Basil Ottley Jr. has been selected to serve as the policy director at the headquarters of the Office of Insular Affairs in Washington, D.C., effective Aug. 10, where he will coordinate federal policies for Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands and will administer and oversee U.S. federal assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshalls Islands and Palau. Ottley joined the Office of Insular Affairs in 2008 as the U.S. Virgin Islands desk officer and later accepted the assignment of the Virgin Islands field representative in 2010. Before joining Interior, Ottley was elected to the 27th Virgin Islands Legislature in November 2006. Ottley earned a master’s in public policy with a specialization in international development from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University (N.C.) and a bachelor’s in mathematics from the University of the Virgin Islands.
John M. Benavente, who had been serving as acting general manager of Guam Power Authority, was selected to become the permanent general manager at a Consolidated Commission on Utilities meeting on July 23. Benavente has more than 35 years of experience in Guam’s utilities, in the energy-related field and in the private sector, and 19 years of experience in the general manager capacity for Guam utilities. Prior to his appointment, Benavente served as Consolidated Utility Services general manager for the CCU in overseeing GPA and the Guam Waterworks Authority. He holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton (Ohio) and a master’s in engineering management from the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Melissa Lamorena-Fernandez has joined the Guam Girl Scouts as its executive director. Fernandez holds a 2000 bachelor’s degree in business administration with dual concentrations in management and marketing from Northeastern University (Mass.) and a 2015 master’s in business administration from the University of Guam. Fernandez was formerly the sales and marketing manager of Tanota Partners Properties, Dusit Thani Guam Resort and Oceanview and Bayview Hotels and has 17 years of sales and marketing experience.
Janiece A. Sablan has been appointed the executive director of the University of Guam Endowment Foundation. Sablan is a 1996 graduate of UOG with a bachelor’s in secondary education and English. Sablan was most recently the development coordinator for the UOG Endowment Foundation. She is also the founder of Discovery Group of Guam Inc., a local nonprofit organization, and an entrepreneur, having partnered with her husband on numerous business ventures. She was previously a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School. Sablan has served in the nonprofit field for eight years.
John F. Reyes was announced vice president of business analytics at Bank of Guam. Reyes graduated from Regis University (Colo.) with a master’s in business administration. Reyes has more than eight years of experience in reporting, analytics, operations, strategy and program management. He has joined Bank of Guam following a position at Cloudbit Inc. in North Carolina as vice president of operations.
Rosario “Chet” M.B. Neri has been named international sales manager of LeoPalace Resort Guam. Neri was previously local sales and marketing manager of the resort and formerly public relations manager of the Pacific Star Resort & Spa. Neri graduated from the University of the Visayas in Cebu, Philippines, and is an international board member of the Federation of Asia-Pacific Women’s Association and the Rigalu Foundation.
Edwin Torres has been appointed as director of food and beverage for the Outrigger Guam Beach Resort. Torres comes to Outrigger from Scrub Island Resort & Spa in the British Virgin Islands, where he was food and beverage director. Previously he held food and beverage management positions in Alabama for the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, Renaissance Battle House Hotel & Spa and Marriott’s Grand Hotel, Golf Club and Spa.
Sorensen Media Group, parent company of 99.5 FM “The Shark,” announced Cookie Cruz as the first official talent added to the all-island music station. Cruz has been with Sorensen Media Group for more than six years and will now air in the mornings on “The Shark” from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. with her radio show, “The Cookie Jar.” Cruz will still host “Trader Horn,” the island’s longest-running free classified program.
The Rotaract Club of the Marianas inducted its new officers in a ceremony on July 10 at the Pacific Star Resort & Spa. Inducted were the following:
- President: Brian M. Borja, marketing officer, Guam Visitors Bureau
- Immediate past president: Christopher Surla, health educator, Department of Public Health and Social Services
- President-elect: Sophie Brindejonc, financial advisor, Asia-Pacific Financial Management Group
- Vice president: Rosita Serquina, senior account manager, Ideal Advertising Inc.
- Secretary: Candise Nacole M. Lizama, customer service associate, Bank of Guam
- Treasurer: Beatrix Alyana O. Naholowaa
- Director of community service: Ulysses Story
- Director of international service: Russell S. Ocampo, outreach coordinator, University of Guam
- Director of professional development: Kevin Quijano, waitstaff, Churassco Guam
- Director of youth service: Cabrini Rivera, student
- Director of club service: Nathaniel D. Entilla
