THE Saipan Chamber of Commerce on Saturday named its 2021 Small Business of the Year, 2021 Start-up of the Year, 2021 Nonprofit of the Year, 2021 Chamber Member of the Year, and 2021 Saipan Young Professional of the Year.
The 2021 nominees and winners were selected by members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and include both members and non-members alike.
Out of this year’s three nominees, TurnKey Solutions was named the 2021 Small Business of the Year.
The other nominees were Cristianos Kitchen and SPNdylus670.
TurnKey Solutions is a local CNMI consulting firm that specializes in customized web development/design, database development and management, search engine optimization, marketing, and data analytics utilizing the latest technology trends.
They are “innovators who are passionate about enabling their clients the opportunity to optimize their existing business or government operations while responding with actual real-time customer service.”
TK is a leader in custom pandemic response systems that include VaccinateCNMI, Covid-19 Travelers Quarantine and Management, and Community-Based Testing.
Tyler’s Gelatte Stone edged out Kamakazee’s as the 2021 Start-Up of the Year.
The start-up began from its co-founder Benjamin Babauta’s love of ice cream, combined with skills and techniques to develop creative flavors for everyone to enjoy.
Affectionately named after Babauta’s young son Tyler, the start-up uses its platform not only to serve delicious treats, but to also give back to the CNMI community through its philanthropic events, including “Small Business Sundays” in which it promotes locally-owned and operated small businesses.
The start-up believes that its desserts taste sweeter when the people around it are taken care of.
500 Sails took home the 2021 Nonprofit of the Year Award, having been in the running with Soroptimist International-NMI Chapter and Kagman Isla Community Health Center.
500 Sails is a CNMI non-profit organization dedicated to the revival, promotion, and practice of the maritime cultural traditions of the Mariana Islands through community engagement in canoe cultural values and activities that lead to a healthy, thriving native community that has successfully integrated traditional cultural values into modern life.
Just last year, 500 Sails announced the establishment of the Cultural Maritime Training Center in partnership with Northern Marianas College and the Indigenous Affairs Office, which will train the local workforce for a new maritime industry in the CNMI.
The 2021 Chamber Member of the Year is Marianas Pacific Distributors, Inc., otherwise known as Marpac, a business that has consistently delivered quality merchandise to homes and families since 1973.
The other contenders for this award were Docomo Pacific and Bridge Capital LLC.
Jihan B. Younis is the 2021 Saipan Young Professional of the Year.
The other contender for this award was Brent C. Deleon Guerrero, Docomo Pacific brand manager.
Younis received her master’s degree in communications and environmental conservation and social change from the University of Texas in El Paso.
For most of her career, she has managed coral reef education and outreach programs for the local government.
While also involved with local conservation efforts, Jihan helps manage a small family restaurant, Caravan of Food, in Garapan, committed to using only wholesome ingredients, compostable materials, and promoting environmental initiatives.
She has recently accepted a position with the Mariana Islands Refuge and Monument Complex as a park ranger/visitor services specialist for the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and is proud to serve the Mariana Island community.
New chamber officers
Also on Saturday, the 2022 Saipan Chamber of Commerce board members were sworn in by Judge Kenneth L. Govendo.
The board members are Alex Sablan of Tan Holdings Corp., Dr. Joshua Wise of PHI Pharmacy, Marcia Calvo of Calvo’s Insurance, Nicole Babauta of Docomo Pacific, Joe Guerrero of Naked Fish Bar & Grill, Das Krishnan of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Janice Tenorio of IT&E, and Velma Palacios of IT&E.
Calvo, Villanueva, and Guerrero will remain board secretary, vice president, and president respectively, while Tenorio will be the new board treasurer.
Villanueva, on behalf of the board, thanked the 2021 board officers, former treasurer Mike Johnson of Deloitte and former member Glen Hunter of The Shack.
This year’s fundraising gala sponsors were the AP Group, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Docomo Pacific, E-Land Group, Triple J, Bank of Guam, Marianas Variety, IT&E, Calvo’s Insurance, Atkins Kroll Saipan, Marpac, Bridge Capital LLC, TurnKey Solutions, McDonald’s, PHI Pharmacy, Dial Rent-to-Own, AB Risk Solutions, D&Q Saipan Co. Ltd., Let’s Go Tour Company, Hyatt Regency Saipan, and Pacifica Insurance.
The chamber’s annual Businessperson of the Year gala serves as a fundraiser to generate resources for chamber programs pertaining to education, workforce training, sustainable development, and supporting the U.S. armed forces, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.
Emma and Pete Perez, center, of 500 Sails receive the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year Award.
Marianas Variety president Amier C. Younis, second right, is all smiles as he accepts the 2021 Saipan Young Professional of the Year Award on behalf of his sister-in-law, Jihan B. Younis.
Key officials and personnel of Marpac Inc. pose for a photo with chamber board members upon being named the 2021 Chamber Member of the Year.
From right, TurnKey Solutions managing partners Jerry Lin, Billy Grow, and Broc Calvo walk onto the stage to accept the Saipan Chamber of Commerce 2021 Small Business of the Year Award.
Tyler’s Gelatte Stone co-founder Benjamin Babauta holds the Saipan Chamber of Commerce 2021 Small Business of the Year Award.
