Chamber Leadership

Elections are held every November for Officers and Directors of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. Member votes are apportioned to their annual dues contribution. Members of the Chamber who have served on the Board of Directors for at least one year are eligible to run for the position of President. A nine member Board of Directors governs the Chamber. The membership elects members to the Board annually to serve for terms of one calendar year for officers, and staggered two calendar year terms for directors.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is managed by an Executive Director and a Chamber Coodinator.

President: Mr. Douglas Brennan
Microl Corporation
Contact Douglas Brennan

Doug is Vice President and General Manager of Microl Corporation. He received his BFA degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Doug started with Microl Corporation in June 1984 and has held the following positions within the company: Assistant Manager Commercial Division; Manager Toyota Parts Department; Manager Toyota Service Department; After Sales Manager (Parts, Service, Body Repair); and Vice President / Assistant General Manager.

As the representative for Microl, Doug has been a Chamber member since 2003. Doug is Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Armed Forces Committee, as well as the Chamber representative to the Governor’s Civilian-Military Task Force.

 

Vice President: Mr. Jim Arenovski
Delta Management
President
Contact Jim Arenovski

Jim has lived in the Marianas since 1987. Originally from Yarmouth, Massachusetts, Jim holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from Georgia Southern University.

In 1987, Jim left ITT Sheraton in Savannah, Georgia and started his career in the Marianas with The Inter-Pacifica Group as Special Projects Manager for Pacific Islands Club and then became the Area Manager for Domino’s Pizza Group in Guam in 1989.

Initially hired by Shell Guam in 1991 as a Commercial Area Manager, Jim spent six years with Shell. He was promoted to the position of Saipan Area Manager and eventually became Regional Manager for Shell North Pacific, which includes Guam, Saipan, and Palau.

In 1998, Jim, with his two partners, formed Delta Management Corporation, a management company, which currently operates seven Shell Service Stations (four on Guam and three on Saipan). Delta Management also owns Prime Group, Inc., which is the authorized distributor of pre-paid telecommunications products, including pre-paid cellular phones and cards and long distance calling cards for PTI in the NMI and Guam.

Jim currently serves on the board of NMI Crime Stoppers and has been active in this program for many years and also sits on the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers International.

 

Treasurer: Mr. Michael S. Johnson
Deloitte & Touche
Managing Partner
Contact Michael S. Johnson

Mike is the Managing Partner of Deloitte in Saipan and Palau and is a long-time resident of Saipan. Mike held the position of Chamber Treasurer for three consecutive terms in the early 1990’s and has been the treasurer of the Chamber since 2005.

Mike came to Saipan in 1982 after earning Masters of Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) and Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He is a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the CNMI Society of Certified Public Accountants and past President of the CNMI Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants. Additionally, Mike was selected by Bishop Camacho to serve on the financial advisory committee of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and is a past Chairman of the CNMI Board of Accountancy.

Mike is married to Betty Hamilton Johnson. They have three children, Kathleen, Sarah and Andrew. Mike participates in various sports including golf, kayaking, biking and triathlon. Mike is the current president of the Saipan Swim Club and treasurer of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation and the Over the Reef Yacht Club.

 

Secretary: Ms. Kathryn Barry
Pacific Telecom Inc.
Sales and Marketing Director
Contact Kathryn Barry

Kathryn is the Marketing Manager for IT&E, where she manages all marketing and promotional activities for the company. Prior to working for IT&E, Kathryn was the Sales and Marketing Director for Coca-Cola Micronesia and an instructor at Northern Marianas Academy.

Prior to moving to the CNMI, Kathryn was with Coca-Cola Enterprises, in Baltimore, MD, managing customer service for national and regional wholesale Coca-Cola customers. She also worked in Coca-Cola North America Operations Marketing for four years.

After college, Kathryn accepted a position at the University of South Florida as the Coordinator of Public Functions, planning and coordinating campus events and managing a 2,000 seat multi-purpose events center.  During her tenure with the university, she also was the Program Advisor/Coordinator for a nationally recognized honors program in the College of Education for current and future teachers.

Kathryn is a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, serves on the Selection Panel for CNMI Teacher of the Year, is active in the Rotary Club of Saipan and volunteers her time with the WWII veteran groups that visit Saipan. In 2007, Kathryn was a CNMI nominee for the Guam Business 2007 Businesswoman of the Year and a nominee for the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year.

Originally from Florida, she studied Marketing Education at the University of South Florida and Business Management at the University of Phoenix, Maryland Campus.
Kathryn and her husband Jim have two boys, Chris and Bo.

