Palacios heads Chamber board

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho swears in the 2020 Saipan Chamber of Commerce officers and board members at the Business Person of the Year Gala last Saturday at the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (Bea Cabrera)

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho swore in this year’s Saipan Chamber of Commerce board members and officers last Saturday at the Chamber’s Business Person of the Year Gala at the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom.

Velma Palacios, who is an IT&E-CNMI officer and was sworn in as Chamber president for her fifth term as the group’s leader, expects the year 2020 to be “another year of challenges with respect to the economy both at a national and local level.”

“We are still waiting for the regulations for the NMI Workforce Act and still many questions regarding our workforce. We have the national immigration policies affecting our tourism industry and now the threat of coronavirus,” she said.

Palacios, who was first elected Chamber president in 2016, said responsibility of leading the business group “feels greater because there is a different issue we face as a community every year that impacts the business community.”

The other members of the 2020 SCC board of directors are Joe Guerrero of Jiang Zheng Group Inc and Naked Fish, who serve as vice president; Ty Pauling of Hyatt Regency Saipan, who is secretary; Mike Johnson of Deloitte & Touche, who is treasurer; and board members Alex Sablan of Century Insurance, Shayne Vilanueva of AON Insurance, Marcia Calvo of Calvo Insurance, Glenn of the Shack, and Janelle Pangelinan of Pacific Insurance Underwriters.

According to Palacios, among the Chamber’s immediate plans are its continued partnership with the Northern Marianas Business Alliance Corp. and working with the office of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) and the Torres administration to get more clarity on the Northern Marianas Islands Workforce Act.

“We are looking at refining our programming to ensure that we are best serving our Chamber members with the resources we have. We have sent out surveys to our membership to see what is important to them. From their feedback, we are taking our existing programs and making sure they align with the will of the members,” Palacios said.

With the installation of the Chamber board members, achieving goals and priorities are currently underway.

“I have worked with these individuals as part of the Chamber board and other capacities. …All bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the board. I enjoy working with them and I am grateful for their energy and commitment to the Chamber and to help our business community and our islands prosper. I have every confidence we will work together to carry out the Chamber’s mission,” Palacios said.

She assured that the Chamber will continue to advocate for CNMI families, the community, and livelihoods by promoting and supporting the success of the private sector.

“I would also like to encourage our membership to join our committees to provide their inputs, ideas and recommendations to move this goal forward,” Palacios added.