SAIPAN – The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) Network at Northern Marianas College and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee teamed up last week to deliver “Operation: Business Excellence,” a two-day workshop designed to help veterans and aspiring entrepreneurs make the leap into business ownership.
Held September 25–26 at the CNMI Innovation Incubator in Garapan, the event drew nine veterans and their dependents along with ten start-up entrepreneurs. Together, they explored key steps in starting a business in the islands, from licensing and compliance to financing and marketing strategies.
Among the highlights was “From Service to Start-Up,” where CNMI SBDC Associate Network Director Mercilynn Kaneshi Palec guided participants through the fundamentals of launching a business in the CNMI. Roman M. Tudela, CNMI SBDC Marketing Manager, followed with “AI Command Center,” a session showing how artificial intelligence can be used to sharpen digital marketing and social media strategies. The program also featured insights from First Hawaiian Bank’s Oleai Branch leadership team — Vickie Izuka, Vicente Agulto, and Piarose Aguon — who walked attendees through understanding credit, navigating the loan process, and leveraging payment solutions to grow a business.
For many, the experience proved transformative. U.S. Navy veteran Jesus Abraham Flores Cantu said the workshop gave him the clarity and confidence he needed to take the next step toward starting his own business, adding that learning both how AI can fuel growth and how financing works in practice gave him a clear roadmap forward.
Nadine Deleon Guerrero Kintol, CNMI SBDC Network Director, said the training was about more than just classroom lessons. “Operation: Business Excellence is about building a bridge for our veterans to transition their skills, discipline, and leadership from military service into business ownership,” she said.
The CNMI SBDC emphasized that it remains committed to supporting veterans and the wider community with accessible, high-quality business services as part of its mission to strengthen the local economy.
