Awards, media coverage and recognition for local businesses making names for themselves in the region and beyond

Saipan Chamber announces board officers

Guerrero

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce board of directors for 2022 is comprised of Joseph Guerrero, co-owner of Naked Fish Bar & Grill, president; Shayne Villanueva, operations manager for AB Risk Solutions, vice president; Marcia Calvo, account executive with Calvo’s Insurance Underwriters, secretary; Janice Tenorio, manager for customer service, IT&E CNMI, treasurer; and Alexander A. Sablan, vice president at Tan Holdings, Velma A. Palacios, director of Network Operations and Engineering, IT&E CNMI; Nicole Babauta, consumer sales manager for Docomo Pacific, and Joshua Wise, general manager and pharmacist, Pacific Health Inc., all directors.

Quichocho

The Saipan Chamber announced 2022 business honorees, who are Brian Shin, CEO, E-land Group, Business Person of the Year; MarPac Inc., Member of the Year; Jihan B. Younis, of the Caravan of Food restaurant, Saipan Young Professional of the Year; 550 Sails, Non-profit of the Year; TurnKey Solutions, Small Business of the Year, and Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, Startup of the Year.

The 2022 board officers for the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands are Ivan Quichocho, general manager of the Century Hotel vice president of Tan Holdings, chairman; Dennis Seo, general manager, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, vice chairman; Martin Jambor, general manager, Kanoa Resort Saipan, secretary; Michael Johnson, managing partner, Deloitte & Touche LLC, treasurer.

Director Nick Nishikawa, longtime general manager of the Hyatt Regency Saipan has announced his departure from Saipan and return to Japan.

Sunaga

Masuru Sunaga, general manager of Pacific Micronesia Tours Inc., has joined the board of the Marianas Visitors Authority as an elected member. Other board members include E. Viola Alepuyo, appointed; chairperson; Gloria C. Cavanagh, vice president of Mariana E-Land Corp., vice chairperson, elected; Marian Aldan-Pierce, appointed; Christopher J. Nelson, president of Flame Tree TV, elected; Warren Villagomez, appointed, representing Tinian; Tom Liu, appointed; Ivan Quichocho, general manager of Century Hotel and vice president of Tan Holdings, elected; and Agida Quitugua, reappointed pending Senate confirmation, Rota representative.

Duenas

The Guam Association of Realtors announced its 2022 board officers and leadership. Officers are Elizabeth Duenas, associate broker of RE/MAX Diamond Realty and regional director of RE/MAX Micronesia and Philippines, president; Jodee Duenas, real estate agent with RE/MAX Diamond Realty, president-elect; Shawn Blas, principal broker, RE/MAX Pacific Alliance Realty, immediate past president; Loisa M. Cabuhat, realtor, Coral Sea Realty, vice president and treasurer; Karen Pan, principal broker, Ideal Realty, vice president and treasurer-elect, Colleen Blas, realtor, RE/MAX Diamond Realty, secretary; and Peggy Llagas, CEO and government affairs director, Guam Association of Realtors.

State and local directors are Lolita Camit, realtor, Hafa Adai Realty; C. Scott Campbell, principal broker, Coral Sea Real Estate; Dominique Felix, associate broker in charge, realtor and property manager, Century 21 Realty Management; Frederick J. Horecky, attorney and realtor, Marilou S. Lacson, real estate agent, Coral Sea Real Estate, Phillip Law, managing partner and realtor, The Property Shop; and Suzanne Naputi, realtor at Today’s Realty.

National directors are Bree McDowell, vice president and realtor with Advanced Management Inc. and R. Bobby Sachdej, principal broker, Landmark Realty Group.

Arellano

Hospital group announces Employee of the Year
Roger Arellano, manager for Facilities and the Central Utilities Plant was named the Guam Regional City’s 2021 Employee of the Year. He has been with GRMC since 2015.

Together with his award, Arellano received an assigned parking spot for a year, and $5,000.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens

Air Force pilot returns home to Guam during Cope North

U.S. Air Force Capt. Celestino Aguon, also known as “Torch,” is an F-15C Eagle pilot with the 67th Fighter Squadron assigned to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.

Born and raised in Guam, Aguon studied mathematics at the University of Guam and earned his private pilot’s license at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam. After training, Aguon became an F-15 pilot in 2014. Aguon was selected for participation in Cope North 2022, an annual Air Force exercise hosted in Guam at Andersen Air Force Base. This is his fifth professional visit to the island. In an article submitted to Guam Business Magazine by the Public Affairs Office of the 36th Wing at Andersen, he says, “I got to take gas from my cousin, U.S. Air Force Capt. Dustin Alger, who is also stationed at Kadena AB with me, as he was flying his aircraft and I was flying mine – and to do it in our hometown was surreal.”

Photo courtesy of the Guam Visitors Bureau

GVB markets to Japan as country eases restrictions
The Guam Visitors Bureau is working with HYPEBEAST Japan, a worldwide brand that is known for its focus on contemporary fashion, art, food, music, travel, and streetwear culture to promote tourism in the country. The multi-platform company has a following of more than eight million people. HYPEBEAST Japan was able to send its models Erika and Reina, as well as a media team to cover Guam’s appeal to Gen Z as part of a media group in Guam in February and March.

The two models are shown at Fizz & Co.’s soda shop in the Agana Shopping Center.

Photo courtesy of Foremost Foods/Coca-Cola Beverage Co.

Beverage and dairy group recognizes long-term employees
Foremost Food Inc. and Coca-Cola Beverage Co. (Guam) Inc. recognized two employees who have been with the group of companies for 35 years for “their service, loyalty and commitment.”

(From left) Zaldy Ponce, distribution specialist, Janice Castro, distribution manager, and Benson Ayson, distribution specialist.