Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

AN accomplished thirty year US Navy veteran, retired Chief Warrant Officer Tony De Leon Pizzaro was unanimously selected a few months ago as one of the 2009 Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad (TOFA) by the TOFA Panel Board of Judges. Pizzaro is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Integrated Management Enterprises, Inc. and founded VIP Mobile, a technology company that provides research and development of high technology communications specializing in special warfare support for the US Department of Defense.

Pizzaro is also a very active community leader in California, exemplifying true grit, pride and success. Born in Orion, Bataan in the Philippines, Pizzaro was educated at Jose Rizal Institute and later attended the Far Eastern University. He later enlisted in the United States Navy at the US Naval Station, Sangley Point, Cavite City,Philippines.

Tony started as a seaman recruit. He quickly rose consistently and was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer in fifteen years, the highest enlisted rank in the US Navy. Careerists rarely attain this rank and if they do, it usually takes well over 20 years of service. His accomplishments were many and varied; exposing him to food service and supply management, logistics technical and leadership skills he quickly attained. These accomplishments resulted in his selection for commissioning in the Navy Warrant Officers’ Program as US Navy Supply Officer.

After 30 years of successful service, he retired with the highest CWO rank as Chief Warrant Officer Four in 1989. During that tenure of his active duty service he has received many accolades of naval commendation and navy achievement medals.

Upon his retirement from the US Navy, Pizarro embarked in the building of a family-owned 28 unit condominium complex with all the amenities and facilities expected of a luxury living complex. Called Villa Paraiso, it fast became the center of community activities in the heart of National City, California, the clubhouse hosting to the community needs in the area. This experience was the first step in a long series of business successes.

In 1992, Pizarro decided to embark in the business of Government Contracting and founded Integrity Management Enterprises. From a small janitorial contract serving the Border Offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Services, IME attained unprecedented growth, peaking with the US Navy Intra-Service Supply Support Program (ISSOP) employing over 1,600 personnel. Pizarro’s company is now currently in several locations nationwide, including the U S Naval Station, Great lakes, IL managing over 50 facilities; Bremerton, WA maintaining inactive ships in reserve for the US Navy and multiple construction sites in California and Hawaii doing construction works for the Department of Veteran Affairs. He shepherded this company constantly attaining success in all its projects. Mr. Pizarro and his company were endorsed by Congressman Bob Filner CA 50th District for selection for Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Asian American Business Roundtable, on November 2006 in Washington DC.

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( Published on September 30, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )