From left, Saipan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Kimm C. Camacho, SCC board director Alex Sablan, Kensington Hotel HR director Debra Inos, CNMI SBDC Network Director Nadine DLG Kintol, GAO senior analysts Jonathan Fremont and Eli Dile, HANMI Chairman Dennis Seo and SCC board secretary Ron Smith.
Contributed photo
(SCC) — On Thursday, Aug. 21, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, together with the Hotel Association of the NMI and the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network, met with senior analysts from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Eli Dile and Jonathan Fremont. The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for the U.S. Congress.
The purpose of the visit was to provide the GAO with insights on the workforce needs of the CNMI, including both local and foreign employees, as part of their ongoing review of the CW-1 program.
Representatives from the SCC, HANMI, and CNMI SBDC shared perspectives on the economic and workforce challenges facing the territory, contributing to a broader understanding of how to support CNMI businesses and employees.
Chamber board director and past-president Alex Sablan, said, “I truly appreciate GAO’s community and industry engagement on issues affecting our respective communities. GAO reports are thorough and representative of the conditions on the ground within the CNMI and are often cited for their unbiased analysis.”
“We are thankful that GAO reached out to include SCC, HANMI, and SBDC in this important conversation,” added Chamber Executive Director Kimm Camacho. “By sharing our insights, we hope to help inform recommendations that will positively impact the CNMI’s workforce landscape.”
This engagement reflects a continued partnership between local business organizations and federal agencies to address workforce and economic priorities in the CNMI.
About the SCC
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve its members as a resource, enhancing the quality of business and life on Saipan. Its vision is to create an island where businesses, families, and communities succeed as one. To learn more about the Saipan Chamber of Commerce visit www.saipanchamber.com/, call (670) 234-7150 or email contactus@saipanchamber.org/.
