November 2016, Vol. 12 No. 4 Visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com Register Your Business in our new regional Business Directory at http://www. pacificsbdc.com/ directory! INSIDE Mendiola Recognized as ASBDC State Star PAGE 2 Meet WIB Speakers: Tricia Oftana and Michelle Rohr PAGE 6 Meet WIB Speakers: Amber Word and Michelle Pier PAGE 7 Meet WIB Speaker: Angelica Paulino PAGE 8 Meet WIB Speakers: Laura Cepeda and Flora-Rose Weakley PAGE 9 Fizz and Co. Opens in Agana Shopping Center PAGE 10 Discover Guam Managing Personal Credit for Business Related Financing PAGE 13 Through the Ambassador Program By: Jane Ray and communities, it gave her a more marketing, media and public rela- Business Advisor/ profound appreciation for what she is tions, and eight years in the Tourism Training Program Coordinator doing today. and Hospitality industry. So when the (Guam SBDC) Hara has been the Managing Direc- founder decided to sell the company, it The Pacific Islands Small Business tor for LIMA Corporation dba Discover only made sense to Hara to purchase Development Center is a program artha Hara was born in Na- Guam since October 2009. In her ten- the business but she just did not know supported by the U.S. Small Busi- tional City, California and ure, she managed the airport and tour how. She has always worked hard for ness Administration under a coop- Mhad lived abroad-wherever operations, managed contracts for var- other people, but this was her first op- erative agreement and extended to her father was stationed-throughout the public on a non-discriminatory ious clients, and oversaw the general portunity to own a business and grow basis. SBA cannot endorse any her childhood. She moved to Guam, management of operations. Hara has with it. products, opinions, or services of her father’s birthplace, in 2007 to start over 35 years of business operations Hara had several business associ- any external parties or activities. a new journey. Through those travels and project management experience, This material is based on work sup- and experiences with different cultures ported by the U.S. Small Business over 15 years in sales, advertising, continued on page 3 Administration. Any opinions, find- ings, conclusions or recommenda- tions expressed are those of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Miliani’s Expands Product Offerings By: Ltelatk Fritz ani’s has been doing really well with Miliani’s turned to Palau SBDC to help Director/Business Advisor clothing and accessories, especially with its expansion in projecting reve- Editorial/Production Staff (Palau SBDC) on special seasons and occasions. nue streams for their new product line Rindraty Celes Limtiaco, In 2015, the mother & daughter and its refinancing loan package. President, G.P.I. ameline Singeo and her mom, entrepreneurs realized an emerging Over a period of six months, Palau Pacific Islands Laverne Merep, came up with niche created by the boom in Palau’s SBDC worked with Ms. Merep pro- Small Business Development Van idea to upgrade the fash- tourism industry. The lodging and ac- viding financial training in building Center Network, ion options in Palau. In August of 2013, commodations grew exponentially Miliani’s historical financial statements Editorial Miliani’s was opened on main street with the influx of tourists visiting Palau. for its current line of products, as well Jae Fermin James, Koror to provide name brand apparel They wanted to introduce a new line of as projections for its new line of hotel Advertising Director and accessories focused primarily for products to its portfolio—hotel ameni- women. For the past three years, Mili- ties. For this new business venture, Continued on page 11 Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ pacificsbdc.com Pacific Business Partners Officers, Staff and Board Members MENDIOLA RECOGNIZED AS 2016 ASBDC STATE STAR he University of Guam’s was held on Monday, September Pacific Islands Small 19th in Orlando, Florida at the T Business Development Hyatt Regency in conjunction with Center (SBDC) Network Direc- America’s SBDC’s 36th Annual tor Casey Jeszenka announced Fall Conference. America’s Small -Pacific Islands Small Business that Denise Mendiola has been Business Development Center Development Center Network Location: University of Guam, UOG selected as the 2016 State Star (ASBDC) Network is a partner- Station of the Pacific Islands SBDC Net- ship uniting private enterprise, P.O. Box 5014, Mangilao, Guam 96923 Telephone: (671) 735-2590 • Fax: (671) work (PISBDCN). government, higher education 734-2002 “I am delighted to make this and local nonprofit economic de- Website: www.pacificsbdc.com announcement, and to recognize velopment organizations. It is the Casey Jeszenka, Network