WH recognizes Ohala Foundation’s Mendiola-Long

The Ohala Foundation congratulates its chairman, Phillip T. Mendiola-Long, for being recognized and thanked by the White House through its Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as a leader and mentor in the community.

This recognition was given to Mendiola-Long and nine other members of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community throughout the nation for their work in inspiring and making a difference in the lives of those around them. 

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders works to broaden AAPIs access to economic resources and opportunities and 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.

In a message on its Facebook page, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders said: “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 CNMI in 1996, 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 Tinian mayor, chairman of the Marianas Public Land Trust, vice chairman of the CNMI Free Trade Zone, board member of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., 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, Mendiola-Long was appointed by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a member to the Hawaii/Pacific District Export Council, where his still serves today. In 2015, Mendiola-LongΩ 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!”

 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.  For more information on how to donate, volunteer or avail of services please visit www.ohalafoundation.org or call 670-433-2664. (PR)