{"id":404701,"date":"2024-01-29T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404701"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Perry-A-Inos-Jr-is-Chamber-Business-Person-of-the-Year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Perry-A-Inos-Jr-is-Chamber-Business-Person-of-the-Year\/","title":{"rendered":"Perry A. Inos Jr. is Chamber Business Person of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perry A. Inos Jr. took home the 2023 Saipan Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year award during SCC\u2019s Annual Business Person of the Year Gala last Saturday night at the Kensington Hotel Saipan.<\/p>\n

From \u201cbeing the guy in the back\u201d to being the 2023 Business Person of the Year, Inos, who shared that he worked hard day in and day out in a cubicle in the back, said, \u201cThis is to all the guys in the back who are not recognized\u2014who are not even seen. But if you put yourselves out there, you\u2019ll be surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old Inos is managing director and partner of AP Group and its affiliates. His ventures include DreamPlay, Marianas Pharmacy, Tapped Out, and Napu Brewing Co. He is also involved in the creation of affordable housing through Vista Homes and in a financial technology venture, Nakamoto Financial under NF Xpress.<\/p>\n

The award\u2019s other nominee is Emma Perez, president of 500 Sails, a non-profit organization that\u2019s working to revive the CNMI\u2019s maritime tradition.<\/p>\n

In his speech after being named Business Person of the Year, Inos said the award is for his Rota roots as much as it is for himself. He also dedicated the award to his parents, his wife, and children.<\/p>\n

He thanked everyone who believed in him, and his wife, and their children. \u201c…Their endless patience, encouragement, understanding, the strength that I have on a daily basis\u2014it\u2019s really on family and friends, and all the positive affirmations that come from them day in and day out. When everybody\u2019s saying \u2018Oh, it\u2019s hard times\u2019, \u2018What are you doing, are you crazy?\u2019 \u2026Without them and their support, this journey would not even be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also gave credit to his business partner, Michael Sheu, past mentors Bob Jones, Mike Sablan, his Northern Marianas College alma mater, and his team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout these guys, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today. They provide positive affirmations, continuous support, good laughs and a few drinks here and there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Born in Guam and raised on Rota and Saipan, Inos, who is the son of Supreme Court Justice Perry Inos, said everyone is on the same ship. \u201cWe\u2019re weathering these stormy times. I\u2019ve learned that with faith, perseverance, patience, hard work, and loads of dumb luck\u2014everything will be okay,\u201d he said<\/p>\n

He acknowledged that the CNMI business community is facing challenging times, but being together is already enough reason to celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going through very, very hard times, but being in a room and scavenging through those coffers just to be here\u2014it\u2019s a milestone,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

His challenge to everyone in the room? \u201cTo continue to be driven not by pursuit of success, but by the impact we make in the lives of others\u2014for those who have little or many.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inos\u2019 future business goals include Xpress, a local marketplace delivery system aimed at bolstering economic growth through small businesses, and MPay, CNMI\u2019s first indigenous digital payment platform for remittances, peer-to-peer, and business transactions.<\/p>\n

A profile provided by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce traces Inos\u2019 journey from foundational studies at NMC, leading to a bachelor\u2019s in business administration from the University of Hawaii and culminating in a master\u2019s degree in business from Southern New Hampshire University.<\/p>\n

So far, 28 business leaders in the CNMI have earned the honor of being called the Business Person of the Year for their substantial contribution to the local business sector and the community. Last year\u2019s awardee was John Jay Santos.<\/p>\n

The 2023 Non-Profit of the Year winner is the Autism Society of the CNMI; the 2023 Small Business of the Year is The Angry Penne; the 2023 Sustainable Business of the Year is Caravan of Food; and the 2023 Chamber Member of the Year is the Northern Marianas College.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Perry A. Inos Jr., center, poses with his 2023 Saipan Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year award during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Person of the Year Gala last Saturday night at the Kensington Hotel Saipan. See more photos on Page 3<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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