Directors:

Director: Mr. Mark Birmingham
Marianas Cable Vision
System Manager
Contact Mark Birmingham

Mark was born and raised in Atlanta, Texas, a small town in Northeast Texas. He graduated from Baylor University with a B.B.A. in Marketing/Management. He began his career in cable television in 1982, has worked for Warner-Amex, Storer Cable, Telecable, and was the Sales Supervisor for the Little Rock, Arkansas Comcast system for nine years. He has also worked as a cable television contractor.

Mark moved from Little Rock to Guam in 1996 to work for Guam Cable TV. Marianas CableVision bought Guam Cable TV in 1997 and Mark was brought on as Marketing Manager. He remained in this position until late 2004 when he was named System Manager for the CNMI. He continued as Marketing Manager for Guam and Saipan until March 2006.

Mark has been active in several organizations since moving to Saipan. He is a board member for NMI Crime Stoppers and is a member of the Advisory Board for the NMI Salvation Army post on Saipan. He is also the Membership Chairman for the local Boy Scouts of America troop. He has assisted with the marketing efforts of several local social and service organizations as well as private businesses. Mark is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee and the Armed Forces Committee. In addition, Mark is the MCV Broadband representative to HANMI and MVA.

Mark lives in Gualo Rai with his wife, Dolores, and children Clark and Amaris.

 

Director: Mr. Steve Jang
Cartridge World
President
Contact Steve Jang

Steve Jang has been a member of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce since 2005, and during that time has been active on the Government Relations Committee. Steve is General Manager of the Rainbow Color, which he started in 2005. Prior to that time he held a number of positions on Saipan and Guam.

For two years he worked as a Sales Consultant for Joeten Motors. In Guam, Steve was President of Online Communications, where he developed web design in Korean and Japanese, developed and hosted web pages, and did Internet consulting. He also worked for the law firm of Teker Civille Torres & Tang, translating legal documents, insurance claims, and performing trial translation in court.
Prior to these experiences, Steve was owner of Video USA, Video Town, Video SA, and U.S. Video on Guam, managing all four stores. He was also President of W.O.W. Jetski and Isla Jet Ski, marketing to Korean and Japanese tourists.

Steve has a B.S. degree in Electronics Engineering and a Minor in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.

 

Director: Mr. Alexander A. Sablan
Saipan Shipping Company
Marketing Manager
Contact Alexander A. Sablan

Alex has been involved with the Chamber for nearly 20 years.

Alex was the Chamber Representative for the regional Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) forum with Guam delegates and has served as Chairman of both the Government Relations and Economic Development Committee (GREL) and the Events Committee. 

Alex is or has served as a Chairman or Board Member for the following organizations: member, Commonwealth Cancer Association; member, Guam Chamber of Commerce Maritime Affairs Committee; member, Board of Directors for the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI); member, Advisory Board for the CNMI Public Radio KRNM 88/89.1 FM; Chairman for the Past Presidents Council of the Rotary Club of Saipan; President for the Association of Seaport Tenants and Operators of Saipan, Inc. (ASTOSI); and board member of the CNMI Contractors Association. 

He also previously served as the CNMI representative to the American Cancer Society Guam/CNMI Presence Unit Board of Directors; Chairman, 2000 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Event; President, Rotary Club of Saipan; board member, Rotary Club of Saipan; and Member of the Kagman Komunidat Association.

For the past fifteen years, Alex has held management positions in the transportation industry in Saipan and Guam. He currently works at the Saipan Shipping Company as its Marketing/Administration Manager. Prior to this, he was an owner’s representative for a multi-diversified transportation company: heading Seabridge Micronesia as Managing Director; Pacific Air Inc., General Sales Agent for Northwest Airlines Passenger and Cargo Sales, as General Manager-Saipan and Micronesia; and Saipan Crew Boats and Saipan Pilots, as General Manager. Alex has also been the General Manager of Ambyth Shipping in Saipan. 

Alex is married to Nora Mae Reyes Sablan and has children Amanda, Kanani, and Sean.

Director: Mr. David M. Sablan, Sr.
Century Insurance Company, Ltd.
President
Contact David M. Sablan, Sr.

David started his business career in 1952 with Atkins, Kroll in Guam as Steamship Traffic Clerk. In 1953, he was transferred to the Automotive Division of Atkins, Kroll as the Sales Manager of the General Motors Distributorship, a job he held until 1961.

