Stephan Longthe Kieu was born in Saigon. His mother was a pharmacist and owned a pharmacy; his father was a math teacher and doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Stephan was enrolled in the National Music Conservatory from 1972-1979. He is the oldest of 5 siblings. In 1979, at the age of 16, he escaped succesfully from the communist regime and fled for freedom with 45 other people on a small fishing boat. Out of water, food, and fuel, the boat was rescued by a World Vision ship and resettled in the USA as refugees. Stephan joined his aunt and uncle's family in Fridley, MN, finished high school, and put himself through the U of MN studying computer science. He has been working in the Information Technology field since 1986. Stephan currently resides in Minneapolis and works as a Technical Consultant at Ecolab Inc. When not working, Stephan enjoys active travel, cooking & entertaining friends. From time to time, he enjoys a competitive game of squash or attending performing arts events with his spouse, Julie.