Carmel Valley’s Louie Nguyen has been named the new CEO of SAY San Diego, a nonprofit organization that has provided essential services to children, youth, and families in San Diego County for over 50 years. With a background in finance and social investing, Nguyen was selected after a national search and will take over on Feb. 3.
“Louie Nguyen’s impact on the greater San Diego community is incalculable; he has led or partnered in countless programs that have mobilized tens of millions of dollars for the underserved,” said Theresa Carter, board president in a news release. “As SAY San Diego’s CEO, we foresee Louie continuing his visionary work, developing relationships, and bringing together those with the proper means to provide world-class benefits and for the San Diego families who truly need them. His proven track record in fostering inclusive communities and driving mission-centered programs makes him the ideal person to guide SAY San Diego into its next chapter.”
Nguyen has 25 years of global investing experience and prior to ing SAY, he was the founding chief investment officer at Mission Driven Finance, focusing on social impact initiatives such as economic empowerment and youth development.
He has also served on the boards of the Del Mar Education Foundation, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival, as well as serving as the chair of the development committee for the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. Nguyen is also the mayoral appointee to the $10 billion San Diego City Employee Retirement System board and is a board member of the California Health Care Foundation.
According to the press release, Nguyen’s determination to people in need is inspired by his experience as a refugee of Vietnam.
“In 1971, SAY was founded, and I was a toddler in war-shattered Vietnam. In 1977, I landed in Oklahoma as a refugee. For the next decade, I grew up intimately familiar with housing, food, and physical insecurities,” Nguyen said in the news release. “As I reflect on my journey from refugee to C-suite, I look at the diversity of the people that SAY San Diego serves, from the veterans to the youth/adults in need of health . I see myself…underestimated individuals deserving of opportunities that will enable them to realize and sustain their full potential.”
In his new role, Nguyen will replace Nancy Gannon Hornberger who served as SAY San Diego CEO since 2013 and is stepping down to pursue professional goals in art, advocacy and writing. In the news release, Carter thanked Hornberger for her work in establishing a strong foundation in the region.
“I am deeply honored and energized to lead this incredible organization, working alongside a ionate team, and I look forward to connecting with our ers and partners as we build on a strong foundation to drive transformative change for the communities we serve,” Nguyen said. “Leveraging SAY’s physical assets and community trust, we can build SAY into an enduring community entity that will be the voice for the voiceless and the hope for the hopeless.”
Nguyen invites people interested in helping SAY shape community well-being to learn more at saysandiego.org
