Bio to follow.
Gus Mercado
Gus Mercado is a well-known business and community leader in Texas. He is State Executive Director of the Philippine-American Chamber of commerce of Texas and Founding Region Chair of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG), and the National Federation of Filipino Associations (NaFFAA). He is a recipient of the presidential Banaag Award for Outstanding Community Leadership, “TOFA (TwentyOutstanding Filipinos in America)” award from the Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Willie Gaa; “Ten Most Outstanding Filipino Businessmen in the U.S.” from the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce in Greater Chicago.
He was voted “US Jaycee of the Year” 3 times in 3 US cities, a world record in the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) organization. He received the Gintong Alay (Outstanding Pillar) award from the North Texas Fil-Am community and the Distinguished Service Award from Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss for exemplary community service.
He is Chairman & CEO of Datalogix in Texas and Silicon Valley, the only Filipino-owned and one of the fastest-growing wireless IT/telecom companies in the U.S., servicing cell sites that provide 5G coverage to millions of cellphone users nationwide. His multi-million dollar telecom/IT company has employed more than 200 minority telecom engineers (mostly Filipinos) in 22 states. Worked as Executive of Rockwell/Alcatel International, Caltex World HQ and Sprint Global, and San Miguel Corporation in the Philippines.
He gained national prominence as “the Hero of the Texas 10” when he spearheaded a national campaign to free a group of Filipino airline mechanics who were incarcerated and mistreated in Texas prisons for 6 months as an overreaction to 9/11. Raised funds for their legal defense, gathered 1,000 signatures for President George W. Bush, took care of the inmates and their families for 6 months, and eventually won their acquittal and release.
During the revolutionary government of President Corazon Aquino, he was appointed charge-d’-Affaires of the Consulate General in Houston. He was Publisher/Editor of Business Horizons, an award-winning global business CEO magazine with circulation in 92 countries. He graduated with honors and a Presidential Scholar at De La Salle University where was Editor-in-Chief of the De La Salle Commerce Journal, and Editor of their high school yearbook. Along with his wife Philippine Consul Ethel Mercado, he organizes and leads Trade and Investment Missions to the Philippines and Asia. They also sponsor annual golf tournaments to benefit victims of natural disasters.
Celeste Rose Monderin
Work Experience:
- Worked as an Administrative Officer for a primary and secondary level Private School and as the former Regional Sales Supervisor for Crispa Textiles Inc. back in the Philippines before migrating to the US in 2007.
- Distributor at Pure Health Solutions, an authorized Saladmaster Dealership with 13 years experience in Team Management and Direct Sales Marketing.
- Owner and Marketing Director for Custom Hardwood Flooring LA and is in charge of the business development and creating marketing strategies for the business.
Community Involvement:
- Membership and Marketing Chairperson for the LA Synergy Lions Club
- Board Member and Membership Committee Deputy at the FACC-GLA.
Educational Background:
- BS in Marketing De La Salle University – Dasmarinas
Merwynn Montenegro
Merwynn R. Montenegro is an Executive Director for American Workers Insurance Services that specializes in Affordable Dental and Supplemental Health Insurance. He worked in the Real Estate Business as a Mortgage Loan Consultant for over 25 years. Merwynn is the Charter Founder and the current President of The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Tri-County ( FACCTC ). He is also the Co-Founding Board of Director of the Coalition of Fil-Am Chambers of Commerce of Southern California (COFACC ).
He went to De La Salle University in Manila and majored in Liberal Arts & Commerce and is now one of the officers of One La Salle of Southern California. He immigrated to the United States in 1980, and later met and married his wife Sylvia Montenegro who currently works as a Psychotherapist for Kaiser Permanente. They now have 4 wonderful children named Steven, Kathleen, Diane, and Kevin.
Merwynn enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his family, as well as practicing martial arts for the last 17 years. He attained a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do together with his 2 eldest children. Merwynn has strong faith with God and practices his Catholic religion together with his family.
