This is one of 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s Emerging Leaders award, which seeks to highlight and celebrate people who are doing good work in Snohomish County. The winner will be named at an event on April 12.
Name: Tony Thammavongsa
Age: 28
Profession: Quality assurance lead, Campbell’s Stockpot
Things could have turned out differently for Tony Thammavongsa.
He grew up in troubled areas on Casino Road in south Everett, low-income housing in north Everett and the South Side of Chicago. But he said he was determined, confident and ambitious.
“I believe I would not have developed these characteristics today if it wasn’t for my family’s support,” Thammavongsa wrote. “It really helped me with adversity growing up and to become the person I am today — loving father, soon-to-be husband, brother, uncle, mentor, friend and colleague.”
He’s a quality assurance lead at Campbell’s Stockpot, a leadership role that he’s used to help develop a cross-functional team for the soup-maker in Everett. The effort has helped improve morale at Campbell’s Stockpot while also reducing overtime, Thammavongsa said.
He also graduated at the top of his class at the Leadership Academy held by Campbell’s Soup Co. in 2015.
Thammavongsa has also been active in helping the community both through his workplace and in his old neighborhood.
He’s organized the annual clothes and coin drive at Campbell’s Stockpot for Lynnwood nonprofit Clothes for Kids. He volunteers with Boys & Girls Club’s Passport to Manhood Program, mentoring at-risk boys in grades 6 to 8 in Snohomish County.
And he was one of the speakers at Leadership Day for Leadership of Snohomish County last year.
He’s accomplished much in the past couple of years. Still, he’s happily surprised that he’s been nominated for the Emerging Leader award.
“It’s amazing and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity,” Thammavongsa writes.
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