Junior Achievement of Guam was founded in 1975 by Allen A. Pickens, a partner with accounting firm Peat Marwick (now known as Deloitte & Touche LLP). At the time, he was the president of the Rotary Club of Guam. Al introduced the experiential, hands-on After-School Company Program of Junior Achievement, which became very successful under his leadership, business connections, and belief in the potential of Guam and its people.

Initially, JA Guam reported to JA USA since Guam is a US territory. Later, in the late 1990s, the organization began participating in Junior Achievement – Canada’s annual student officer event, CANJAC. When JA Asia Pacific was established (somewhere between 1997 and 2010), JA Guam found a new home and tribe containing the countries of origin of many of its students and advisors.

Over the years, Junior Achievement of Guam has become a leading organization in promoting financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness. Its flagship program, the Company Program, has been attracting between 7 and 18 local businesses sponsoring student companies of 25-30 high school students every school year. Since 2005, JA Guam has also offered in-school programs for elementary, middle, and high school students, serving an additional 200-600 students annually. Altogether, Junior Achievement of Guam serves 650 students per school year.

Watching student companies continually expand their innovation, creativity, and technology while experiencing day-to-day business challenges and opportunities has been exciting for many business leaders and entrepreneurs in Guam. They credit their experience in the Company Program as a driver of their success today. It’s also been a win-win for many Company Program sponsors who see how their advisor staff develop leadership and business acumen skills themselves. Relationships created between students, advisors, and the sponsoring company have been a great recruiting ground for Guam’s future workforce after graduation.

The future looks bright for JA Guam. With additional help from the Guam Economic Development Agency, the JA board is growing its capacity and value to create an even more significant impact on Guam’s economy. Through a more profound and broader presence within schools, workforce small business skills development reach, and the creation of a JA Company Store, JA Guam is poised to play a vital role in the territory’s economic growth for years to come.