DFS tops 2014 Corporate Challenge

A total of 11 companies participated in the 2014 Saipan Chamber of Commerce Corporate Challenge, with Duty Free Shoppers Saipan coming out victorious on Sunday, May 25, at the Minatchom Atdao in Susupe.

A stiff breeze and beautiful weather cooled the tough competitions that included teams from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Coca Cola, Triple J (two teams), Hyatt Regency Saipan, DFS, Marpac, Fiesta Resort and Spa, IT&E, Delta Management Corp., and G4S.
DFS took first place with 77 points.

“This is their first win ever and DFS had a strong showing in all four events, and the dancing Saipanda took center stage in their dance routine,” said Chamber of Commerce executive director Jill Arenovski.

DFS president Marian Aldan-Pierce was happy with their win. “We’re delighted to have our very first win after so many years of participating,” she said.

IT&E provided close competition in second place with 75 points, while Delta Management’s dance and jingle won the Spirit Award.

Each winning teams received prizes such as a large box of goodies and gift certificates that were all donated by Chamber members.

This year’s theme was “Celebrating the Workforce.”

According Arenovski, the event started with a new twist—“each team was invited to sing or dance a jingle to best represent their company.”
Delta Management amused the crowd with a song-and-dance pantomime of windshield-wiping, gasoline fill-ups, and great customer service.

Coca-Cola “showed their unstoppable spirit” with cheerleaders, pompoms, and props.

IT&E sung to the popular YMCA by the Village People while Hyatt line-danced, took selfies, and invited bystanders to “join and shake it.”
“These four teams were top scorers for the first event,” Arenovski said.

The favorite tug-of-war was again a hit with the crowd, while the third event, called “Corporate Feud,” required each team to guess the most popular responses to random questions, similar to the television game show Family Feud.

The final event was an “Obstacle Relay Race” that took each team through the fields of medical work, waitressing, office work, and banking—wearing hard hats while running the course.

“Most teams brought family and friends to help cheer them on throughout the event and to join in their barbecues and relaxation between games,” Arenovski said.

Team and raffle prizes were donated by Coca-Cola, D&Q, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Kanoa Resort, Docomo Pacific, Fiesta Resort and Spa, IT&E, Pacific Islands Club, Marpac, Xerox, and Pacific Trading Co.

“Special thanks to G4S as well for providing security service for the event area after tent setups on Saturday and to KKMP’s Gary Sword for providing the sound system and music for the entire day,” Arenovski said.

The Chamber also expressed “deep gratitude” to First Hawaiian Bank, Saipan Shipping Co., Bridge Capital LLC, and Pacific Islands Club for donating entry fees even though their companies were not able to participate in the weekend event.

“All proceeds from the event will go directly toward the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund. The Chamber’s Education Committee grants multiple scholarships every year to local students,” Arenovski said.

This year’s scholarships will be awarded at the general membership meeting on June 4 at the Saipan World Resort.

“Awards of $2,000 each will be awarded to five high school students and one scholarship to a Northern Marianas Technical Institute applicant,” Arenovski said.

For more information on the event and the organization, contact Jill Arenovski at (670) 233-7150, email her at executive@saipanchamber.com, or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/saipanchamber.