Emerging Pacific Island Leaders Celebrate Completion of the ELDP 2023 Program in Saipan

Today in Saipan, CNMI, 24 exceptional leaders from across the Pacific islands marked their graduation from the Graduate School USA's Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP). The diverse group of program participants represented the US-affiliated insular areas of American Samoa (4), the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (5), Guam (3), the Federated States of Micronesia National Government (3), Chuuk (1), Kosrae (1), Pohnpei (1), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (4), and the Republic of Palau (2).

The graduation featured program alumni, family, and friends joining in the celebration. KUAM News streamed the event live on Facebook, garnering viewership of over 5,000.

Hon. Carmen G. Cantor, Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs for the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, praised the graduates: “Your achievements here today not only reflect your commitment to personal growth but your dedication to serving your governments and, more broadly, the Pacific region…I am proud that my office has been able to support this vital initiative.”

Speaking on behalf of their ELDP Class of 2023 peers, Mr. Andy Choor and Ms. Geralyn DelaCruz expressed their gratitude. “This program has taught us that the heart of leadership is serving people,” said Mr. Choor. Ms. DelaCruz reflected, “the ELDP has helped us become better versions of ourselves.”

"This program has taught us that the heart of leadership is serving people."

The graduation ceremony also featured congratulatory remarks from the numerous panelists and guest speakers who contributed to the program.

ELDP 2023 comprised a nine-month program with on-site sessions in Guam; Pohnpei, FSM; and Saipan, CNMI; as well as two virtual training sequences. ELDP program themes focus on "Leading Self," "Leading Others," "Leading Change," and "Leading into the Future."

ELDP 2023 Program Cycle

During the culminating week of training in Saipan, participants were treated to keynote presentations from Hon. Arnold Palacios, Governor of the CNMI; Hon. Theresa Kim-Taitano, CNMI Family Court; Ms. Maisie Tenorio, Executive Director of the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence; and Rev. Francis X. Hezel, SJ, Historian and Former Director of the Micronesian Seminar.

ELDP participants also engaged in facilitated discussion, addressing ethical challenges in the insular areas, the pace of cultural change, and the core characteristics of island leadership. Participants reflected on their growth throughout the year, delivering individual keynote presentations and final team presentations before an audience of esteemed panelists.

The ELDP 2023 cohort serves their insular government communities in myriad capacities, representing key functions in audit (7), finance (4), executive (4), education (3), environment (3), health (2), legislature (2), judiciary (2), and others (4).

With the graduation of the 2023 cohort, the ELDP alumni network has grown to 207 individuals across the Pacific and Virgin islands. ELDP graduates represent an extraordinary group of islanders with diverse professional backgrounds, exceptional personal qualities, and an enduring commitment to public service.

207 ELDP Alumni Across by Insular Area

The ELDP Class of 2023 program graduates follow below. Full biographies of each participant is available online at https://eldp.pitiviti.org.

American Samoa

• Grace Felise, Department of Commerce
• Matilda Kruse, Medicaid State Agency
• Mika Aga, Department of Port Administration
• Patrick Reid, Office of the Lt. Governor

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

• Geralyn DelaCruz, Commonwealth Zoning Board
• Jodina Attao, Northern Marianas Technical Institute
• Rich Salas, Division of Coastal Resources Management (DCRM)
• Tiffany Crisostomo, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation
• William Torres, Northern Marianas College

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) National Government

• Mary Lou Yatilman, Department of Justice
• Steincia Olter-Hawley, FSM Telecommunications Corporation
• Trifonovitch Sound, FSM National Public Auditor's Office

Chuuk State, FSM

• Rosalinda Mori, Office of the Chuuk State Public Auditor

Kosrae State, FSM

• Reed Floyd, Kosrae Public Auditors Office

Yap State, FSM

• Andy Choor, Yap Congressional Delegation Office

Guam

• Chirag Bhojwani, Guam Legislature
• Lawrence Jay Alcairo, Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services
• Reuben Bugarin, Guam Ethics Commission

Republic of the Marshall Islands

• Benjamin Wakefield, National Energy Office
• Claret ChongGum, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Jasmine Myazoe, Ministry of Finance
• Yetta Aliven, Office of the Chief Secretary

Republic of Palau

• Reggie Mabel, Office of Public Auditor
• Sanya Olkeriil, Division of Juvenile Justice, Ministry of Justice

The Pacific and Virgin Islands Training Initiatives anticipates the application process for the ELDP Class of 2025 will begin during the summer of 2024, with an initial session tentatively scheduled for late 2024. For additional information about the program, visit https://pitiviti.org/about-the-eldp.

The US Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (DOI-OIA) commissioned the Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) to assist the insular governments with developing and retaining the qualified and skilled staff needed to lead insular governments into the future. Since 2008, DOI-OIA has supported the participation of 207 program graduates. Additional information on the Pacific & Virgin Islands Training Initiatives can be found online at https://pitiviti.org.

Media Resources:

• Video Archive of ELDP Graduation Ceremony
• Remarks from Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, Carmen G. Cantor
• Video Tribute from ELDP Guest Speakers
• ELDP 2023 Participant Biographies
• About the Executive Leadership Development Program