A’s Pure Water: It all Began with a Dream

By: James Limar

Director

(Yap SBDC)

 

Jeffrey Adalbai always dreamt of owning a business. His passion was to provide a service to the people and he managed to do so in business and customer-related fields for over 26 years. Since 7^th grade, Jeffrey worked as a store clerk for a local and family owned business. With a lot of hard-work and commitment, Jeffrey worked his way up to become a cashier, book keeper, and on to a sales executive in handling sales on vehicles, communication equipment, and various others. He was fortunate enough to receive sale training from Tele-Mobile Inc. in Torrance, California. Then, in 2002, he quotes, “with God’s grace, mercies, and leadings, I was offered a managerial position for an agency” which he still holds today.

 

A's Enterprise founders, Jeff and Marzy Adalbai, with their children: Mike, Jemmy, Chelley, and Jemboy.

 

In February 2004, Jeffrey and his wife, Marzy, along with their four children Mike, Jemmy, Chelley, and Jemboy the Adalbai’s opened Adalbai’s Enterprise as a home based business providing various items, equipment, used automobiles, and products at their customer’s request. Jeffrey went to the Yap SBDC in 2006 for technical assistance. Though his first project never materialized, he was determined to open a water bottling company. In May 2013, his plans started to form with the guidance and encouragement of the Yap SBDC. The Yap SBDC assisted with the critical role of granting him a space at its facilities in downtown Colonia to launch his sales and bottling operations.

“Starting up the business was very challenging,” Jeffrey stated. He also mentions, “Dreams can always be a dream and can remain a dream for the rest of your life. Forming that dream and steering it to reality is a different story. It takes commitment, perseverance, faithfulness, and of course with lots of prayer.” The biggest challenge during the start-up process was the lack of funding, being impatient, and creating trustful relations with his customers. Jeffrey’s funding came from money saved and invested back into the business. In his recent ventures, he thanks God for wonderful friends and family who trusted in him and his wife and invested their time and money to make their dreams a reality.

Jeffrey talks about how the opening of a water bottling company discouraged him to open his own. He thought that because of the small market, opening another bottling company would not be viable. However, a good trusted friend of his who is now part of his family encouraged him to pursue his dream. The day that they opened their doors for business was frightening yet their most memorable triumph.

The Aldalbai’s plans are to seek for ways to increase their supplies so that they can boost their inventory. They hope that someday when they have earned the trust of their customers, they would like to seek the opportunity to reduce the importation of bottled water in Yap. The imported water could be a hazard for consumption as no one knows how long it may have been in transit and if it may have been exposed to extreme heat. He parts the interview by saying, “Starting a business may be a bit more challenging nowadays. However, don’t let it stop you from turning your dreams into a reality. Don’t give up when others criticize you and say all sorts of things to distract or discourage you. Save and invest back into your business.”

Aldabai’s Enterprises is a water bottling, laundry service, and electronic sales/services. Logistics with freight forwarding and door-to-door service will soon open. It is located in the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Room #102 in Worwoo’, Rull & Yinuf, Rull. For their bottling services they are open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. until 12noon. Their laundry service is from Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.; Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.; Saturday from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. For more information, you can contact Jeffrey Adalbai at 691-350-4381 or by e-mail at contact@adalbai.com. You can visit their FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adalbais-Enterprises/497918986988303.  

For more information on how the Yap SBDC can assist you, please contact James Limar at 691-350-4801or e-mail them at ysbdc@mail.fm or jamesl@pacificsbdc.com. You can visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com to learn more about our services.

In the business of...Urban Farming and Happiness

By: Denise Mendiola-Hertslet
WIB Program Coordinator/Senior Business Counselor
Guam SBDC


Every year, I look forward to my pilgrimage to the Mecca of Happiness. I will just tell you now that it is not a place, but rather, it is a people. The annual BALLE conferences are hosted by different cities in the United States that have Local First! Organizations. And every year, I meet inspiring people from many backgrounds that all have one thing in common. They genuinely believe that the formula to a sustainable and happy life is “people, profit, and planet” and that we need to move away from “me” to “we.” So, it was on this trip that I learned about how urban farms help to encourage happy and sustainable communities.

The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) farm stand located in Buffalo.

