Linh Dang

Chief Development Officer for Addition Financial, UCF Foundation Chair-elect, and BHC Advisory Board Member

You are an ardent supporter of UCF and of the Burnett Honors College. Your professional gifts through Addition Financial and your own personal donations have allowed students to enjoy refreshed collaborative, environmentally friendly upgrades to the building, and fellowship at special events. Why is giving important to you and to Addition Financial?

Credit unions embody the philosophy of people helping people, so that’s kind of the philosophy throughout credit unions all over the country. So, for Addition Financial that has always been an important part of our culture. Because we are a credit union founded by teachers, education is at the cornerstone of who we are. Over the years, we’ve moved into higher education; we are the official financial institution of the UCF Knights. So, we believe that by giving back to institutions like UCF, and specifically the Burnett Honors College, we are investing in a brighter future for our community. Addition Financial and Burnett Honors College have shared core values in teaching and learning and excellence. We believe firmly in the power of education to transform lives, and for Addition Financial’s past and present and into the future, support for education will continue to remain the center of what we do and who we are.

And, from a personal standpoint, my parents have instilled in us the importance of giving back and being faithfully devoted to tithing. My parents had shared that no matter what you have, there is always someone who has less and needs our generosity. What we are blessed with, regardless of how much or how little, others may not be as fortunate.

Not only have you been generous with your gifts, but you are also actively involved in service to the university and college-serving as the Chair of the UCF Alumni Board, and as a member of the Burnett Honors College Advisory Board. As a busy professional, how do you stay so engaged, and why is it important to you?

Well first, it’s easy to stay involved because I love my alma mater. When I got my degree in ’93, the value of that degree has really just become more than what it was in ’93, because in ’93, the college was smaller and less known. Today, UCF is a powerhouse, and so your diploma is so much more elevated. That’s part of all of us alumni to really give back to the university so that we can continue to elevate UCF throughout our nation. And, also, what a better way to stay relevant and connected and informed than by spending time with your alma mater. I love UCF!

Addition Financial has hired numerous students for internships and permanent positions over the years. We appreciate your stewardship in the development of our scholars! Is there anything that distinguishes BHC students from others when you choose them over other applicants?

Well, the Burnett Honors College fosters the values of community engagement and experiential learning through the opportunities that students receive. So, honors scholars are creative problem scholars who are dedicated to their work; the caliber of students in the Burnett Honors College can’t be compared. They are often involved on campus and commit their time to making UCF and their communities a better place. We know that honors scholars tend to go above and beyond and are highly responsible in all that they do, so that’s really important to us. And it’s always a nice fit between the Burnett Honors College and Addition Financial as we support and value one another, so it’s been a really great relationship that we have established with the Burnett Honors College and the students are just impeccable.

Finally, given your impressive experiences and knowledge, what is one thing that you are most proud of, and what advice would you give to current students in relation to that?

I’m proud of the genuine relationships I have gained over the years with my colleagues and my staff, and throughout my career, in any role that I have ever played, I keep an open mind to the individuals I come in contact with or work with on a daily basis.

One of the biggest factors that contribute to the success of an organization is collaboration and support. There are so many benefits to collaboration, such as problem solving. Different backgrounds actually serve to leverage each other’s strengths and support each other’s weaknesses, and so it’s a collaboration of, (how) you support others and others support you, because no one is perfect. It enables team members to learn new things from each other.

When individuals’ differences are valued, employees feel good about what they do, so they set the team spirit and the team spirit is strong. So, my advice to the students is the same I share with my staff, which is to put into practice every day teamwork, tolerance, and collaboration, which will deliver a better end result and satisfaction for all involved. At the end of the day, value and build on your relationships.

As an alumna of UCF and an executive at Addition Financial, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got to where you are today?

I am originally from Vietnam; I came to the States in 1975 at a very young age of 5. I graduated from UCF in ’93, with my bachelor’s and a major in accounting. And then I moved on, several years later (after starting a family and having children), I went back to school and got my MBA at Rollins College.

I’ve been in the financial institution/credit union industry for about 27 years, and out of those 27 years, 5 years were strictly in an accounting role, whether it was accountant or a manager.

I have been with Addition Financial since 2003, and what drew me to Addition Financial was the opportunity for professional growth.  I was very impressed with the difference that Addition Financial was making with their strong support for education and their footprint in the community, and that their mission and vision, 80 plus years ago, is timeless and it’s true to who we are today.

Today, I oversee the project management department, the marketing department, and the community engagement and partnership department. And so, at the end of the day, I took a chance to try something new as opportunity presented itself, really outside of my realm, but I put myself out there, reminding myself not to underestimate myself, saying that I can’t do the job because with any job, you can apply what you have already learned and then you need to know that you can apply what you’ve learned and continue to learn and build and evolve in whatever opportunities may come your way.