(SBDC) — The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College, in partnership with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Armed Forces Committee, is proud to announce Operation: Business Excellence, a special training designed to help veterans and their families take the first steps toward entrepreneurship.
The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Sept, 26, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the CNMI Innovation Incubator Office, located at 3290 Beach Road Plaza, Unit #5.
This no-cost training will provide veterans with critical business resources and knowledge, focusing on how the skills gained during military service can be applied to building a successful business. Participants will also gain valuable insight into understanding credit and navigating the loan application process with the help of guest speakers Vickie Izuka, vice president & branch manager; Vicente Agulto, assistant vice president & business banking officer; and Piarose Aguon, senior merchant services representative from the First Hawaiian Bank’s Saipan Branch.
With a wealth of experience in commercial lending, title and escrow, mortgage lending, and real estate consulting, Izuka will guide participants through the essentials of building a strong financial foundation for their business. She currently oversees business and commercial lending activities for First Hawaiian Bank and is actively involved in the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Northern Marianas Football Association.
“We are incredibly grateful to First Hawaiian Bank for being a longstanding partner and steadfast supporter of the CNMI SBDC’s mission to empower small businesses,” said Nadine Deleon Guerrero Kintol, CNMI SBDC Network director. “Their continued commitment allows us to bring valuable training opportunities like Operation: Business Excellence to our community, helping veterans and their families access the financial knowledge and resources they need to achieve success.”
In addition to Izuka’s presentation, the CNMI SBDC team will also be offering two in-house training sessions:
• From Service to Start-Up: A step-by-step guide to starting a business in the CNMI, covering licensing requirements and local opportunities to help veterans successfully transition from military service to entrepreneurship.
• AI Command Center: Deploying Social Media Strategies: A beginner-friendly workshop introducing artificial intelligence tools and strategies to help veterans market their businesses, boost visibility, and reach more customers.
This training is at no-cost and open to all veterans and their immediate family members who are interested in starting or expanding a business.
Training date & registration link
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025: https://marianas.ecenterdirect.com/events/1019182
Friday, Sept. 26, 2025: This training session is fully booked and registration is now closed.
For more information, contact the CNMI SBDC Lead Center at (670) 237-6888 or email cnmisbdc@marianas.edu/. Follow @cnmisbdc on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.cnmisbdc.com for the latest updates and events.