Agriculture is New York State’s number one economic driver, with apples, grapes, milk, beef, corn and hay being the largest sources of income. The city of Buffalo is located within Erie County, which is occupied by approximately 1,500 traditional farms. Agriculture has been an integral part of the Western New York landscape over the past two hundred years, however, farming has been decreasing the past fifty years and fertile land is going unused. Organizations like the Farmer Pirates, The Green Entrepreneurial Center and the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) have been instrumental in promoting healthy eating and lifestyles in the city of Buffalo through the development of Urban Farms.
 

The Wilson Street Farm’s sign is pictured here in Buffalo, New York’s East Side.

The Wilson Street Farm is a member of the Farmer Pirates, an urban farm cooperative that works together to share information, buy seeds and purchase equipment. The farm is located on Buffalo’s East Side and occupies a two-acre plot that was once occupied by twenty-five small, dilapidated homes. Mark and Janice Stevens and their eight children are the first business urban farm in the city, and fought through many challenges by the city, but with a rally of public support, the family was able to transform unused land into a lush, sustainable family farm. More importantly, it is a beacon in the poverty-stricken community and has helped to develop a sense of neighborhood, with most of its customers living within a one-mile radius.

The Green Entrepreneurial Center provides affordable, fresh food to the city’s food deserts by creating urban farms. Food deserts are defined as urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Instead of grocery stores, they may have no food access or are served only by fast food restaurants and convenience stores that don’t offer healthy, affordable food. One of GEC’s urban farms consists of three greenhouses and 6,000 square feet of outdoor growing space. Annually, this system is capable of growing over 35,000 pounds of fresh food.

 

The Green Entrepreneurial Center is shown here showcasing their 6,000 square foot urban farm.

The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is a non-profit organization that has a variety of local economic programs, including a one-acre urban farm located on Buffalo’s emerging West Side. MAP staff work with local youth groups to grow fresh food, maintain chickens, and operate a multiple closed-loop aquaponics system capable of raising a total of over 50,000 pounds of fish. They have received awards for their unique mobile vegetable market, youth enterprise program and farm education. Most notably, they boast that 95% of their high school seniors graduated and went on to college.


Unlike New York State, where growing food can be challenging due to their four seasons, Guam is ideal for growing fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, and in our back yards. So, why are we still importing most of our fresh produce?

If you are interested in learning how to start a small agriculture business, contact the Guam Small Business Development Center at 671-735-2594 or denise@pacificsbdc.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: From Farm to Marketplace Community Outreach UPDATE

 

As part of our efforts to promote the consumption of local produce, fish and livestock; to  support the production of value-added products; and to create a sustainable export industry, the University of Guam Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives “One Village, One Product” and the UOG - Guam Small Business Development Center,  in collaboration with USDA Rural Development, NRCS, USDA Farm Services Agency, the UOG Cooperative Extension Program, and Guam Department of Agriculture, invites all local producers to attend “From Farm to Marketplace” Community Outreach sessions.

The outreach sessions have been re-scheduled for Monday, March 24^th, 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center; and Monday, March 31^st, 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Talofofo Youth Center.

Current and prospective producers in the agriculture and aquaculture industries are invited to learn more about current grant, loan, and technical assistance programs available to assist the creation and/or expansion of agri-businesses.

 For more information, please contact Denise Mendiola-Hertslet, Guam SBDC Senior Business Counselor and Outreach Coordinator, at 735-2594 or denise@pacificsbdc.com.

UN Resident Coordinator Meets YES!

Ms. Lubrani holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, anthropology and history of Africa from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. She has a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University.

Previously, she was the UN development coordinator and UNDP resident representative for Kosovo, director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Brussels and regional program director in Slovakia. She was seconded to UNDP's office in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as deputy resident representative, and worked with UNIFEM in New York.

During her visit, Lubrani met with several Bureau of Youth and Sports Director, Melson Miko, as well as with several Youth Entrepreneur Solutions (YES) Program Phase II participants. Director Miko directly manages the Palau National Youth Council (PNYC) and is a partner with the Palau SBDC in overseeing the achievement of the YES Program Business Incubator.

The Palau Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs (MCCA) work continuously to support Palauan youth and help pave the way to an exciting future of Palauan entrepreneurship. Though support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been received (in the form of seed money) to start on the construction of the YES Program Business Incubator, the present deteriorated state of the facility will require additional support from the community.

The Youth Entrepreneur Solutions (YES) Action Plan launched Phase 2 of its program on March 15, 2013. Their theme for this year’s business plan training and competition was: “Building the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” The YES Action Plan was first launched in April 2012 and is a joint initiative under the Small Business Development Center of Palau (SBDC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

If you would like more information about the Youth Entrepreneur Solution Business plan competition or you are interested in supporting the launching of the YES Program Business Incubator, please contact Lisa Abraham at 587-6004 or email at lees@pacificsbdc.com.

