Saipan Chamber to elect board members tomorrow

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will elect the new members of its board at its monthly general membership meeting tomorrow, Nov. 6, 2019, at the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The Chamber will also launch a new and improved official website, with a presentation on the website’s new features, which include discussion forums, employment opportunity listings, collaborative community calendar, the Member-to-Member Information Center App, and more.
“This website will change the way we as the Chamber move our business community forward through enterprise,” said a statement from the Chamber yesterday.
Together with the meeting is the annual election of the Chamber’s board of directors. The Chamber elects its board each year in November for the following year. Four positions are available.
This year, our candidates are: Alex Sablan (Century Insurance), Glen Hunter (The Shack), Michael Dotts (Dotts Law Office), Michael S. Johnson (Deloitte & Touche), Perry Inos, Jr. (Triple J Saipan), Ron Smith (Angil Design), and Velma M. Palacios (IT&E).

ALEX A. SABLAN
Sablan has been involved with the Chamber for over 27 years and has served on the Chamber board for over 20 years.

Sablan is or has served as a chairman or board member for the following organizations: member, 2016 and 2019 of Governor Torres Covenant Section 902 Consultations Team; chairman, Northern Mariana Business Alliance Corp.; member, Garapan Revitalization Committee; vice chair, Pacific Century Fellows; president, Fiesta Resort and Spa “Rockers’ Soccer Club; chair, 2017 & 2018 Executive, Legislature & Judicial Advisory Salary Commission; vice chair, 2015 and 2019 CNMI Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; Commonwealth Cancer Association; member, Guam Chamber of Commerce Maritime Affairs Committee; member, board of directors, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands; member, advisory board for the CNMI Public Radio KRNM 88/89.1 FM; chair, Past Presidents Council of the Rotary Club of Saipan; president, Association of Seaport Tenants and Operators of Saipan, Inc.; and board member, CNMI Contractors Association.

He also previously served as the CNMI representative to the American Cancer Society Guam/CNMI Presence Unit board of directors; chair, 2000 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Event; president, Rotary Club of Saipan; board member, Rotary Club of Saipan; and member, Kagman Komunidat Association. Sablan was the Chamber representative for the regional exclusive economic zone forum with Guam delegates and has served as chairman of both the Government Relations and Economic Development Committee and the Events Committee.

He currently works at TanHoldings as vice president of Corporate Business Development. Prior to this and for over 20 years, Sablan held management positions in the transportation industry on Saipan and Guam, at Saipan Shipping Company as its marketing/administration manager; he was an owner’s representative for a multi-diversified transportation company: heading Seabridge Micronesia as managing director; Pacific Air Inc., general sales agent for Northwest Airlines Passenger and Cargo Sales, as general manager-Saipan and Micronesia; and Saipan Crew Boats and Saipan Pilots, as general manager. Sablan has also been the general manager of Ambyth Shipping on Saipan.

Sablan is married to Jolene Guerrero Sablan and they enjoy their children and three grandchildren: Jesse Jr., Nicolas, and Levi.

GLEN HUNTER
Hunter is the owner of three Chamber member companies: The Shack, the Airstream, Go Hydro.

He has been a member of the Chamber for the last 13 years (PTC, then Transpacific, then The Shack). Most recently, he’s been actively engaged with the membership committee, helping with new membership orientations, mentoring new entrepreneurs at Pitchfest, and co-conducting trainings for the Saipan Young Professionals.

As an entrepreneur and small business owner, Hunter is running for the board of directors to provide insight on the issues impacting small businesses and support initiatives that will lead to sustainable development on the islands.

MICHAEL DOTTS
Dotts is a lawyer and the owner of the Dotts Law Office, a law firm with three attorneys serving Saipan businesses, and a Chamber member.

Dotts has been involved with the Chamber on and off for more than 20 years.

Recently Dotts has been involved with the Chamber’s government relations committee and helps comment on proposed legislation that will affect Saipan businesses.

He is running for the board because right now more than ever there are problems facing Saipan businesses and he hopes that his experience as an attorney will be a benefit to the board in standing up for the business community.

MICHAEL S. JOHNSON
Johnson is the office managing partner of Deloitte on Saipan and is a long-time resident. He is a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the CNMI Society of Certified Public Accountants, initial chair of the CNMI Board of Accountancy, president of the CNMI Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants, and treasurer of the Hotel Association of the NMI.

Johnson has been a member of the Chamber for 29 years and has served 15 years on the board of directors. As an active board member, Johnson has served as treasurer for the last five years ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility with Chamber finances.

Johnson cares deeply about the wellbeing of the Commonwealth and believes this is supported by a strong business community. He wants to continue ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility of SCC.

PERRY INOS JR.
Inos is the Business Development manager of Triple J Saipan. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and is completing his masters in International Business and Finance.  He has been twice recognized by Marianas Business Journal for his accomplishments as a young entrepreneur and professional.

Inos has been a member of the Chamber for seven years and has served four years on the board of directors. He has engaged in the GREL Chamber committee, BoD Human Resources, and BoD Branding special committees.  He also recently served as a mentor and judge for the inaugural Pitchfest event, helping young entrepreneurs.

Inos brings consistency, energy, determination, and experience to the board.  His main goal this coming term is to elevate the Chamber to national standards, strive to bring more resources to its membership, and give value to membership dollars.

RON SMITH
Ron Smith is president of Angil Design, Inc.

He has been a member of the Chamber for 19 years, and has served on the board of directors for two terms. Along with being actively engaged in the Government Relations Committee, Smith also volunteers his technical support for the Chamber office and provides on-demand assistance with technical editing of Chamber correspondence and documents.

Smith is running for a board position because he believes that he can make a positive contribution to the board through strong consensus building and a significant contribution toward the concise formulation of board statements and policies.

Smith will bring a long-term perspective informed by extensive experience gained from work with multiple government agencies and private companies. In addition, he has extensive and diverse experience serving on the boards of NGOs, which can be leveraged to benefit the Chamber.

VELMA PALACIOS
Palacios is the director, Network of Operations & Engineering, at Chamber member IT&E Saipan.

Palacios has been a member of the Chamber for more than 10 years and has served over seven years on the board of directors, serving the last four terms as president. As president for the Chamber, Palacios actively engages in meetings with federal and local government partners, local business associations, and members on behalf of the Chamber. She also tries to actively engage in all Chamber committee work.

Palacios is running for a board position to continue private/public partnership with respect to workforce issues, infrastructure and other ways to ensure a sustainable development to support the CNMI economy.

All Chamber member representatives will be given the opportunity to vote for their candidate of choice. Number of votes is determined by company membership category (i.e., Category B- two votes) Your name must be listed as an official representative. The Chamber is also accepting proxy votes with the submission of an official email and/or completed proxy form.

Lunch will be served at 11:30am and the meeting will begin promptly at noon. The luncheon fee is $25/Chamber member and $35/non-member. The Chamber is accepting reservations of six or more. To reserve or for more information, contact the Chamber office at (670) 234-7150 or email administrator@saipanchamber.com. (PR)