Saipan firms see opportunities through informal mentor-protégé partnerships

Two Saipan companies being informally mentored under the U.S. Air Force Mentor-Protégé Program said the relationships are already opening doors to new federal contracting opportunities as organizers encourage more CNMI businesses to participate.

Marianas Integration owner Glenna Sakisat Palacios and Joy Vergara Hulford, owner of J-Vergara LLC, told Marianas Press the mentorship has expanded their professional networks and introduced them to additional opportunities while they await formal Air Force mentor-protégé agreements.

Palacios said her company, which specializes in logistics, support services, and infrastructure solutions for federal agencies operating in austere environments, has already benefited from the relationship during a break in the NIPOA-GRS FY26 Air Force Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop held last July 20 at Kensington Hotel Saipan.

"I'm just very grateful and thankful for Sheehan (Global Resource Solutions director Sheehan Goonewardene) to expand the possibilities for Marianas Integration to do a lot more than what we're primarily focused on," she said. "Now I am able to include...additional services that I've already executed onto my past performance listing, and I'm grateful...to be able to give me that opportunity."

She encouraged other local businesses to pursue similar relationships.

"The need to establish relationships...is very, very critical," Palacios said. "Partnership is very, very critical."

She also stressed the importance of delivering beyond contract requirements.

"Whenever I submit any bid...when I get the contract, I always make sure that I overperform," she said. "That has gone a long way for Marianas Integration."

Hulford, whose company provides facility management, operational support, disaster recovery support and technical services, said the mentorship has helped her navigate the federal contracting process.

"I started with knowing nothing. I was like walking in the dark," she said. "I've been learning so much just through his mentorship and through his advising and networking."

"My network has grown tremendously via the GRS mentorship," she added.

Hulford said businesses interested in government work should focus on networking and ensuring foundational requirements, including SAM.gov registration, are in place before pursuing contracts.

Goonewardene said the mentor-protégé initiative is intended to ensure local businesses benefit from the military buildup in the Marianas.

"There's no reason why companies from the mainland would be able to come here, win work, and then not benefit the local economy of Saipan," Goonewardene said.

"Our goal is to build out the small business space here on Saipan, and one of the only ways to do it is through this Mentor-Protégé Program."

He said the mentor companies help small businesses strengthen their infrastructure and capabilities so they can compete for federal contracts.

Goonewardene said organizers identified two Saipan companies after last year's workshop and have already submitted white papers to the Air Force.

"We've already written white papers and submitted it to Air Force to bring them into the program," he said. "We're just waiting on funding."

He clarified that the companies are not yet in formal mentor-protégé agreements.

"We are still not in a formal mentor-protege agreement," Goonewardene said. "We are mentoring and we're working together now."

He said the relationships have been developing for nearly a year and a half while awaiting Air Force funding and formal approval.

NIPOA president Mary Moriarty, whose company is itself a mentor-protégé success story, said the program has helped her business overcome many of the hurdles associated with federal contracting.

"We've had support for contracting, for HR, all of the things that are required to be able to successfully work with the federal government," Moriarty said.

She believes the CNMI is well positioned to capitalize on growing military investment in the region.

"I think there's a lot of work in this region, especially with the military posture here," Moriarty said. "I believe that the small businesses could benefit greatly from this."

The workshop also featured Josh Stowers, principal at HGA, who discussed how local firms can position themselves as subcontractors to large prime contractors.

PACAF Small Business Program director Ailie Sourille told attendees that Pacific Air Forces is looking for qualified small businesses capable of supporting a wide range of missions across the Indo-Pacific.

She said industrial and commercial construction remains among PACAF's biggest procurement needs, alongside engineering, infrastructure and other mission-support services, and encouraged CNMI businesses to position themselves as long-term partners rather than one-time vendors.

Former governor Ralph DLG Torres, in opening remarks, said the military expansion should create lasting opportunities for CNMI businesses and urged local companies to position themselves to benefit.