ISLAND OUTLOOK

Twenty-seven years of EOY
By Frank Whitman, managing editor

Once again, Guam Business names the year’s Guam Business Executive of the Year, a tradition that has, for the past 27 years, been one of the most watched events in the local business community. The 2009 honoree is the fourth whose prime business interests are in the Northern Mariana Islands, and the fifth who is not based on Guam. Such distinctions though, are becoming less clear as business involvement crosses borders with increasing frequency in the 21st century.

The 2009 Guam Business Executive of the Year, Jerry Cho Yee Tan, president of Tan Holdings, is the son of Tan Siu Lin, an immigrant who moved to Guam 37 years ago and started a business group that is now global. Jerry Tan has assumed his place in the family business with distinction and vigor. He has also contributed generously to the NMI community.

He now takes his place among such local business luminaries as Al Ysrael, Eddie Calvo, Marian Aldan-Pierce, Phil Flores, Mark Pangilinan, Kurt Moylan, Juan Guerrero, John Lee, Ken Jones, Bob Jones and 2008 honoree Laura-Lynn Dacanay.

We were also impressed with caliber of the field of 2009 EOY nominees, any one of whom would have been a deserving winner, and several of whom no doubt will be in the future. They are Corine Berking, general manager of Dewitt Transportation Services; Hee Kyun Cho, president of real estate investment firm JMSH LLC; Matthew Giger, chief business development officer at iConnect; Robert Marks, manager of operations at Parsons Corp.; James A. Martinez, president of the Guam Contractors’ Association; Jay Shedd, president and chief executive officer of Docomo Pacific; and Sinforoso “Rossi” Tolentino, administrative partner of the law firm Carlsmith Ball LLP, Guam office.

Also in this issue is our annual Internet Directory. Writer Melanie Mendiola has done an impressive job of compiling the list of active Web sites in the region. We believe we’ve done a good job of making sure that the directory is as comprehensive as possible. But the World Wide Web has become ubiquitous and dynamic, and keeping track of the changes has become that much more challenging. If you know of an active Web site from the region that belongs on the list, but isn’t there, please let us know.

Melanie also reviewed some of the more interesting Web sites and spoke with those in the know about one of the more recent cyber phenomena — Twitter and elicited some thoughts on its use in the business world. And experts offer some thoughts on purchasing and caring for personal computers. As it has been since Guam Business began, it is our aim to keep our readers informed about the latest in business trends and technology.

Jackie Perry offers readers a look at some of the offerings that some Guam hotels are making toward local residents. Particularly with a drop in visitor arrivals, the hotels are hoping to attract more local business to their restaurants and banquet facilities.

In this issue, we profile President Johnson Toribiong, Palau’s president for nearly a year now. He offers Guam Business readers some of his thoughts on foreign investment legislation in Palau, gambling and dealing with the stresses of his office.

In the Economic Outlook feature of this issue, Joe Arnett, partner in accounting firm Deloitte, gives readers a heads up on some of the recent changes in federal tax laws. The information should serve readers well in the new year.

Many of you will be interested in the special section marking the retirement of longtime Guam businessmen Bill Thompson (the 1997 Guam Business Executive of the Year) and George Baldwin from the board of Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam). Both men have made their mark in the Guam business community and while they have retired and left the island, they have both left a big part of themselves in our community. Aon’s tribute to them is fitting, especially in light of the contributions they made to Aon’s move into Micronesia.

We wish all of our readers a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. There promises to be a flurry of economic activity on Guam and, we hope that our readers make the most of the opportunities that come their way.

Happy New Year.