Chamber elects ’09 board of directors

Members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce elected the organization’s 2009 officers and directors at its Nov. 5 general membership meeting.

Current president Jim Arenovski of Delta Management Corp. was elected to a second term, director Doug Brennan of Microl Toyota was elected vice president, and treasurer Mike Johnson of Deloitte and secretary Kathryn Barry of PTI were re-elected to their respective offices.

The three vacancies for directors at large were filled by newly-elected Mark Birmingham of Marianas Cablevision and current directors Steve Jang of Rainbow Color and David M. Sablan Sr. of Century Insurance. Current directors Alex Sablan of Saipan Shipping and Jay Santos of Triple J Saipan are in the middle of their terms on the board.

Chamber officers are elected for one-year terms and directors at large are elected for two-year terms.

Arenovski said: “This group of individuals will provide the strong leadership that the Chamber is going to need as the Commonwealth business community navigates the many challenges that face us in 2009, including the federal takeover of immigration matters, which will impact our tourism industry as well as our nonresident worker program. We are also facing another federally-mandated minimum wage increase and a local economy that is in an extended depression. I look forward to working with these board members to represent and to forward the interests of our business community.”

He also reflected on the successes of the Chamber in 2008, describing the year as a busy and productive year for the board. “We accomplished a great deal and laid the foundation for further achievements in 2009.”

In particular, Arenovski pointed to the relationships that the Chamber forged with federal officials with whom the Chamber leadership met numerous times both on Saipan and in Washington, D.C., concerning the federal takeover legislation and to the good working relationships the Chamber has developed with the local Legislature and administration.

Arenovski also highlighted the Chamber’s accomplishments with respect to local educational issues. “This past year, we conducted a number of half-day sessions open to high school juniors and seniors to help them prepare to enter the workforce, we continued our tradition of awarding scholarships to some highly-qualified high school seniors who were heading to college, and we are looking at expanding the program to include trade school attendees for next year.”

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has approximately 160 members, ranging from individuals and small companies to some of the largest companies in the Pacific region. The Chamber regularly appears before and works with government agencies, elected officials, and other business and civic organizations to improve the business climate and economic and civic development of our islands. Today’s Chamber not only promotes and protects business interests, but also works to promote the civic interests and general health and welfare of the Commonwealth community as a whole.

Aside from serving as an advocate for the business community, the Chamber annually awards college scholarship funds to deserving Commonwealth high school seniors; members have collectively hosted hundreds of visiting military personnel through the Invite-a-Sailor program; and its forums and workshops have educated and informed thousands of members and non-members on topics that affect businesses, the economy, and community.[B][I] (SCC)[/I][/B]