PCF-Marianas Chapter holds third leadership series

The 2015 class of the Marianas Chapter of Pacific Century Fellows held their third leadership series in Fiesta Resort Guam last June 24 and 25.

In the “Guam Retreat,” members of the fellowship program had a chance to speak with officials who are counterparts of some agencies on Saipan.

Members of the Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter pose with Guam Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio and other resource speakers at their third leadership series entitled “Guam Retreat” held in Fiesta Resort Guam last June 24-25. (Contributed Photo)

According to PCF-Marianas Chapter vice chair Alex Sablan, the reason why they chose the June resource speakers is because the CNMI is presently having the same issues that Guam also faced.

Among the resource speakers was Guam’s Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio who spoke about the then military proposal on their island and how they handled it.

Another speaker was John Benavente who is the Guam Power Authority’s interim general manager. Benavente discussed the path which Guam took with regards to its utilities.

Mark Baldyga, chairman of the board of Guam Visitors Bureau, spoke about Guam’s 2020 Tourism Plan and laid out the ways on how their government is planning to achieve the two million tourists that they are targeting.

Guam’s initiative to seek investors who will build high-end, quality hotels was also discussed.

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority’s chief operating executive and administrator Lewis Theodore was also among the resource speakers and talked of Guam’s recent issues in their hospital.

Speaker Judith Won Pat and members of the 33rd Guam Legislature were also part of the program.

During the second day of the retreat, the group made a tour of the Joint Region Marianas Headquarters, Naval Base Guam, Naval Hospital, as well as the Andersen Air Force Base.

Tourism and culture

According to Sablan, the group will be discussing tourism and culture for the fourth series to be held this month. Government and education were tackled during the earlier series.

Through this, the fellows will have a chance to meet and discuss with the government about the effects of the casino industry as well as the pros and cons of the military to the CNMI’s tourism.

Also lined up for the fellows in the nine-month program is a retreat to Hawaii where they will meet with the PCF there. In December, they will be organizing an outreach on the cause of their choice before their graduation in January.

Currently, PCF-Marianas Chapter has 12 fellows which is a mix of individuals involved in the private and public sector.

The PCF-Marianas Chapter is a leadership development program created by the Tan Siu Lin Foundation through Tan Holdings with Jerry Tan as its chairman.

The fellowship program emulates the objectives of Hawaii’s PCF program by joining hands with other businesses and organizations as sponsors to bring together the CNMI’s most promising individuals from all walks of life, fields, and professions.