years of serving the rate payers of Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Susan Patterson has announced that she is not seeking re-election and has endorsed me to replace her as a representative on the SMUD Board of Directors for Ward 2. I am excited by the opportunity to serve my community and will work hard to continue the great work of Director Patterson.

My experience, commitment to my community and vision is why I have the support of over 30 Elected Officials and the majority of the SMUD Board of Directors. I am proud to be endorsed by our SMUD Board of Directors: President Larry Carr, Director Susan Patterson, Director Bill Slaton, Director Genevieve Shiroma and Director Peter Keat. With the support of the Board, I know that I will be able to begin work as a SMUD Board Director with solid working relationships and be effective in growing SMUD's strategic direction.

As a member of the SMUD board, I will continually work to maintain safe, reliable power at affordable rates. SMUD has done an incredible job of keeping our rates among the lowest in the state and while investing in renewable and reliable energy. I plan to stay the course and continue to support SMUD's successful policies. I fully support SMUD's plan to meet AB 32 and will work hard towards meeting a goal of 33% Renewable Portfolio by 2020 while keeping our rates low. I want to be a part of the responsible stewardship of our utility and keep Sacramento on the path to discovering and developing clean, reliable, and renewable energy.

I full support SMUD's renewable energy goals and the types of technologies that SMUD plans to pursue. As a SMUD Board Director, I will continually work to maintain renewable, safe, clean, green, reliable power at affordable rates.

The Right Experience Right Now

As a candidate, I bring to this race the strength of having had direct energy, business and technology experience. My in depth experience in energy and across industries has prepared me to be a successful SMUD Board Member. Having worked in various sectors and with numerous companies gives me a perspective that is truly unique. My diverse business background enables me to be able to work with a variety of companies and agencies.

I am a technology and management consultant who has worked for two of the world's most prestigious consulting companies, also known as the companies in the "Big 4" + Deloitte & Touche and Accenture. Throughout my career in technology and project management, I have worked with various State and local government agencies, energy, and health care organizations successfully bridging the gap between technology and business.

At the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the organization that operates California's energy grid reliably and efficiently, I provided software development and project management expertise for the CAISO's software system implementations. I worked side by side with energy analysts to help design and develop compliance and legal systems. As a former Controller for a Fortune 5, $250 Billion dollar company, I understand the importance of fiscal accountability to ensure that all savings are passed on to you, the ratepayer.

I have consulted executive level management for some of the country's largest employers, bringing efficiency and project management to their organizations. As a consultant for several of the State's largest and most complex software systems, I became an expert in building relationships between the public and private sector. Along with providing technology and project management expertise, I have personally managed and provided oversight for several $600M+ dollar projects. I currently provide project management and technology consulting services for Sutter Health Information Technology Services as they embark on the largest software implementation ever attempted at Sutter.

As business owner, I know the importance of building relationships with companies to maintain and develop the health of our local economy. By expanding SMUD's partnerships and incentive programs, I will strive to retain companies and attract new businesses to the Sacramento region.

Commitment to My Community

On the Sacramento Transportation and Air Quality collaborative I represented the City of Rancho Cordova. For almost seven years, the Collaborative developed a long range and comprehensive strategy for the Sacramento countywide area to improve transportation and air quality within a regional context, including relevant land use and economic vitality strategies.

I served on the Board of Directors for Sacramento Advocates for Girls Empowerment, a non profit that is entirely devoted to the encouragement and empowerment of middle-school and high-school girls in pursuit of careers in computer-related technology, life sciences, engineering, science, math and law.

I bring the real world to students as a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement (JA). JA Worldwide is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

As the founder of Bear HUGS (Hope You Give Someone), I spoke to school children about child abuse and have collected teddy bears for children in abusive and traumatic situations.

I answered the call to duty after Hurricane Katrina and become a Red Cross Volunteer. I am a Disaster Services volunteer for the SacSierra chapter of the Red Cross.

Against the Odds

My family immigrated to the United States in 1975 from Vietnam. My mother raised three daughters on her own in Silicon Valley. I worked my way through college and am the only person in my entire family to ever graduate from college. I graduated from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, with degrees in Economics and Management Information Systems.