A newly-formed non-profit company called Island Renew Project which was officially launched last month will be introducing helpful tools in order to help create more jobs and fulfill dreams in the CNMI.
Todd Montgomery, a board member of Island Renew Project Inc., a registered U.S. nonprofit based in the NMI yesterday said that he considers the company as a small business incubator designed to help micro-businesses start or to expand their business operations, particularly in providing assistance in the technical aspect of operations.
“We believe the most effective means to accomplishing this goal is through the creation of locally produced products and services that in turn provides island tourists a unique travel experience and a reason to visit again,” he said.
Montgomery said that the planning stage for IRP took them over a year and a half before they finally got their non-profit status last month.
“We have been actively working within the community on several projects for the past months, and we work hard to fulfill our mission which is to improve the lives of Pacific Island residents through fostering economic sustainability and job creation,” he said.
Giant baby step
For its first project, Montgomery said that they will be taking a baby step that will benefit many service providers and suppliers by coming up with a website that will serve as a link between clients and providers.
Citing as an example, Montgomery said that with tourism as the CNMI’s primary industry, micro-businesses need to be on the alert on cater to the needs of the tourists, the attractions they want and the services they need to keep the industry alive.
“What we will do is to provide an avenue for these micro-business operators that will allow clients to make reservations or bookings, display and sell their products and services online, track their inventories and conduct other transactions,” he said.
But Montgomery said that unlike other websites that cater only to big companies, hotels, and other establishments and ask for as much as 25 percent fee for all transactions, IRP will deal with the small businesses and help them grow and may only charge a very minimal administrative fee to help keep the website up and running.
Montgomery said that they are working on the final stages of the website which they target to be up and running by next month.
“We cannot divulge other details as yet, but as soon as things are finalized, we will do a formal launching of the website,” he said.
Next in line, IRP plans will be holding information workshops for entrepreneurs where all interested small business owners can join and get useful information and tips in how to successfully run their businesses, attract more clients, improve their services and other useful techniques in business operations.
“We will also be holding one-on-one sessions with clients so we can address each specific need of each business operator and help them out,” Montgomery said.
The IRP Team
Montgomery said that the IRP has three board members, including himself, but they have more volunteers who are experts in different fields who are working along with the board in this endeavor.
Montgomery, who is currently employed as director of PROS Pricing Asia/Pacific has worked in several industries including travel, transportation and finance.
Montgomery brings with him a wealth of experience in travel-related projects, as a pricing consultant for the Asia/Pacific region, regional revenue manager for Starwood Hotels for Asia/Pacific and as marketing analyst at Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The other two board members are Derek Thomas, an accounting degree holder from California State University Northridge who has worked in corporate finance with several fortune 500 companies in accounting, auditing and recruiting and who recently returned to the Robert Half International, Inc,. a global recruiting firm that focuses on job creation and assisting new and existing companies to identify talent in the Finance and Accounting arena; and Shimiko Montgomery, a counselor in the CNMI Public School System. Shimiko, who serves on the PSS statewide school counseling core committee assists the public schools in creating culturally aware programs and workshops to help local parents become more involved in their children’s education and career exploration.
Montgomery said that as the company is in its initial stages, they are still starting home-based on Capital Hill but will be moving to a more permanent place to host their trainings very soon. Please visit their website at www. islandrenewproject.org,, email info@islandrenewproject.org. or call (670) 322-3050 for more information and the latest updates.{jcomments off}
