Thailand immigrant achieves American dream: Entrepreneur opens Thai restaurant | News

Editor’s note: Each month this year, The Oconee Enterprise will highlight a female business owner or female leader of a local nonprofit or charity.

The location of Mama Ning’s Thai Restaurant holds a special significance for owner Ning Kohnen and her husband, Philip. Their first date was actually at the Mirko Pasta almost a decade ago. 

Mama Ning’s has now moved into the space of that former restaurant. 

Finding opportunity

Ning was born in the mountainous city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand during the 1980s. She graduated from Chiang Mai University with a social sciences degree and a minor in law. Her family initially expected for her to find work in some type of government job. Meanwhile, Ning wanted to pursue something in the tourism or hospitality industry.  

“It was my dream to be able to speak English at the time,”…