Phil Andrews, a widely respected business leader and President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC), is being recognized for his far-reaching leadership, advocacy, and economic empowerment work that has significantly shaped the landscape of small business development across Long Island and New York State.
For consecutive decades, Andrews has been at the forefront of strengthening minority-owned businesses, expanding access to resources, and building cross-sector partnerships that uplift communities. Under his leadership, LIAACC has grown to become one of the most influential and award-winning chambers in the region—recognized by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) as the 2019 Chamber of the Year, a historic honor for New York State.
Driving Economic Empowerment Across Long Island
Andrews’ leadership on Long Island has resulted in groundbreaking initiatives to support entrepreneurs, including:
- Expanding technical assistance, mentorship, and procurement readiness programs for small businesses.
- Building unprecedented partnerships with municipalities, academic institutions, and corporate entities across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings Counties.
- Leading high-impact events such as Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Month celebrations, Pre-Small Business Saturday activations, and year-round capacity-building workshops.
- Championing legislative and economic policies that open doors for minority- and women-owned businesses.
A Statewide Voice for Small Businesses
Beyond Long Island, Andrews has emerged as a statewide voice for inclusive economic development. He has collaborated with New York State agencies, supported small business recovery efforts, and advocated for equitable access to funding and opportunities in local and state ecosystems. His work has helped shape statewide conversations on entrepreneurship, diversity in commerce, and community-based business development.
A Career Rooted in Service, Leadership, and Impact
Phil Andrews’ career spans leadership roles in business, civic organizations, and law enforcement. He has been honored with numerous awards for leadership, community service, and economic empowerment. Andrews also serves on multiple boards and advisory committees, where he continues to help shape strategies that uplift communities and drive sustainable growth.
About the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) is New York State’s largest African American chamber and a leader in providing pathways to business success. Serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings Counties, LIAACC delivers high-impact programming, advocacy, and support to help small businesses grow to scale.