CSUF College of Business and Economics alumni, donors, faculty and friends gathered at the Fountain Valley location of 7 Leaves Artisan and Crema Bakery on Sept. 20 for an evening of networking, college updates, and addresses from two of the college’s ardent supporters: Tam Nguyen ’05, president of Advance Beauty College, and 7 Leaves Café co-founder Sonny Nguyen.

Since 2020, these alumni social events have connected the Cal State Fullerton business community. They are critical in positioning the college as a leading networking incubator in the southern California region and ensuring that Business Titans always have a versatile and diverse network to power their careers and expand their businesses.

In 2011, Sonny Nguyen and his brothers opened a small coffee and tea house in Garden Grove named 7 Leaves. Today, more than 1,000 people – including dozens of Titans – are part of the 7 Leaves team, with more than 40 locations in four states.

From Sonny Nguyen’s membership on the CSUF Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors to involvement in the business college’s Center for Leadership, Nguyen and his company have demonstrated an early and powerful bond with Cal State Fullerton’s business college.

“Events like these provide exceptional opportunities for alumni and friends of the college to leverage the Titan Alumni Network to make connections, advance their careers and learn from industry experts,” says Dan Riley, the new executive director of development at the College of Business and Economics. “Tam and Sonny spoke to the evolution of their own relationship and the very real ways that networking can lead to rewarding professional and personal opportunities. We are looking forward to hosting more events throughout Orange County and beyond.”

For more on opportunities to network with the College of Business and Economics community and get involved in the education of the next generation of Southern California business leaders, reach out to Associate Director of Development Trish Reed at [email protected].