Clinton Taps Mike Patel For Advisory Group

WASHINGTON, D.C.? Mike Patel, co-founder/president of the Atlanta-based Diplomat Hotel Corp., has been named to President Clinton?s new Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Established via Executive Order 13125 as a result of ?the growing emergence of of this segment of the U.S. population,? the basic premise of this advisory group will be ?to forge a new and stronger partnership between the federal government and the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities in order to bring forth meaningful change,? Patel said. ?The key objective of this commission will be to bring about greater federal awareness of the needs of this segment of the population, as well as to work to improve that segment?s quality-of-life through increased knowledge of, and participation in, the full range of federal programs open to them,? he explained. In addition to serving as advisors and consultants accessible by each governmental department and agency, Patel pointed out that another major aspect of the new commission will be ?to educate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the fact that there are additional benefits to U.S. citizenship than just being in a new homeland.? Summing up the mission of the new council, Patel said: ?Our challenge as I see it is to work to build one America.? With reference to the particular point-of-view he will be bringing to the commission, Patel noted that as an entrepreneurial-minded, business-and-association-oriented veteran of the lodging industry, he is particularly eager to meet with several commerce and economic development branches of the federal government such as the Small Business Administration. ?There are a number of financial and competitive issues I look forward to addressing with these governmental agencies, issues that often impact Asian Americans? and Pacific Islanders? ability to succeed more than they do that of more mainstream segments of the U.S. population.? Among those issues mentioned by Patel as needing introduction and follow-up are: banking terms and restrictions, particularly when the government is involved as a ?partner? because it?s backing 70% to 80% of the loan through the local bank; minimum-wage guidelines and legislation; and immigration concerns. Other items that can be expected to be brought up for discussion include such overlooked facts as a 14% poverty rate among this segment of the U.S. population, as well as greater access and appreciation of health care opportunities. ?Our job is to help improve the quality of life among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by helping assimilate them into U.S. society… while being mindful of their wishes to keep their cultural and ethnic identities intact,? Patel said. Overall, Patel said he welcomes this position with the advisory commission as it will afford him greater access to government officials and the national decision-making process. ?This position allows me to act as something of an unofficial lobbyist for the lodging and hospitality industry, an industry that now ranks as the second-largest employer in the U.S. And that?s one statistic I intend to make sure is clearly conveyed to those throughout the various chambers of the federal government,? he noted. A founding member, past chairman and current industry relations chairman for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Patel joins 14 other top-ranking business and governmental executives of Asian, Pacific or Far Eastern lineage on the new White House-initiated council. Selected to chair the commission is former House of Representatives member Norman Mineta, whose prior experience includes the founding and chairing of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.