BY CRYSTAL LAU of the Queens Press
Phil Andrews, honored as one of the Kings of Queens in 2014, is currently the president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., which serves Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings Counties.
The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit business that aims to aid minority-owned businesses in the region, connecting members with business and government leaders and helping them obtain minority certification.
“The mission of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is to advance and promote economic development for business and to advance responsive government and quality education on the behalf of all small businesses, with emphasis on African Ancestry, while preserving the Long Island community,” Andrews explained.
Its goal is to “create a trade zone in the African-American community between the four counties,” said Andrews. “We are huge advocates of diversity.”
In fact Andrews also sits on the board of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, largely comprised of the Asian community present in Flushing.
The LIAACC is located in Freeport in Nassau County, but had launched its inaugural Brooklyn Chapter at Brooklyn Borough Hall in March earlier this year. Since then Andrews, a Flushing resident of 12 years, has been in talks with the Queens Borough presidential office to host a similar launching within Borough Hall in Kew Gardens.
The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. president graduated from City University of New York- John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Prior to his position at LIAACC Andrews had held esteemed positions in several companies and corporations including 100 Black Men of Long Island, Inc. and PA Public Relations Co.
The appraised LIAACC president has also received multiple awards in recognition of his involvement in the communities in the four counties.
In 1995, Andrews was presented the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce/Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award.
In 1998, he was presented with the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce/West Indian Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award.
In 2005, Andrews received a Proclamation for Outstanding Service to New York’s 10th Congressional District presented by Congressman Ed Towns, in addition to reviewing proclamations from former Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gullotta, and former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino.
In 2005, Andrews was also inducted into the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. as a Member Visionary.
Last October, Phil Andrews was honored as one of the thirty-nine 2014 Kings of Queens in the seventh annual “King of Queens Awards & Networking Event.” Those dubbed as kings were honored for their outstanding leadership and contribution to the borough of Queens.
As an active community member of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn, Phil Andrews is hoping to expand the LIAACC further by launching the organizations website by the end of this summer.
