Guam Business names Sablan as ‘2005 Executive of the Year’

After bagging the prestigious “2005 Business Person of the Year” award from the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, CNMI and Guam business executive David M. Sablan earned another recognition for his business acumen—this time, the “2005 Executive of the Year” award from the Guam Business Magazine.

Sablan, who humbly started a professional career as clerk for a Guam company more than 40 years ago, became the 24th recipient of the prestigious recognition that has been given annually to outstanding business persons by the Guam Business Magazine since 1983.

He joins a select roster of businessmen and executives whose companies have significantly contributed to Guam’s economy and benefited the people.

Sablan also became one of the few Saipan-based business executives who have earned the award since its inception, joining 2000 recipient Marian Aldan-Pierce and 2003 recipient Juan T. Guerrero.

Past award recipients chose Sablan among 10 nominees for the 2005 recognition. Sablan is president of Century Insurance Co. Ltd., Century Travel and Century Tours, companies that operate business in both the CNMI and Guam.

The announcement of the winner took place at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa on the eve of Chinese New Year Saturday night, a black-tie gala dinner for the benefit of the American Red Cross’ Guam Chapter. The event collected $100-donation from each guest.

The other nominees for the award included Harold L. Allen, University of Guam president; W. Nicholas Captain, president of The Captain Co. and Captain Realty Advisors; John P. Duenas, president and principal civil engineer of Duenas & Associates Inc. and principal broker of Remax Diamond Realty; David J. John, president of Administrative Services Corp.; George Lai, president of Quality Distributors; Pacifico Martir, area supervisor of McDonald’s of Guam; Monte M. Mesa, general manager of Guam Premier Outlets; Annmarie T. Muna, general manager of AM Insurance; and John C.J. Shen, president of Prestige Automobiles.

Earlier this January, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce also bestowed its “2005 Business Person of the Year” award to Sablan, who wears many hats in addition to his capacity as top executive of the Century group of companies.

Sablan is also vice president of CTSI Logistics, Asia-Pacific Airlines, and Cosmos Distributing; and vice chairman of the board of Asia Pacific Hotels, Inc., which owns the Fiesta Resort & Spa on Saipan and Guam, Century Hotel, and the Saipan Grand Hotel.

He has been a long-time member of the Marianas Visitors Authority, the board of which he chaired in the past several years. He is also board member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, member of the Strategic Economic Council, and honorary member and past president for several times of the Saipan Rotary Club and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

Sablan began his career as steamship traffic clerk at the Atkins, Kroll on Guam. He worked his way up to managerial level and became loan administrator and then assistant general manager of the Bank of Hawaii on Guam.

In 1965, he moved back to Saipan and became the first general manager of Atkins, Kroll Saipan that became the Microl Corp. His participation in the private and government sector further expanded—in 1968 and 1976, respectively, he founded the Pacific Micronesia Corp. and the Tasi Tours and Transportation.

Sablan also established the then Intercontinental Hotel in 1976 at the site of the Fiesta Resort & Spa when the Saipan village had to go a long way to become the island’s premier tourism and commercial district.

Sablan also became special assistant for planning and budgeting for then CNMI Gov. Lorenzo Guerrero, during which he also served as member of Governor’s Economic Advisory Council and the CNMI Aviation Task Force.