Friends of COM-FSM Foundation Board Introduced to the College Community by Board of Regents

Kolonia, Pohnpei – Board of Regents (BOR) Chairman Kasio Mida introduced the 5 board members of Friends of COM-FSM Foundation to the National Campus Community on May 8, 2013. The new board was introduced during the all campus meeting at the Media Information & Technology Center (MITC) Room where it was witnessed by close to 150 members of the college community. 

From Top: Jerry Finin, COM-FSM President Joseph M. Daisy, Ed.D., BOR Member Graceful Enlet, BOR Chairman Kasio Mida, BOR Member Churchill Edward. Bottom: Jerry Kramer, Floyd Takeuchi, Mark Heath, and Father Francis Hezel.

Floyd Takeuchi (President) has worked in the Micronesian region for 36 years, mostly as a journalist but also in recent years on consultancies with the College of Micronesia-FSM and Palau Community College. He also served for seven years as a Commissioner of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and was vice-chair when he stepped down to concentrate on his current publishing enterprise. Takeuchi was born and raised in the Marshall Islands, and his family lived on Saipan for nearly 30 years.

Jerry Kramer (Vice President) is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Pacific International, Inc. (PII), a multi-disciplinary, family–owned construction company based in the Marshall Islands, but active throughout the Micronesian region. He is also a major regional investor in real estate, business enterprises, tourism and many other ventures. Kramer has been active in support of educational initiatives, such as the highly regarded Co-op School in Majuro. He is active in a wide range of regional community organizations, and is the recipient of the highest honor that can be bestowed by the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Francis X. Hezel, SJ (Vice President) has served as a Roman Catholic priest in what is now the Federated States of Micronesia for 50 years. He first came to the islands to teach at Xavier High School in Chuuk, eventually became its director, and then founded the Micronesian Seminar, a major regional research center, which he ran for many years as director. Hezel is the author of many books on history, culture and social change in the Pacific, with a particular emphasis on the Micronesian region.

Foundation Board President Floyd Takeuchi addresses the National Campus community during the all campus meeting.

Gerard “Jerry” Finin, PhD. (Secretary) is a resident co-director of East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program. He conducts research on contemporary social and economic issues in the Pacific Islands region, with ongoing projects focusing on governance and globalization. Finin is also engaged in research and teaching related to the Philippines, particularly northern Luzon. His areas of interest include public policy, social change, development and urbanization. Finin received his PhD in urban and regional planning and Southeast Asian Studies from Cornell University.

Mark Heath (Treasurer) is the treasurer of Micronesian Registration Advisors, Inc., the official and exclusive corporate registry for the Federated States of Micronesia, which focuses on registering firms and subsidiaries based in Japan. A resident of Guam for 31 years, Heath is a CPA and an experienced auditor who served for many years as the Chief Financial Officer of the University of Guam. During his tenure, UOG had its first clean audit and maintained that record ever since. He has also served as Trustee of the Government of Guam Employees’ Retirement Fund Board, and has significant fund-management experience.

The purpose of the Friends of COM-FSM Board is to raise money for the college’s Endowment Fund. 

During their two-day visit to the college, the Foundation Board were able to visit the National Campus where they toured residential halls and met with students. The board was also able to visit some of the programs at Pohnpei Campus where they witnessed actual displays and demonstrations from Agriculture and Food Technology, Building Technology, Carpentry and Cabinet/Furniture Making, Construction Electricity, Electronic Engineering Technology, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, and Telecommunication Technology.

COM-FSM President Joseph M. Daisy, Ed.D., Board of Regents Chairman Kasio Mida with Regents Churchill Edward and Graceful Enlet hosted a dinner reception at President Daisy’s residence for the foundation board on behalf of COM-FSM in appreciation for their time and effort.

Dignitaries and members of the Diplomatic Corp that attended the reception dinner were Her Excellency, Doria Rosen, Ambassador of United States in the FSM; His Excellency, Zhang Lianyun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the FSM; His Excellency, Eiichi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan in the FSM; Michael Kulesa, First Secretary & Counsel at the Australian Embassy in the FSM; Mr. & Mrs. Miguel Ordoñez, Charge de affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in the FSM; Dr. Rufino Mauricio, FSM Secretary of Education; Ginger Mida, Post Master General; and Loren & Enerika Peterson.

On behalf of the entire College, President Daisy gave a heart felt thank you to all the guests and to the Foundation Board for agreeing to serve as Directors of the Foundation.