(The following text is an excerpt from the book Chinese Americans in Irvine 1971-2021.)
Every success story starts with a vision and a plan – Albert Teng’s story spans two continents and six decades.
Albert Teng was born in Vietnam to an affluent family that owned and operated one of the largest restaurant chains and real estate properties in Saigon. Prior to the takeover of South Vietnam by the Communist North, Albert and his brother fled the country in pursuit of freedom and opportunity for higher education in Taiwan. As his family wealth was confiscated by the Communist North, Albert Teng had to work several jobs to make ends meet in college and graduated with a BS degree in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University.
As a promising EIT at Pacific Engineers and Constructors LTD in Taiwan (A subsidiary of Bechtel Corporation USA), Albert Teng trained with the brilliant minds in the industry and took part in the development of large industrial zones as well as Taoyuan International Airport. His capability was quickly recognized and he was therefore selected as one of the elite members to participate in “TOT” (Transfer of Technology) program in Bechtel’s office in Maryland.
In an effort to further develop his skills in civil engineering and accelerate future career growth, Albert Teng applied for an advanced degree and got accepted by the University of New Mexico. He graduated with flying colors and received his MS degree in less than a year. The student advisor, impressed with Albert’s academic performance, immediately offered him a full scholarship into the PhD program. Albert declined because he had every ambition to expand his horizon and explore the world.
Albert Teng founded Delta Groups Engineering Inc. in 1990.
The company started by taking on typical residential and commercial projects. Shortly, an opportunity knocked when a client was in dire need of drawings and calculations for telecommunication facilities. Delta took on the challenge and was the only engineering firm able to deliver by the deadline. This opportunity paved the way for Delta’s position in the market and Delta has focused on the telecommunications industry ever since.
Delta has now served the telecommunications industry for 30 years and has been involved in the development of more than 20,000 wireless telecommunications facilities nationwide. Its full-range services, in the areas of site acquisition, land use planning, architecture, engineering, and permit expediting present unique capabilities to the industry in assuring the highest level of quality and efficiency. Delta Groups Engineering Inc. has served nearly every major wireless carrier in the US, including AT&T, Verizon, T Mobile, Sprint, MetroPCS and equipment providers such as Motorola and Ericsson. Its recent design projects encompass international airports, stadiums, convention centers, shopping malls, skyscrapers, casinos, medical centers, etc. Delta is now an industry leader in telecommunications site development.
In spite of his success in the US, Albert Teng never forgets his Chinese descent. To promote a better learning environment for the younger Chinese generation, he was one of the ardent supporters of the Irvine Chinese School; the joint efforts and dedication of the supporters made the grand opening of the School’s own facility a reality in 2005. The School named one classroom (英強廳) after his father for Albert’s generosity. Albert Teng’s benefaction also extends to local hospitals, churches, universities, and non-profit organizations. He believes giving back to society invigorates people’s lives and gives people hope for humanity.
Aside from his role as President/CEO of Delta Groups Engineering Inc., Albert Teng is multitalented and has a variety of interests and creative pursuits in life. Friends know him as “Chef Teng” whose wonderful culinary skills and fine taste for wine make his dining room the much sought-after party venue. He is also an avid golfer who recently added the 3rd Hole-In-One to his golf profile.
When requested by young aspiring professionals for guidance, Albert Teng, a wine aficionado, likes to compare vinification to the development of a career. From fruit selection, harvesting, fermentation, filtration to bottling, vinification is a long process that requires consistency, persistency, willpower and integrity. There may be deviations and variations along the way, and the variants and little deviations at any point of the process make life challenging, yet interesting. Those fundamental qualities will eventually contribute to the uniqueness and success of good wine. (Courtesy of Delta Groups)
Albert Teng hosted a company wine tour to Temecula where the technology of wine-making and experience of wine-tasting was explored.
