Meet Our Board Members

When you first hear La speak Laotian there is no doubt that she has Southern Lao roots. Her strong Southern Lao accent is equally as strong as her personality and mind, but her softness is found in her heart. La has a sweet and soft spot for hard working people struggling to make a better life for themselves. She knows from experience what sweat equity means when she labored long, hot summer months by her parents' side as a migrant worker in the Central Valley of California. Having worked all sorts of physically laboring jobs with her parents and siblings, La has a deep compassion and understanding for people in less fortunate circumstances.

Her compassion for people in need was heightened on her first trip to Laos in 2003. On subsequent trips to Laos, La has truly come to embrace a deeper love and appreciation for the beautiful Lao culture and traditions passed on from her parents. She also was taught from her traditional parents who left Laos in 1979 that America is a land of opportunities where if you seek for a better life, you will have to work hard and attend college.

La's passion for people and helping to serve them is expressed in her studies. She received a B.S. degree in Psychology in 1996 from Brigham Young University in Utah. Her goal of furthering her education was never met because she decided that an M.O.M. degree was more rewarding and fulfilling for her. She also has been a busy and active mother to three wonderful children while practicing her psychology degree on her family and friends. Being very involved in her community and church has taught her that when we serve others, we serve ourselves to enrich our own lives.

The Jai Lao Foundation has been a passionate dream in the making for several years. With the collaborative passion and dedication from dear family and friends, Jai Lao has become a reality. As President of Jai Lao, La feels very honored and blessed to be serving along side a group of beautiful hearted women who share the same desire and passion to enrich the lives of our fellow Lao brothers and sisters throughout the world and to bring the beauty of Lao culture and custom into the lives of those she comes in contact with on a daily basis.

Noelle Singharath immigrated to the United States from Laos in 1979. Noelle graduated from Fresno State University with a B.S. degree in Business with an emphasis in International Business. Noelle currently works as an office administrator at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, a private French school in Berkeley, CA.

Noelle was born in Waipeikhamthong a small village in the a province of Savannakhet. Noelle was inspired to give back to the Lao community after her trip to her parents' village in Laos in 2004. The trip has humbled her and put a desire in her heart to help those that are in poor circumstances. Witnessing the poverty in Laos has helped her realize that she is very blessed to be living in America and being surrounded with family and opportunities for a better life.

Noelle's mission as a Jai Lao director is to find joy by giving to others and taking these special memories with her on her journey in this lifetime. Noelle is grateful to her family and friends for their continual love, support, and understanding of her conviction to improve the life of her fellow Lao brothers and sisters. Her son Brandon and her seven siblings are the treasures of her life.

Darci Sutton Preisser was born in Walnut Creek, CA. Raised in Danville, CA with her four brothers, she graduated from San Ramon Valley High School and then attended University of Utah where she majored in English.

She is married to an accountant and they have three young children. Darci is actively involved in service through her church and enjoys serving the youth in her area. She mentors and teaches the young women with goals of helping them become educated, successful, giving, and confident.

Darci was first exposed to the Lao community and culture through Lao friends. She is impressed by their family values, commitment of maintaining their culture, and amazing cooking. She comes to the Jai Lao Foundation hoping to help preserve their beautiful culture and educate leaders for the next generation.

Soulinh was born in Luang Prabang, Laos. She and her family immigrated to the United States in 1986 and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended Oakland Technical High School. After high school, she attended San Jose State University before transferring to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah where she graduated with a degree in Nursing.

After graduating from college, Soulinh focused on two very important roles: a mother (or a family nurse to her family) and a wife supporting her husband and his career as a bank executive. In the early stage of her husband's career, Soulinh and her family moved and traveled extensively throughout California and Utah before settling in the state of Washington.

Four years ago, Soulinh took on another challenge by obtaining her real estate license. Since then, with the help of a property management, Soulinh has been managing her family's rental properties as well as focusing on her real estates business. In her free time, Soulinh likes working out at the gym, gardening, and taking trips with her family. Soulinh especially enjoys volunteering for Lao communities and attending Lao functions to promote Lao culture and heritage. Soulinh and her husband reside in Puyallup Washington with their four children and two dogs.

