(Press Release) — The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College formally announced the composition of its Advisory Council, which convened for its inaugural annual meeting on Jan. 9, 2026, bringing together business, government, and education leaders to help guide small business development efforts across the Commonwealth.
The Advisory Council serves as a strategic body providing guidance to the CNMI SBDC Network on program development, outreach priorities, and long-term economic impact for small businesses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
The CNMI SBDC Network formally introduced its Advisory Council members during the meeting. Council members and their affiliations are listed below by island representation:
Saipan
Dr. Barbara Hunter – interim director, School of Business, Northern Marianas College
Derek Sasamoto – executive director, Commonwealth Economic Development Authority
Jamika Taijeron – managing director, Marianas Visitors Authority
Leila Staffler – secretary, CNMI Department of Labor
Thomas John Manglona – member, CNMI House of Representatives and chairman, House Committee on Commerce
Vickie Izuka – vice president & branch manager, First Hawaiian Bank
Tinian
Alexis Hofschneider – owner, K-Town Coffee
Allen Perez – chief of staff, Mayor’s Office of Tinian
Rota
Diana B. Hocog – interim director, Rota NMC Center
Jennifer Yalung – owner, BBQ Beast / The Happy Place
Vickie Izuka, CNMI SBDC Advisory Council member representing Saipan, shares her thoughts in her appointment to the Council, “I am extremely proud of the progress the CNMI SBDC has made in the short time it has become a Network. Their dedication and commitment to helping small businesses is something I am personally impressed with, and is part of the reason why I accepted a seat on the Council. I look forward to seeing their continued growth, and am excited to be a part of how the SBDC can strengthen its service delivery to the small business communities we all serve.”
As part of the inaugural meeting, the Advisory Council conducted the election of its leadership. Members elected Derek Sasamoto to serve as chairman and Diana B. Hocog to serve as vice chairwoman, establishing the Council’s leadership for the coming year and reinforcing its commitment to structured governance and accountability.
According to Sasamoto, “The CNMI SBDC Network is an active contributor to increasing entrepreneurial capacity within the Commonwealth. As the executive director of the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, I look forward to seeing ways we can partner with the SBDC to build on that capacity, strengthen access to capital and discuss ways on how we can be an active participant in its service delivery to the CNMI.”
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, with Tinian-based Council members participating virtually via Zoom, ensuring full island representation and reinforcing the Network’s commitment to inclusive engagement across the Commonwealth.
Also present at the meeting were senior leaders from Northern Marianas College, the host institution of the CNMI SBDC Network:
Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD., president
Frankie Eliptico, senior vice president of administration and advancement
Their presence underscored the college’s continued support of small business development and workforce readiness initiatives throughout the CNMI.
While the Advisory Council is expected to meet annually, the Council will convene again in July 2026 to continue its work in preparation for the CNMI SBDC Network’s upcoming accreditation review with the Association of America’s SBDC where members of the Council are expected to contribute to the Network’s overall strategic plan. The mid-year convening will allow the Council to review progress, support accreditation-related planning, and ensure the Network remains aligned with national SBDC standards while advancing services tailored to the CNMI’s unique business environment.
“The Advisory Council brings together voices that reflect the real needs and opportunities within our business community,” said Nadine Deleon Guerrero Kintol, director of the CNMI SBDC Network. “Their contributions and feedback strengthens our ability to deliver relevant, practical, and impactful services for entrepreneurs across all three islands while recognizing blind spots the SBDC may not be necessarily aware of.”
The CNMI SBDC Network, hosted by Northern Marianas College, provides no-cost, confidential business advising, training, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the Commonwealth.
For more information, visit www.cnmisbdc.com/, contact the SBDC office at (670) 237-9206/6888 or email [email protected]/. Follow CNMI SBDC on social media for updates: Instagram @cnmisbdc and Facebook at CNMI Small Business Development Center Network.
