MEMBE R SPOTLIGHT

Yolonda Toves Topasna felt kinship with NAWIC Guam the first time she attended a meeting in 2019.

“I joined because of the positive attitudes of the members,” Topasna said. “Also, my work at GCC aligns with NAWIC.” As administrator and project specialist of the Adult Education Program at Guam Community College, Topasna assists individuals with workforce development.

The native daughter grew up in Guam with her extended family and moved off island to gain her business degree in business administration in Hawaii. Upon her return, she worked in the health industry for Staywell but later moved to Scottsdale Arizona where she and her husband Joe Topasna lived for 22 years. Joe Topasna retired from Vanguard as a senior investment consultant, and she worked as a benefits advisor for Pharmacy Benefits Management giant CVS Caremark. After their three children graduated from college, the couple returned to Guam in 2018. “My inspiration comes from my three children, Tatyana in San Francisco, Joseph in Manhattan, and Eric in Scottsdale,” she said.

Back on Guam, Topasna has not slowed down. Not only is she working on a master’s in public administration from the University of Guam, but she and her husband are building a home in Malesso. Building their own house has helped Topasna reflect on Guam’s thriving construction industry. “One of the things that I love most about the construction industry is how directly it impacts the community,” she said. “The industry provides essential structures such as buildings for people and spaces for businesses.

Not only does the construction industry generate employment for many families, it is also inspiring, she said. “The people who work in the construction industry, including project managers, engineers, architects, general contractors, laborers, tradesmen, and administrative support staff, are hardworking and inspiring individuals who take pride in the impact they make on the community.”

To help the industry thrive through NAWIC, she has participated in developing pre-apprenticeship programs at Guam Community college and helped with programs including the ship repair boot camp and the tractor-trailer and truck book camp as well as the early phase of the Guam Paramedic Initiative. In addition, she and her team are bringing adult literacy programs to Guam’s villages and the Department of Corrections.

Whether she is working on her own house, her degree or her occupation, Topasna keeps this in mind: “Approach a new project with an open mind, and surround yourself with like-minded individuals to complete the goal.”

JOIN NAWIC GUAM CHAPTER 381 TODAY!

Want to know more about NAWIC Guam or join our organization? Contact us at nawicguam@gmail.com or DM us on Facebook (Nawic Guam) or Instagram (@nawicguam). www.nawic.org

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