Cohort I Innovators in the CNMI Innovation Incubator Program completed the Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop, learning how to protect their employees, operations, and customers through every stage of a disaster.
Led by Luis Camacho and Camille Orallo, owners of eL.yU.aI.eS. Consulting LLC, the session, titled “Riding Out the Storm: Preparing a Small Business Before, During, and After,” was the fifth and final module of the program’s five-part Entrepreneurship & Business Development training series, facilitated by the Northern Marianas College Center for Training and Innovation (NMC-CTI). It focused on business continuity, operational recovery, and emergency communications, and challenged Innovators to treat emergency preparedness as part of managing a business, not a response developed after a disaster occurs.
The workshop examined business continuity through the three stages of a disaster: preparation, response, and recovery. In the preparation stage, Innovators assessed disruptions that may continue after a storm, including fuel shortages, blocked roads, and delays in receiving supplies, while considering potential timelines for resuming normal operations. During the storm, attention turns to monitoring conditions and adapting plans based on developments. The recovery stage focused on documenting damage, including what was affected, the extent of the loss, the cause, and the necessary repairs. Maintaining a clear record can provide important documentation for insurance claims and disaster assistance applications.
“We want our entrepreneurs to not only build successful businesses, but also have the knowledge and resources to protect what they have built and recover when challenges arise,” said Cherese Palacios, Program Manager of the CNMI Innovation Incubator Program. “A plan on paper only helps if people know how to carry it out. This workshop gave them the chance to test theirs before they need it.”
As part of the preparedness exercise, Innovators also participated in a hands-on call-down drill designed to test how quickly a business could communicate during an emergency. The exercise compared an unstructured communication process with an organized call list assigning specific responsibilities, including who contacts each person, confirms receipt of the message, and serves as a backup when someone cannot be reached. The drill demonstrated how a defined communication structure can improve response time, establish accountability, and help businesses maintain operations when key personnel are unavailable. Innovators received a call-down list template to adapt for their own businesses.
“My biggest takeaway was the importance of preparing before an emergency. I gained practical strategies for keeping our products safe, reducing damage, and getting our business back on its feet faster,” said Cassandra Deleon Guerrero, co-owner of Bishu Marianas™.”
The CNMI Innovation Incubator Program continues to support local entrepreneurs through strategic training, mentorship, resources, and practical business tools designed to help Innovators build stronger, more sustainable ventures.
For more information about the CNMI Innovation Incubator Program, contact cnmi.incubator@marianas.edu. Follow @cnmisbdc on Instagram and the CNMI Small Business Development Center Network on Facebook for program updates.
Funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Main presenter Luis Camacho of eL.yU.aI.eS. Consulting LLC introduces the workshop to Cohort I Innovators.
Innovators practice a call-down process to strengthen emergency communication in their business operations.
Cohort I Innovator Emy Sablan, co-owner of Highlands Lawncare, engages with the presenter as they discuss practical strategies for responding to emergencies and maintaining business operations.
A Cohort I Innovator receives a Certificate of Participation for completing the Business Emergency Preparedness Training.
Cohort I Innovators pose for a group photo with presenters Luis Camacho and Camille Orallo of eL.yU.aI.eS. Consulting LLC after completing the Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop, presented by the CNMI Innovation Incubator in collaboration with the Northern Marianas College Center for Training and Innovation (NMC-CTI).