Jamika awarded consulting contract for transition, tourism recovery

The Marianas Visitors Authority awarded former managing director Jamika Taijeron a sole-source consulting contract to oversee executive transition, tourism recovery, airline negotiations, and strategic projects, saying no other consultant could immediately provide the institutional knowledge needed to guide the agency through a critical leadership transition.

According to documents obtained by Marianas Press through an Open Government Act request submitted June 25, MVA justified the procurement on the grounds that Taijeron's recent tenure gave her institutional knowledge, stakeholder relationships, and familiarity with ongoing initiatives that were not readily available elsewhere.

The June 12 sole-source justification further states "no other known consultant can provide the same level of continuity, institutional knowledge, and immediate effectiveness required to support MVA during this transition period," making competitive quotations impracticable.

The documents show the contract carries a value of $21,000 for an initial three-month term, or $7,000 per month, with an option for one additional three-month extension.

During its May 27 meeting, the MVA board authorized management to negotiate "a temporary consulting agreement to provide executive transition support services for an initial three-month term at $7,000 per month, with an option for one additional three-month extension," after discussing "the importance of maintaining continuity of operations, preserving institutional knowledge, and supporting tourism recovery efforts during the executive transition."

Board secretary Joe C. Guerrero moved to approve the request under a sole-source contract, treasurer Marvin Deleon Guerrero seconded the motion, vice chair Vicky Benavente recused herself, and the remaining board members voted in favor.

According to the contract, the consultant will provide executive transition and continuity support, tourism recovery and air service stabilization, strategic project management, destination development, stakeholder, and government relations support, board and executive advisory services, and reporting, and knowledge transfer.

The scope of work also includes supporting airline and aviation discussions, market recovery strategies, the proposed Marianas Visitor & Cultural Center, MVA's planned office relocation, and coordination with government agencies, airline partners and tourism stakeholders.

Earlier, MVA board chair Warren Villagomez told Marianas Press the temporary consulting arrangement was intended to allow Taijeron to complete several initiatives begun during her tenure while ensuring continuity as the Commonwealth's tourism industry recovered from Super Typhoon Sinlaku. He also said storm-related disruptions delayed several priority projects, limiting the opportunity for a complete transition before her departure.

Taijeron likewise told Marianas Press the agreement was a short-term professional services contract designed to provide continuity during the leadership transition. She said her responsibilities include airline and travel trade engagement, strategic tourism planning, grant and funding support, destination marketing initiatives, and other recovery-related projects to help maintain momentum while transferring institutional knowledge.

At the time, neither Villagomez nor Taijeron disclosed the contract's value or compensation, describing the arrangement only as temporary. The documents later released to Marianas Press in response to its Open Government Act request show the initial contract is valued at $21,000 for three months, with an option for an additional three-month extension.

The consulting contract generated mixed reactions on social media after Marianas Press reported that MVA had retained Taijeron during the leadership transition.

Some commenters questioned whether a transition contract should have been necessary after the former managing director left the agency.

"Doesn't contract awarded needs to be completed and disseminate to the next in line?" Winnie Atalig wrote.

Jeffrey Hostacky also questioned the arrangement.

"Properly training your replacement before you leave a job is what good management does. The fact that she needed to be paid extra after she left her employment tells me she was not the best person for the job in the first place. Do better!" Hostacky wrote.

Raymond Lizama questioned the procurement process and suggested the Office of the Attorney General review the contract.

"Interesting procurement process AGO should investigate such contract. Unheard of!! Therefore, head of a department decide to resign can get a contract to transition new head of the department," he wrote.

Others defended the consulting arrangement.

One commenter using the name Returning Resident said Taijeron should be compensated if MVA wanted her assistance during the transition.

Marc Comia questioned why an existing MVA employee was not appointed to lead the transition, writing, "why [not] appoint Judy [Torres] to be acting [she’s] been their awhile she knows how the system works [at] MVA."

Priscilla Tudela simply posted, "Do respect, congratulations."

Other commenters criticized the arrangement, arguing there were qualified people who could have performed the work and questioning the additional public spending following the recent typhoons.

During her tenure as managing director, Taijeron led MVA's "Far From Ordinary" destination rebranding campaign, including the rollout of a new destination branding strategy, the hiring of creative agency Circul8, and the introduction of Mira the Dumbo Octopus as the Marianas' tourism mascot.

In her last interview with Marianas Press before stepping down as MVA chief, Taijeron said, “I would always love to contribute to anything that makes our island stand out. In any capacity or in any way, I would love to be a continued contributor.”

Marianas Press submitted its Open Government Act request seeking a copy of the consulting agreement on June 25. In a subsequent social media message, Villagomez said MVA would provide the contract as soon as possible. The documents released in response to that request disclosed the contract's value and detailed scope of work for the first time.