NMHC’s Ada launded for receiving award

The 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council has adopted a resolution congratulating Northern Mariana Housing Corp. executive director Maria Lourdes Seman Ada for being selected as the 2005 recipient of the M. Justin Herman Memorial Award.

Ada was chosen to receive this award due to her exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of Housing and Community Development.

She went to the 2005 conference in Chicago, Illinois, in October to receive the award—at the expense of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, or NAHRO.

The M. Justin Herman Award is NAHRO’s highest and most prestigious award developed to honor exceptionally qualified persons who have made outstanding contributions to the growth of life through service in the field of housing or community development. The awards are based on extraordinary accomplishments and contributions. The award is issued by the national association of housing and redevelopment officials, a professional membership organization of more than 20,000 housing and community development agencies and associations throughout the United States and its insular areas.

NAHRO’s mission is to create affordable housing and safe viable communities that enhance the quality of life for Americans, especially those of low and moderate income.

Ada became the first person to head the Commonwealth Development Authority and the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., CDA subsidiary. In March 1994 through November 1998, she was appointed corporate director for Northern Marianas Housing Corp. In December 1998 to present, she was appointed to head both agencies as its executive director.

Ada’s professional background includes socio-economic planner, Office of Planning and Budget, CNMI government, 9/80-3-82; loan assistant/economic advisor, Economic Development Loan Fund, 4/82-7/85; loan officer, Development Corporation Division, CDA, 8/85-8/93; manager, Loan Accounting Division, CDA, 9/93-7/94; Manager, CDA, Development Banking Division, 8/94-2/95; corporate director, NMHC, 3/94-11/98; and executive director, CDA and NMHC, 12/98-present.

Ada received her Juris Doctor degree from the University Of New Mexico School of Law in 1994; her Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, Oregon, 1984; and graduated from Ashland Senior High School, Ashland, Oregon, 1976.

Her professional affiliations included being a member of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Housing Task Force; member, Commonwealth State Mental Health Planning Council; member, Strategic Economic Development Council; member, board Of directors, Mount Carmel School; member, 3rd Constitutional Convention of the Northern Mariana Islands; member, board of directors, Pacific Islands Development Bank, Commonwealth Development Authority; member, International Economic Development Council; member, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agency; Secretary of the Board, Commonwealth Chapter, Habitat for Humanity; and member, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Micronesian Game Olympics, Outrigger Canoe Team.

Ada is a recipient of several awards and commendations: legislative resolution for completing the Commonwealth’s first pre-law program and graduating from law school; recognition by the Mayor of Saipan for partnership programs with the community; Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council, Public Policy Advocate of the Year, 1999; CNMI Government 2004 Advocate of the Year and CDA/Economic Development Loan Fund Employee of the Year.

She is the daughter of proud parents Ines Takeda Seman Ada and Francisco Castro Ada, the former Mariana Islands District Administrator, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the first elected CNMI lieutenant governor.

Ada is the proud mother of two children; Steven and Kimberly Maria Ada Sirok.

“The members of the Municipal Council and the people of the CNMI are extremely proud to join the board of directors and staff members of the Commonwealth Development Authority and the Northern Mariana Housing Corp., her proud parents, her children and her family members in extending special recognition, appreciation, congratulation and commendation to Ms. Maria Lourdes Seman Ada for bringing national honor and distinction to the people of the CNMI.

The resolution was certified by municipal council chair Gregorio V. Deleon Guerrero and vice chair David A. Indalecio and attested by secretary Antonia M. Tudela.