After that, he joined the Bank of Hawaii in Guam, initially as Loan Administrator and then as Assistant Manager until 1965.
In 1965, he rejoined Atkins, Kroll and was instrumental in establishing the Saipan branch of Atkins, Kroll. David was the first General Manager of the Company. The Saipan branch of Atkins, Kroll was incorporated as Microl Corporation in 1968. In 1974, when Atkins, Kroll was sold to Inchcape, he was promoted to President, a position he held until being named Chairman of the Board in 1985. He moved to California in 1987 and established a trading company.

He joined Governor Lorenzo Guerrero’s Administration in 1990 as Special Assistant to the Governor for Planning and Budgeting and was responsible for preparing the annual budget package for the CNMI Government as well as for preparing the budget presentation to the U.S. Congressional Oversight Committee. He resigned in January 1993

David has also held other government posts, such as: member, Pacific Asia Travel Association; member, Board of Directors; member, Strategic Economic Development Council; Chairman of the Board, Marianas Visitors Authority (serving MVA for 20 Years in total); Chairman, 3rd Annual Micronesian Business Council; member, Governor’s Economic Advisory Council; and member, CNMI Aviation Task Force.
David’s involvement in tourism began in 1968 when he organized and became the President of Pacific Micronesia Corporation (PMC), the first 200 room hotel, Saipan Beach Inter-Continental Hotel. PMC was jointly owned by David, with Japan Travel Bureau, Inc., Keio Plaza Hotel and Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation. In 1984, David sold his hotel interest. Tasi Tours and Transportation was another company he established in 1976 with Japan Travel Bureau, Inc. He was the President of the Company for nine years until he sold his interest in 1985.

David joined the Tan Holdings Corporation in 1993, where he presently holds several key executive positions including insurance, hotels, travel and tourism, logistics handling and wholesaling: President, Century Insurance Co., Century Travel, and Century Tours; Vice-President: CTSI Logistics, Asia-Pacific Airlines, and Cosmos Distributing; Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors: Asia Pacific Hotels, owning company of Fiesta Resort & Spa, Saipan Grand Hotel, and Century Hotel.

David has been actively involved in various community groups and associations including Saipan Rotary Club, Rotary International, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Commission on Federal Laws, Employer Support for the National Guard and Reserve, Fund - Raising Committee for Reconstruction of Kristo Rai Church, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

 

Director: Vincent J. Seman
Carlsmith Ball LLP
Contact Vincent J. Seman

Vincent J. Seman is an attorney with Carlsmith Ball in his fourth year of practice. He first obtained his license with the Hawaii bar where he worked for one year at Carlsmith’s main office before transferring to its Saipan office. He concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment, civil and commercial litigation, criminal defense, banking, insurance, trust and estate, and real property. 

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Vince gained valuable business experience holding simultaneous management positions for Mita Travel, GTS Construction, GTS Security, Paras Enterprises Saipan, and Herman’s Modern Bakery for over 10 years. His other work experience includes filling the role of the CNMI's Alcohol and Drug Policy Coordinator at the Office of Personnel Management, where he initiated the random drug test program for government employees. Vince also served as member of the board of regents for the Northern Marianas College for over 5 years, with his last year as its chairman. He has been a long-time volunteer for the Red Cross and other non-profit organizations. Vince was a pioneer of the outrigger canoe sport in Saipan, including bringing the annual Micronesia Outrigger Cup to Saipan in 2000 and 2003.

Vince received his B.S. in Management from Bentley College in 1994. He earned his law degree from Whittier Law School in May 2006. While in law school, Vincent clerked for the Honorable U.S. District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands Chief Judge Alex Munson and served as research assistant to Whittier Law School Professor Christine Kelton.

Executive Director

Kyle Calabrese
Saipan Chamber of Commerce

Kyle joined the Chamber as Executive Director in December 2007. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kyle was the Operations Consultant for Herman’s Modern Bakery, the oldest corporation in the Commonwealth, where he was responsible for day-to-day management of bakery, cafe, and catering operations. During this time, he also was a consultant for Juan T. Guerrero & Associates and Insurance and Business Management Corporation, where he primarily participated in negotiations and contractual arrangements with international corporations.

A native of Connecticut and a graduate of Vassar College, Kyle has lived in the Commonwealth since 1997 and has been actively involved in a number of community and charitable organizations, including serving a term as a member of the Board of Directors of the NMI Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Kyle is the Vice Chairman of the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, which is charged with oversight responsibility for electric, water, wastewater, telephone, and cable services in the Commonwealth. He is also a member of the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Student Education Oversight Panel, which advises the Secretary of Commerce with respect to certifying educational institutions in the Commonwealth to accept foreign students