Meet the Saipan Chamber candidates

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will be electing its 2007 Board of Directors today, Nov. 8, during the general membership meeting at the Saipan Grand Hotel.

There are nine positions on the board, and eight of the positions are open. Directors other than Chamber officers serve for a term of two years. Board member Kathryn Barry will be completing the second year of her two-year term.

The candidates for the various open positions are:

– President Juan T. Guerrero

– Vice President Alex Sablan

-Secretary Jim Arenovski

-Treasurer Michael Johnson

Board of Directors (four open positions)

-Harry Blalock

-Becky Castro

-Steve Jang

-David M. Sablan Sr.

The election will be conducted by past president Jay Jones, who will take additional nominations from the floor at the meeting. The Saipan Chamber of Commerce bylaws state that any candidate for office must meet the following minimum qualifications:

The candidate must have held membership in good standing in the Chamber for a period of not less than one year.

The candidate must have attended at least 20 percent of the Chamber’s General Membership meetings of the current calendar year.

The candidate must have actively participated in one or more committees, seminars, forums, and projects presented as opportunities for Chamber involvement of the current calendar year in order to gain valuable insight of the Chamber functions and goals.

Candidate for president/chairperson of the board must have served a full term on the board of directors within the last five years.

Today’s membership meeting will also feature a presentation by DPS Commissioner Rebecca Warfield. Visit the Chamber website at www.saipanchamber.com. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]FOR PRESIDENT

JUAN T. GUERRERO

Juan T. Guerrero & Associates[/B]

Born in a U.S. Naval Hospital in Maturana Hill on Saipan, Juan “Pan” T. Guerrero is the sixth of 12 children of Herman Reyes Guerrero and Maria Camacho Tenorio. As a business executive, he has held numerous professional positions including vice president and director of Saipan Hotel Corp. (Hafadai Beach Hotel); president of Mita Travel/American Express Representative & Western Union CNMI Representative; president of GTS Ent.; president of Juan T. Guerrero & Associates; president/general manager of Herman’s Modern Bakery Inc.; president/CEO of Paras Ent.; president of GTS Security; president of GT Investment Inc.; partner of JTG Investment Inc.; director of Marianas General Corp.; director and secretary of Pacifica Insurance Underwriters; director of Micronesian Insurance Underwriters Inc.; president of Saipan Stevedore Co. Inc.; maintenance of Campbell Soup factory in Omaha Nebraska; secretary/treasurer of Rota Industrial; board of director for Rota Terminal and Transfer Co. Inc.; held all-around positions at J.C. Tenorio Ent.; and was even a clerk at the Capitol Hill Post Office.

In addition to his vast business background, he has held prestigious political positions. These include being a member of the House of Representatives for the 4th CNMI Legislature; member of the Senate for the 5th and 6th Legislature; president/director of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands; chairman for the Committee to elect Froilan C. Tenorio and Jesse C. Borja; overall chairman for the inauguration committee for governor-elect Froilan C. Tenorio and lieutenant governor-elect Jesse C. Borja, overall chairman of the 50th anniversary of WWI Commemoration, and board member of CPA.

Juan Pan has also been involved in civic and community services where he was the president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce; president of PTA for Saipan Community School; member of the Rotary Club; coordinator for the Boy Scouts of America; and is actively involved with the American Red Cross.

His awards include 2004 Recipients of two 14th NMCL House of Representatives Resolutions, a Saipan & Northern Marianas Municipal Council Resolution and a I Leheslaturan Guahan (Guam 27th Legislature), 2003 Guam’s Executive of the Year, 1991 recipient of the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award, American Red Cross National Award; 2002 recipient of the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award; Mountain Pacific Region Level II winner, American Red Cross; 2001-2002 recipient of the Saipan Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award; 2002 recipient of a Commendation Resolution by the I Liheslaturan Guahan (Guam 26th Legislature); and was the 2003 recipient of the Outstanding DSHR Disaster Fundraiser Volunteer Award, American Red Cross National Headquarters.

Juan Pan is married to Roberta Kay Guerrero and is the parent of five children: Vince, Tracy Marie, Jolene Esther, John Daniel, and Michael Robert, and has six grandchildren. He is currently a resident of Gualo Rai, Saipan.

[B]FOR VICE PRESIDENT

ALEXANDER A. SABLAN
Saipan Shipping Company, Inc.[/B]

Alex is currently the Saipan Chamber of Commerce President, and has been an official member representative for approximately 14 years.

Alex was a three-time chairman of the Business Person of the Quarter/Year selection committee, an active member of the Small Business Committee for two years and for a brief stint, sat on the Maritime Committee. Alex was the Chamber Representative for the regional Exclusive Economic Zone forum with Guam delegates and has served as chairman of both the Government Relations and Economic Development Committee and the Events Committee.

Alex is or has served as a chairman or board member for the following organizations: member, Commonwealth Cancer Association; member, Guam Chamber of Commerce Maritime Affairs Committee; board of director for the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands; advisory board for the CNMI Public Radio KRNM 88/89.1 FM; past chairman for the Past President Council of the Rotary Club of Saipan; president for the Association of Seaport Tenants and Operators of Saipan, Inc.; and board member of the CNMI Contractors Association.