鄧瑞鴻先生邀請員工至酒莊品酒同樂
(以下文字摘錄自《爾灣華裔紀實1971-2021》一書)
在爾灣中文學校的贊助者中，您可能會遇到一位健談的男士。他的興趣廣泛，可以跟您深入地聊到各種生活的話題，諸如攝影、烹飪，品酒、高爾夫球等。他不時就會展現幽默的本領，讓您開懷暢笑。更值得一提的是，他對紅酒的專業，讓人驚嘆不 已，只要讓他品嘗一口紅酒，他就能夠如數家珍地告訴您這個紅酒可能的名稱、年份、產區、及價值。
這位男士，正是爾灣白手起家的創業家，鄧瑞鴻先生。 鄧瑞鴻先生於1990 在爾灣創立了 Delta Groups Engineering Inc.，致力於美國電信業已有三十餘年， 為加州華人歷史悠久的電信工程設計公司。Delta Groups 所參與的設計遍佈美國三十餘州，很多學校、 旅館、大型運動場、會議中心、及國際機場，都可以 看到 Delta Groups 的設計。美國重量級的電信業者包含 AT&T、Verizon、T-Mobile、 Sprint、MetroPCS 及設備供應商 Motorola、Ericsson 都是 Delta Groups 的客戶。因此，Delta Groups 儼然是美國電信業的先驅， 不僅見證了美國電信產業的成長與發展，更在其中扮演了舉足輕重的角色。
不過您知道嗎？鄧瑞鴻先生的成長、求學、與創 業歷程，就像他廣泛的興趣一樣精彩，足以拍成一齣電影。
鄧瑞鴻先生出生於越南西貢的華人家族，在當地經營最大餐飲集團。原本優渥的生活，隨著越共統治一夕瓦解。為了追求自由，鄧先生與哥哥離開越南， 遠赴台灣求學。根據鄧先生的回憶，在台大土木系求學期間，同時兼了三、四個家教，胼手胝足地完成了學業。
畢業之後，鄧瑞鴻先生任職於泰興等工程公司， 因秉賦優異參與了桃園國際機場等大型公共工程，深獲好評，被公司認定為菁英人士，派駐到馬里蘭州接受培訓。之後，鄧瑞鴻先生獲得了 University of New Mexico 的入學許可，於是毅然轉換生涯跑道，赴美就學，短短不到一年就獲得碩士學位，成績出色讓指導教授印象深刻，指導教授原本期望鄧先生留下來攻讀博士學位，但鄧先生選擇嘗試學院之外更寬廣的世界，於是決定邁向創業之路，創立了 Delta Groups Engineering Inc。
創業之初，Delta Groups 承接一般工程公司的業務。但在一次因緣際會下，一家業者需要電信基地台的工程製圖與計算書。於是，Delta Groups 首次踏入了電信產業。鄧瑞鴻先生看準了未來電信產業的發展潛力，於是開始將公司使命轉移到電信產業的工程設計，而且以此為本。這樣的經營策略，相當符合策略管理大師 Michael Porter 所提到的聚焦策略（focus），讓 Delta Groups 獲得了同業所無法取代的競爭優勢， 屹立不搖。
鄧瑞鴻先生在艱困的求學歷程中，力爭上游，擁有了自己的公司，也將母親接至美國同住，但是鄧先生始終沒有機會再與父親重聚，這恐怕是鄧瑞鴻先生心裡的遺憾。為了讓莘莘學子能順利向學，鄧先生多次捐款給學校、醫院、及大型非營利組織，其中也包含了爾灣中文學校。在鄧先生贊助爾灣中文學校所建立的校舍中，其中一廳為英強廳，即是以鄧先生之父所命名。
最後，鄧瑞鴻先生以紅酒釀造過程做比喻，給了年輕人一些建議。具體而言，在紅酒釀造過程中，不論是葡萄採收、榨汁、發酵、熟成、乃至裝瓶，每一個環節，按部就班，精益求精，就能創造出高品質的葡萄酒。年輕人在職涯發展的過程中也是如此，穩紮穩打，不走捷徑，必能厚植實力，創造價值。（Delta Groups 提供）