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From the desk of Chamber President, Catherine Castro
Remembering Peter R. Sgro, Jr
Past Chairman of the Board (1992 & 2014)
Tuesday at dusk I received the first of many notices and text messages of the untimely passing of Peter. I just had to sit, stare at my phone in disbelief, and lift up silent prayers. I remember my first working meeting with Peter. He picked my brain on everything Chamber. He wanted to know about each of the committees, the issues we were working on, who was involved in the work of the Chamber, and the names and duties of each of the Chamber staff. He asked many questions and took copious notes. Those who knew him knew he was a note-taker and a letter-writer. I would tease him about his “missives’ and he would gently chide me for editing them all. He befriended us and was very generous with praise for the work of the Chamber, its volunteers, and our staff.
It was his first tenure as Chairman of the Board in 1992 when the Chamber established the Guam Business Hall of Fame to recognize local business leaders who have made outstanding contributions to their industry, their profession, and to the island of Guam. This annual recognition continues to this day. In his second tenure as Chairman in 2014, he made it a point to be actively engaged with the membership and the various committees. He often met with members of the Guam Young Professionals and the Chamber Business Women’s Network. He was a mentor for many and his charismatic nature drew a crowd to our monthly general membership meetings. He sent bimonthly messages to the membership which garnered appreciation and enthusiastic support for the efforts of the Chamber, which never failed to bring him a smile and further spurred his passion to do more.
It has been well-documented in the press and among the community of his tireless efforts in support of improved healthcare for our island and he was instrumental in the development of the only private hospital in Guam, now known as GRMC. This effort took many years to come to fruition. What would have discouraged others, only made him more determined to make it happen.
He often spoke of his deep love for his family and he was truly enamored with his grandchildren. He shared stories and lessons from his father, Peter Sgro Sr., his father-in-law, Former Governor Paul M. Calvo, and his uncle, Pedro P. Ada, Jr. that helped to shape the person Peter was in this lifetime.
Peter Sgro, Jr. left a lasting legacy that will be remembered for years to come. Rest well, Peter. May your reunion be sweet and may God’s face be sweeter.
View photos & memories of Peter
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Guam Air National Guard's
Award Ceremony
Through our Armed Forces Committee partnership with the local military commands, we are seeking contributions for prizes in the below categories to be presented at the Guam Air National Guard Awards banquet. Items such as brunches, lunches or dinners for two, weekend getaways, hotel overnight stays, shopping gift certificates, or optional tours are welcome. Any contribution you make will be greatly appreciated.
- Airman of the Year - Drill Status Guardsman
- Airman of the Year - Full Time Staff
- Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - Drill Status Guardsman
- Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - Full Time Staff
- Senior Non-Commissioned Office of the Year - Drill Status Guardsman
- Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year - Full Time Staff
- Company Grade Officer of the Year
- Field Grade Officer of the Year - Drill Status Guardsman
- Field Grade Officer of the Year - Full Time Staff
- Civilian of the Year
We request that gift certificates be delivered to the Chamber Office by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17th to allow time for preparation of packets for the awardees.
If you have any questions, please call the Chamber Office at 671-472-6311/8001.
Thank you for your generous support of our Air National Guard servicemen and women!
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Guam Chamber Business Hall of Fame Nomination Begins
The Guam Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2024 Guam Business Hall of Fame Laureate Awards--prestigious awards that pay tribute to outstanding companies and business leaders who have made exceptional contributions to business growth in Guam.
There are two categories for the Laureate award: 1) Individual; and, 2) Company. Any individual or for-profit enterprise licensed to do business in Guam is eligible for the award. Laureates to the Guam Business Hall of Fame will be selected based on key criteria.
The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Download Hall of Fame Fact Sheet
Download Business Laureate Nomination Form
Download Individual Nomination Form
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SAVE THE DATE: 26TH Annual Amateur Golf Tournament
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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YES! It's one of our favorite activities and we know it's yours, too! Your Guam Chamber's 26th Annual Amateur Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Great weather, fantastic course, fun people, and awesome prizes - What's not to enjoy?
