Chamber elects 2006 officers today

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will be electing the members of its 2006 board of directors today during the General Membership Meeting at the Saipan World Resort’s Diamond Hall.

Besides the slate of candidates below, nominations will be taken from the floor at the beginning of today’s meeting. Votes will be distributed at the beginning of the meeting, and then collected and counted during the meeting. Results will be announced before the close of the meeting.

The candidates for the 2006 SCC Board of Directors are:
• President Charles Cepeda
• Vice-President Alex Sablan
• Secretary Jay Jones
• Treasurer Michael Johnson

Director (two positions)
• Kathryn Barry
• Juan T. Guerrero
• Bob Hudkins
• Richard Parsons

For President
CHARLES CEPEDA
General Manager
Pacific Trading Company

Charles V. Cepeda, of Saipan, grew up in the family business, M.S. Villagomez Enterprises, and worked in various capacities within the company while attending school. Upon graduating from Marianas High School, he moved to Hayward, California, where he attended Chabot Community College. While attending college, he worked at Montgomery Wards where he moved into management positions in several departments. In 1993, he returned home where he met his wife Catherine S. Sablan-Cepeda the same day he started working for J.C. Tenorio Enterprises as a buyer/manager for Athlete’s Foot and Las Vegas Discount Golf & Tennis.

In May 1996, he married Cathy and has since been a father to Cyji, who is presently attending Boise State University. In November the same year, he started his career at Pacific Trading Co., where currently he is the general manager.

He has served on the board of the American Red Cross CNMI, San Antonio Church Finance Council, chairman for the Law Enforcement Explorer Program, president of the Saipan Youth Football League, chairman of the Board for the Commonwealth Football League, Chairman for the Free Trade Zone Board, chairman for the Joeten-Kiyu Library Council, board member of the Northern Marianas College Foundation and member of the Saipan Rotary Club.

Charles has been active in the Saipan Chamber of Commerce since 2001, and is currently a board member. He has successfully chaired the Events Committee for the past two years.

For Vice-President
ALEXANDER A. SABLAN
Saipan Shipping Company, Inc.
Marketing/Administration Manager

Alex is currently the Saipan Chamber of Commerce president, and has been an official member representative for approximately 14 years.

Alex was a three-time chairman of the Business Person of the Quarter/Year selection committee, an active member of the Small Business Committee for two years and for a brief stint, sat on the Maritime Committee. Alex 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.

Alex is or has served as a chairman or board member for the following organizations: member, Commonwealth Cancer Association; member, Guam Chamber of Commerce Maritime Affairs Committee; 2002 – present – Board of Director for the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands; 2002 – present – Advisory Board for the CNMI Public Radio KRNM 88/89.1 FM; 2002 – 2003 – chairman for the Past President Council of the Rotary Club of Saipan; 2000 – present – president for the Association of Seaport Tenants and Operators of Saipan, Inc. (ASTOSI); and 1999 – present – board member of the CNMI Contractors Association.

He also previously served as the CNMI representative to the American Cancer Society Guam/CNMI Presence Unit Board of Directors; chairman, 2000 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Event; president, Rotary Club of Saipan, 1999 – 2000; board member, Rotary Club of Saipan 1997 – 2000; and member of the Kagman Komunidat Association.

For the past 15 years, Alex has held management positions in the transportation industry in Saipan and Guam. He currently works at the Saipan Shipping Company as its marketing/administration manager. Prior to this, 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. Alex has also been the general manager of Ambyth Shipping on Saipan.

Alex is married to Nora Mae Reyes Sablan and has three children: Amanda(17) , Kanani (16) and Sean (13).

For Secretary
JAY B. JONES
Triple J Motors
General Manager

Jay B. Jones was born and raised in Guam. After graduating from Father Duenas High School, he attended Elon College in North Carolina where he graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications.

Upon returning to Guam with his wife Deane, Jay started in Triple J’s management training program, where he held various positions within the company. In 1993, Jay enrolled in the National Dealers Association Management Academy, an intensive year- long course that concentrates on modern automotive management. After graduating from the program, Jay was promoted to the position of sales manager, a position he held until 1997. Jay served as an officer of the Guam Automobile Dealers Association from 1996-1997. In early 1997, Jay relocated here to Saipan where he manages Triple J’s various operations and serves as general manager of Triple J Saipan Inc.

