By: Kenneth Lujan
Branch Manager
Guam’s top entrepreneurs were honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) at their annual Small Business Awards ceremony at the Latte of Freedom, Multi-purpose Conference Center in Adelup on April 3, 2013. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the SBA, and the 23rd year since Guam was allowed to establish state winners along with the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
Small business owners from across the island were honored for their accomplishments as the island’s leading small businesses and champion of small businesses. “Small businesses drive Guam’s economy, creating jobs and opportunities for the island in every sector across the island region,” said SBA Guam Branch Manager Kenneth Lujan. “The SBA is very proud of the vital role it plays in enabling Guam’s entrepreneurs to succeed. We are excited to be able to recognize a few of these great success stories during these economic times.”
The 2013 Guam Award Winners and Champions are as follows:
· Christopher F. Bejado – Small Business Person of the Year
· Eduardo R. Ilao – Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year
· Patricia B. Salas – Financial Services Champion of the Year
· Anita Borja Enriquez, D.B.A. – Women In Business Champion of the Year
· Frederick J. Horecky – Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
· Ronald M. Young - Entrepreneurial Success Award
Guam’s Small Business Award Winners and recipients of the Champion awards were nominated by local lending institutions, chambers of commerce, business organizations and government agencies.
2013 Women in Business Champion of the Year
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| Dr. Anita B. Enriquez, Dean, School of Business and Public Administration, University of Guam |
SBA’s 2013 Women in Business Champion of the Year, Anita Borja Enriquez, blends the business philosophies of the “old school” with that of the “new school” to balance the scales of education and entrepreneurship. As Dean of the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Guam, Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez recognizes the value fo education through her parents and hard work.
Growing up in the southern village of Agat along with six other siblings, Anita assisted her mother in supporting their family by working at her mother’s small grocery store. She learned very early in her life that she should not depend on others, but instead work hard to achieve her dreams of success. A former corporate planning and development manager and management consultant, she established her first business at the age of 19 as “Anita J. Borja’s Bookkeeping Services”.
A strong proponent of economic development, Anita established the UOG Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives in 2006, and has secured over $1 million in technical assistant grants from the U.S Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration, the Defense Logistics Agency in 2008 to establish the Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the U.S Small Business Administration to establish the new Guam Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs to support a community and economic development forum in 2009 and to launch the “Buy Local Guam” marketing educational campaignn in 2011. She also oversees the Guam Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which is funded in part by the U.S Small Business Administration, along with the Women in Business program which is funded by the Bank of Guam. All these programs have all benefited the interest of women entreprenuership and support economic and developmental growth of our region.
Anita’s love for her island and the need to improve upon the overall quality of life for its residents is most evident in her work with economic development and small business development. She mentors the SIGMA Society, Soroptimist college club that focuses on “best for women” and counsels up and coming female entrepreneurs. She transfers this passion to her students, peers, and leaders in the community every day at the University of Guam and in the many civic and social organizations she assists.
Reflecting on her parents’ early experiences as entrepreneurs, with limited knowledge and lack of funding resources, helped to explain her strong advocay for leveraging as much resources as possible to help small businesses, particularly women-owned small businesses, succed in the marketplace. Guam is proud to have the distinct honor of having Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez as the SBA’s 2013 Women In Business Champion of the Year!
Small Business Person of the Year
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| Kenneth Lujan, SBA Guam Branch Manager with Chris Bejado, 2013 Small Business Person of the Year recipient. |
Infusing the best Chamorro cuisine, Hafa Adai spirit and worldy refinement are ingredients for success used by SBA’s 2013 Small Business Person of the Year, Christopher F. Bejado. He, along with business partner, Geoffery Perez, embodies the philosophy that is synonymous to that of their company name; PROA and Marianas Slingstone – the proa canoe, known for its incredible speed and agility, and the slingstone for its brilliant accuracy.
The son of a Filipino migrant, Chris grew up learning about the challenges and rewards of small business ownership by studying his father at work every day. After obtaining a degree in Travel Industry Management in Hawaii, he discovered a love for the restaurant business. At age 23, Chris returned to Guam and opened his first restaurant, De Niro’s Pasta Kitchen. While the restaurant remained open for two years, he quickly learned from his experience, working for other companies.
In 2006, PROA opened with 12 employees. Noting one of his proudest accomplishments of being able to provide employment and career opportunities for local youth and remembering his aspirations as a young college student, Chris builds on his staff’s desire for inspiration and a way to creatively use their talents. Along with his management team, they take every opportunity to nurture them and hopefully instill a passion for cooking or for small business ownership. They also stay true to its philosophy of farm-fresh local ingredients, warm hospitality, attentive service and innovative food pairings. They maintain a strong visibility and presence at all food events and competitions, aiming to maintain an elevated presence for Chamorro cuisine. Their presence at local culinary events and their 2011 win at the Micronesian Chef’s Cup was a testament to their philosophy of quality, innovation, and warmth. In November 2012, PROA opened its 2nd restaurant in the heart of Hagatna as a way to revitalize the capital of Guam.
Chris has always believed that giving back to the community is an important civic duty. He has contributed much time and resources to organizations such as the Guam Humanities Council, Guam Educational Radio Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. His contributions to our love of our food, our hospitality and our uniqueness are immeasureable. He would like to be the venue that introduces these young individuals to the excitement and challenges of the restaurant and hospitality industries, and hopefully enage them to become entrepreneurs in the future. The journey looks bright for this year’s SBA 2013 Small Business Person of the Year!
