Speakers
Charlie Vue, also known by his stage name HMisfit, is a Hmong-American musician and record label owner with a passion for performance and artist development. He has performed across the Midwest and beyond, including shows in Sacramento, and continues to bring energy and creativity to every stage.
As the founder of 35K Records (Peb Tsis K), Charlie is committed to helping emerging artists gain exposure and build their talents. His vision is to grow 35K into one of the most diverse record labels—not only in the artists it represents, but also in the music it creates.
Master of Ceremonies: Charlie Vue
Dr. Chia Youyee Vang is Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she also serves as Vice Chancellor for Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity. Her teaching and research interests include twentieth century U.S. international history, the Cold War in Asia, Asian American history, Hmong history, refugee migration and transnational and diasporic communities. Dr. Vang’s research is global in scope but intimately informed by her own refugee experiences as a child. She is interested in not only understanding larger political and military transformations, but also, the lived experiences of those who experience wars not of their own making but fought in their environments. Her documentation of Southeast Asian refugee lives and that of their descendants across four continents help us to better understand the lasting impact of one of the most controversial wars of the 20th century. She is author of four books: Prisoner of Wars: A Hmong Fighter Pilot’s Story of Escaping Death and Confronting Life (Temple University Press, 2020), Fly Until You Die: An Oral History of Hmong Pilots in the Vietnam War (Oxford University Press, 2019), Hmong America: Reconstructing Community in Diaspora (University of Illinois Press, 2010), and Hmong in Minnesota (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008). In March 2016, the University of Minnesota Press released her co-edited (with Faith Nibbs and Ma Vang) volume, Claiming Place: On the Agency of Hmong Women.
Dr. Vang has received numerous recognitions for scholarship excellence and commitment to inclusivity in higher education, including Hmong National Development Legacy Maker Award, (2025), Wisconsin Community Leadership Choice Award (Woman of Excellence, 2021), Office of Research/UWM Research Foundation Senior Faculty Award (2021), Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Professional of the Year (2021), University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Diversity Award-Individual (2016).
Dr. Vang earned a B.A. in political science, with an emphasis on international relations, and French from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1994. She completed an M.A. in Public Affairs in 1996 and earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2006.
History Spotlight & Facilitator:
Dr. Chia Youyee Vang
Fireside Chat: Legacies of Leadership -
50 Years of Building Our Future Together
Charles is an entrepreneur and economic development professional with over 30 years of experience in insurance, real estate, and nonprofit leadership. As Principal of Charles V. Vang Insurance Agency, LLC, he built a top 1% producing brokerage managing 3,000+ policies, and through Goldenlakes Properties, LLC, he has acquired and managed more than 30 residential and commercial units, including LIHTC projects. He co-founded and served as Executive Director of HWCC, where he expanded its loan fund, secured CDFI certification, and supported Southeast Asian entrepreneurs.
Charles Vang
May yer Thao is a visionary nonprofit executive and community leader who currently serves as President & CEO of the Hmong American Partnership (HAP)—the largest Hmong-led nonprofit in the United States—and its national subsidiary, Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND).
With a career dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity, May yer has become a trusted bridge-builder across government, philanthropy, corporate, and community sectors. She has led transformative initiatives in economic development, housing, workforce advancement, and social enterprise, while elevating the visibility of Hmong, Southeast Asian, immigrant, and refugee communities in the Midwest and nationwide.
May yer is known for pairing strategic financial stewardship with bold, people-centered vision. Under her leadership, HAP has secured multimillion-dollar investments, launched innovative community programs, and reimagined how nonprofits can drive both impact and sustainability. She has also cultivated a strong reputation for board governance excellence, philanthropic partnership, and organizational culture rooted in wellbeing and inclusion.
Her career spans influential roles, including serving as Assistant Deputy Director for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and revitalizing the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, where she drove financing and business resources for diverse small businesses.
A sought-after speaker, award-winning leader, and passionate advocate, May yer continues to expand her reach that align with her lifelong commitment to community empowerment, innovation, and legacy building.
May yer’s greatest motivation is simple: to ensure that our communities don’t just survive, but thrive — with dignity, visibility, and power.