Jay and Deane have three children, 9-year-old Jacob, 6-year-old Jenna, and 3-year-old Jeremy. He has served on the board of directors for the Rotary Club of Saipan, Commonwealth Automobile Dealers Association, and the Marianas Racing Association. He was selected as the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s 2001 Business Person of the Year, and served as the Chamber’s president in 2003.

For Treasurer

MICHAEL S. JOHNSON
Managing Partner, Deloitte

Mike is the managing partner of Deloitte on Saipan and in Palau and has been a resident of Saipan for the past 22 years. Mike is no stranger to Chamber activities and held the position of Chamber Treasurer for three consecutive terms in the early 1990’s. He is the current Treasurer of the Chamber.

Mike came to Saipan in 1982 after earning Masters of Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) and Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of Colorado in Boulder. 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 and past president of the CNMI Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants. Additionally, Mike was selected by Bishop Camacho to serve on the financial advisory committee of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and is a past chairman of the CNMI Board of Accountancy.

Mike is married to Betty Hamilton Johnson. They have three children, Kathleen, Sarah and Andrew. Mike participates in various sports including golf, kayaking, biking and triathlon.
For Director

KATHRYN BARRY
Sales and Marketing Director
Coca-Cola Beverage Company (Micronesia), Inc.

Kathryn relocated to Saipan three years ago from Baltimore, MD. As the sales and marketing director for Coca-Cola Micronesia, she currently manages sales, marketing, promotional staff and activities for Coca-Cola in the CNMI. Before working for Coca-Cola on Saipan, Kathryn was an instructor at Northern Marianas Academy, teaching Honors English Composition, English Literature and Junior Seminar. She was also the Sophomore and Junior Class advisor.

In Baltimore, Kathryn was with Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) and was a customer service manager for national and regional wholesale Coca-Cola customers including, Sodexho Marriott and Canteen. She also worked in Coca-Cola North America Operations Marketing for four years as a marketing coordinator and office manager.

After college, Kathryn accepted a position at the University of South Florida as the coordinator of public functions, planning and coordinating campus events and managing a 2,000 seat multi-purpose events center. During her tenure with the university, she also was the program advisor/coordinator for a nationally recognized honors program for current and future teachers.

Kathryn currently serves as the co-chair of the Chamber Armed Forces Committee, and most recently co-chaired the Chamber’s Senatorial and Gubernatorial Debate Committee. In the community, Kathryn was very active with the 60th Anniversary of the Battles for Saipan and Tinian Steering Committee serving as the Hospitality chair. She was a member of the organizing committee for the Commonwealth Cancer Association, and volunteers her time with the many WWII veteran groups that visit Saipan.

Originally from North Palm Beach Florida, she holds a degree in Marketing Education from the University of South Florida and in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, Maryland Campus.

Kathryn lives in I Denni with her husband of 16 years, Jim. Kathryn and Jim have two boys, Chris (11) and Bo (10).

JUAN “PAN” T. GUERRERO
President
Juan T. Guerrero & Associates,
Herman’s Modern Bakery, Inc.
Insurance & Business Management Corporation, dba Mita Travel

Born in a U.S. Naval Hospital in Maturana Hill in Saipan, Juan “Pan” T. Guerrero is the 6th child out of 12 children of Herman Reyes Guerrero and Maria Camacho Tenorio. As a business executive, he has held numerous professional positions including the vice president & director of Saipan Hotel Corp. (Hafadai Beach Hotel); president of Mita Travel/American Express Representative & Western Union CNMI Representative; president of GTS Ent.; president of Juan T. Guerrero & Associates; president/general manager of Herman’s Modern Bakery Inc.; president/CEO of Paras Ent.; president of GTS Security; president of GT Investment Inc.; partner of JTG Investment Inc.; director of Marianas General Corp.; director & secretary of Pacifica Insurance Underwriters; director of Micronesian Insurance Underwriters Inc.; president of Saipan Stevedore Company Inc.; maintenance of Campbell Soup Factory in Omaha Nebraska; Secretary/Treasurer of Rota Industrial; board of director for Rota Terminal and Transfer Company Inc.; held all-around positions at J.C. Tenorio Ent.; and was even a clerk at the Capitol Hill Post Office.

