(SCC) — The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its upcoming Annual Business Person of the Year Gala, slated to take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the Hibiscus Hall, Crowne Plaza Resort with the theme “Under the Stars.” This gala is not only a celebration of business excellence in the CNMI but also a momentous occasion for the induction of the SCC’s newly elected and returning Board of Directors.
The SCC is excited to invite the community to an evening filled with elegance, recognition, and networking with business professionals as we celebrate the achievements of our business community.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the four Business Person of the Year nominees for this year’s Annual Gala Award: Donna Krum (Paradise Dental Spa), Frank Ada Jr. (Triple J Saipan Inc.), Gol Corpuz (Century Insurance Company), and Joe Guerrero (Transcend LLC. dba. Naked Fish Bar & Grill). The nominees for Business Person of the Year are all active members of the Chamber, gracious in their support of the community, and business leaders advocating for our economy and our enterprises.
• Donna Krum. After graduating Suma Cum Laude from Glendale College with a degree in Business Administration, Donna spent the first fifteen years of her professional life as a single mom, climbing the corporate ladder in the Property & Casualty Insurance industry. She became the first female Vice President of a large Fortune 100 Insurance Brokerage firm and is the only person in the CNMI having achieved the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation, the most prestigious degree in the industry. Upon meeting her dentist husband, Nelson Krum, Donna left her insurance world and began using her managerial and marketing skills in the dental profession. It was “love at first sight” for both Dr. Krum and the dental profession. She has never looked back. She has been an active member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce since 2013, and her passion for Chamber membership has earned her the nickname “The Chamber Cheerleader.” Donna has served three terms on the Chamber’s Board and is active with the Rotary Club of Saipan and Soroptimist International. She is the vice-chair of the Blue-Ribbon Initiative, addressing drug and alcohol addiction in the CNMI, and co-founded The Compassionate Friends Chapter after losing her daughter in 2005. A lifelong learner, her motto is “Show up and Play Nice.” In 2020, Donna and Nelson introduced Pickleball to Saipan, starting with a court in their dental office parking lot. Now, there are 12 courts on the island, and local players have won medals in national tournaments. Donna’s greatest joy is becoming a grandmother to baby Josephine Clark, born on March 28. Josie is set to graduate dental school in 2050 and carry on the family legacy at Paradise Dental Spa. “Thank you for the nomination for 2025 Businessperson of the Year!”
• Frank Ada Jr. is a dedicated and accomplished Human Resources Director with over 35 years of experience in diverse senior-leadership roles including at Triple J Saipan, Inc. As the director of Human Resources, Frank’s people-first strategic vision and partnership across the organization significantly impacts business success and efficiency, most especially with the business development in Tinian. His efforts to build a diverse team has resulted in economic growth and increased employment opportunities. Frank’s leadership extends to being a board member of several organizations including Haggan Woong and the CNMI Society for Human Resource Management, where he continues to shape the future of business practices in the region. Outside of his professional life, Frank is actively involved in local sports and is deeply passionate about youth development. He has served as the CNMI Little League team manager and is a proud former member of the Saipan Swim Club and the Motocross Racing Association. Frank Ada embodies leadership, commitment, and a deep-rooted connection to his community. Above all, he believes in God and His teachings that each of us are responsible for those in need. As a proud father, grandfather, brother, and uncle to many nephews and nieces, he believes in the importance of family and nurturing relationships and friendship — an integral pillar of how he approaches his work. His contributions to the community, and his dedication to fostering talent make him a deserving nominee for Business Person of the Year.
• Gol Corpuz. Since 2011, he has served as the general manager of Century Insurance, where he also fulfills the roles of resident agent and branch manager for the Century Guam Branch. A long-standing member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for 31 years, he actively participates in the Chamber’s Government Relations Committee. Under his leadership, Century Insurance has prioritized employing and promoting the local workforce by conducting training programs focused on safety and insurance-related seminars, fostering both community and industry growth. As a licensed Mechanical Engineer and graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role, complemented by additional certifications and training through OSHA. He has represented the CNMI on an international stage, attending the California and Texas PTA Conventions in 2004 and the Reinsurance Conferences in Australia in 2005 and 2007. Currently, he serves as the president of the Northern Marianas Insurance Association, now in his fifth term, after previously holding positions as treasurer, vice president, and director. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is deeply involved in community service initiatives, including island-wide cleanups, bus stop adoption, and educational support through scholarship grants at Northern Marianas College. During disasters like Typhoon Soudelor in 2015 and Typhoon Yutu in 2018, he partnered with organizations such as the American Red Cross, Karidat, and the Salvation Army to provide aid to affected families, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to his profession and community.