He also previously served as the CNMI representative to the American Cancer Society Guam/CNMI Presence Unit Board of Directors; Chairman, 2000 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Event; President Rotary Club of Saipan 1999 – 2000; Board Member Rotary Club of Saipan 1997 – 2000; and Member of the Kagman Komunidat Association.

For the past 15 years, Alex has held management positions in the transportation industry in Saipan and Guam. He currently works at the Saipan Shipping Company as its Marketing/Administration Manager. Prior to this, he was an owner’s representative for a multi-diversified transportation company: heading Seabridge Micronesia as Managing Director; Pacific Air Inc., General Sales Agent for Northwest Airlines Passenger and Cargo Sales, as General Manager-Saipan and Micronesia; and Saipan Crew Boats and Saipan Pilots, as General Manager. Alex has also been the General Manager of Ambyth Shipping in Saipan.

Alex is married to Nora Mae Reyes Sablan and has three children: Amanda (17), Kanani (16) and Sean (13).

[B]JIM ARENOVSKI
Delta Management Corp.[/B]

Jim has lived in the Marianas since 1987. Originally from Yarmouth, Massachusetts, Jim holds a master’s degree in Administration from Georgia Southern University.

In 1987, Jim came from working at ITT Sheraton in Savannah, Georgia, and started his career in the Marianas with the Inter-Pacifica Group as special projects manager for Pacific Islands Club and then became the area manager for Domino’s Pizza Group in Guam in 1989.

Initially hired by Shell Guam in 1991 as a commercial area manager, Jim spent six years with Shell. He was promoted to the position of Saipan area manager and eventually became regional manager for Shell North Pacific, which includes Guam, Saipan and Palau.

In 1998, Jim with his two partners formed Delta Management Corp., a management company, which currently operates seven Shell Service Stations (four in Guam and three on Saipan). Delta Management also owns Prime Group Inc., which is the authorized distributor of pre-paid products, including pre-paid cellular phones and cards and long-distance calling cards for Pacific Telecom Inc. in NMI and Guam.

Jim currently serves as chairman of the NMI CrimeStoppers and has been active in this program for over five years and sits on the Board of Directors of CrimeStoppers International.

Jim lives on Saipan with his high school sweet heart and wife of nine years, Jill. Jim and Jill have two girls, Amy and Nicole.

Jim has actively participated in the chamber for many years, serving on the Education committee and has chaired the Membership committee and Small Business committee. As Secretary for the SCOC, Jim will work with the board in uniting and guiding the Saipan business community through these challenging economic times.

[B] FOR TREASURER
MICHAEL S. JOHNSON
Managing Partner, Deloitte[/B]

Mike is the managing partner of Deloitte on Saipan and in Palau and has been a resident of Saipan for the past 22 years. Mike is no stranger to Chamber activities and held the position of Chamber Treasurer for three consecutive terms in the early ’90s. He is the current Treasurer of the Chamber

Mike came to Saipan in 1982 after earning a master’s degree in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) and a bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He is a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the CNMI Society of Certified Public Accountants and past president of the CNMI Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants. Additionally, Mike was selected by Bishop Thomas Camacho to serve on the financial advisory committee of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and is a past chairman of the CNMI Board of Accountancy.

Mike is married to Betty Hamilton Johnson. They have three children: Kathleen, Sarah and Andrew. Mike participates in various sports including golf, kayaking, biking and triathlon.

[B]FOR DIRECTOR

DAVID M. SABLAN
Century Insurance Company, Ltd. [/B]

David started his business career in 1952 with Atkins, Kroll in Guam as steamship traffic clerk. In 1953, he was transferred to the Automotive Division of Atkins, Kroll as the sales manager of the General Motors Distributorship, a job he held until he resigned in November 1961.

After that, he joined the Bank of Hawaii in Guam, initially as Loan Administrator and eventually promoted as assistant manager until he resigned in 1965, when he rejoined Atkins, Kroll and was instrumental in establishing the Saipan Branch Office of Atkins, Kroll. David was the first general manager of the company. The Saipan Branch of Atkins, Kroll was incorporated as Microl Corp. in 1968. In 1974, when Atkins, Kroll was sold to Inchcape, he was promoted to president, a position he held until he was promoted to chairman of the board in 1985. Sablan retired in 1987. He moved to California where he established a trading company, Central Valley Export Co., family owned and operated for four years.

He joined Gov. Lorenzo Guerrero’s administration in 1990 as Special Assistant to the Governor for Planning and Budgeting. He resigned from government service in January 1993

Aside from being the Special Assistant to the Governor, David also held various government posts, such as:

-Pacific Asia Travel Association board member; member, Strategic Economic Development Council; and board chairman, Marianas Visitors Authority (He served MVB/MVA for 20 years); chairman, 3rd Annual Micronesian Business Council; member, Governor’s Economic Advisory Council; member, CNMI Aviation Task Force.

