6 nominees for two SYP annual awards

The Saipan Young Professionals Committee has named four nominees for its 2017 Community Leadership Award and two nominees for its Rookie of the Year Award.

The winners will be announced at the SYP Christmas party on Friday, Dec. 8, at Latte Stone Room of Kanoa Resort. The nominees were announced at SYP’s monthly meeting last Nov. 21.

The following were nominated by SYP members and mentors for the 2017 Community Leadership Award: Nicole Babauta (CNMI Small Business Development Center), Emanuel Borja (Hofschneider Engineering), Glen Hunter (The Shack), and Shayne Villanueva (Roil Soil).

Villanueva is also nominated for the 2017 SYP Rookie of the Year award, together with Tania David of the Bank of Guam.

Each nominee is a member of the Saipan Young Professionals Committee of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to joining CNMI’s SBDC, Babauta worked at DFS Saipan Ltd. as a learning & development specialist and for the United Services Automobile Association in Colorado Springs as a financial foundations specialist. As director of CNMI’s SBDC, her position enables her to support the economic development of the Western Pacific region and act as a mentor, resource, and guide to small businesses at no cost. She is a graduate of University of Phoenix and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Global Business Management and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Borja graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. He began work for the Division of Environmental Quality as a regulatory engineer specializing in erosion control and solid waste management. At DEQ, with the Earthmoving and Erosion Control Branch, he worked to improve compliance of construction project stormwater management controls. Borja is currently employed at Hofschneider Engineering Corp., where he uses his environmental background to aid in the design of environmentally responsible infrastructure. Borja has also worked as a part-time instructor at Mount Carmel School, where he taught AP Calculus for four years. Although he is no longer teaching, he currently does freelance tutoring.

Outside of work, Borja volunteers with the Marianas March Against Cancer, where he has served as overall chairperson for two years and treasurer for five years. He has been an administrator for CNMI MathCourt for six years as a test writer, scoring administrator, webmaster, and head coach for Team CNMI high school. He has also volunteered as choreography director with Stellar Marianas for two years.

Hunter owns and manages “The Shack,” a restaurant. He has extensive experience in the beverage trade, retail/wholesale industries, new media and technology development, as well as networking and computer-related services. He also supports social causes and volunteers for United4Saipan, CNMI C.O.R.E. and the CNMI Long Term Recovery Team. In 2015, he received the Saipan Young Professional Community Leadership Award.

Villanueva, an alumnus of Mt. Carmel School, began his career in the sales industry. Roil Soil Clothing came to be in May of 2015. In September 2016 Villanueva moved back to Saipan and partnered with Kagman High School art teacher Peter Aldan to create a unique company. Villanueva works fulltime as operation manager for AON Insurance.

Villanueva supports charities/movements and was awarded a Bank of Hawaii grant for small businesses to help continue the mission of Roil Soil. On top of his nomination for the Community Leadership Award, he was also nominated for the 2017 SYP Rookie of the Year.

Another nominee, David, is currently the assistant vice-president/operations manager at Bank of Guam’s Garapan Branch. She has been with Bank of Guam since 1997.

David was a Liberal Arts major at the Northern Marianas College in 2009 and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

David is a former overseas committee chair of the Girl Scouts of the NMI, former chair/vice chair, Family Readiness Group-Echo Co., Det. 1, 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Regiment, and former Member of Pet Assistance & Welfare Services.

She is currently president of the Bank of Guam Employees Club, treasurer to the Soroptimist Int’l of the NMI, and a fellow of the Pacific Century Fellowship 2017 cohort.
To find out who will receive the 2017 Community Leadership Award, join the SYP at its Christmas party. To purchase a ticket or for more information contact the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Office at (670) 234-7150 or visit Marianas Business Plaza, third floor, Suite 315. For the latest information on the SYP Committee, visit their Facebook page at Saipan Young Professionals (https://www.facebook.com/syp96950). (PR)