BizGrowth Challenge highlights collaboration for growth

Pushing for more involvement in the agriculture industry was among the major ideas that came out of the first day of the BizGrowth Challenge Launch Symposium at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center yesterday.

“The people commented that more community members, particularly the youth, should be engaged in farming,” said long-time business owner, consultant, and instructor Rik Villegas, who spearheads the BizGrowth Challenge campaign.

Villegas said the attendees agreed that the community should look at agriculture as a “serious career” and proposed establishing a farmers’ cooperative to get local farmers more organized and coordinated.

He said the general interest in farming is “moving up to the next level.”

“More people are looking at this as a business venture. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of mindset change,”

Yesterday’s symposium, which was attended by some 25 individuals, was free of charge and featured two breakout sessions, which focused on agriculture and the other in general business.

Villegas conducted the business workshop while aquaculture consultant Michael Ogo, Dr. Marisol Quintanilla, and Dr. Allan Sabladica of the Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension & Education Service facilitated the agriculture workshop.

Villegas remains hopeful that today’s symposium will attract more participants to get the BizGrowth Challenge going.

“I hope there would be 200 business persons to participate in this. But if we could just get 50 who will be seriously involved, that would be great,” he said.

Villegas assured that, as long as there are participants, he will continue with the BizGrowth Challenge.

BizGrowth Challenge aims to improve the local economy and quality of life in the CNMI by working with organizations and experts to provide businesses with affordable resources to effectively achieve sustainable growth. The second day will give an overview of the BizGrowth Challenge and help improve existing businesses through different personalized hands-on activities and training sessions.

Some of the attendees interviewed by Saipan Tribune said the workshop was beneficial particularly for the business community.

Lawyer Joseph Camacho said the workshop sends a message to those who want to make their businesses improve.

“It’s best for them to educate themselves, get to know other people in the business community, and move in that direction… People should think ahead and get involved in opening their own business,” he said.

Tony Mareham, who owns a small translation and documents handling business for five years now, said the workshop is a great motivation for him.

“This workshop opened up and expanded my mind that there are people there doing related business. We can join and market it together,” he said.

Commerce staffer Maggie Camacho said she attended the symposium to give out information from the standpoint of the department.

“I think it’s one way of getting people more informed for a better planning to be successful in their business endeavors… To become successful, you have to improve yourself. One way to do that and to know how to be successful is to attend workshops like this,” she said.