The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders or AAPIs works to broaden access to economic resources and opportunities and thus empower AAPIs to improve the quality of their lives, raise the standard of living of their families and communities, and more fully participate in our economy.
This recognition was given to Mendiola-Long and nine other AAPI community members throughout the nation for their work in inspiring and making a difference in the lives of those around them.
From the Facebook page of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders:
“This year, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced Phillip T. Mendiola-Long as a 2020 National Small Business Phoenix Award winner, which recognized him for his outstanding contributions to disaster recovery by a volunteer for going above and beyond to ensure the island’s people received food, shelter, lights and generators in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, which devastated his island in 2018. Since 2005, Mendiola-Long has been CEO of Sherman Consulting LLC, a leading advisory firm in the Pacific that assists foreign and U.S. businesses do business in the Asia Pacific Region. His firm is credited with bringing in over $150 million in capital investments to the Micronesian region; a much needed capital investment to our U.S. territories in the Pacific.
“After returning home to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 1996, Phillip Mendiola-Long has been an active leader in his community. Mendiola-Long has served his community in many important government roles such as the senior policy advisor for the mayor of Tinian, chairman of the Marianas Public Land Trust, vice chairman of the CNMI Free Trade Zone, board member of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, member of the Governor’s Military Task Force, former board member for the State Board of Education, advisor to the CNMI Economic Development Council, board secretary for the Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies, and as an elected municipal councilman from 2016 to 2018. In 2009, Phil was appointed by the U.S. secretary of Commerce as a member to the Hawaii/Pacific District Export Council, where his still serves today. In 2015, Phil was selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce and approved by the White House to be a SME Delegate to the 2015 APEC SME Summit representing SME Businesses to APEC.
“Mendiola-Long is also especially known for his community work. He currently serves as the technical director and head coach of the youth soccer program on Tinian and is also the cofounder and chairman of the the Ohala Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the island’s first foodbank.
“This Thanksgiving, we thank the many AAPI healthcare heroes who are at the front lines of fighting this pandemic and saving lives!”
About the Ohala Foundation
Guided by the principles that man must help his fellow man, the Ohala Foundation’s mission is to work exhaustively to raise critically needed funds; and serve as the managing body for a Mariana Islands-based community assistance organization. The cornerstone of that organization is the Ohala Food Bank, which under the Ohala Foundation’s leadership, provides free food, free meals and free disaster food assistance to those who are the most vulnerable in our communities. The foundation also offers career, medical and clothing services.
For more information on how to donate, volunteer or avail of services please visit www.ohalafoundation.org or call 670-433-2664.