Breanna was born in Luang Prabang, Laos. Breanna's family immigrated to the United States in 1979. Breanna graduated from Fresno High School and attended Fresno State University, where she earned a B.S. in Business with the emphasis in International Business.

After college, Breanna began her career in the fashion industry and later found her career path in Real Estate Appraisal where she worked for five years before becoming a stay-at-home mom and dedicating herself to the Jai Lao Foundation. Breanna came to the Jai Lao Foundation with goals to inspire, preserve, and promote Lao culture and heritage through the arts and fashion that defines the beauty of Laotian women. Her sensitivity to Laotians who are less fortunate then herself has instilled a passion to do what she can to ease the hardships that some of her Lao brothers and sisters face today. Breanna currently resides in High Point, N.C. with her husband and daughter.

Lynnda was born in Vernkham, Laos and left her birthplace in 1984 (at the age of one). S...he and her family immigrated to the United States in 1986 and settled in San Diego, California. Lynnda attended San Diego City College where she graduated in 2007 with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts.

Lynnda is a tireless volunteer for charity and community organizations throughout Southern California. She's actively involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program as a mentor and Big Sister to many disadvantage children. In addition, she has a passion for teaching, performing, singing, running marathons, reading, and baking. Her future goal is working in humanitarian causes internationally with a dream to build a performing arts school in Laos.

When Lynnda was asked to serve as a board for Jai Lao Foundation (JLF), she was sparkled and overjoyed with overflowing sounds of happiness. She instantly knew, that it was the perfect time for her to be on board with JLF to help pursue one common goal; to help spread the love and importance of giving. As a young, Laotian woman, Lynnda strongly feels that it is extremely important to preserve, educate, and embrace our Lao culture for our future generation. With this in mind, Lynnda's motivated to help create a movement with Jai Lao Foundation to help build more accessible and local schools in the smaller provinces and villages in Laos.

Tippy Thoummarath, as her friends and family know her by was born in Vientiane, Laos. At the age of 3 she and her family immigrated to the United States in 1979 and settled in York, Pennsylvania. After graduating from William Penn Senior High School in 1994,Tippy moved out to California to pursue her college education and later received her bachelors in Computer Information Science at Devry University, Fremont. Since than, she has called northern California her home and is currently residing in Mountain House, CA.

Aside from her educational and professional accomplishments, her most heart felt accomplishment in life is her family. In having lost her fiancé and devoted partner of 8 years to a tragic motorcycle accident in 2008, she has since put her professional career as a Program Manager on hold to stay home and raise her two beautiful daughters. During this time, she has found herself with a new compassion and genuine desire to help and serve those that are less fortunate.

It was in this new life journey that led her to find Jai Lao Foundation. With JLF she has not only found personal fulfillment in reconnecting with her culture and heritage, but also found a more meaningful purpose giving back to her fellow Laotians. In Jai Lao, she has found a cause that will be in her heart forever and looks forward to continuing her work with the foundation to help improve life and conditions for the children and families in Laos.

Vicki is an Owner of Thai Mekong Restaurant located in Graham Washington. Vicki and her family relocated from California to Washington where they started Thai restaurant in 2007. Prior to starting her own business, Vicki worked for the City of Richmond as Police and Fire dispatcher for five years. Before joining the police department, Vicki was an account executive for Wallace Total Print Manager in San Francisco where she was one of their top sales executives. Before that, Vicki worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car as management trainee in Oakland managing and selecting vehicle fleet for corporate clients.

Vicki received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with concentration in Telecommunication from California State University Hayward. Vicki devotes her time to charities and has previously served on non-profit organizations for local and national charities. Vicki feels she has been richly blessed in her own life and wishes to give back to those that have not had the opportunities in life as she has been afforded. Vicki currently resides in Puyallup Washington with her husband and their two sons.