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS SBDC NETWORK ANNOUNCES FRED GRANILLO AS 2013 STATE STAR

The Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network Director Casey Jeszenka announced that Fred Granillo has been selected as the 2013 State Star of the Pacific Islands SBDC Network (PISBDCN).
“I am delighted to make this announcement, and to recognize Fred Granillo for extraordinary contributions to the work of the Pacific Islands SBDC Network and to the small businesses in Guam,” said Casey Jeszenka.
Fred Granillo is a business counselor and the training coordinator at the Guam SBDC at the University of Guam. Fred Granillo was chosen by the PISBDCN for being an outstanding performer, making a major contribution to the PISBDCN program and showing a strong commitment to small businesses in Guam.
“It is an honor to accept this award,” said Fred Granillo, “and to have the opportunity every day to assist so many entrepreneurs achieve the dream of starting and succeeding in their own business.”


Photo by S Thibodeau Photography: (From L –R) Mrs. Georgette Reyes-Wiltz (PISBDCN Associate Network Director), Mr. Fred Granillo (Guam SBDC Counselor and 2013 PISBDCN State Star) and Casey Jeszenka (PISBDCN Network Director) at the ASBDC State Star Reception in Orlando, Florida.



A special awards reception honoring the America’s SBDC 2013 State Stars was held on Monday, September 9th in Orlando, Florida in conjunction with America’s SBDC’s 33rd Annual Conference. The reception was graciously sponsored by Constant Contact, Inc. Constant Contact, Inc. helps small businesses, associations, and nonprofits connect with their customers, clients, and members. Launched in 1998, Constant Contact champions the needs of small organizations and provides them with an easy and affordable way to build successful, lasting customer relationships. Learn more at www.constantcontact.com.



America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With about 1,000 centers across the nation, America’s SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees, and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year. Learn more at www.asbdc-us.org.

Nature Ambassador

By Keone Chariton.
Marketing Assistant Intern
(CNMI SBDC)

Donna Rivera, proud owner of Nature Ambassador, arrived in the CNMI in 2001 where she began her journey in the private industry learning the art of sales and marketing. Becoming a successful employee as a sales executive, she made networks and relations with other businesses. With the inspiration of starting her own business, her passion for her business endeavor was found through Nature Ambassador.

Donna explains, “For the past years, from time to time I would have this business idea and just never got the chance or opportunity to materialize. Over the past months with my husband and friends, we have discussed different ideas we could do together as a business, not just because we have the time to do it, but more importantly, we felt the need to have a business that will create jobs for our church-mates.” She also mentions, “We don’t intend to make such a big promise, but that’s the very first thing that came to mind when we decided to start up this business.”





Growing up, Donna was always exposed to small businesses. “When I was young, during summer breaks I would collect duhat (Java Plum) or kamote tops and sell it in front of our house. While I was in high school, my family had a snack bar within our school.” Donna graduated at the Saint Louis University with a Bachelor in Commerce with a major in banking & finance, and a minor in entrepreneurship. “When I was in college, I stayed with my auntie in Baguio. She had a small store within the public market of Baguio city and at the same time we would deliver food to all the vendors there,” Donna recalls.

For Donna, starting a business was not as easy as she thought and the “SBDC has become my guide in every step of the way.” Through the personal attention and resources provided by SBDC, “it became realistic with me. I came to realize that attention to detail is very important. It’s not enough to just know how to sell; you also have to make sure that when you sell, you will not end up killing the business by not accounting for all the expenses.” Although SBDC helped guide Donna to create a business plan, she states that Director Perry Inos Jr. never stopped at just helping create a business plan but more importantly emphasized that we should not fear to follow our dreams. She says, “He believed [in] me and encouraged me to GO FOR IT!”

For Donna, her largest obstacle was the process of finding the right items to market and finding the right suppliers. She states, “It’s challenging to be going back and forth to communicate with different suppliers. But our faith and our dreams never stopped us from pursuing this.” The most memorable triumph for Donna was knowing that she was able to start this business and know that her family’s there to support her.

Nature Ambassador’s short term goal is “to be able to convince local business to support me by making my product available to their stores/shops for the local and tourist market.” Nature Ambassador’s long term goal is to expand their products to Guam.

