SANTA RITA, Guam (Aug 13, 2021) – The Navy Exchange (NEX) Western Pacific District vice president was on Guam recently and met with NEX Guam and military leaders to discuss updates and future planning.
Matthew Barnwell was on island Aug. 3-7 and visited all NEX retail locations, distribution center, Freedom Banner Exercise, Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), and conducted numerous office calls.
During the visit, Barnwell met and briefed the following individuals on the Western Pacific District, overall Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) updates, and future planning: Joint Region Marianas Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson; U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) Capt. Michael Luckett; George McNamara, AAFES Guam/Saipan Exchange General Manager; U.S. Naval Hospital Commanding Officer Capt. Thecly Scott; and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Col. Christopher Bopp, among others.
The purpose of the visit was to get reacquainted with the NEX operations on Guam and continue to look for opportunities to support the team on island and “the customers we so proudly serve,” said Lisa Ballejo, NEX Guam general manager.
“There is no bigger advocate for the customers and our Navy Exchange associates here on the island of Guam than our current District Vice President,” Ballejo said. “Mr. Barnwell spent over nine months here in Guam from 2018 to 2019 as the District Vice President of Guam prior to the consolidation of Guam, Japan and Singapore into a single district that we know today as the Western Pacific District for NEXCOM. He has a true affinity to the people of this island and continues to ensure that the light of NEXCOM is being shown brightly on this very important strategic island and that investment in our stores, inventory, equipment and staff continues and continues to grow well into the future.”
More corporate investment in the facilities for NEX Guam and partnerships with Marine Corps Exchange and the leadership at Camp Blaz, were among the recommendations NEX Guam voiced during the meeting with the district vice president, Ballejo said.
Ballejo also briefed Barnwell on understanding the short and long-term growth expected for the island of Guam. He was also given a future planning brief by NBG leadership, she said. “Short term, NEX customers will soon see an immediate improvement via a wall-to-wall renovation of the food court and new food offerings such as Panda Express and Raising Cane's,” Ballejo said. “Long term, we will continue to evaluate all of our facilities on the island and look for opportunities to update and improve.”
In addition to the meetings, Barnwell attended a celebration for 21 NEX associates retiring this year, including Lourdes Dimapiles who is retiring after 46 years of service. NEXCOM also awarded two selectees from Guam for the Enterprise Management Award - Camilia Cedeno and Marla Reyes.
“It was truly wonderful to come back to Guam after being away for the past 20 months due to COVID DoD (Department of Defense) travel restrictions,” Barnwell said. “I thank everyone that took the time to meet with me over the past week and especially both Rear Adm. Nicholson and Capt. Luckett and their teams. Great things are in store for Guam, and the Navy Exchange has a great team, from top to throughout the organization, to ensure that we continue to offer Premier Customer Service to each and every guest that comes through our doors.”
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2021 18:49 |
| Story ID: | 402975 |
| Location: | SANTA RITA, GU |
| Web Views: | 269 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NEX District Vice President Visits NEX Guam, Meets Military Leaders, by Theresa Cepeda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
