Jerry Tan is parade grand marshal

This year’s Liberation Day Parade grand marshal is community leader and TanHoldings president and CEO Jerry Tan.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang described Tan in a statement yesterday as an accomplished business leader “who has selflessly given back so much to our community.

“He deserves this honor because of his work through the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, which has a strong reputation of philanthropy that has made a difference in the lives of our students and our residents in need.

“Immediately after Super Typhoon Yutu, Jerry immediately led efforts to bring relief goods for residents on Saipan and Tinian, pledging $1 million to our recovery. We thank him for his great contributions to the Marianas,” Apatang said. 

Tan is president and chief executive officer of TanHoldings, a diverse holding company based in the CNMI that has done businesses in the Western Pacific for over four decades.

He has been named Executive of the Year by Guam Business Magazine, Employer of the Year by the CNMI Society for Human Resource Management, and Business Person of the Year by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

He is very passionate about volunteerism and giving back to the community. He is the president of the Chinese Association of Saipan, the vice chairman of Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and the chairman of the Pacific Century Fellows Marianas Chapter, a non-profit leadership mentoring program for young people working in both the public and private sectors of the CNMI.

Jerry Tan

Tan is a current board member of the Marianas Visitors Authority and a special adviser to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres for trade and tourism.

A strong advocate of sports and a healthy lifestyle, he serves as president of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, the Northern Marianas Badminton Association, and the Saipan Bowling Association. The Northern Marianas Sports Association recognized him as the Sports Administrator of the Year in 2016.

Tan graduated magna cum laude from the University of Guam with a double major in Accounting and Management. He calls the CNMI his home with his wife Lydia and his daughter Nathania.

A pair of Commonwealth Utilities Corp. crew are setting up the grandstand for 73rd Liberation Day parade yesterday. The parade will be held today from the National Office Supply to the Garapan Fishing Base from 2pm to 5pm. (MARC A. VENUS)

“I am deeply humbled and grateful to be chosen as this year’s grand marshal. This is one of my first-time experiences, and I am excited to watch the parade from the viewpoint of somebody who is in the parade,” said Tan. 

“I always watch the parade every year, as long as I’m on-island, and I make it a point to watch from beginning to end. It’s very entertaining to see the beautiful floats and watch all members of the community very well represented.

“I wish everyone will have a meaningful celebration, especially since we’re also celebrating this year the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan. Happy Liberation Day CNMI!” he said.

For more information, visit saipanmayor.net or the 2019 CNMI Liberation Day Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CNMILiberationDay. (PR)

The 2019 Liberation Day Committee. (Contributed Photo)