Tina was the first Asian-American woman elected to the Ohio State Senate. She is a mother of two young boys, and a native of Whitehall, Ohio. The daughter of refugees from the war-torn Southeast Asian nation of Laos who fled to the United States, she was inspired by her upbringing and community to dedicate her life to public service. Prior to public office, she worked as a financial analyst forecasting staffing needs in private sectors, while being a community organizer who served on local advisory boards and committees and held roles in the government and nonprofit sectors.