[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING JOSEPH CRISOSTOMO UPON HIS BEING NAMED GUAM'S SMALL BUSINESS 
                      PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of Mr. Joseph Crisostomo of Guam and to commend him on being honored as 
the 2006 Small Business Person of the Year. Each year the U.S. Small 
Business Administration Guam Branch Office solicits nominations from 
our community for this award. This year Mr. Crisostomo has earned this 
distinction and his nomination will go forward for national recognition 
as well.
  Mr. Crisostomo, who family, friends, employees, and customers know as 
``Joey,'' is widely recognized and well respected within our island 
community as a formidable and successful business leader. His has an 
impressive record of experience in the sales and automotive industries 
and he has built a reputation of hard work and strong leadership.
  The son of Jose R. and Rosario Sanchez Crisostomo, Joey grew up in a 
military family and developed an interest in cars and motorcycles at an 
early stage in life. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 
1977, and began working at a local company on the island stocking auto 
parts and assembling motorcycles. After spending several years in Idaho 
and Hawaii in the industry, he returned to his home island of Guam in 
1992 to work in car sales and to serve as the sales manager for two 
local companies. In 1999, the local Chrysler dealership folded but Joey 
was instrumental in securing the parts and service agreement with 
Chrysler International to ensure the Chrysler name remained on Guam.
  Despite weak economic conditions, Joey successfully took risk and 
opened Cars Plus, LLC. Joey demonstrated his ability to start up a new 
business from the bottom. Today, Cars Plus has grown from a service and 
parts company to a full line car dealership. Joey has guided the 
company over consecutive years of record growth, and the business has 
expanded in employees, size, and sales.
  Joey is not only a strong and successful business leader on our 
island. He has contributed to our community in many ways with corporate 
sponsorships, board memberships, and his personal time. He is an active 
member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Visitor's Bureau 
Sports Tourism Committee. In particular, he has devoted his time to 
youth programs and youth organizations. Among the many organizations 
that have benefited from his contributions are Guam's Youth Life 
Program, the Guam Juvenile Drug Court Program, Operation Outreach USA, 
the Guam Football Association, the Global Young Leaders Conference, the 
Guam Girls Fast Pitch Softball League, the Boy Scouts of America, the 
Make-a-Wish Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the American Cancer 
Society.
  As an avid racer, Joey has also promoted Guam internationally having 
competed in many races. Today we take this occasion to recognize Joey's 
achievements and his contributions to our community. I join his wife, 
Joyce, his daughters, Lenora and Jennifer, and his son, Joey, in 
honoring his accomplishments and in commending him as the Small 
Business Person of the Year for 2006. Our community wishes him the best 
of success as he pursues future endeavors.

                          ____________________