{"id":261196,"date":"2017-09-28T06:06:16","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T20:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=261196"},"modified":"2017-09-28T06:06:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-27T20:06:16","slug":"turning-bright-ideas-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Turning bright ideas into business\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-261196 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit3\/'>SUMMIT3<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261197'>\n\t\t\t\tPhilip Mendiola-Long of Bridge Investment, Don Browne of Imperial Pacific International, Perry Inos Jr. of Triple J, and Alex Sablan of TanHoldings Corp. talk about business opportunities in the CNMI. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit4\/'>SUMMIT4<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit5\/'>SUMMIT5<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261199'>\n\t\t\t\tChristopher Concepcion of the Marianas Visitors Association is joined by several business people. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit6\/'>SUMMIT6<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261200'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Maria White, Oscar Camacho, Karla Mareham, and Joan Torres. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit7\/'>SUMMIT7<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261201'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Diego Kaipat, Tonie Tudela, Donna Cabrera, and Henry Hofschneider. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit8\/'>SUMMIT8<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261202'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Jovan Fred, Tanya Salas, Vera Kelley, Carmen Villagomez, Susan Escueta, and Sylbis Daguitan  (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit9\/'>SUMMIT9<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261203'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Tanya Salas, Nida Palconiy, Abegail Vicedo, and Melony David. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit10\/'>SUMMIT10<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261204'>\n\t\t\t\tYoung entrepreneurs from Chicken &amp; Beer Cafe and Pacific Hardware  (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit11\/'>SUMMIT11<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261205'>\n\t\t\t\tFormer Labor secretary Edith Deleon Guerrero, right, and colleagues graced the 2017 Business Summit. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit12\/'>SUMMIT12<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261206'>\n\t\t\t\tWomen in business attend the 2017 Business Summit. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit13\/'>SUMMIT13<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261207'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Tina Crisostomo, Cil Selepeo, Ivan Ilmov, and Tatiana Ilmova. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit14\/'>SUMMIT14<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261208'>\n\t\t\t\tMatthew Deleon Guerrero joins Saipan Brewing Co.&#8217;s Steven Sablan and Jay Wolf and summit guests. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/turning-bright-ideas-business\/summit15\/'>SUMMIT15<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-261209'>\n\t\t\t\tFrom left, Kevin Bautista, T.J. DLC Manglona, and Joe Ayuyu Jr. (Bea Cabrera)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>That was the primary aim of the CNMI Department of Commerce when it hosted the 2017 Business Summit yesterday at Pacific Island Club\u2019s Charley\u2019s Cabaret.<\/p>\n<p>Commerce Secretary Mark Rabauliman, with the support of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and the entire department, stressed this with current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at the summit\u2019s start.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are very fortunate that for such a short time frame, we were able to put this together. We\u2019ve had a lot positive feedback from the public and private sector. We have a lot inquiries and sponsors. Their willingness to see this come to full circle is a very positive sign because it means that there is really a need out there,\u201d said Rabauliman.<\/p>\n<p>Now is the right time to start a business, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are growing. There is a lot of opportunity. While there is an opportunity for big and small businesses, it is important to note that there is definitely an opportunity for new businesses. This is why Commerce was compelled to host this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The summit\u2019s topics, Rabauliman said, were carefully chosen and will be presented by speakers who are knowledgeable and equipped with their vast experience in business and policymaking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are bringing together the big businesses and small businesses, our local leaders to speak and expand what they are doing up in the hill to create laws, to foster the entrepreneurial spirit. We also have the banks [and] the Commonwealth Development Authority participating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Marie Cabrera, a housewife said: \u201cI don\u2019 t have a business yet, just ideas. I want to get into the food business or dog shelter business. The reason why I came here is that maybe I will be able to get ideas and know how I can start.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>People like Cabrera are the major target market of the summit. Rabauliman knows that starting a business can be a scary process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a tremendous amount of uncertainty. There is an inherent risk but also tremendous reward. There\u2019s freedom, flexibility, and building something the way you want to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope that the insight, inspiration, and professional network that participants gain from today\u2019s event will help them start down the road of starting their own business. Hopefully this summit empowers them to have that leap of faith. That\u2019s the whole premise of this event,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Rabauliman hopes that this year\u2019s summit will be one of many so they can close the gap between seasoned business people and neophytes, and foster networking and relationships.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are going to use this first summit as a baseline to grow. For businesses, this is an opportunity to hear their challenges and maybe become an inspiration for beginners. Hopefully, the topics will spark an idea that will make them say \u2018Oh there\u2019s my niche!\u2019\u201d he said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>That was the primary aim of the CNMI Department of Commerce when it hosted the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":261197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[18431,1235,18476,8209],"class_list":["post-261196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-business-summit","tag-commonwealth-development-authority","tag-marie-cabrera","tag-pacific-island-club"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=261196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=261196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=261196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=261196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}