Grab a partner and practice your swing to get ready for March 20th! We'll be sending you details very soon! In the meantime, watch our awesome video of last year's annual golf tournament!
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Guam State Trade Expansion Program
Deadline for submission: January 16, 2024
Funded by the SBA, the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) provides financial awards to state and territory governments to assist small businesses with export development. The Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) is currently accepting applications for the 2024 Guam State Trade Expansion Program (Guam STEP).
The STEP grant program has helped thousands of small businesses obtain grants and find customers in the international marketplace since 2011. Through awards to U.S. states and territories, STEP helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.
STEP financial support helps U.S. small businesses:
- Learn to export
- Participate in foreign trade missions
- Design international marketing products and campaigns
- Support website globalization and e-commerce capabilities
- Pay for subscriptions to services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal agencies
- Participate in export trade show exhibits and training workshops
Click here to view STEP news release
View SBA Form
View SBA self-representation form
View STEP product information
View STEP application checklist
View STEP application form
View STEP export Readiness Questionnaire
View STEP background
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Local Businesses Encouraged to
Apply for LEAP ll
Deadline to submit form: Tuesday, February 8, 2024
On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, local businesses can apply for the Local Employers Assistance Program (LEAP) Supplemental Grant ll. LEAP ll was established by Governor Lou Leon Guerrero though Executive Order No. 2023-15 to provide a final round of direct financial assistance to local small businesses that experienced significant levels of pandemic-related business interruption in calendar year 2022. 2023-15 allocates $5 million in addition to Public Law 37-15, which allocated up to $15 million in local funds to LEAP ll. Program information and applicant guidance are available on Invest Guam's website.
The program application form has been posted on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) will continue accepting LEAP ll applications through Tuesday, February 8, 2024.
View more info on GEDA's website
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U.S. Chamber Opposes Harmful New DOL Regulation on Employee and Independent Contractor Classification
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Workplace Policy Marc Freedman issued the following statement today regarding the new employee and independent contractor classification rule from the Department of Labor:
“The Department of Labor’s new regulation redefining when someone is an employee or an independent contractor is clearly biased towards declaring most independent contractors as employees, a move that will decrease flexibility and opportunity and result in lost earning opportunities for millions of Americans. It threatens the flexibility of individuals to work when and how they want and could have significant negative impacts on our economy. Making matters worse, the rule is completely unnecessary, as the Department continues to report success in cracking down on bad actors that are misclassifying workers. The U.S. Chamber will carefully evaluate our options going forward, including litigation.”
Articles
Voters Trust American Free Enterprise, Want Government to Stop Micromanaging Business
Labor Force Shrinks in December
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Episode 5 Now Available! 🎧
Take a listen!
Your Guam Chamber Small Business Focus and Development Committee is pleased to present to you Episode 5 of Season 2, spotlighting Ms. Jenynne Guzman, President of GuamTemps. This episode was hosted by Board Director, Chris Duenas.
Click your favorite links below to hear Ms. Jenynne's Story!
Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcast
Stay connected with us on our social media platforms for the announcements of our upcoming events and new episode releases! Click your go-to social media platforms below and follow us!
Instagram • Facebook • X • LinkedIn
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Golfxpresso Season Open Ceremony Party
Saturday, January 13, 2023
Golfxpresso is excited to invite you to their event that marks their introduction into the vibrant Guam golf industry. They are enthusiastic about connecting with local golfers and contributing to the community.
Join them for a casual networking event, where you can introduce yourself, share stories, and make new friends within the golfing community. Join them as they kick off with a variety of refreshments and a welcoming lunch scheduled for 12:00 pm at their location!
Click here to read Golfxpresso's full invitation!
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Did you know that we have a member news page on our website and app? News sent to us by a Chamber member is featured on our "member news" page. Feel free to send us your releases and we are happy to share your news! | |
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2024
Industry Recovery Updates
Click here
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View Guam APEX
Accelerators
January 2024
Training Events
Webinars are held every Thursday from 10am - 11:30am via Zoom.
Zoom links emailed to registered attendees 30 minutes before the webinar.
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Your Chamber Office will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024,
in Honor of Martin Luthor King Jr. We look forward to serving you on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
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