New heads of CPA appointed

The Commonwealth Ports Authority appointed Wednesday two persons to be in charge of the government agency handling seaports and airports of the CNMI.

Chris Tenorio and Ed Mendiola were appointed CPA executive director and CPA deputy director, respectively, starting Christmas Day.

Tenorio has been the acting executive director in the past eight months while Mendiola is the current airport manager.

Tenorio has been working for CPA the past 21 years, while Mendiola will mark 22 years with CPA this February.

Tenorio would replace CPA executive director Mary Ann Lizama, who is said to be in Portland, Oregon receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Tenorio was speechless upon receiving news of his promotion.

“I am happy and I think there is no change because I have been acting for eight months already. We just need to continue doing what we are doing,” he said.

Tenorio said a lot of the programs that he envisioned for CPA have already been in action since being the acting executive director.

“We are going to keep adding more programs as we go along. Right now, I have a good team with me and I believe we are all working together as one. With that, we are going to be coming up with a lot of programs not only for our staff, but also for improvements of airports and seaports of Saipan, Rota, and Tinian,” said Tenorio.

Mendiola was also keen with his new appointment. “It’s a vigorous responsibility, but I’m willing to take that responsibility,” he said.

When asked as to who would take over the position of airport manager, Mendiola said, “I would still be in charge of the airport until the time that a new airport manager will be hired. In the meantime, I would still be the airport manager.”

Their appointment would take effect this Dec. 25.

CPA board chair Jose Lifoifoi believes both are qualified. “They are qualified because they have been with the CPA for quite some time,” he said. “Chris started with the seaport before I assigned him to the airport. This decision came about because of health issues of previous CPA executive director Mary Ann Lizama,” he said.

The CPA board voted unanimously to appoint the two to their respective positions after a motion made by CPA board member Roman Tudela and seconded by CPA board member Kimberlyn King-Hinds.