MYPros names 3 young professional nominees

The Marianas Young Professionals, or MYPros, has named three nominees for its inaugural Young Professional of the Year award, and the winner will be named at the “White Sand Gala” this Saturday, July 22.

The nominees are Rob Travilla, Bobby Cruz, and Nola Hix.

Saturday’s “White Sand Gala” this Saturday, from 6pm to 10pm, at Surf Club Saipan, also celebrates the second anniversary of MYPros and honors its members with the Volunteer of the Year award and the Spotlight Award.

Details were announced during Young Professionals Week that was celebrated from June 26 to 30.

ROB TRAVILLA
A creator, a designer, and artist, Travilla began working on cultivating his talents at the age of 13 with the tattoo artist Edong Elenzano of Megavision El Drako Tattoo.

He then created and founded the Salbahe’ brand in 2006. After almost 10 years, he co-founded Tribe Marianas in 2015.

Since its debut, Tribe Marianas has been one of the fastest growing brands on this side of the Pacific. With over 10,000-plus followers on their social media outlets, Tribe Marianas has become one of the most followed companies in the CNMI.

In the past year, Tribe Marianas collaborated and partnered with global entities such as Budweiser, Toyota, Docomo Pacific, and with T Galleria DFS Saipan. Through its online store, Tribe Marianas has shipped to California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, and Korea.

Travilla has also been giving back to the community by being an active member of Marianas March Against Cancer since 2012 and a supporter of Kagman High School’s Million Dollar Scholar Program.

BOBBY CRUZ
Cruz has been with the Public School System for nearly a decade, as a teacher, a curriculum manager, a school administrator, and director of Instructional Technology.

Cruz has a bachelor’s in English Literature, a master’s in International Education, and is in the final stage of completing his doctorate on Educational Leadership.

Cruz is most passionate about education. He believes that education is the sword against poverty, the mechanism for significant progress, and the roots of innovation. This is Cruz’s life’s work here in the CNMI. It happens to be the focus of his dissertation.

Outside of his professional role, Cruz plays tennis and paddle. In the 2010 Micronesian Games, he brought home a silver and bronze medals in tennis. He has served as a tournament director for local tennis events and has held the post as a tournament umpire for the locally hosted International Tennis Federation Junior Championships.

Cruz is also a competitive paddler and a board member of the Marianas Outrigger Club. He and his team members have volunteered their time to lead padding clinic and inspirational talks.

Cruz’s other activities range from supporting cleanups and volunteering with the Salvation Army, to mentoring students seeking a college pathway, to facilitating free professional developments, to serving on the steering committee for the Marianas March Against Cancer.

NOLA HIX
Nola Kileleman Hix is the Services & Solutions executive for Xerox Corp. on Saipan, a position which she has held since 2012. After high school, Hix began her career in the radio industry for Sorensen Media Group (Power99) as an on-air personality. At 21, she was promoted to Business Account manager before accepting a position as the marketing coordinator for both IT&E and Docomo Pacific, until joining Xerox.

For the past five years, Hix managed over 1,000-plus accounts in the CNMI.

She has a long record of community service. Since 2013, Hix has been the sponsorship chair of the Commonwealth Cancer Association’s Marianas March Against Cancer Committee, and has been an active board member of the American Red Cross NMI Chapter as a Club 200 chair. From 2012-2014 she served as the coordinator for CNMI Operation Homefront where she and Geri Willis have worked to send care packages to military personnel across the globe.

In 2015, Hix co-founded Marianas Young Professionals (MYPros) and as vice president. Shortly after, she worked with United 4 Saipan to provide necessities for people affected by Typhoon Soudelor.

Hix has remained active in various professional activities and has served in different capacities as a secretary, director, and now member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and is the national committeewoman for the CNMI Democratic Party.

Throughout her 14-year professional career, Hix has been recognized as the 2016 Xerox President’s Club, 2016 Guam Business Magazine “40 under 40 Community Spirit Award,” 2015 Saipan Chamber of Commerce “Business Person of the Year” nominee, 2014 Saipan Tribune’s “Person of the Year” (as part of Operation Home Front), 2014 Guam Business Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” and 2013 Xerox PAR CLUB Award.

The “White Sand Gala” this Saturday will feature a variety of dishes from the Surf Club Saipan and all-you-can-drink from a line-up of beverage sponsors. Tickets for $40 each are still available for purchase. Email mypros.670@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/mypros670 for more information. (PR)