(CNMI SBDC) — The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College is pleased to announce that the Division of Revenue & Taxation, one of the islands’ most critical agencies when starting a business, will be joining the local Department of Commerce, during its opening session of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Project training series. The three-day series will take place from Oct. 20 to 22, 2025 at the NMC Innovation Incubator Office at the Beach Road Plaza commercial building in Garapan, Saipan.
Day one of the training series titled “Form & Function: Strengthening Your Business Foundation” will be featuring Daniel Dean T. Alvarez, Jr., director of the DRT. Alvarez has been its director for two years. Prior to his current role, Alvarez worked in the Technical Research and Appeals Branch where he did policy development. Currently, Alvarez oversees the enforcement of CNMI tax laws, the business regulation, and initiatives that promote compliance and efficiency across the tax administration. He enjoys finding ways to streamline processes and help taxpayers better understand their obligations and opportunities.
Participants of WEP’s fifth cohort can expect Revenue & Taxation to cover the following:
• Business Licensing
o Current process
o Upcoming changes
• Overview of tax obligations
• Tax incentives
“The Division of Revenue and Taxation is undergoing an overhaul on how it receives tax payments and taxpayer information. We are grateful for the time Director Alvarez has committed for our incoming cohort to share valuable information related to the upcoming changes in processes within the Department. The SBDC is proud to support the movement in utilizing technology to streamline how DRT does business in the CNMI. We are excited for the possibility of how exponential of an impact this will have in improving efficiency, allowing businesses to focus on their operations while minimizing time with administrative duties that come with business ownership,” said Nadine Deleon Guerrero Kintol, director of the CNMI SBDC Network.
Sessions of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Project will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each evening. This year’s series titled “Fiscal Fitness: Improving Financial Health for Women in Business” emphasizes the idea that exercising best financial practices in small business ownership will lead to optimum financial health. Throughout the course of the week, participants can expect to have access to resources and the expert guidance necessary to implement best financial planning and recordkeeping practices including obtaining knowledge and information in compliance and regulatory policy management.
The CNMI SBDC will feature a strong lineup of presenters for the incoming cohort, and seating has been limited to 16 participants this year. The current cohort registration has already met its max capacity; however, clients are still encouraged to call and be placed on a waitlist in case seats open up unexpectedly. Interested individuals may also visit our website at www.cnmisbdc.com to register to become an SBDC client.
To achieve an optimal learning environment for all registered clients, the three-day training will be an age 18 or older event. Attendees must be registered CNMI SBDC clients. A Certificate of Completion will be issued to those with perfect attendance for all sessions. Participants may attend individual sessions, but will not receive a certificate unless all sessions are completed.
Existing or future SBDC clients may call our Lead Center office at (670) 237-6888 for more registration information or email cnmisbdc@marianas.edu/. The CNMI SBDC encourages those interested in keeping up-to-date with upcoming events follow @cnmisbdc on Instagram or CNMI Small Business Development Center Network on Facebook.