Meet the Team
Executive Director
Long Vue is currently the Executive Director of Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Hmong Professionals, a culturally based organization that is committed to create safe space to cultivate, empower, and elevate the Hmong Professionals through progressive opportunities in identity formation, networking, mentoring, and leadership in Northeast Wisconsin. Through the leadership of Mr. Vue, NEW Hmong Professionals emerges as an organization willing to engage and provide services to meet the emerging needs of the Hmong community as well working closely with other organizations to meet the needs of the community at large. Mr. Vue has an extensive background working community and organizations, and most recently was the Executive Director of WUCMAA, an umbrella organization for Hmong Mutual Assistance organizations in Wisconsin. Mr. Vue’s other past leadership roles include Bay-Lakes Council BSA Director of Scoutreach and WISCAP Job and Business Development Director. Additionally, Mr. Vue is a Nres Xeem for northeast Wisconsin area.
Contracted Coordinator
Annmarie Vang is the project coordinator for NEW Hmong Professionals. She was born in a refugee camp, Ban Vanai, and immigrated to the US in 1990 with her family. Appleton is her home town, but now she resides in Wausau, WI. She has two beautiful daughters, a husband, and a dog named Ramen. Annmarie's greatest passion is to unearth aid and support for all youth, especially Hmong youth. With NEW Hmong Professionals, she is determined to pursue the change that is needed and elevate Hmong individuals to be confident with their culture-identity.
Project Specialist
You Lee is the Project Specialist at NEW Hmong Professionals, assisting farmers in coordination and logistics through the farm programs and leading the Hmong Enrollment Network. She strives for a holistic and thriving wellbeing for all community members through culturally-relevant access to resources, strengthening and bridging system gaps, and collaborating with partners. She provided and led the Technology Help service at the Appleton Public Library and created activities and programs to bring awareness to mental health in the Hmong community through her role at WUCMAA. She’s proud to have offered the first culturally-relevant open-style choreography dance class in the Fox Cities for youth, called Muaj Kuab-reo. She enjoys bringing her intersections into her work as a Hmong-American woman. Outside of NEW Hmong Professionals, she volunteers her time as the United Hmong American Association Board Secretary. She likes to unwind by immersing herself in a manga or relaxing with her bullet journal.
Elder and Culture Foods Coordinator
Rasami Moua, a proud alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a degree in Integrative Leadership Studies, was born in the Refugee Camp of Ban Vinai, Thailand. She was raised in Philadelphia, PA, and currently resides in the Green Bay/Fox Valley. Growing up in a family dedicated to serving the community, Rasami draws inspiration from her father's countless years of commitment and advocacy work, particularly for the Hmong community in Pennsylvania. She actively contributes to community strength and support.
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Rasami is an enthusiastic photographer and videographer. Immersing herself in the art of capturing moments, she weaves together narratives through her lens. With a keen eye for details and creativity, she elevates every frame. Rasami also possesses over 30 years of culinary skills, rooted in her family's successful venture in the restaurant industry. Her love for cooking and catering is a constant, with an ever-growing repertoire of innovative recipes.
Devoted to her community, Rasami extends her support through volunteer work for various nonprofit organizations. Whether sharing her talents or contributing to the essential work of local organizations, she firmly believes that love, compassion, and support are fundamental to human survival in our ever-changing world.
Health Equity and Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Tou Ger Lee is from Appleton, WI, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater with a BBA in Marketing with a digital emphasis. With this role, he is looking forward to raising awareness about mental health to the Hmong community, especially the youth. Alongside that, he hopes to make more connections and bring the community together. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors and being active with his wife and 1 year old son.
Meet the Board
Co-Chair
Lisa Cruz
Lisa has worked in the public relations industry since 1994 and launched Red Shoes Inc. in 2008. Her experience includes working for a variety of industries such as health care, construction, manufacturing, retail, non-profits and more – from both the corporate and the agency side. Lisa provides strategic consulting in a number of areas for clients such as crisis communications, media relations, internal communications, image management and more. During her career, she has worked on a variety of communications projects that involve complex legal situations, federal, state and local investigations, high profile events, mergers and acquisitions and HR matters.
Co-Chair
Gaochi Vang
Gaochi Vang (she/her/hers) is located in the Fox Valley and currently serves as the Peer Specialist Program Manager for the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative (WIPSEI) at Access to Independence. She is a Hmong American sister, writer, organizer, and mental health advocate. Gaochi is a strong believer of compassionate intentionality where listening to understand and meeting people where they are, is at the foundation to which her deep values of integrity, mutuality, collective determination, and community care rests on. In all that she does, she strives to walk in truth and hope.
Treasurer
PaNhia Kress
PaNhia was born and raised in Wausau, WI and now currently resides in Greenville, WI. She received her Bachelors in Human Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and currently works for Heartland Business Systems, LLC with over 7 years of HR experience. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family/friends and going on new adventures. PaNhia looks forward to making a difference within the Hmong community and helping others achieve their goals and aspirations.
Board Member
Rita Moua
Rita Moua (she/her/hers) attained her Bachelor's degree in Retailing and Consumer Behavior from the University of Wisconsin Madison. With over 5 year of experience in sales, customer service, training, and management, Rita has worked in different industry sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and non-profit. She is a Hmong professional and servant leader who is passionate about helping others thrive into being their best selves. Currently, Rita is the Literacy Program Specialist at Fox Valley Literacy which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to share the power of learning to transform lives and enrich the community. She is excited to share that she is working on creating a family literacy program with a heritage language component; specifically the Hmong language. She believes in giving back and helping the Hmong community, and is most proud of volunteering her time as the Hmong Language Instructor and implementing her own Hmong language classes through the Appleton Public Library where she taught three consecutive courses to over 120 active students. Teaching the Hmong language was an achieved goal of Rita's in finding a way to help Hmong children connect to their native language and cultural roots, and she hopes to continue in being a resource to the community.
Board Member
Sara Muhlbauer
Sara Muhlbauer has brought her passion for serving others to the role of CEO at Lakeland Care, Inc. Sara has been with Lakeland Care since 2009 serving in various roles throughout the organization, and in October of 2019 was appointed the CEO. Sara is an MBA graduate with more than 20 years of experience as an organizational leader responsible for developing and implementing initiatives that strengthen the mission, vision, values, programs and financial position of social sector organizations.
Pafoua Pam Her, PhD, Advisor
Dr. Her is a former executive leader that has worked in corporate, government, and non-profit. She is currently the CEO and owner of 4Chi Business Solutions, LLC and a consultant/trainer/thought leader to several corporations, government agencies, and non-profit groups in the areas of cultural competency, talent management (recruitment and retention), organizational leadership and development, and strategic planning. She has taught courses, as an adjunct professor with Rasmussen College, in the areas of management, marketing, entrepreneurship, business ethics, sales, and professional communication. Dr. Her completed her dissertation on Asian American Women Managers and Microaggressions in the Workplace at Capella University where she received her PhD, with distinction, in Business/Organizational Management. Dr. Her is currently on the board of directors for CAP Services, Outagamie County Health & Human Services, and Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. She is the founder of Northeast Wisconsin Hmong Professionals and a co-founder of the Multicultural Coalition, Inc. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President of the Vue National Association.