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Hafa adai Catherine,
It's that time to dust off your glad rags and join us in celebrating our members as they mark special anniversary milestones in their service to our island community. Members celebrating 20 years to 80 years in business (in five-year increments) will be toasted at the Chamber's 101st Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 3rd. Ticket sales are ongoing, but we urge you to reserve your tickets as soon as possible as we are selling out quickly! We will be inducting new Laureates into the 2025 Guam Business Hall of Fame, and altogether, it is the occasion to raise a glass to the private sector for weathering another challenging economic year and looking ahead with optimism.
We had a great general membership this week featuring Guam's OPA, former Vice Speaker BJ Cruz. If you missed it, we should have the video up on our YouTube channel over the weekend. If you would like a link, send a message to Schuyler Delgado, and he'll be sure to send it to you.
If you attended the meeting, you may have heard me speak about a season of change at the Chamber. A few months ago, we bid farewell to our Operations Manager, Jaclyn Casil. This week we send our farewells to Rebekah Mendiola, our Committee Liaison Specialist. Both ladies have made huge contributions to our organization, and we are deeply grateful for the many years of service they dedicated to the Chamber. Although we will miss them dearly, we wish them every success in their next venture.
We have a full calendar moving forward - I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event very soon!
Onward Together,
Catherine Castro,
President
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
April 10
GYP Mixer
Chamber HQ, Hagåtña
April 11th
Small Business Seminar
April 30th
General Membership
Meeting
May 3rd
101st Anniversary Gala
Hyatt Regency Guam
May 9th
Small Business Seminar
May 28th
General Membership
Meeting, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa
June 6th
Small Business Seminar
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The Be Connected Subcommittee is pleased to present its first networking event titled "Get To Know Your GYP" scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the Guam Chamber of Commerce office in Hagåtña from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
This is a great opportunity for both current and prospective members to learn more about our committee. We will be sharing exciting initiatives planned for the year and welcome everyone to get involved and contribute to our community. RSVP today by clicking the button below or contact the Chamber team at (671) 472-6311/8001. To attend, the fee of $10.00 will be assessed for all GYP RSVPs and $20.00 for future GYP members.
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Small Business Seminar
Friday, April 11, 2025
Your Guam Chamber Small Business Focus & Development Committee is pleased to announce that Christopher Duenas, Chief Financial Officer of Triple J Enterprises, Inc., will be the featured speaker for next month’s seminar. He will speak on the topic - AI in Action: Operational Wins for Businesses.
This event is scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2025 at 8:30 am, in the Atrium at the Guam Chamber of Commerce Office in Hagåtña. The seminar is open to members at $20.00 and future members at $40.00. Registration is open! Members are encouraged to RSVP and make advance payments to secure their seats for a swift and smooth entry on the day of the event, and future members are advised to contact the Chamber Team to process payments to secure their seats.
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Si Yu'os Ma'åse Benjamin J.F. Cruz
Featured Speaker for the March 26th General Membership Meeting
We had the pleasure of welcoming Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz, Office of Accountability - Guam, as our guest speaker today at the Micronesian Ballroom at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa for the monthly General Membership Meeting. He encouraged the membership to view audits on the OPA’s website and be on the lookout for more financial audits scheduled for release between now and the end of the year.
Save the date for our next General Membership Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Hilton.
See more photos by clicking here!
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JDTC Opportunities
The Guam Chamber has been a proud partner of the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program since its inception in Guam in 2002 and has seen firsthand how this collaborative approach to addressing drug addiction and recidivism has positively impacted the lives of thousands of youth and family members and made them productive members and loyal employees in and among our community.
Over the past thirty years, drug courts have served over 1.5 million individuals and are recognized as the most successful criminal justice intervention in our nation's history.
Guam Chamber JDTC Life Skills Workshops
The Chamber, in partnership with the Superior Court of Guam, developed a program of basic life skills workshops designed for youth participants. There are four categories of workshops: Work or Job Oriented Skills, Life Skill or Personal Interest, Self-Esteem and Goal Oriented Skills, and Sports & Health Development Oriented Skills. Member companies such as Advanced Management, Bank of Guam, First Hawaiian Bank, Cars Plus, Atkins Kroll, Triple J Enterprises, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, Pestex, Coast 360, GTA, and more have provided one-hour workshops in support of the Life Skills Program specific to the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program.
We are seeking more member partners to provide these all-important life skills workshops throughout the year. Please call the Chamber office or reach out to ccastro@guamchamber.com.gu to learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of our at-risk youth.
Incentives & Sports Equipment
At the Judge’s discretion, incentives are handed out to JDTC participants as a response to progress in the program. Additionally, incentives are provided as a means to provide transportation for youth to attend court and counseling sessions. Chamber members have provided gas cards, bus passes, phone cards, movie passes, meal coupons, and more. If you are interested in providing incentives for this program, your gift(s) will contribute to supporting the recovery of youth enrolled in the program.
The program is also in need of replacing worn-out sports equipment that is used every week during recreational therapy. If you and your company would like to provide an in-kind gift or needed supplies, please contact a member of the Chamber Team to learn more about how you can make a contribution.
As you can see, there are a number of ways to support the JDTP and our partnership with the Judiciary of Guam. When a business, community, or family supports a program such as the juvenile drug treatment court, the impact is felt by more than just one person. We ALL Rise.