In addition to his vast business background, he has held prestigious political positions. These include being a member of the House of Representatives for the 4th CNMI Legislature; member of the Senate for the 5th and 6th Commonwealth Legislature; president/director of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands; chairman for the Committee to elect Froilan C. Tenorio & Jesse C. Borja; overall chairman for the inauguration committee for the governor-elect Froilan C. Tenorio and Lt. Governor-elect Jesse C. Borja, overall chairman of the 50th anniversary of WWI Commemoration, and board member of CPA.

Mr. Guerrero has also been involved in civic and community services where he was the president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce; president of PTA for Saipan Community School; member of the Rotary Club; coordinator for the Boy Scouts of America; and is actively involved with the American Red Cross.

His awards include two 14th NMCL House of Representatives Resolutions, a Saipan & Northern Marianas Municipal Council Resolution and a I Leheslaturan Guahan (Guam 27th Legislature), 2003 Guam’s Executive of the Year, 1991 recipient of the Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year Award, American Red Cross National Award; 2002 recipient of the Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year Award; Mountain Pacific Region Level II Winner, American Red Cross; 2001-2002 recipient of the Saipan Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award; 2002 recipient Commendation Resolution by the I Liheslaturan Guahan (Guam 26th Legislature); and was the 2003 recipient of the Outstanding DSHR Disaster Fund Raiser Volunteer Award, American Red Cross National Headquarters.

Juan is married to Roberta Kay Guerrero and is the parent of five children: Vince, Tracy Marie, Jolene Esther, John Daniel, and Michael Robert, and has six grandchildren. He is currently a resident of Gualo Rai, Saipan.

ROBERT B. HUDKINS
Vice President/General Manager
Hertz Rent A Car

Bob has been living in the Marianas for over 20 years. He relocated from New York City where he was stationed as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Bob graduated from the American University in Washington, DC in 1973 and spent 12 years with the FBI with his last assignment in Guam. From 1986-1991 he operated his own security consultant business in Guam mainly providing services to the major airlines. In 1991 he permanently relocated to Saipan. He is the owner and President of Pacific Airport Services, which provides security, passenger service agents, and aircraft cleaning to the airlines. He is the owner and President of AFH, Inc. which operates as an agent for Shell Marianas, Inc. He is an owner and Vice President of BFJ, Inc., which operates AJ’s Restaurant. He is an owner and Vice President of Closest to the Pin Enterprises, a retailer of Golf Supplies. He is an owner and Vice President of Hertz Rent A Car – Guam and Saipan.

Bob is an avid golfer and fisherman, having recently acquired the fishing boat “AJ’s”.

Bob is married to Merle and they have four children, ages 4-11. His children attend Calvary Christian Academy. He resides in Gualo Rai.

RICHARD PARSONS
Manager, Guam and Saipan
Northwest Airlines

Richard relocated from Hawaii three years ago to undertake the Sales, Marketing and Operations leadership role, for Saipan and Guam, with Northwest Airlines. Richard has 17 years experience in the airline industry and held positions at Northwest Airlines World Headquarters in Minnesota, as well as positions with Northwest in Japan, California and Hawaii prior to undertaking his current role. In Minnesota and Japan, Richard’s role was specifically focused on international route planning and development. Prior to joining Northwest, Richard held route planning and marketing positions with Canadian Airlines in Canada. He understands the critical importance of air transportation to the CNMI and quickly partnered with local efforts to increase Northwest service to Saipan following JAL’s announcement of plans to suspend service.

Richard holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He is active with the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, Guam, and founded the Northwest Airlines’ Tournament for Children’s Education. Through his role at Northwest, Richard actively participates in a variety of charitable foundations, local organizations and community events.

Richard lives on Guam with his wife Juliet and two children, 6-year-old Mary, and 3-year-old Rickey.