He arrived in America as a one-year-old on a crowded boat, saved from the sea by a mother’s refusal to leave her child, a moment that becomes the heartbeat of this episode. Chuong Vo traces that perilous beginning through nights on patrol, years in city halls, and quiet acts like bringing Santa to every street, explaining how hardship and service shaped his sense of duty.

Listen as Chuong moves from frontline encounters and planning meetings to hard-earned victories on the council and is running for Congress. This is a candid, human story about public safety, family values, and why one refugee turned lawman believes America must remain the place where people can rebuild, work, and be heard.

On a long flight from LAX to Washington, Congressman Derek Tran reflects on his first year in Congress, juggling votes, family dinners with three young children, and the fierce partisanship of the Capitol.

He takes listeners inside urgent moments: touring the charred neighborhoods of Altadena after devastating wildfires, fighting to exempt baby essentials from erratic tariffs, and using his roles on Armed Services and Small Business to protect a local base and help Main Street entrepreneurs.

Through small wins and stubborn fights, a storm pump to protect homes, funding for a HOPE Center, and a veterans’ job restored, Tran’s story unfolds as a portrait of persistence, service, and the everyday work of making Washington deliver for California’s 45th District.

In this episode of ChamberTalk, Andrew sits down with Nicole Swain, the Senior Procurement Contracts Manager for the County of Orange, to trace a practical, human story behind government purchasing. From pandemic-era urgencies to a bold rebrand as the SoCal Procurement Alliance, Nicole reveals how collaboration, empathy, and grit turned fragmented buying into a shared solution that saves taxpayers money and opens doors for small businesses.

Listeners follow the evolution of the annual Supplier Outreach event, born under a tent, now filling convention halls—and learn the secrets of contract sharing, matchmaking sessions, and simple steps businesses can take to win municipal work.

The conversation culminates in an invitation: come to the Anaheim Convention Center, meet the decision-makers, and discover how doing business with public agencies can be simpler, fairer, and more rewarding than you think.