SEARCH Staff

Hoang Tran, President and Public Relations Officer

Mr. Tran, together with four other Asian and Caucasian Americans, founded SEARCH in 1992 and has been serving as the President since then. In addition to 22+ years in the non-profit sector (he previously served as the Executive Director of the Centre for Asian and Pacific Islanders), he has worked as a licensed practicing attorney.

Thanh-Van Thi (Van) Nguyen, Assistant President

Ms. Nguyen serves as SEARCH's Administrative Manager. She too has 22+ years of non-profit experience (she also worked at CAPI prior to SEARCH). In Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen taught in high school for 17 years. She graduated from the University of Saigon's School of Pedagogy with a Teaching Degree. Here in the Twin Cities, she developed one of the first Childcare Training Programs for immigrants in the mid-1980's. She has been with SEARCH since 1992.

Cha Lee, Program Manager

Mr. Lee serves as SEARCH's Program Manager, overseeing the operations of Emloyment Services, Refugee Social Services and Immigrant Youth Intervention Services. Mr. Lee has a B.A. in Business Administration from Mankato State University, is certified GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator) from CCE (Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc.), and brings 18 years of relevant non-profit experience to his position at SEARCH. Cha Lee has been working at SEARCH since 2002.

Ayan Farah Abukar

Ms. Abukar serves as a Support Staff Person to SEARCH's Employment Programs. She is a graduate of Volunteers of America High School in Minneapolis and speaks 4 languages fluently. Ms. Abukar has been working at SEARCH since 2004.

Ahmed Hassan

Mr. Hassan serves as an Assistant Coordinator of SEARCH's Employment Programs. He obtained an Associate of Arts Degree in Human Relations from Rochester Community and Technical College and has been working in the non-profit sector in Rochester and Minneapolis for more than 5 years. Mr. Hassan has been working at SEARCH since 2005.

Nasteho Omar

Ms. Omar serves as an Assistant in SEARCH's Childcare Provider Training and Employment Services Programs. She is a graduate of Edison High School in Minneapolis and has been working at SEARCH since 2005.

Khalid Ahmed

Mr. Ahmed serves as an Employment Coordinator and Assistant Financial Officer at SEARCH. He obtained a BA in Business Administration from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, a GCDF certificate of completion from Normandale Community College, and has more than 12 years of professional accounting and managerial experience. Mr. Ahmed has been working at SEARCH since 2006.

Chonger Yang

Mr. Yang serves as a SEARCH Employment Coordinator and Job Developer. He has a B.S. in Human Services from Rochville University and a Degree in Education from Vientaiane State University of Dongdok, Laos. Mr. Yang worked in a variety of capacities with Hmong American Partnership for 9 years and speaks 5 languages fluently. He has been working at SEARCH since 2006.

Anh Dai Minh Vu

Ms. Vu serves as a Trainer and Assistant Youth Coordinator at SEARCH. She has a B.S. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota, a GCDF certificate of completion from Normandale Community College and has 5 years of tutoring and training experiences at various non-profits. Ms. Vu has been working at SEARCH since 2006.

Pany Siharath

Mr. Siharath serves as an Assistant Employment Coordinator at SEARCH. He has obtained numerous certifications and licenses in his 30+ year career including ESL, Air Traffic Control, Insurance Agent and Real Estate). Mr. Sirarath has been working at SEARCH since 2007.

Txawitxhim "See" Vang

Mr. Vang is a Diversion Worker in SEARCH's Immigrant Youth Intervention Services. Mr. Vang has a Bachelors Degree in Business and Accounting from National College in St. Paul and has 19+ years of non-profit experience working at Glenwood Lyndale Community Center and Pillsbury United Communities (at North Point Clinic). Mr. Vang has been working at SEARCH since 2007.

Sinuon Sin Leiendecker

Ms. Leiendecker serves as SEARCH's half-time Tobacco Cessation Coordinator. She has degrees from Cardinal Stritch University (M.S.M. in Health Care Administration) and Concordia University in St. Paul (B.A. Natural Science with Math Minor). Ms. Leiendecker has 19 years of non-profit experience and currently serves as a part-time Executive Director of the Cambodian American Family Alliance (CAFA). She has been working with SEARCH since 2007.