About/Leadership

Executive Board

Part I

Executive Board

Avi Mendieta

Founder · President

Avi Mendieta

Lifestyle Chef · Nutrition & Wellness Coach · Filipino

Co-Founder · Vice President

Ivy Seo

Web Developer, BUILDYOURSNOW · Founder, Secure Memories · Korean

Jamie Rogers

Co-Founder · Vice President

Jamie Rogers

Real Estate Agent, John R Wood Properties · Thai

Cheri Longo

Inaugural Board Director · Strategic Alliances & External Affairs

Cheri Longo

“My vision is to help APWS become one of Southwest Florida's most respected and influential multicultural professional organizations.”

Real Estate Advisor & Lifestyle Curator (REALTOR®, CIPS, USC™), a Naples resident and investor for more than 20 years, and Editor & Publisher of the KW Naples Luxury Collective Journal. Filipino-Canadian and Filipino-American.

Committee Leadership

Part II

Committee Leadership

Ching Schueddig

Programs & Events Chair

Ching Schueddig

Health & Wealth Coach · Singaporean

Miemie Chang

Vice President of Finance

Miemie Chang

Finance & Business Executive · Burmese

Marie Grasmeier

Strategic Finance & Treasury Lead

Marie Grasmeier

CPA, Grasmeier Business Consulting · Korean

Membership Committee

Hong

Vietnamese

Programs & Events Committee

Julie

Vietnamese

Event Coordinator

Lyn Wagner

Filipino

Advisory Council

Part III

Advisory Council

Judy Wright

Office Manager · Chinese

Kim Slote

Therapist, Florida Coast Counseling · Korean-American

Structure

Committee map.

Know who to contact. Every committee member can be reached directly.

Finance

Treasury

Marie Grasmeiermarie@apws-s.org
Miemie Changmiemie@apws-s.org

Growth

Membership

Honghong@apws-s.org

Experience

Programs & Events

Ching Schueddigching@apws-s.org
Juliejulie@apws-s.org
Lyn Wagnerlyn@apws-s.org

Voice

Marketing, Comms & PR

Jamie Rogersjamie@apws-s.org
Ivy Seoivy@apws-s.org

How we lead

Stewarding the circle with intention.

01

Set direction

Keep every initiative aligned with our mission and with what members value.

02

Share access

Open doors and make introductions that expand opportunity.

03

Govern well

Lead transparently, responsibly and with cultural respect.

04

Serve locally

Bring our collective experience to the needs of Southwest Florida.

Governance & transparency

Avi Mendieta

Founder · President

Avi Mendieta

TitleLifestyle Chef · Nutrition & Wellness Coach
HeritageFilipino
Emailavi@apws-s.org
marivic@chefandbteam.com
Social@thechefandbteam

Marivic Mendieta is a globally seasoned culinary storyteller whose life and career have unfolded across cultures, continents, and cuisines. Born in the Philippines, she earned her degree in Mass Communication from Far Eastern University in Manila, beginning her professional journey in local radio before exchanging the studio for the world of international hospitality.

Her early career led her into some of the world’s most distinguished lounges and cigar rooms, from The Peninsula Manila to Shangri-La Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, where she served as Director of Operations for Tabac Inc. and La Flor de Isabela under Tabacalera S.A. and Habanos S.A. These formative years immersed her in the disciplines of taste, craftsmanship, and global luxury.

Fluent in Tagalog, Spanish, French, and English, and conversant in four regional Filipino dialects, Marivic has lived and worked in more than twelve countries. She spent years as an expatriate alongside her former husband, a French hotelier, and later established deep roots in Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the French Riviera, where she co-owned a Mediterranean restaurant known for its soulful, market-driven cuisine. Today, she divides her time between the south of France and the United States, embracing a transatlantic lifestyle that continues to shape her culinary perspective.

In Florida, Marivic expanded her entrepreneurial path as the owner of Rice Republics, while also stepping into the healthcare sector, where she spent two years with a healthcare group as Director of Sales and Marketing, based between Maryland and Miami. This experience sharpened her strategic leadership and deepened her understanding of wellness-driven service.

She ultimately returned to Naples, Florida, to fully concentrate on her own culinary ventures, founding The Chef and B Team, a gourmet catering and private chef brand celebrated for refined, health-conscious cuisine and bespoke dining experiences.

