PCF names the Marianas Chapter’s Class of 2015

The Pacific Century Fellows Marianas Chapter held its second annual Selection Saturday event on March 14, 2015, at Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan, which resulted in the choosing of the second group of Fellows for this program. A panel of notable community leaders made up the committee of judges picked to screen program applicants. Candidates were evaluated based on outstanding achievements, community recommendations, strength of character, leadership potential, communication skills, and community activities.

While some applicants were not selected this year, the overall candidate pool was stellar and undoubtedly impressive, leaving the judges with no easy task. After a series of interviews, followed by consideration of candidate achievements and grueling deliberations, 12 candidates were selected to become Fellows of the PCF-Marianas Chapter. The Class of 2015 is an impressive group comprising individuals who are educators and civil servants and representatives from the business sector.  These selected Fellows are between the ages of 24 and 44, and the program established this age bracket as a means of selecting individuals who are mid-career and looking to move forward on innovative and creative paths.

The 2015 Fellows Class includes: Rosalia Aldan, admissions specialist, Northern Marianas College; Amanda Allen, director of Distance Learning Education, Northern Marianas College; Edward Arriola Jr., marketing manager, Tan Holdings; Natalie Mable Ayuyu, office manager, RE/MAX Paradise Realty; Alex Camacho, general manager, Hertz/Triple J; Luis John Castro, public information specialist, Office of the Governor; John Demapan, transit information specialist, Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority; Michael Ernest, assistant attorney general, Casino Commission, Attorney General’s Office; Jonathan Liwag, Information Technology manager, Northern Marianas College; Judy Mendieta, management accountant/executive officer, Tan Holdings; Jaclyn Mendiola, Juvenile Court counselor, Division of Youth Services, Department of Community & Cultural Affairs; and Mark Rabauliman, secretary, Department of Commerce.

The PCF Marianas Chapter is a leadership development program with the sole purpose of uniting potential leaders and strong community intellectuals in order to strategically address some of today’s most pressing matters. The Chapter is an extension of the PCF Program based in Honolulu, Hawaii, and founded by former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann. The program jump starts with a Leadership Retreat for building cohesion as a class and tailoring of the program year to better fit the Fellows’ learning and the current issues of our islands. The program year will then carry on with monthly sessions where Fellows will interact with leaders and skilled professionals from various sectors of business and government and all walks of life. The Fellows will graduate upon completion of the program year, and the knowledge gained from the program will go a long way to making more broad-minded leaders, more creative problem-solvers, and more confident global citizens.

Board chair Jerry Tan extends his congratulations to all of the newly inducted Fellows, and hopes that this adventure will lead all Fellows and the CNMI to a brighter, more solutions-oriented future.  “I am confident this program will be promising in bringing together future leaders, and enhancing their potential and ability to create better and more sustainable solutions for the CNMI,” Tan said. “I am pleased with the launch of the PCF Marianas Chapter, as it comes at a time when we really need fresh ideas at the table to tackle some of our age-old problems. I am hopeful that this program will continue to grow in the CNMI and I wish the Fellows Class of 2015 the very best on this adventurous and worth-while investment.” (PCF)