PCF Class of 2019 holds retreat in Guam

Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter’s Class of 2019 and some members of the Class of 2014 join Guam Young Professionals officials for a group photo at the latter’s office on Papas Airport Road in Guam last Tuesday.(Contributed Photo)

As part of a three-day retreat, members of the Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter’s Class of 2019 are in Guam, meeting the island’s public and private sectors officials.

Class members Nola Hix, Kevin Bautista, Lorenza Aldan, Manny Castro, Christopher Ching, Bonny Cruz, Ricardo Cruz Jr., Clinton Dela Cruz, Kaelani Demapan, Alexis Hofschneider, Amber Lynn Mendiola, Le’An Murphy, Benjamin Petersburg, Michael Sheu, Leila Staffler, Noelle Macario, and Rep. Sheila Babauta (I-Saipan) and Class of 2014’s Bobby Cruz arrived in Guam last Tuesday and had their first stop at the office of Guam Young Professionals on Papas Airport Road. The group also visited the Guam Power Authority, University of Guam, Guam Community College, and Guahan Museum.

“I’m looking forward to learning more about the issues on Guam and how they relate to the CNMI. Many make comparisons between the two island communities and, although we are similar in many ways, there are major differences we tend to forget, like population, military presence, and structure of government,” Babauta said.

The lawmaker and the 18 other class members continued their meeting and discussions with Guam’s government officials and the business community last Wednesday, visiting the offices of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, the 35th Guam Legislature, Guam Chamber of Commerce, and the Guam Economic Development Authority.

“We have a fully booked schedule and I look forward to visiting all of the different organizations, but because I am a legislator, I’m really excited to meet the speaker and senators of the 35th Guahan Legislature. It will be interesting to hear their collective perspective on the Marianas as a whole while building relationships with these leaders, not to mention they’re mostly women and often referred to as the ‘Ladieslature.’ What a moment in history!” Babauta added.

Aldan and Castro are thankful to Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter for coordinating the Guam visit, as this gives them the opportunity to talk to those in charge of Guam’s development and learn from them.

“We are meeting a dynamic group of agencies and leaders and I am excited for the opportunity to meet our regional counterparts in various industries, for reason that the work of each of these agencies are vital to the overall social and economic success of Guam,” said Castro, the director for Northern Marianas College Enrollment Service.

The class will conclude its retreat today with a meeting with Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, commander of Joint Region Marianas. The group will also tour Andersen Airforce Base, Naval Base Guam, and the U.S. Marines Corps Base.

The event in Guam is the class’ fourth in a series of retreats that seeks to give participants insights on tourism, education, government, health care, business, and other sectors affecting the CNMI by talking with experts in their fields.

Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter is a nine-month leadership development program organized by the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and modeled after the Pacific Century Fellows of Hawaii. (PR)