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The changing face of Virginia business
DAO Huynh
DNDS Inc.
Henrico County
by
Donna C. Gregory
Virginia Business
March
2005
Dao
Huynh remembers the night in 1979 when, as a 9-year-old
boy, he boarded a small fishing boat with his parents
and six siblings to escape Communist-ruled Vietnam.
The family’s harrowing journey, replete with encounters
with pirates and armed soldiers, led them to the Malaysian
jungle and refugee camps before finally settling in
Henrico County.
Huynh’s
wife lived through a similar ordeal when she fled Cambodia’s
killing fields as a young girl. “We probably should
have been dead,” Huynh says. “We both believe
there’s a purpose for us to be here.”
At age 34, Huynh’s purpose so far has been multifold.
He’s CEO of DNDS Inc., a small technology firm
that he founded in 1995. (The initials stand for Dynamic
Network Design Studio.) It specializes in “e-learning
solutions,” computer-based training programs and
tutorials, for major corporations and government agencies.
The company’s client roster includes Capital One,
Philip Morris USA, the U.S. Postal Service, Owens &
Minor, MCI, Freddie Mac and Anthem.
Huynh is also a philanthropist, community activist and
champion for the Richmond’s area’s emerging
Asian-American community. In fact, he has been so involved
that he’s now consciously stepping back from his
many civic obligations to refocus efforts on his business.
The demands on Huynh’s time have been great, as
Richmond’s business community has become more
diverse. He has served on the boards of the Greater
Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Homeward (a program for
the homeless) and the Greater Richmond Technology Council,
among others.
In 2003, Huynh became a founding member of the Asian
American Biz Council (AABiz), a nonprofit organization
that nurtures Asian-American entrepreneurs in Central
Virginia. “It’s much needed, but it’s
very young. Now we just need to have good leaders to
take it to another level,” Huynh says. “Right
now, my plan is to foster a collaborative effort with
AABiz, AASoCV [Asian American Society of Central Virginia],
and AABAC [Asian American Business Assistance Center].
After that, I will still be involved, but not as a focal
point.”
Instead, Huynh plans to redirect his attention to the
growth of his company. “Over the next two to three
years, our goal is to take DNDS to the multimillion
dollar level,” he says. (Huynh won’t reveal
his current revenue level.) DNDS now has 12 employees
and is headquartered on Nuckols Road in Henrico County.
There is a second office in Washington, D.C.
Huynh will continue his community service efforts, however,
under the umbrella of his company’s Angel Profits
program. Since its founding seven years ago, Angel Profits,
a philanthropic venture involving DNDS employees, has
contributed more than $500,000 to local, national and
international charity efforts. Angel Profits recently
donated money to dig four wells in Cambodian villages
that were in need of clean drinking water. Other Angel
Profits’ recipients have included the American
Red Cross, Christian Children’s Fund and Boys
& Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond.
“He appreciates what others did for him, and I
think he in turn feels responsible for helping others
in similar circumstances,” says Bob Mooney, a
past chairman of the chamber of commerce who also serves
on the DNDS advisory board.
In the future, Huynh predicts Asian-Americans will play
a greater role in Central Virginia’s business
community. “I see great potential and promise,”
he says.
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