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Guam Chamber 101st Anniversary Gala Celebration
Saturday, May 4, 2024 • Hyatt Regency Guam
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Save the date for the Guam Chamber of Commerce 101st Anniversary Gala Celebration scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Guam. This milestone event will be a night to remember as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to the future. Mark your calendars for NASHVILLE LIGHTS, a night of celebration and reflection as we celebrate the significant milestone in our history of the Chamber's 101 years of partnership with the business community in Guam.
Seats, tables, and sponsorships are now available! Click the buttons below!
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Guam Apprenticeship Forum
Tuesday, April 29, 2024
The Guam Department of Labor will be hosting a Guam Apprenticeship Forum, Pacific Engagement, Expansion & Innovation scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency Guam Grand Ballroom on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm.
Key information will be discussed
- Learn how to grow your business through apprenticeship and save 50% on your employees with tax credits.
- GDOL can customize a Guam Registered Apprenticeship Program (GRAP) on over 1,200 job titles to fit your business needs
- Connect and hear testimony from other GRAP employers and learn how their businesses have saved close to 11 million dollars.
Scan the graphic to RSVP your seat!
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Kimberly Dick - Office Manager
(671) 969-2725
kym@agilitygu.com
Website
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DJT, LLC
Daniel Tydingco - President
(671) 687-9363
djt1guam@gmail.com
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Justine Severe Buta
671) 646-3820
justinesevereb@gmail.com
Website • Facebook
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GRIFFITH PACIFIC
Micah Griffith
(671) 482-2884
griffithpacific@gmail.com
Website
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Kevin Rivera - Founder
(671) 480-3268
kastproshop@gmail.com
Website
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Joseph Castro - Executive Vice-President
3016528450
JOSEPH.CASTRO@TRIBALCO.COM
Website
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James Leister
8142338517
jleister@westontrolley.com
Website
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This Month's Playlist 🎶
Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the CHamoru people by listening to our Mes CHamoru playlist on Spotify. From traditional songs to contemporary CHamoru hits, this playlist showcases the beauty and diversity of our people's music. Let the vibrant rhythms and soulful melodies of our people transport you to the beautiful islands of Guåhan. Whether you are CHamoru yourself or simply interested in exploring new sounds, this playlist is sure to captivate and inspire you. So sit back, press play, and let the music of Mes CHamoru illuminate your soul.
Take a listen to our Mes CHamoru playlist!
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DEVELOPMENTS THAT MATTER
How New Shipping Fees Could Sink U.S. Businesses and Farmers
U.S. businesses and farmers could face increased costs when importing or exporting goods. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed restrictions on using Chinese-made ships, including a fee of up to $3.5 million per ship.
Why it matters: This approach, aimed at countering China's dominance in shipbuilding, would harm American consumers and businesses.
- American families would see higher prices for goods.
- U.S. companies would be less competitive because shipping costs would increase by 25% for most goods.
- American farmers would pay more for imported fertilizer, while their wheat, corn, and soybeans would be more expensive to sell internationally.
Big picture: While there is good reason to investigate China’s efforts to dominate the ocean shipping industry, USTR’s proposal punishes U.S. businesses and farmers for using the existing fleet and would likely fail to stimulate U.S. shipbuilding.
What we’re doing:
Dig deeper:
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On the latest episode of The Call, Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, warns that USTR’s proposed fees on Chinese ships could result in major logjams at American ports.
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ALL BUSINESS IS LOCAL
We Must Avoid a Massive Tax Increase
Businesses fuel strong communities. The 2017 tax cuts kept more resources where they matter most—with the people and businesses.
But those tax cuts will expire at the end of 2025. Unless Washington acts, Americans could face the largest federal tax hike in U.S. history.
The State of American Business 2025 shows that the decisions made in Washington affect people, businesses, and communities across the country. Our leaders must prioritize growth and opportunity for all Americans.
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2025 KO'KO' Weekend!
Saturday, April 12, 2025
The Guam Visitors Bureau is proud to announce that its signature Ko’ko’ Weekend events will take place on April 12 & 13, 2025 at the Joseph Flores Memorial Beach Park (Ypao) in support of the preservation of Guam’s territorial bird – the Guam rail or “Ko’ko.”
The Ko’ko’ Weekend will commence with the Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Kids ages 10-12 will run a 3.3k race beginning at 7:00 am, kids ages 7-9 will run a 1.6k race at 7:30 am; the last division featuring the Ko’ko’ nani’s ages 4-6 starts at 8:00 am.
Click here to register!
| | 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! | | Si Yu'os Ma'åse to our Centurion Plus Sponsors! | | Si Yu'os Ma'åse to our Centurion Sponsor! | | |
Si Yu'os Ma'åse to our Centennial Contributors!
Ada's Trust & Investment, Inc. • Arnett Consulting, LLC • Assurance Brokers, Inc. dba: AB Risk Solutions • Bank of Hawaii • Black Construction Corporation
California Pacific Technical Services, LLC • Coffman Engineers, Inc.
Guam Insurance Adjusters, Inc. • Guam Music, Inc. • Hilton Guam Resort & Spa
HMI Guam • Hotel Nikko Guam • Island Skin Spa • Joe & Franks Auto
Jerold W. Filush, CPA • Marianas Steamship Agencies, Inc. • Matson Navigation Company
Micronesian Drivers Associations, Inc. • North Wind Group • Outback Steakhouse
Pacific Islands Development Bank • Phoenix Pacific (Guam), Inc.
Salt + Light Realty • SignKing, Inc. • Sylvan Learning Center
TNN Guam, Inc. dba: The Tsubaki Tower • Triple J Enterprises, Inc.
Triple J Five Star Wholesale Foods, Inc. • Triple J Rentals (Guam), Inc. dba: Hertz Licensee
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