But beyond that, Kathryn Barry, a busy mother of two boys, a wife to a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and a former instructor of Northern Marianas Academy, is a conscientious community volunteer dedicating her time educating the youth on how to make themselves independent and productive members of the community after high school.
Barry, the secretary-elect of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the marketing manager of IT&E, was named by chamber as its 2008 businessperson of the year on Saturday.
The other nominees were Larry Knecht, executive vice president and chief financial officer of IT&E/PTI; Lynn Knight, publisher of Saipan Tribune, general manager of Century Hotel and executive director of the Tan Holdings Foundation; Anthony Pellegrino, owner and operator of Saipan Sea Ventures, Saipan Ice &Water Co., Saipan Aquaculture and the Northern Marianas Trades Institute; and Kanae Quinn, director of sales and marketing of the Pacific Islands Club.
Barry served at the chamber board and has chaired its education committee since 2006.
Under her tutelage, the committee coordinates the educational scholarship program, the Student Career Exploration Day and the “I’m graduating soon, now what?” program for high school juniors and seniors.
Before moving to IT&E, Barry was the sales and marketing director of Coca Cola Micronesia.
She also held executive positions at Coca Cola Enterprises and Coca Cola North America.
She credited her mother, Sylvia Haywood, for instilling in her the value of community service and commitment to work well.
Her mother was a supervisor at a laboratory hospital in Florida and single-handedly raised her, her sister and her brother.
During their growing-up years, Barry said women were still considered a minority in corporate America but her mother stood above this obstacle.
Barry also thanked her stepfather, Vaughn Haywood, for his inspirations and guidance.
She vowed to continue educating the youth on becoming productive members of the community.
“I think we just need to continue to work with all of our partners to be successful [in this endeavor],” she said.
The chamber also inducted their new board of directors for 2009 last Saturday.
James T. Arenovski will still be the chamber’s president this year. Doug Brennan is the vice president while Michael Johnson was named treasurer.
Barry will remain the chamber’s secretary. Mark Birmingham, Steve K. Jang, Alex A. Sablan, David M. Sablan Sr., and John J. Johnson will serve as directors.
A group of businessmen founded the chamber in 1959 and it was officially incorporated in 1976.
Today, the group said it has about 150 members, made up of individuals, small companies and some of the largest firms in the Pacific region.
