Empowering Filipino VAs

🌟 Meet Alistair Mercado: Founder & CEO of Kasama Connect™️ At 43, Alistair Mercado, a proud Filipino American, combines a rich military background with entrepreneurial spirit. Born in Olongapo and learning English there, he grew up in Manila, San Fernando Pampanga, and Japan before immigrating to the United States and serving 20 years in the U.S. Military. He has held roles including Station Commander in Hawaii and a metro station in California and now works as a Network Developer for a defense company. From running Cellular Trend at 19 to founding VETTED USA LLC, Alistair recently reclaimed 60 hectares of ancestral land in Pampanga and authored Reclaiming Your Heritage. A philanthropist for veteran transition, he believes "Everyone deserves a shot at their dreams." Graduating with an MBA from Azusa Pacific, he leads Kasama Connect™️ to bridge the Philippines and the U.S. 🚀 “De Oppresso Liber” — AVM

🌺 Meet Chris — a Waipahu native from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi! After moving to Washington State in 2000, Chris earned a degree in Psychology with a Biology minor from Seattle University and began his career at Amgen in biotech R&D. He coached soccer (2013–2017), founded Seattle Bubble Soccer LLC (featured on KING 5 and The Seattle Times), and now supervises production at Bio-Rad Laboratories. Chris builds systems and relationships that uplift others—on the field, in the lab, and in business. 💪✨

Shana Casey, Marketing Director at KasamaConnect™, grew up a military brat, gaining adaptability and strong communication skills. She began in sales at Cingular and AT&T, managed a clothing boutique, and sold ad space—learning persuasion and storytelling. She led email campaigns, rose to Marketing Director at a VA startup while earning a Psychology degree, and drove millions in ticket sales for live events. Shana focuses on authentic storytelling, brand positioning, and trust to grow KasamaConnect™.