Meet Eric Nguyen.

Please tell us a little bit about what you do in Sedona.

A: I am currently employed with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce as the Digital Marketing Manager. My responsibilities include managing and curating partner content for the ‘Visit Sedona’ website, along with overseeing our presence across various digital platforms. This includes stewardship of the Visit Sedona and Chamber’s social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other digital sites, ensuring a cohesive and engaging online presence that aligns with our marketing strategies.

Q: And how’d you get that job?

A: In 2015, I relocated from the Bay Area to Arizona with the aim of furthering my education. Despite holding an Associate’s degree from California, I encountered a challenge as it was not transferable to Arizona’s educational system. Undeterred, I enrolled at Yavapai College, where I completed another Associate’s degree in Business within a year and half before advancing to Northern Arizona University (NAU). My academic journey culminated at NAU, where I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing.
Parallel to my studies, I had the fortunate opportunity to work with Lisa Dahl, managing her social media marketing for over five years on a full-time basis. I dove into her social media marketing and kept that role going strong for five and a half years. And then life got even more exciting—I got married! I jumped in to lend a hand with my wife’s med spa business right here in Sedona. I put on the web developer hat, got our operations running smooth, and managed our inventory for over a year.
Just when I thought things were settling down, the universe had another plan. Candace, the CEO of the Chamber back then, spotted me on LinkedIn. There was this job for a social media manager and content creator, and it caught my eye. I thought, ‘Hey, why not help out the business community even more?’ So, I reached out, we chatted, and the next thing you know, I’m diving into the tourism industry! Ever since, I’ve been having a blast helping out the local shop owners and small businesses. When I wrapped up at my wife’s place, I didn’t stop there—I kicked off my own side gig as a digital marketing consultant. Now, I get to help awesome small business folks not just here in town, but all over the States.

Q: What brought you to Sedona? Of all places?
A: The quick answer is for school, but honestly, having my mom, my sister, and my nieces around was a huge plus. Mom’s been soaking up the Sedona vibes for 15 years, and my sister’s not far behind with 11 years under her belt. They were definitely part of the charm that nudged me to move, but the real deal was to get my education sorted out at NAU. California was just getting too pricey for me. I never imagined Sedona would be my forever place when I first moved, especially after graduation. But man, did this place grow on me! The first seven months were tough, not gonna lie. I went from city buzz to a cozy town of just 7,000 folks. But then, I started to really get why Sedona is so special. It’s this peaceful, sacred kind of spot where the quiet grows on you. Plus, the whole social ladder thing just doesn’t exist here. You can be yourself, and that’s pretty refreshing. That’s what made me stick around and truly enjoy life here.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Sedona?

A: I moved out here in 2015.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Sedona?

A: The most interesting person I’ve met is my wife, Jaliza. She’s just an amazing person. She’s a young entrepreneur. She is just a phenomenal human being, she puts her mind to something and she just gets it done. And it’s really difficult to find someone like that, not only in Sedona, but anywhere that’s just determined, loving, kind and sweet.

Q: And how’d you meet?

A: My wonderful sister actually. So they were clients of each other. My sister’s also in the beauty industry in the Village of Oak Creek, and so was my wife. They did services on each other and my sister said, ‘I know somebody that I think that you should meet. She’s a really cool person’. And I sent that first text message and the rest is history, ha-ha.

Plug your wife’s business. What does she do?

A: She’s a proud owner of Jaliza Sedona Luxury Spa Beauty Lounge in West Sedona right next to Urgent Care.

Q: What one trait do you consider essential to you being so successful?
A: Picking just one trait that makes someone successful is super tough because you really need a whole mix to hit it out of the park. But if I had to choose, I’d say it’s all about the passion. You’ve gotta love what you do and truly believe in what you’re offering. Like with my role at the Chamber of Commerce. For me, it’s a no-brainer to get behind the Chamber because I see the good stuff we do for the community, all the businesses big and small. So, when it comes to something like selling a banner ad for our Visit Sedona site, it comes very naturally to me. It feels great to promote something when you know it’s genuinely going to help out our business community.

Q: What keeps you motivated?

A: A bunch of things keep my engine running. My wife’s a big one, and, of course, I’ve got my own personal drive. But you know what’s a real game changer? Having a plan. Whether it’s a plan for now or a plan for down the road, it’s like a secret sauce that keeps everything on track for me.

Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Lately, my wife and I have gotten super into pickleball. We’re all about those pickleball dates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at Posse Grounds—right by the school where they’ve got those awesome courts. We also love food and having some serious foodie adventures. We just love trying out different restaurants and flavors. I’m the kind of guy who plans vacations around food. Before we even pack our bags, I’m on TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Open Table, scouting out the must-eat spots.

Q: How long have you been married?

A: Going on three years.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Sedona?
A: Oh man, picking a favorite eatery in the Sedona Verde Valley is like trying to choose your favorite song—impossible, because I’ve got a whole playlist! For date nights, especially anniversaries, Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill is the go-to. It’s just got that special vibe, you know? Other hot spots on my list are Moscato, Tortas De Fuego and Rene’s. They never disappoint. But, if we’re talking the ultimate foodie experience, it’s got to be this place I stumbled upon in Tulum called Jungle Cuisine. It wasn’t just a meal; it was a full-on gastronomy adventure. Totally unforgettable!

Q: What is your favorite music?

A: I like soft pop acoustic music. But my favorite song is very cheesy, it’s my wedding song, If You Love Her by Forest Blakk.

Q: Anything that I haven’t asked you that you’d like someone to know about you?

A: I was recently baptized in June so that was a really big milestone in my life. I take a lot of pride in being a spiritual man for my household.