Wathone Oo joined the Sacramento, CA office of Lao Family in January 2011 as a Workforce Specialist. Her tireless efforts supporting the immigrant and refugee community have allowed many to excel and become financially independent. Her exhaustive work aided in the expansion of the Lao Family Employment Services Programs. Wathone serves as the Program Manager for the Refugee Employment Program, where newly arrived immigrants are assisted with finding employment. With her direction, this program meets and exceeds program-related goals.

Wathone is a small business owner who owns and operates a successful sushi business in the Los Rios Community College District (SCC, ARC, CRC, and FLC). Her understanding of small business owners’ challenges and the financial struggles resulting from economic competition makes her an exceptional Program Manager. She can cultivate relationships with local small business employers due to her experiences, and through this, she can create job opportunities for her customers.

Originally from Burma, Wathone is fluent in Burmese, Karen, and English. Her educational endeavors led her to Sacramento, CA, as a college student. During her study, she encountered many disadvantaged individuals who possessed limited English and income. Through these experiences, she cemented her desire to work with the immigrant and refugee community, beginning with her own. She continues to be an asset to the Burmese community and Lao Family.