ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL NAMES TWILA TRUE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

True Sioux Hope Foundation’s founder, Twila True, was recently recognized by the Orange County Business Journal as the 2016Entrepreneur of the Year.

Growing up in Pine Ridge where alcoholism, teenage suicide and poverty run rampant, True was determined to escape the “norm” and had dreams of becoming a successful business woman. Today, True is the co-founder of True Family Enterprises, a family business that oversees a portfolio of five companies, including True Sioux Hope Foundation.

Over the years, True has worked hard to leave a footprint in Orange County’s business community. Early on in her career, True started with Synthane Taylor, a circuit board manufacturer, where she served as the company’s CEO. After True married her husband, Alan True, they together started a furniture making company called True Innovations, which they later moved to China.

While living in China, True became an avid philanthropist and co-founded True Children’s Home with her husband. The organization helped to provide medical care for orphans with life threatening medical problems. After moving back to the U.S., True founded True Sioux Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization which provides much-needed resources to combat the unbearable living conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation, the nation’s poorest reservation.

In 2012, the husband and wife duo founded True Family Enterprises to manage the family’s investments in real estate, consumer products, retail, private equity and philanthropy. Shortly after, True became CEO of True Investments LLC, a real estate private equity firm that invests in single-family rental homes in select markets across the country.

True's entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop there! In 2014, True created Polished Perfect by Twila True, an upscale nail studio committed to elevating the industry’s standard. Polished Perfect by Twila True currently has four Orange County locations with a fifth opening soon. And, last year, True and her husband added their fifth portfolio company to their roster- True Venture Capital,an investment firm for start-ups operating in the food and beverage, technology and financial service sectors.

To date, True continues to live out the message she’s heard her whole life, “Regardless of your circumstances, if you work hard and believe, you will get the opportunities to succeed.” True Sioux Hope Foundation salutes Twila True for her tenacity, determination, creativity, and passion for others that made her a deserving recipient of this year’s Orange County Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award.