Our Story
Orientation is a social enterprise based in the United States specialized in labor migration providing expertise in due diligence, worker voice, and human rights in the global supply chain. Founded in response from receiving constant inquiries from migrant workers from South East Asia, we began a partnership with a local migrant shelter in Asia.
Those migrant workers helped us develop our method for building trust and verify situations with evidence. This shaped our work-centric approach in understanding how to address labor supply chain issues. We offer solutions for businesses, governments, and civil society to improve an understanding of migrant workers and work towards a more responsible and sustainable supply chain.
Our Team
Charles Niece
Director
Charles leads the Orientation Team. He began working with migrant workers alongside the Maryknoll Society. He started their apostolic project, Care of Creation: Supply Chain Due Diligence Program, assisting distressed migrant factory workers and catalyzing dozens of audits and investigations for non-compliance and legal violations in the global supply chain. These included coordinating projects in Asia as well as in Europe.
In 2023 he was selected as an Ethics Academy Scholarship Grantee by the Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI) funded by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and KMPG LLC.
He earned his MBA from Providence University, 靜宜大學, in Taichung, Taiwan. Charles speaks English and Tagalog, as well as basic Mandarin.
Michael Ryan Mercene
Project Consultant
Michael has over twelve years of experience in the manufacturing industry. He is also a training instructor with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines.
Michael specializes in solving labor issues within the Philippines migration corridor.
Michael supports the Orientation Team by engaging with migrant workers, government officials, and third-party broker agencies. Mike is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Mandarin.
Joseph Niece
Program Advisor
Joseph brings extensive experience in crisis management and employment relations. His background in the United States Army as a captain in the military police saw him working with and processing several thousand Afghan refugees for resettlement.
Joseph assists the Orientation Team by analyzing supply chain and sourcing, as well as engaging relevant stakeholders and partners.
He received a certificate in paralegal studies from Liberty University, his B.A. in Labor Studies from Rutgers University, and earned his MBA from University of Mary.
Jessa Mendoza
Worker Empowerment Advisor
Jessa has ten years’ experience working in two overseas Japanese manufacturing plants. Jessa supports the Orientation Team by establishing trust and building bridges with workers, particularly vulnerable female migrant workers.
Jessa provides grievance support and responds to inquires of workers and offers problem solving solutions. Jessa is fluent in Tagalog and English.