A gourmand, health advocate, painter, and lifelong adventurer, Marivic has skydived, sailed, and explored open-air markets across the globe. Her evolution from an accidental cook to private chef, culinary entrepreneur, and author is a testament to reinvention, proof that the most meaningful transformations occur when one dares to say yes to life’s many flavors.

Co-Founder · Vice President

Ivy Seo

TitleWeb Developer, BUILDYOURSNOW
Business Owner, Secure Memories
HeritageKorean
Emailivy@apws-s.org
ivy@buildyoursnow.com
Social@ivying

Ivy was born and raised in South Korea and now leads Website Development & Management for the Asian Professional Women Society.

Ivy strives to live with faith, hope, and love while being herself.

She is the founder of Secure Memories, LLC, a concierge service that digitizes photographs so they can be preserved for generations in the Naples area, where hurricane seasons can threaten irreplaceable memories.

She also builds websites through her web design company, BUILDYOURSNOW. Through its outreach program, she provides complimentary websites for small churches and ministries that may not otherwise have the resources to establish one.

Jamie Rogers

Co-Founder · Vice President

Jamie Rogers

TitleReal Estate Agent, John R Wood Properties
HeritageThai
Emailjamie@apws-s.org
Kjamierogers@gmail.com
Social@jamierogers_realtor

Jamie Rogers is a Thai-born licensed Florida real estate sales associate based in Naples, Florida. With a background in communication and public relations, Jamie brings warmth, professionalism, and a people-centered approach to her work.

Jamie has a strong interest in real estate, investing, lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and personal growth. She enjoys sharing helpful information, building meaningful relationships, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.

As part of APWS, Jamie is passionate about supporting women, building community, and helping create opportunities for connection, growth, and empowerment. Her experience as a Thai woman building a life and career in America gives her a unique perspective on resilience, confidence, and personal transformation.

Jamie believes success is not only about professional achievement, but also about purpose, community, and lifting others along the way.

Cheri Longo

Board Director · Strategic Alliances & External Affairs

Cheri Longo

TitleReal Estate Advisor & Lifestyle Curator · REALTOR® | CIPS | USC™
HeritageFilipino-Canadian & Filipino-American
Emailcheri.longo@kw.com

Advancing purposeful alliances, elevated visibility, and enduring opportunity for Asian women throughout Southwest Florida.

As the inaugural Board Director of Strategic Alliances & External Affairs, Cheri is establishing APWS's framework for engaging corporate, civic, professional, educational, nonprofit, and cultural organizations. Drawing upon an established record of convening influential professionals and transforming introductions into productive alliances, she is expanding the organization's resources, visibility, and regional influence while preserving its cultural pride and sense of belonging.

In Naples, Cheri has established a record of strategic community-building. As an active member of the KW Naples Luxury Committee, she authored its business plan and helped shape its gatherings into refined forums where complementary professionals exchange insight, establish strategic alliances, and create new opportunities within Naples' evolving luxury community.

A Naples resident and real estate investor for more than 20 years, Cheri guides investors seeking to build generational wealth through real estate. With a considered and highly personalized approach, she connects international investors with builders, developers, architects, interior designers, capital advisors, and wealth managers to curate properties, investment strategies, and lifestyles aligned with their aspirations.

A proud Filipino-Canadian and Filipino-American, Cheri's cultural fluency reflects a lifetime immersed in Filipino traditions and the broader Asian diaspora. Born in Toronto to Filipino parents from the Visayas, she later lived in Chicago and traveled extensively throughout Asia. These experiences deepened her respect for heritage, family, hospitality, entrepreneurship, humility, integrity, and gratitude.

Community-building is also part of Cheri's family history. In the early 1980s, her mother became a founding member of the United Aklanon Association of Toronto and left a lasting record of cultural stewardship, service, and connection within the city's Filipino community.

Cheri is the visionary behind the Generational Legacy Collective, powered by KW Naples Realty, and Editor and Publisher of the KW Naples Luxury Collective Journal. Her work brings together global real estate, strategic investment, elevated design, cross-cultural relationships, and purposeful storytelling.

Vision for APWSMy vision is to help APWS become one of Southwest Florida's most respected and influential multicultural professional organizations, one whose leadership, visibility, and impact reflect the strength, diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and contributions of the Asian community throughout our region.

The opportunityAsian residents represent approximately 2% of the population in both Collier and Lee counties (Collier 1.9% | Lee 2.0%), with current estimates identifying nearly 20,000 non-Hispanic Asian-alone residents across the two counties. Because that figure does not include multiracial Asian residents, Hispanic Asians, Pacific Islanders, or others within the broader diaspora, the community's full presence is greater. Nationally, Asian-owned employer businesses generated approximately $1.2 trillion in receipts in 2022, the highest total among minority race groups.

Intentional growthI want APWS to grow with intention while preserving the friendship, cultural pride, generosity, and sense of belonging at its heart. Growth should not be measured by numbers alone, but by our capacity to elevate Asian women, amplify their voices, strengthen their businesses, connect generations, and expand the organization's influence throughout Southwest Florida.

Strategic alliancesI will establish a purposeful framework for developing relationships with corporations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, educational institutions, and community partners. By grounding our outreach in credible demographic and economic insight, I intend to position APWS as a valuable strategic partner, not simply as an organization seeking support.

A legacy of purposeMy mother was a founding member of the United Aklanon Association of Toronto, and I witnessed how an organization built with purpose could preserve culture, unite families, and strengthen a community. I now have the opportunity to carry her example forward by helping APWS build something equally meaningful and enduring: a legacy of connection, opportunity, cultural pride, and collective influence that I can leave to my children, my family, and future generations of Asian women.

Ching Schueddig

Programs & Events Chairperson

Ching Schueddig

TitleHealth & Wealth Coach
HeritageSingaporean
Emailching@apws-s.org
transcendglamor@gmail.com
Linktranscendglamor.com

Ching Schueddig is a Health and Wealth Coach, who helps women improve their energy, metabolism, and overall well-being while creating an additional stream of income that supports a life of freedom and flexibility.

Originally from Singapore, Ching has traveled to over 100 countries and built her life around the belief that time freedom is not a luxury; it is a decision.

Through a combination of wellness coaching, community-based events, and business mentorship, Ching teaches women how to build sustainable habits that support healthy aging, increase energy and mental clarity, and create an income stream that does not compete with their life but supports it.

Her approach is simple, relational, and rooted in real life.

Miemie Chang

Vice President of Finance

Miemie Chang

TitleFinance
HeritageBurmese
Emailmiemie@apws-s.org
miemiec26@gmail.com

Miemie Chang is an experienced finance and business professional with a strong background in financial advising, insurance, accounting, business operations, and international business development.

Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles including agency owner, financial advisor, vice president of finance, and controller/CFO. Known for her strong work ethic and commitment to helping others, she brings a practical, results-driven approach to business and finance.

Fluent in Burmese and English, Miemie has experience working across both U.S. and international markets. In her free time, she enjoys prayer, community service, and supporting charitable causes, with a personal commitment to promoting peace, compassion, and giving back to others.

Marie Grasmeier

Strategic Finance & Treasury Lead

Marie Grasmeier

TitleCertified Public Accountant, Grasmeier Business Consulting
HeritageKorean
Emailmarie@apws-s.org
marie@mariecpa.com
Linkmariecpa.com
Phone239-450-2105

Grasmeier Business Consulting was founded in 2009 by Marie Grasmeier. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, Certified Global Management Accountant, Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, and member of the American Institute of CPAs, The Florida Institute of CPAs, The Institute of Management Accountants, STEP International, and International Advisory Experts.

Marie and her team specialize in assisting real estate investors with tax planning and compliance and working with entrepreneurs through the entire lifecycle of a business from start-up to succession planning. She is a frequent speaker on real estate tax topics at national conventions and personally invests in various real estate ventures.

Marie is a contributing author to two Amazon bestselling books, has received numerous business awards, and received the President of the United States Volunteer Service Award for her work with the American Red Cross.

Off the clock, Marie enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, running marathons, and is certified to teach Zumba, LaBlast, Aqua, Yoga, Indoor Cycle, and Group Fitness classes.

Membership Committee

Hong

HeritageVietnamese
Emailhong@apws-s.org

Hong serves on the Membership Committee, welcoming new members and helping each woman find her place in the circle.

Programs & Events Committee

Julie

HeritageVietnamese
Emailjulie@apws-s.org

Julie serves on the Programs & Events Committee, helping shape the gatherings that bring APWS members together.

Event Coordinator

Lyn Wagner

HeritageFilipino
Emaillyn@apws-s.org

Lyn coordinates APWS events, from logistics to the warm welcome at the door, and has opened her own home to host the circle.