March 4, 2015, Saipan – Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and the Northern Marianas Trades Institute (NMTI) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to establish two mutually beneficial skills development and apprenticeship programs: one in hotel and restaurant operations and the other in culinary arts.
Both the hotel and restaurant operations program and the culinary arts program prepare students for entry into post-secondary education and/or immediate employment in the hospitality industry.
Signatories to the MOA were Abner Acosta, General Manager of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, NMTI Board Chairman John Oliver Gonzales, Vice-Chairman Joseph Torres, and NMTI CEO Agnes McPheters.
Abner Acosta, General Manager of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan said that “this MOA helps the NMTI fulfill its mission to provide education and skills programs for students while simultaneously allowing us in the hotel industry to attain both our operational goals and our mission to support the community in terms of jobs and livelihood.” “This is a win-win for both the NMTI and Fiesta Resort,” he added.
For the Culinary Arts program, Fiesta’s Sous Chef Bernard Manansala will serve as instructor.
This program will cover sanitation and food safety, food preparation, service, and interpersonal skills. Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s kitchen will be the venue for this program and will serve as a training ground for students as they consider career opportunities and prepare to enter the Saipan workforce.