SAIPAN Chamber of Commerce president Joseph Guerrero said the group’s membership has grown a bit even amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Although many members have mentioned that they may discontinue their membership to save costs and to survive, Guerrero said that the chamber is willing to work with them.
“We’re confident that becoming a member has value for them and so we’re fortunate that people are still on board. We still worked very hard throughout the pandemic through Zoom calls. We were still very active throughout the pandemic,” he said.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower enterprises as a resource, advocate, and connector for the private sector on Saipan.
Its vision is to create an island where businesses, family, and community succeed as one.
It was created even before the political status of the CNMI was defined in 1978.
Today, it has over 140 members ranging from sole proprietors to large resort hotels, service companies, tour agencies, insurance firms, and construction companies, representing the diversity of the Commonwealth.
The chamber provides collective representation and a respected “voice for business” within its wide network of relationships, including with the CNMI government, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers, and the Armed Forces Committee.
Members receive discounts at participating companies and are listed on the official Saipan Chamber of Commerce website.
Membership varies from start-up membership, to basic, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and the most prestigious “President’s Circle.”
Joining President Guerrero on the board of directors are vice president Shayne Villanueva of Assurance Brokers, Inc.; treasurer Michael Johnson of Deloitte & Touche, secretary Marcia N. Calvo of Calvo’s Insurance, Alex A. Sablan of Tan Holdings Corp., Das Krishnan of Crowne Plaza Resort, Glen Hunter of The Shack, Janice A. Tenorio of IT&E CNMI, and Velma Palacios of IT&E CNMI.
Its three-member staff is composed of executive director Lyrard Tenorio, Franco Santos who handles financial and data management, and Noelani McMahon who handles marketing and membership.
For more information, visit https://www.saipanchamber.com/ or contact 234-7150.
