PacBiz: Association of Pacific Islander Businesses & Professionals is a nonprofit organization fiscally sponsored by the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Alliance. Our mission is to empower Pacific Islander small businesses and professionals by fostering connections, sharing educational resources, and building a supportive network for growth and success. The association serves professionals of every level — any individuals interested in advancing their careers or helping others to do the same — in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Where We’re From
Long ago, in a California suburb far, far away, a group of young-ish Pacific Islander professionals were looking for a way to put their skills to work for the community, a way to give back. A handful were new entrepreneurs, another handful community organizers, and a few were both. Quickly they identified a gap in the services that our Pasifika nonprofit organizations weren’t already covering: the need to provide small businesses and professionals at every level access to resources and connections they could leverage to succeed.
PacBiz was born! Over the years, we’ve hosted stellar mixers, lent our skills to massive community efforts, and, most importantly, confirmed the huge need for help for Pasifika-owned small businesses. Now, with more experience under our belts and even more ideas for small biz services, we’re excited to launch PacBiz 2.0!
What We Offer
We’re starting with the basics:
- a website featuring a directory of businesses and professionals, news posts on common pain points and best practices, and links to small biz resources, and
- an occasional mixer to give folks a chance to link to and learn from each other.
Down the road we’ll add enhancements to the site and to our activities to offer more ways for organizations and businesses to connect with clients, customers, and community. If you like what you see, tell a friend … or stranger; we’re not particular. And, if you’d like to help out or have thoughts to share, drop us a line.
We’re glad you found us.
Who We Are
ART MEDINA
Owner of AA Auto Detail with 10+ years as an entrepreneur and 20+ years in higher education. BA in Anthropology from CSU Long Beach.
JAZMINE SCANLAN
Business executive and community organizer with 21+ years of leadership experience in the commercial biotech, pharmaceutical and medical industry. BS in Communications and Media Studies from UC San Diego.
TRISHA PEREIRA
Owner of Designs Pacific – Wood Artistry of Oceania with 15+ years as an entrepreneur and 25+ years in business administration.
ERIC SCANLAN
Actor and writer with 10+ years in TV and film and 20+ years in medical/pharmaceutical sales and management. BA in Marketing/Marketing Management from Duke University.
VAL LIHANG JACOBO
Experienced innovator with 31+ years in project and program management in higher education, regulatory, and healthcare industries. MA in Public Policy & Administration from CSU Long Beach.
RALPH MISA
Owner of Ralph Misa Visuals with 17+ years as professional photographer and 10+ years in business development and technical recruitment. BA in Public Administration from Azusa Pacific University.
JASON “JP” PEREIRA
Owner of JP Design Company, artist, muralist, and cultural bearer with 30+ years as an entrepreneur in the apparel and fine art industries.
LAURA AVA-TESIMALE
CEO of One Global Family Alliances, social entrepreneur, impact investor, humanitarian, sacred activist, and community organizer with 30+ years in nonprofit management and mortgage banking.
RITA SCANLAN
Civil servant and freelance editor/writer/designer with 25+ years as a communications professional and 15+ years in community organizing. BA in Communications from CSU Bakersfield.
PacBiz – Committed to Community Since 2009