David’s involvement in tourism industry dates back in 1968 when he organized and became the president of Pacific Micronesia Corp., the first 200 room hotel, Saipan Beach Inter-Continental Hotel. PMC was jointly owned by David, with Japan Travel Bureau, Inc., Keio Plaza Hotel and Inter-Continental Hotels Corp. In 1984, David sold his hotel interest to Japan Travel Bureau Inc. Tasi Tours and Transportation, Inc. was another company he established in 1976 with Japan Travel Bureau, Inc. He was the president of the company for nine years until he sold his interest in 1985 to JTB.

David joined the Tan Holdings Corp. in 1993, where he is presently holds several key executive positions including insurance, hotels, travel and tourism, logistics handling and wholesaling:

-President—Century Insurance Co. Ltd., Century Travel, Century Tours

-Vice-President—CTSI Logistics, Asia-Pacific Airlines, Cosmos Distributing

-Vice-chairman of the board, Asia Pacific Hotels Inc., owning company of Fiesta Resort & Spa; Saipan Grand Hotel; and Century Hotel.

David has been actively involved in various community groups and associations such as the Saipan Rotary Club, Rotary International, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Commission on Federal Laws, Employer Support for the National Guard and Reserve, Fundraising Committee for Reconstruction of Kristo Rai Church, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

[B]FOR DIRECTOR

BECKY CASTRO
Triple J Wholesale[/B]

Becky is currently a very active member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. Earning the Saipan Chamber of Commerce 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award, she participates on the Chamber Armed Forces, Education, and Events Committees. She is Chair of the Events Committee

For the past 23 years, Becky has held numerous jobs in the food industry starting as an intern at International Distributors Guam while attending Guam Community College, where she majored in Accounting. She pursued her passion in Sales with International Distributors, developing her skills hands on, then worked for Kwek’s Enterprises and Market Wholesale.

After reaching Sales Manager level, she found her way to Saipan in 1994 and has been a resident here ever since. She originally worked for Triple J Wholesale as a sales representative. She left Triple J briefly, working for Pacific World Enterprises as a sales manager, until she was offered her current position as general manager for Triple J Five Star Wholesale Foods. She has held this position six years. Wearing many hats under the Triple J umbrella, she was instrumental in the opening of the Garapan Tony Roma/Cappricciosa Restaurants and the family owned Truong’s Restaurant in Susupe.

Her biggest honor yet has been her nomination to the 2006 Business Women of the Year Award. Becky also serves as a Board Director for the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands. She is active with Kristo Rai Parrish Church community planning (with the Kristo Rai Municipal Planning Council) and is also a lector and commentator.

Becky is also a member of the steering committee with the Mariana Visitors Authority Taste of the Marianas, focusing on the Annual Chef’s competition for the past five years. She was also a member of the Women’s Affair’s Office committee on Hearts of the Mariana’s Family Fitness Fair 2003 and a member of the Association of Seaport Tenants and Operators.

As a devoted single mother of two daughters, Deanna (19) and Stephannie (12), she manages to maintain her career demands and her volunteer obligations to Saipan community organizations, and still find time to catch a sunset with her daughters and the newest arrival, grandson Dylan.

[B]HARRY BLALOCK
KZMI/KCNM
[/B] Harry has been involved in the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for the past 10 1/2 years, previously as station manager for KSAI, and for the past five years as general manager for KZMI / KCNM radio stations.

Harry attended college at LeTourneau in Longview, Texas, majoring in Business Administration. He has been in the radio business for 25 years now, working at stations in Michigan, and Saipan, doing everything from hosting morning drive programs, to program director, and managing for the past 10 years. One of the ways he stays involved in what is going on locally is through his weekly commentary, Food For Thought. He has also been involved in public relations and media consulting with former governor’s, politicians and private businesses.

Harry is a past president of the Saipan Rotary Club, and has served on the board for many years as well. He has also served as a director on the Saipan Chamber of Commerce board for the past two years.

Harry & Kelli have been married for 26 years, and have two children, Joshua, 23, and Sarah, 20. Joshua is currently serving in the Air Force and is stationed in San Antonio, Texas. Sarah is finishing up her paralegal certificate at Louisianna State University and graduates in December.

[B]STEVE JANG
Cartridge World[/B]

Steve Jang has been a member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce since 2005, and during that time has been active on the Government Relations Committee. Steve is president of the Cartridge World franchise on Saipan, which he started in 2004. Prior to that time he held a number of positions on Saipan and Guam.

For two years he worked as a sales consultant for Joeten Motors. In Guam, Steve was president of Online Communications, where he developed web design in Korean and Japanese, developed and hosted web pages, and did Internet consulting. He also worked for Teker Civille Torres & Tang Law office, translating legal documents, insurance claims, and performing trial translation in court.

Prior to these experiences, Steve was owner of Video USA, Video Town, Video SA, and U.S. Video on Guam, managing all four stores. He was also president of W.O.W. Jetski and Isla Jet Ski, marketing to Korean and Japanese tourists.

Steve has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a minor in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. His daughter attends the same college, majoring in pre-med, and his son is a freshman at UC Riverside. Steve’s hobbies include golf, tennis, and photography.