(Saipan, MP) The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at the Northern Marianas College and the Commonwealth Women’s Association awarded participants on Friday, October 18, 2024, with certificates for their completion of all four sessions during the 2024 Women’s Entrepreneurship Project Cohort 4 training series. To encourage a concentrated learning environment, this year’s Cohort was limited to the first thirty clients who signed up for the event. Those who attended all four sessions were awarded with Certificates of Completion.
The annual series, consisting of four two-hour training sessions each day, covered topics on credit and financial management, improving credit scores, the business loan application process, commercial loan offerings and how to improve your chances of approval success, SSBCI 2.0, the bidding and proposal process in the federal contracting space, consignment opportunities and how to optimize booth spaces and practicing proper product packaging during public vendor events. The event encouraged dynamic engagement between attendees, with sessions often exceeding training session times to address all questions presented by attendees.
Fatima Celis, Vice President of locally-owned Rice to Meat You, a catering business that prepares and delivers pre-packaged platters and food plates, shared her praises on the sessions presented by First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Guam and CEDA, “For small businesses looking to expand, it was very helpful for us to find this type of training where we could come to one place to hear from banks on what small businesses need to know about the loan process and what we also need to do if we want to improve our financials to receive that approval.”
Frank Celis, President and Co-owner of Rice to Meat You, also shared his appreciation of the experience, “I enjoyed the presentation on vendor events because as a small business owner, often you’re also the one marketing your products. The tips provided on packaging and product presentation were useful. I feel those were tips we’ll apply when finalizing our packaging, something we’re currently working on to perfect. I also thought the session on the RFP process was helpful. Although that may be saved until we’re ready to expand, the information provided was all good to know, and those workshops SBDC mentioned during that session, is something Fatima and I look forward to attending.”
Polly DLG. Masga, Co-Owner of Access 670 Consulting, shared, “I most especially appreciated the presentation by Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank. Understanding the importance of having good credit before starting a business was something I never thought about. Learning from industry experts has become more valuable than ever. These professionals offer insights that come from years of hands-on experience, giving us a clearer understanding of realistic challenges and opportunities for businesses to grow.”
Aspiring entrepreneur and Cohort 4 participant, Donna Rivera added, “It is an incredible privilege to be part of the 4th Cohort of the Women Entrepreneurship Project. Day 1 kicked off with an insightful session on Credit Ecosystem, where we had the honor of learning from esteemed professionals from Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank. Their wealth of knowledge not only equips aspiring business owners with the tools needed to navigate the financial landscape but also provides valuable lessons in managing personal credit and finances. A heartfelt thank you to Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank for your generosity and support in empowering future entrepreneurs through your expertise.”
The four-day training event ended with a networking session where clients and attendees were invited to showcase their products and feature their services with their fellow cohort members.
“We are pleased with this year’s turnout of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Project, and look forward to producing Cohort 5 in this important initiative with CWA’s partnership. We are excited to work with this year’s program graduates in establishing their footprint in our economy, however big or small, as we find innovative solutions to assist in finding success in connecting them with our resource partners with whom make all of this possible for our clients and our programs,” said Nadine C. Deleon Guerrero, Network Director of the CNMI SBDC.
The CNMI SBDC and CWA would like to thank the First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Guam, the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority (CEDA), the U.S. Pacific Air Force and Marianas Creations for their partnership during the Women’s Entrepreneurship Project Cohort 4 training series. Their expertise and willingness to provide education to our aspiring women entrepreneurs play a key role in addressing gaps in business education for our small businesses seeking assistance related to capital access and available resources.
For more information, visit www.cnmisbdc.com or contact us at (670) 237-6888 / cnmisbdc@marianas.edu. Follow us on social media for the latest updates: Instagram @cnmisbdc and Facebook at CNMI Small Business Development Center Network.
