In its ninth year, the First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine Businesswoman of the Year program has brought 10 women into the spotlight as nominees for the 2014 title. The program recognizes women in Guam and the Marianas who have been nominated by their colleagues and peers for their strong leadership, influence and accomplishments.

The event, sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Guam, United Airlines and Prestige Automobiles/BMW, culminates every year with a gala, from which the proceeds go to fund scholarships for students at the University of Guam, Guam Community College and Northern Marianas College. Since 2006, the program has awarded a total of $152,555 in scholarships to deserving students in the community.

Each of the nominees this year has made significant contributions within her career field and in serving the communities of Guam and Saipan. We celebrate their unique accomplishments as we introduce them here.

Cynthia V. Ecube

Cynthia V. Ecube is principal of and solo practitioner at her own law firm. Her areas of practice include civil litigation and criminal, probate, corporation and business law, among other areas. Since 2009, she has served as president of the Guam Bar Association. She also serves on many committees and boards including the Board of Equalization. A graduate of Academy of Our Lady of Guam, Ecube earned her bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota and her juris doctorate from Hamline University School of Law in Minnesota. She was admitted into the Guam Bar in 1991, the Federal District Court in 1992, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, in 1992. Ecube is a member of the Guam Chinese Chamber of Commerce and an advisory board member for Academy of Our Lady of Guam. She is also a proprietor of Carmen’s Cha Cha Cha restaurant.

Mildred M. Gabriel

Mildred M. Gabriel is the president and lead pharmacist of her family’s pharmacy, Meggs Corp., which does business as Guam Rexall Drugs. Gabriel is responsible for handling inventory management, patient consultations, payroll, safety regulations, billing, company promotions and training interns and new pharmacists. She graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam before earning her bachelor’s in pharmaceutical science from Northeastern University and becoming licensed as a registered pharmacist in California and Guam. As chair of the Guam Board of Pharmacy, she worked with legislators to get local laws upgraded so the board could be recognized as part of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, ensuring that local pharmacy students would no longer have to travel off-island to qualify for pharmacy licenses. She has also spent time in the community working with the Guam Girl Scouts and the Manukai Athletic Club. She and her husband, Earl Miller, have a daughter, Melissa, who carries on the tradition of working in the family pharmacy.

Monica O. Guzman

Monica O. Guzman has been the chief executive officer and managing director of the Galaide Group LLC for 16 years. She is a graduate of Notre Dame High School. Her accomplishments include growing her company and serving on various community organization boards, such as the 2016 Festival of the Pacific programming committee, Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities, and Guam Unique Merchandise and Art Inc. She and her company are involved in many other nonprofit organizations, such as Inetnon Gefpå’go, the Guam Nikkei Association and the Guam Women’s Club, to name a few. She has been married to her husband, Clifford, for 16 years, and the couple has three children: Melissa, 35; Megan, 30; and Sarah, 14.

Eloisa D. Hudson

Eloisa D. Hudson is the owner of Sunglasses Etc., Etcetera Boutique, and ba6 Apparel. A former marketing executive in Southern California’s high-tech software industry, Hudson now oversees the needs of her three retail outlets, wearing every hat from marketer to manager to merchandiser. Originally from Manila, she graduated from John F. Kennedy High School and earned a bachelor’s in fine arts from University of California, Irvine, and a degree in graphic design from Platt College School of Design in California. Hudson has collaborated with Guam Cancer Care, hosting a mini-health fair to raise awareness for breast cancer. She also works with Oasis Empowerment and the University of Guam Green Team and is a member of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Eloisa and her husband, Wayne, share their home with their dog, Aka, and their six cats.

Sandra E. Low

Sandra E. Low is the owner and president of Opus One Inc. She is a graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam and earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Washington. Low is involved in various sporting organizations and holds an executive master’s in sport organization management. She established and is president of the Guam National Badminton Federation and is also a board member of the Oceania Badminton Confederation. She also spearheaded the creation of the Olympic canoeing division within the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation. She is active in Soroptimist International of the Marianas, Guam Animals in Need and the Guam Volleyball Federation. Low is married to Samual Lai and has two children: Marten, 21, and Katie, 18.

Liza Ann J. Provido

Liza Ann J. Provido has served as the president and principal architect of Provido Tan Jones Architects Inc. for 18 years, handling everything from design and quality control to project management to negotiation. A graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, Provido earned a bachelor’s in architecture from Washington University in Missouri and a master’s in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Provido says her greatest recent accomplishment is working with the Guam Preservation Trust to restore three Inarajan village homes to pre-World War II condition. She has served as a Salvation Army volunteer, is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise, and is professionally affiliated with the Guam/ Marianas chapter of the American Institute of Architects; Soroptimist International of the Marianas; the Professional Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors Board; and the Guam Historic Preservation Board. She and her husband, David K. Tan, have two sons: Michael, 20, and Gabriel, 12.

Pamela S. Quinata

Pamela S. Quinata is the general sales manager and area sales manager for Xerox Corp., Guam and Saipan. She is a graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam and graduated with a bachelor’s from the University of California in political science, public administration, anthropology and geography. Her promotion to her current position in the company was a major achievement in her career, as are her company’s community service efforts. Quinata’s service to the community, both inside and outside of her career, include raising funds for college scholarships with the Bill Muna Foundation and raising funds for medical equipment for the hospital through the GMH Hospital Volunteers Association. Quinata is married to Frank A. Quinata, and the couple has three children.

Ester F. Sablan

Ester F. Sablan is the sole proprietor of Saipan Music and Dance Studio, where her daily responsibilities include managing the studio’s assets as well as the studio’s various dance groups. A graduate of Caloocan High School in the Philippines, Sablan earned her bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga, Philippines. One of her greatest personal accomplishments has been stimulating the growth of the Tinian hip-hop dance community after bringing her group to the island to perform in 2011. She considers it a great honor being able to inspire children to move and active. Sablan has worked with Let’s Move Marianas as well as the Northern Youth Basketball Association. She has three children: James Jr., 24; Demalynn, 23; and Mike, 32.

Deanne S.N. Torre

As the managing partner of Big Fish Creative, Deanne S.N. Torre oversees the client services division and works with the account managers in the company to ensure services are performed on time and on budget. She took general coursework at Guam Community College and the University of Guam. She is involved in community organizations including Guam Cancer Care, KPRG Public Radio, The Guam Museum Foundation, the Island Beautification Task Force, KGTF/PBS and the Guam Police Department Planning Committee. Her recent achievements include celebrating 15 years as managing partner with Big Fish and contributions to the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority. Torre is married to Mark A. Torre, and the couple has three children: Mark Jr., 29; Madison Angeline, 12; and Meagan Adrianna, 10.