Thanh-Thuy Nguyen, or Twee to her friends, joked that she dreams of "marrying a millionaire who can finance my philanthropic activities." She added, "Seriously, I’ve always wanted to start my own micro-financing firm for women in developing countries, similar to the Grameen Bank."

As the manager for affiliate services at National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in the nation’s capital, and in her previous work with non-profits over the years, Twee has been doing her part to help others.

Based in New York with 39 regional councils nationwide, NMSDC links Corporate America with minority business. On October 29 to November 1, Twee will be in San Diego, California to attend NMSDC’s annual conference. She has been a big part of NMSDC’s growth.

Since 2000,Twee has helped initiate and put together director’s toolkit which encouraged internal cross-training, quarterly evaluations of resources and needs assessments, new director’s training/orientation, and technology and certification grants. These have helped result in a 31 per cent increase in corporate membership, a 35 per cent increase in Minority Business Enterprise certification, and an 80 per cent increase in program activities.

NMSDC Vice President Steven Sims said Twee is a major asset to the organization. "Twee conveys a commitment to minority business, essential if one is expecting any success in this area. She brings another cultural perspective which is welcome and critical if NMSDC is to effectively serve our diverse minority community."

He added: "Her intellect and tenacity allow for thoughtful discussions on national policy and its implementation, as well as creative application of policies ranging from certification to reporting procedures. She affords us an opportunity to do more and improve outreach to the Asian business community, and to ensure the multi-ethnic community feels welcome within our organization."

In the community, Twee has also been a difference-maker. CFM Assistant Vice President Ban Tran, who’s also a senior financial advisor at Merrill Lynch - Private Client Group, told Asian Fortune: "Thuy has done a tremendous job with Asian American LEAD, and most recently with the Smithsonian Vietnam project. She’s a take-charge type of person focused on getting things done. At a fund raising for the Smithsonian, her leadership led to a new milestone raising $250,000--the first ever in any community projects that we have experienced." The fund raiser was for a $1-million endowment for a permanent exhibit on Vietnamese Americans.

AALEAD Executive Director Sandy Dang agreed with Ban. "Thuy knows how to bring people together to achieve the greater good for society. She’s intelligent, passionate, caring, and visionary. When she sets a goal, she will do whatever it takes to achieve it. She has made significant contributions to AALEAD's successes. When I founded AALEAD, Thuy volunteered to organize our annual fund raising dinners. She raised over $20,000 each year. Over the years, Thuy has also recruited many volunteers for us and she was a mentor."

Twee came to the U.S. in 1981 at age seven. She graduated from Rosemont College with a B.A. in political science. She has an M.S. in applied behavioral science from Johns Hopkins University, and completed an Advanced Management Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University.

As a board member of several non-profits in the Greater Metro D.C. area, she has reviewed and approved budgets of up to $3 million. As human resource manager for SDS International, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia, she wrote the company’s first Affirmative Action Plan and edited publications and policies manual. From 1994 to 1997, she worked as a management analysts for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in the nation’s capital. Below, she talked about things that are close to her heart.

What are your goals as NMSDC manager?

My goal is to promote the value of NMSDC supplier diversity programs to all ethnic groups. What we do at NMSDC is unique--we help bring private sector contracts to minority businesses. Through matchmaking events, trade shows and exhibitions, we bring companies from the Fortune 100 to Fortune 1000 companies to meet with minority suppliers that can service their service or product needs. In 2005, we helped bring about over 80 billion of contracts nationwide.

What are your plans for the future?

I aspire to continue to work in fields where my skills and experience can have a beneficial impact to my community, society and world. I’ve dreamed of marrying a millionaire who can finance my philanthropic activities, but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. Seriously, I have always wanted to start my own micro-financing firm for women in developing countries, similar to the Grameen Bank. If societies take care of their women better, the entire world will benefit. I believe in the adage that whenever commerce comes into a country, war walks on and away.

Who are your role models?

Mother Teresa–her compassion and passion for people inspires me to be humble. Hillary Clinton–her ability to juggle politics, raising her daughter, and forgive her husband is an example of strength for me. Trung Sisters of Vietnam–they led Vietnam to defeat the Chinese from Vietnam territory.

What did your parents teach you that have helped you in your life, career?

Due to the confusion and fear after the fall of Saigon, my dad escaped with me and my two brothers and raised us in Philadelphia while my mom was stuck in Vietnam. She was later reunited with us when I was sixteen, already preparing for college. The biggest influence in my life is my dad who is a staunch Catholic, and one thing that I have kept from him is faith is the cornerstone of life. Wherever we are in life or whatever we are doing, we can look toward God and fall back on God. My parents Hoang V. Nguyen and Thoa Pham, still live in Philadelphia.

How many brothers and sisters do you in the family?

I’m the oldest, with two brothers. Huy works at a manufacturing company in Wisconsin and Thanhis with the D.C. government Office of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs.

Tell me about your daughter.

Tiffany, age 4, is a sweet child and a blessing from God. She loves to paint, sing songs and joke around to make me laugh. She loves to be tickled and go to shows like "Elmo" and Sesame Street, and Disney on Ice. She loves math and reading. I love some of her paintings so much that I frame them and give them to family members as gifts. She reminds me of life's joys.

What’s your philosophy in life? Any favorite Vietnamese proverb?

I really don't have a Vietnamese proverb to live by since I was raised here. But I do believe the human experience is full of surprises, so one has to be flexible and flow with each change.