Donna Rivera of Nature Ambassador encourages those who are interested in starting a business to “go to the CNMI SBDC office and get FREE consultation, you will never regret it”. She states, “It’s good to know that somebody is here to stand with you and think with you”.

Nature Ambassador is open on weekdays and weekends from 8am to 5pm, located in Navy Hill. For inquiries contact Nature Ambassador at (670) 789-1873 or via email at donnarivera@icloud.com.

For more information on how the CNMI SBDC can help you, feel free to contact Director Perry Inos Jr. or Lynette Sablan at (670)664-3018 or visit our website at www.pacificsbdc.com.

More Proficient Business Trainers in the Northern Pacific

By: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

The Pacific Island Small Business Development Center Network (PISBDCN) staff, participants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau, SBPA (Acting) Dean Dr. Santos, SVP Dr. Enriquez (Interim), and the SPC and SPTO trainers take a group photo after the Certificate of Completion of the North-Pacific In-Country Train-the-Trainer Ceremony on August 15, 2013.

 

Business entrepreneurs in the Pacific can now expect to receive better expertise from trainers in the areas of marketing, quality assurance and business development. This will help improve the export market readiness and performance of their enterprises.

A 22-member group of public and private sector trainers from the Federated States of
Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau attended the North-Pacific in-country train-the-trainers
workshop in Guam from 12–15 August.

The workshop was facilitated by two European Union (EU)-funded projects – the Increasing

Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project and the Pacific Regional Tourism Capacity

Building programme (PRTCBP) – in partnership with the University of Guam’s Pacific Islands
Small Business Development Center Network (PISBDCN).

IACT and PRTCBP are implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and

the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) respectively. Both projects are part of EU’s

Strengthening Pacific Economic Integration through Trade (SPEITT) programme.

The four-day workshop refreshed and enhanced the skills of the participants – most of whom

are engaged in training business owners and potential business operators in their countries. It
is expected that they will assist in the areas of marketing, quality assurance and business

development on their return.

This, according to IACT Team Leader, Samu Turagacati, is particularly important, keeping in

mind the high costs and difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in acquiring the services of

specialised business trainers.

‘Having well-rounded business trainers who are easily accessible to entrepreneurs, including
those involved in enterprises assisted by IACT, will facilitate the provision of the necessary
technical assistance and advisory services for enterprises to grow and expand. This will

contribute to economic growth, as well as generate employment opportunities,’ he stated.

Commenting on the collaboration with partners for the workshop, Turagacati said that IACT is
well-positioned to engage with key players in the economic development of the Pacific by

undertaking joint interventions on activities to support small and medium-scale enterprises to

maximize on business opportunities.

The University of Guam and PISBDCN were pleased and excited about the partnership

formed with SPC and SPTO.

‘It is our hope to work together more in the future to help build the capacity of the private
sector in Micronesia by providing more training like this,’ said Casey Jeszenka, Network
Director of PISBDCN.

Turagacati said that there may be a possibility in the near future for IACT-assisted enterprises

in the Northern Pacific to be part of PISBDCN’s client list in order for them to receive free

technical assistance when required.

The training was well received by the participants. They expressed their appreciation of the

outstanding delivery of the presentations and noted that the training was extremely useful.

One of the participants, Lisa Abraham, Director of Palau’s Small Business Development
Center (SBDC,) said that the workshop was a great opportunity to enhance her skills and
knowledge.

Workshop participants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands

and Palau, together with representatives of the University of Guam and trainers at the North-

Pacific In-Country Train-the-Trainer workshop.

‘This training was very important as I will use the tools, knowledge and information to assist

my clients on matters of quality control, business systems and processes, and the ability to

accurately quantify loss of business,’ she said.

Key benefits of the workshop include the enhancement of the marketing, quality assurance,
business development and teaching skills of the participants so that they will be better able to
teach clients and small business communities in the tourism and export sectors.

Lisa Abraham hopes to implement some of the things learnt at the workshop in the annual
training goals for Palau’s SBDC. This will involve conducting training programs to value-
added production clients, as well as to current and prospective farmers and producers.

The workshop was held at the University of Guam in Mangilao.

The IACT project is aimed at strengthening the export capacity of Pacific countries and

territories in the primary industries of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and livestock.

For more information, contact: Ashley R. Gopal, Media & Communications Assistant - IACT,

Land Resources Division, SPC, Suva, Fiji (Tel.: +679 337 9492; email: ashleyg@spc.int );

or you may contact the LRD helpdesk: lrdhelpdesk@spc.int