Director Ms. Denise Mendiola for her ex- Small Business Administration’s [email protected] Pamela Peralta, Ed.D., Associate traordinary contributions to the largest partnership program, pro- Network Director work at the Guam SBDC and to viding management and techni- [email protected] Nicole Tesiro, Network Program As- the small businesses on Guam cal assistance to help Americans sociate and around Micronesia,” said start, run and grow their own [email protected] Casey Jeszenka. businesses. With nearly 1,000 Guam SBDC Denise Mendiola is the Senior SBDC service centers across the P.O. Box 5014, Mangilao, Guam 96923 Telephone: (671) 735-2590 • Fax: (671) Business Advisor at the Guam nation, America’s SBDC network 734-2002 SBDC as well as the Bank of last year provided business con- Denise Mendiola, WIB Program Coordinator/Senior Business Advisor Guam Women in Business sulting to approximately 200,000 Jane Ray, Business Advisor (WIB) Program Coordinator at businesses, training to 275,724 Lorie Sablan, Administrative Assistant the SBDC. Denise was chosen entrepreneurs, other forms of Chuuk SBDC by the PISBDCN for being an management and technical assis- P.O. Box 1604 Weno, Chuuk FM 96942 Telephone: (691) 330-5846 outstanding performer for her Denise Mendiola, 2016 ASBDC State Star, represent- tance to approximately 500,000 Email: [email protected] work in assisting clients, her in- small businesses and aspiring Ketsen Haregaichig, Director/Business ing the Pacific Islands SBDC Network takes a photo at Advisor volvement in business related the State Star Reception held at The Hyatt Regency in entrepreneurs all helping to cre- Cassandra Dereas, Office Manager community organizations and se- ate 17,207 new businesses and Orlando, Florida in this September 20, 2016 photo. Commonwealth of the Northern curing grant funding for the Bank 98,660 new jobs! Learn more Mariana Islands of Guam Women in Business program. Bank of Guam, resource partners and about the America’s Small Business (CNMI) SBDC our PISBDCN team of professionals, to Caller Box 10007 CK Saipan MP “I am honored and humbled to be the Development Center (ASBDC) Network 96950 recipient of the state star award this whom I am especially thankful. I look at www.americassbdc.org or about the Telephone: (670) 664-3018 · forward to continuing my work to assist Fax: (670) 664-3067 year, “Mendiola stated. She continued to University of Guam’s Pacific Islands Email: [email protected] say, “The work that we do at the SBDC small businesses start or expand and SBDC Network in Micronesia at www. Orrin Pharmin, Director/Business most importantly, help them succeed!” Advisor would not be possible without the sup- pacificsbdc.com. Lorie Pangilinan, Office Manager port of the SBA, University of Guam, A special awards reception honoring the America’s SBDC 2016 State Stars Yap SBDC P.O. Box 1171 Colonia, Yap FM 96943 Telephone: (691) 350-4801 · Fax: (691) 350-4803 Email: [email protected] James Limar, Director/Business Guam SBA Seeks 2017 Award Nominations Advisor Michael Gaan, Business Advisor Geraldine Mitagyow, Business Advisor he Small Business “SBA’s Annual Awards con- The 2017 SBA award categories include: Lona Garayol, Office Manager Administration (SBA) tinues to generate interest Palau SBDC T has opened the nomi- and excitement in Guam and • SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year P.O. Box 816 Korror Palau 96940 nations for the prestigious the CNMI because we dis- Telephone: (680) 587-6004 · • Entrepreneurial Success Award Fax: (680) 587-1549 SBA Small Business Awards cover great stories of innova- • Family-Owned Business of the Year Email: [email protected] for 2017. The SBA honors tion, creativity and teamwork Ltelatk Fritz, Director/Business Advisor • Small Business Exporter Alfia Alfonso, Administrative Assistant continue to be one of the most focused on excellence. It is in- • Young Entrepreneur of the Year competitive, comprehensive spiring to learn about the pos- Kosrae SBDC • Minority Small Business Champion Award P.O. Box 577, Tofol Kosrae State FM and visible awards presented itive, proactive measures that • Women in Business Champion Award 96944 to small businesses on island. many small business owners Telephone: (691) 370-2751 · • Veteran Small Business Champion Award Fax: (691) 370-2066 With a record of recognizing and entrepreneurs are taking • Financial Services Champion Award Email: [email protected] excellence in small business to sustain and grow their busi- Skiller Jackson, Director/Business • Home-Based Business Champion Award Advisor for more than 26 years, past nesses, particularly with the • Small Business Journalist of the Year Award Sepe Tolenna, Office Manager SBA winners have included economic buildup on Guam PISBDCN Advisory Board