• Joe Guerrero is a well-respected, dynamic leader with over 23 years of senior management experience spanning real estate, finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and hospitality. An entrepreneur at heart, Joe has co-founded several businesses over the past 15 years and is widely recognized for successfully operating Naked Fish Bar & Grill for more than a decade. As vice president and principal consultant of Transcends Consulting, established in 2010 with his spouse, Eleanor T. Cabrera, Joe leverages his extensive business expertise and strong public-private sector partnerships in the Northern Mariana Islands to deliver customized solutions in market research, strategic planning, workforce sustainability, and project management. His career highlights include managing multimillion-dollar real estate transactions, driving strategic initiatives, and fostering sustainable growth for organizations across both public and private sectors. Joe is deeply committed to community and economic development in the CNMI.
His service includes roles as a member of the CNMI Workforce Investment Board (2002-2003), president of the Commonwealth Auto Dealer Association (2003-2006), chair of the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission (2012–2016), board secretary of the NMI Crime Stoppers (2017-2022), member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors (2020-2022), co-chair of the CNMI Green Growth Initiative-Sustainable Development Goals Team 1 (2024-2025), and member of the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network Advisory Council (2024-2025). A member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, Joe served as board vice president (2019,2020) and has been board president since 2021, championing business growth and policy initiatives.
Joe earned a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University in 1997 and an MBA from the University of Oregon in 2000. With his leadership and innovative mindset, Joe continues to empower organizations and advance sustainable development in the Northern Mariana Islands. In his spare time, Joe enjoys deep-bottom fishing, snorkeling, snowboarding with his two sons, Christian and Ruben, and traveling with his wife and business partner, Eleanor.
Other nominees
In addition, the Chamber is also proud to announce the nominees for the following awards:
1) 2024 Non-Profit of the Year
a) 500 Sails
b) Northern Marianas Sports Association
2) Trailblazing Start-Up Award
a) Marianas Press
b) ProofPoint
c) Tupu Cane Juice
3) 2024 Small Business of the Year
a) Bishu Marianas
b) Plumeria Steakhouse
c) Tupu Cane Juice
4) Agency Star Award
a) Saipan Mayor’s Office
b) Transit CNMI (Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority)
c) Northern Marianas College
5) Emerging Leader Star Award
a) Adelpha Lynn Magofna (CNMI SBDC)
b) Christine Tadeo (AB Risk Solutions)
c) Paul Guerrero (IT&E Saipan)
d) Alex Hu (Island Training Solutions)
6) 2024 Chamber Member of the Year
a) Island Training Solutions
b) Century Insurance
c) CNMI Small Business Development Center
The winners of the Gala Awards will be voted on by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce membership official representatives.
Tickets are available for $125 per person, which promises attendees a night of elegance, recognition, and networking. Join us and make it a memorable night with live music, silent auction activities, dinner, networking, and good vibes. We are also accepting group reservations set at $1,100, accommodating eight guests with a complimentary premium bottle of wine.
In addition, the SCC is proud to recognize and express gratitude to our esteemed sponsors for their support. Their commitment to our business collective is appreciated.
● Platinum Sponsor
○ United Airlines, Inc.
● Gold Sponsor
○ Docomo Pacific, Inc.
○ Triple J Saipan, Inc.
● Silver Sponsor
○ Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan
○ Younis Art Studio Inc. dba. Marianas Variety
● Event Sponsors
○ Angil Design, Inc.
○ Assurance Brokers, Inc. (Saipan) dba AB Risk Solutions
○ Century Insurance
○ Marianas Business Journal
○ Northern Marianas Technical Institute
○ Pacific Health Inc. dba PHI Pharmacy
● In-kind Sponsors
○ D&Q Saipan Co., Ltd.
○ Coca-Cola Beverage Company
○ Marianas Pacific Distributors, Inc.
○ World Corporation dba Saipan World Resort
○ Let’s Go Tour Company
The Chamber invites businesses and organizations to support this event through sponsorship. If you are interested in sponsoring our event please contact our office, your sponsorship plays a vital part in sustaining our Chamber operations which allows us to support our local business community.
The Chamber invites you to join this night of celebration and recognition. Register now through this link: https://tinyurl.com/SCC2024BPOY or contact the SCC office for assistance at (670) 234-7150 or email [email protected]/.
About the SCC
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization with approximately 125 members dedicated to promoting the economic growth and development of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Chamber serves as the collective voice of the business community, advocating for their interests, fostering collaboration, and driving initiatives that support the local economy.
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