Arenovski is Chamber’s 2011 Businessperson of the Year

 Delta Management Corp. president Jim Arenovski bagged the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Businessperson of the Year award,  besting three other nominees whom he also congratulated while accepting his award at the 2012 Chamber Board of Directors installation  dinner on Saturday.

“I was surprised. The other nominees have also done a good job. I guess it’s my time,” said Arenovski, who was nominated at least three  times in the last five years before finally nailing the award.

He said he’s very happy when his name was announced on stage by 2010 Businessperson of the Year and Triple J Enterprises president Robert “Bob” Jones.

In his brief remarks, Arenovksi called on his fellow employers to try to hire local workers and continue to help keep the CNMI as a pristine place for tourists and residents.

He also thanked his employees, his wife Jill, and the Chamber of Commerce, which he has been a part of since 2000. He has been a director, secretary, president, and vice president of the Chamber, the largest business organization in the CNMI with some 150 members.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) also personally presented Arenovski with a certificate of recognition during the event held in the Hibiscus Hall of Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan on Saturday night.

The three other 2011 nominees were Docomo-Pacific CNMI general manager James E. Nelson, Saipan Sea Ventures Inc. chief executive officer Anthony Pellegrino, and Deloitte & Touche managing partner Michael S. Johnson.

Arenovski, originally from Massachusetts, has lived in the Marianas since 1987. He was special projects manager for Pacific Islands Club-Guam before becoming area manager for Domino’s Pizza Group in Guam in 1989.

Shell Guam initially hired him in 1991 as commercial area manager and was promoted Saipan area manager and eventually became regional manager for Shell North Pacific which included Guam, Saipan, and Palau.

In 1998, he and his two partners formed Delta Management Corp., which currently operates eight Shell service stations.

Arenovski founded in 2011 The Bridge Project Inc., a non-profit organization that provides entry-level job readiness training and works with employers to increase the number of U.S. eligible workers.

He has also served on the board of NMI Crime Stoppers for 11 years and is currently its chairman. He also sits on the board of Crime Stoppers International.

2012 board, auction

Superior Court judge David Wiseman installed the 2012 Chamber Board of Directors led by reelected president Douglas A. Brennan of Microl Corp.

The other officers are: vice president Vincent J. Seman of Century Insurance, treasurer Mike S. Johnson of Deloitte & Touche, secretary Jolene G. Torres of MITA Travel, and directors Velma Palacios of IT&E, Eric Plinske of Staywell Health Insurance, Alex A. Sablan of Saipan Shipping Co., David M. Sablan Sr. of Century Insurance, and Melvin Tenorio of Marianas Pacific Distributors.

Brennan, in his remarks, cited notable Chamber projects in 2011 including the first ever CNMI prevailing wage survey. Brennan also enumerated the Chamber’s continuing wish list, including making the CNMI a business-friendly and tourist-friendly destination, development of renewable energy sources, reduction of power rate, redistricting/reapportionment, a vote on Article 12, curbing government overspending, and an accounting of all federal grants that the CNMI received since 2006.

During Saturday’s installation dinner, the Chamber of Commerce also held a silent auction to raise funds for its Educational Scholarship Fund and other educational endeavors.

Among those auctioned off were free hotel accommodations, a Gucci bag, a cellular phone, a floral arrangement, DVD system, and certificates for free 30-second radio commercials, among other things.

Tan Holdings Corp. president Jerry Tan was the keynote speaker.

Chamber executive director Richard Pierce served as master of ceremonies at the event wherein Saipan Southern High School Color Guards led the U.S. and CNMI Anthems while Father Jesse Reyes led he invocation and benediction.