Dear Mr. Anthony Suber,
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is Sophia Linh Thuy Duong, and I’m writing to express my heartfelt interest in joining the Atherton Environmental Programs Committee. I recently submitted my application for the Atherton Tree Committee, but the opportunity to directly contribute to the Environmental Program Committee is really special to me.
With great pride and a deep sense of purpose, I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Town of Atherton’s Environmental Programs Committee. As someone laying the foundation for a new chapter of life in the U.S., I view it as both a privilege and responsibility to contribute to the community that I now call home — and that has meant so much to my family for nearly two decades.
My roots in Atherton run deep. My father, Lap Tang, has lived in this town since 2007 — first in the red brick house on 303 Atherton Avenue, and now in Lindenwood, where he is warmly embraced by neighbors and friends. He arrived in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975 and went on to become a pillar of the Vietnamese-American community. As the Founder and Developer of Grand Century Mall and Vietnam Town in San Jose, he was recently honored with a 50-year award for his lifetime contributions to community building. His dedication to creating spaces of belonging and pride for others continues to be my greatest inspiration.
I am proud to follow in his footsteps, anchoring my life here with my two young sons, William (age 6) and Anthony (age 2). Becoming an Athertonian is a dream come true, and I am wholly committed to building a stable, thriving, and meaningful future for my family — one grounded in community, sustainability, and purpose.
Professionally, I bring a unique blend of entrepreneurial experience and cultural perspective. Over the past decade, I built and scaled companies across manufacturing and digital media in Vietnam, while also managing real estate and leading cross-functional teams across Asia and the U.S. I currently serve as Executive Assistant to the Chairman at Gami Group and the NT Family Office, where I support complex strategic initiatives with clarity, discretion, and drive.
But beyond resumes and roles, I am a woman shaped by resilience. Raised by separated parents since the age of five, I learned early on to lead with empathy, grit, and gratitude. Whether navigating boardrooms or bedtime stories, I bring full presence and intention to everything I do. The time I spend walking and talking with my sons — and sharing quiet moments with my father — gives me the energy to