Louisville KY small business Archives - Viet Bao Louisville KY

Louisville, KY / Washington, D.C. — The New American Business Association (NABA) and Louisville Beauty Academy (LBA) announce that Di Tran, founder of both organizations, has been named a 2025 finalist for the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Lew Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. As the Kentucky finalist, Tran joins a select group of national small-business leaders in Washington to advance practical, nonpartisan solutions for Main Street.

“This honor belongs to our students, graduates, and every small business that keeps America working,” Tran said. “We’re here to champion outcomes—training that leads to licenses, jobs, and new businesses—without unnecessary debt.”

Who is NSBA?

Founded in 1937, the National Small Business Association is the nation’s original, proudly nonpartisan small-business advocacy organization. NSBA represents 65,000+ members across all 50 states and speaks for the 70 million owners and employees who power the U.S. economy. NSBA is known for winning access-to-capital reforms, stopping unfair tax penalties, and rolling back harmful regulations—guided by respected Economic Reports and targeted member surveys.

Leadership (select): Todd McCracken (President & CEO), Molly Brogan Day (SVP, Public Affairs), Reed Westcott (Gov. Affairs & Federal Policy), Rachel Grey (Research & Regulatory Policy), Jack Furth (Gov. Affairs), Son Thach (Sr. Director, Operations), Ian Elsenbach (Director, Leadership Council).

About the Award

NSBA’s Lew Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year honors citizen-leaders who sustain credible, effective advocacy. Finalists are recognized at NSBA’s Washington Presentation—a two-day program including a White House policy briefing, Congressional Breakfast, issue briefings, and Capitol Hill meetings with Senators and Representatives. (NSBA does not publicly disclose the number of applicants.)

Di Tran & Louisville Beauty Academy: From Local Impact to National Voice

An immigrant entrepreneur, educator, and author of 120+ books, Di Tran founded Louisville Beauty Academy to create fast, affordable, ethical pathways into high-demand beauty careers. In five+ years, LBA has:

Helped ~2,000 students complete training and obtain state licenses
Seeded dozens of salons and micro-businesses, generating an estimated $20–50M in annual economic activity
Run lean, discount-first, debt-averse programs that keep students working and learning—without relying on Title IV
Embedded technology and AI-assisted workflows to streamline instruction, compliance, and student support

Tran’s policy focus—developed with education partner Anthony Bieda—is simple and powerful: pay for outcomes, not enrollment. Under this approach, federal support would reimburse after students graduate, earn a license, and secure employment. The model expands access to short, job-ready programs (often <600 hours), reduces taxpayer waste, and aligns schools, lenders, families, and students around one goal: results.

Why It Matters—For Kentucky and the Vietnamese-American Community

Workforce now: Short programs (e.g., nails, esthetics) place graduates into jobs quickly—meeting real salon demand.
Small-business growth: LBA alumni open shops, hire neighbors, and revitalize corridors—Main Street first.
Smart funding: Outcome-based aid protects taxpayers and rewards schools that deliver licenses + jobs.
Representation: A Kentucky and Vietnamese-American founder standing alongside national peers shows how immigrant entrepreneurship strengthens the U.S. economy.

Two Days in Washington: Advocacy in Action

At NSBA’s Washington Presentation, Tran and Bieda joined policy briefings at the White House (Eisenhower Executive Office Building), heard from Members of Congress during the Congressional Breakfast, and met with Senate and House offices on Capitol Hill to elevate outcome-based training, short-program recognition, and practical small-business reforms.

What’s Next

NABA will convene employers, schools, lenders, and policymakers to pilot pay-for-outcome pathways.
LBA will continue scaling debt-averse, license-first training that feeds Kentucky’s small-business pipeline.
Lawmakers are invited to review NABA/LBA’s model and meet graduates—new taxpayers and future employers.

Contact (Media & Policy):
NABA — di@naba4u.org | naba4u.org
Louisville Beauty Academy — study@louisvillebeautyacademy.net | louisvillebeautyacademy.net

“We’re not walking—we’re running to graduate more licensed professionals debt-free and to make federal policy reward real outcomes,” Tran said. “That’s good for students, small businesses, and America.”

Louisville to Washington DC: NABA Founder Di Tran Joins NSBA’s National Advocacy Ranks

Louisville Beauty Academy & Founder Di Tran: Elevating Beauty Education and Small Business Advocacy to the National Level – National Small Business Association (NSBA), Washington, D.C. – SEPTEMBER 2025

Louisville, KY – For local entrepreneur, author, and community advocate Di Tran, Kentucky is more than just where he lives. It is his true second home—a place where his immigrant journey from Vietnam has blossomed into a life of faith, family, and tireless contribution to the city of Louisville and beyond.

On a recent evening, Tran attended the first-ever Republican Party Lincoln Dinner in Louisville, marking what he described as one of the most inspiring and unifying experiences of his three decades in Kentucky. “It felt like home,” Tran reflected, surrounded by people of faith, business leaders, and legislators committed to hard work, progress, and unity.

A Life Rooted in Work and Family

Di Tran’s story is woven with the threads of resilience and devotion. Nearly 30 members of his extended family live and work in Louisville, contributing almost seven days a week in small businesses, salons, and service industries. For Tran, work is not just an occupation—it is a calling. He instills this same ethic in his children, who follow a 14-hour daily routine filled with school, extracurriculars, music, martial arts, and faith. “This is how I teach them the value of effort and the joy of adding value to others,” Tran often says.

A Historic Evening of Unity and Faith

The Lincoln Dinner was more than a political gathering for Tran. It was a celebration of Kentucky’s hardworking spirit, of God’s presence among people, and of the merit and dignity that comes from honest work. Tran was especially moved by meeting Reverend Dr. Charles Elliott, a 95-year-old Louisville native and one of the last living men who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “To sit with history itself was beyond words,” Tran shared.

He was also inspired by Riley Gaines, whose courage in speaking out for fairness deeply resonated with his belief in justice and opportunity. For Tran, these encounters affirmed that Kentucky is filled with leaders and everyday heroes working for a better tomorrow.

Gratitude for Kentucky and Its Future

As the founder of Louisville Beauty Academy, Tran has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of accessible education. With nearly 2,000 licensed graduates and an annual economic impact of $20–50 million, the academy has become one of the most affordable beauty colleges in the nation, offering tuition under $7,000 compared to the $20,000+ charged elsewhere. Tran credits Kentucky’s supportive leaders and legislators for opening doors to progress, citing recent bills that make vocational training more accessible.

“This is the land of opportunity,” Tran said, his voice full of gratitude. “Louisville and Kentucky are moving forward because of people who believe in God, in hard work, and in each other. I thank God every day for allowing me to raise my family here, to contribute here, and to call this place my home.”

A Vision of Hope

Tran left the Lincoln Dinner with renewed energy and hope. For him, the evening was not about politics but about unity, merit, and progress—values that transcend party lines and speak to the heart of the immigrant experience. “I see so much talent, so many leaders working so hard,” he said. “Kentucky is rising, and I am proud to be part of that journey.”