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NMTI partners with Kanoa Resort to train students
Northern Marianas Trades Institute Board of Directors chair John Oliver Gonzales and Kanoa Resort general manager Wendi Herring, right, sign a memorandum of agreement detailing how both sides provide resources toward student training in the areas of hospitality and culinary arts. NMTI CEO Agnes McPhetres, left, looks on. (Contributed Photo)
The Northern Marianas Trades Institute on Tuesday, May 11, signed a memorandum of agreement with Kanoa Resort detailing how both sides would be providing resources toward student training in the areas of hospitality and culinary arts.
Signing on behalf of the hotel was Wendi Herring, general manager of Kanoa. According to the agreement, students will be hired and placed under experienced Kanoa staff during their 230-hour internship requirement. Kanoa in turn will also be encouraging current and future staff to attend foreign language courses at NMTI as part of their professional development.
When asked for comment on the partnership, Herring said, “Seeing the amount of enthusiasm in the community for tourism coupled with programs such as this to further develop our workforce gives me goose bumps as I was here during the initial decline in the industry. I admire the work being done by NMTI to address the growing need to teach and train new hospitality professionals and we are grateful for this opportunity.” The signing of the agreement is yet another move in NMTI’s program expansion efforts. NMTI currently has similar agreements with the Hyatt Regency Saipan and Fiesta Resort & Spa. The current strengthening in the hospitality and culinary arts trades is in direct response to the industry demand. With tourism activities growing and the CW situation being a current constraint, Kanoa and NMTI see this partnership as a means to curb the current strain on the CNMI’s human resource woes.
“Wendi’s active participation is how this became a reality. It’s nice to have her back on Saipan and back in the industry her name is synonymous with since the late ’90s,” according to Agnes McPhetres, NMTI’s CEO. Also in attendance at the signing were NMTI Board of Directors chair John Oliver Gonzales and director Herman Cabrera. Gonzales reiterated, “that partnerships is key in the overall success of our students. Their paid internships are what I feel should attract other prospective students. Kanoa signing up only shows their true commitment as they will be covering that expense willingly, thus an indication that they have faith in the NMTI product.
