Senate committee hears reappointments for two GEDA board seats and nominates internal candidate as GEDA administrator

Senator Tello Tiedegui convened a July 22 public hearing of the Guam Legislature committee on economic investment to consider nominations to the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA), including two board reappointments and one nomination for administrator.

The hearing featured sworn testimony and public-support statements for the nominees and a sustained question-and-answer period with senators about GEDA priorities, the qualifying certificate (QC) program, military build‑up contracts, Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) consulting work funded with ARPA dollars, and transparency in GEDA operations.

The committee considered three nominations: Andrew C. Park for reappointment to the GEDA board for a four-year term, Siska (Syska) Hotapia for a four‑year board term, and Christina "Tina" D. Garcia for appointment as GEDA administrator. No confirmation vote or final disposition appears in the hearing record.

Why it matters: GEDA oversees incentives, public finance, industrial and real property management, and other programs that shape Guam’s economic strategy. The committee pressed nominees on how they would prioritize scarce staff and funding, how they would support local business and workforce development, and how GEDA will track and use federal funds tied to infrastructure and hospital planning.

Board nominees and administrator

- Andrew Chang Park described his business background in construction, accounting and public administration and said he would "strive to resolve all issues in the best interest of the people and the government while following all relevant laws and regulations." Park emphasized his role as a bridge to Korean investors and noted prior service on the Guam EPA board and the Guam Land Use Commission.

- Siska (Syska) Hotapia, president and chief appraiser for Cornerstone Valuations, summarized her experience in real estate appraisal and board governance and said "integrity is another big thing that we need to have." She told senators she would focus on the GEDA mission when weighing leases, incentives and development proposals.

- Christina D. "Tina" Garcia, the acting GEDA administrator and nominee for the permanent administrator post, outlined a 27‑year GEDA career across industry development and public finance. Garcia said her priorities would include diversifying support for emerging industries, improving investor relations and bond disclosure, managing and developing GEDA properties, elevating fiscal accountability, and promoting small‑business programs. "I pledge to you to serve with integrity, diligence, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Guam," she said.

Substantive questioning and staff testimony

Senators pressed nominees on several recurring items:

- Qualifying certificates and industry priorities: Senators repeatedly asked whether GEDA will push manufacturing, agribusiness/aquaculture, or tourism-focused QCs. Park and Hotapia described constraints such as wages and labor; Hotapia said Guam should pursue a business and technology park and better manage its existing industrial inventory. Garcia told the committee GEDA is working on 3‑D manufacturing partnerships and a $10 million State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) venture capital program intended to support local small businesses.

- Military build‑up and procurement transparency: Senators urged GEDA to compile and publish data on military contracts and related on‑island spending to help government planners and attract investors. Garcia said she is working with local fiscal offices and federal contract databases to assemble that information and to present it to rating agencies and investors.

- Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) consulting contract (ARPA funds): Senators raised the timeline for a consulting engagement commissioned with ARPA funds to review GMH operations. Committee members said a draft and final report had been contractually due earlier in the year; acting administrator Garcia said stakeholders and GMH asked for additional input and comparables and that the consultant is revising the draft. Garcia said GEDA will follow up and provide the committee an updated timeline once GMH completes its stakeholder review.

- Property management and CLTC/land valuation: Members asked whether GEDA obtains fair value on ground leases and conducts sufficient inventory and appraisal work for CLTC and other returned lands. Hotapia and other witnesses said historic ground‑lease escalation clauses reflect different policy goals from today and urged systematic surveys of land inventory to identify revenue opportunities.

Transparency and operations

Multiple senators emphasized timeliness and public transparency: up‑to‑date board minutes, standard operating procedures for key GEDA programs, and public bond and program disclosures. Doreen Chrysosimo Munya, a current GEDA board member, provided written testimony summarizing Garcia's public‑finance work, including administering 59 government debt financings totaling about $5.9 billion during her tenure in public finance and work on federal grants and loan programs.

Supporters and conflicts

Several community members testified in support of the nominees. Supporters described Park and Hotapia’s professional qualifications and Garcia’s long public service record; witnesses also attested to Garcia’s finance experience and community ties. Senators asked Park how he would handle potential conflicts of interest; Park said he would disclose potential conflicts and seek advice from the board and counsel.

What the hearing did not record

The transcript contains no recorded confirmation votes or final committee actions on the three nominations. The committee chair took written testimony for up to 10 working days after the hearing, and senators indicated they will return the nominations to the full body for consideration in due course.

Ending

The committee completed public testimony and recessed to consider other business. Committee members instructed staff to provide outstanding materials — including the GMH consultant status and updated board minutes — and several senators expressed support for moving the nominations forward once materials are complete.