Pacific Federal Management Inc. founder and president Robert Salas II has been awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Small Business Person of the Year for Guam.
Salas founded PFM in 2017, growing it from a small residential landscaping and tree-trimming business into a distinguished national contractor with nearly 400 employees.
Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States.
PFM is a minority-owned small business certified as an 8(a) and HubZone construction and management company.
Salas and 52 other winners from states and territories are invited to attend the May 4 and 5 ceremonies in Washington, D.C., where they will be honored with their individual award.
The ceremonies will also feature a special recognition to the runner-up and the naming of the 2025 National Small Business Person of the Year.
“Like other Guam small businesses, PFM has faced numerous challenges, including the impact of COVID-19 and the devastation caused by Typhoon Mawar in 2023. Despite these obstacles, Rob’s leadership has ensured the company’s continued growth and success,” PFM said in a release on Thursday.
PFM said it played a crucial role in the island-wide cleanup and recovery efforts following Typhoon Mawar in 2023, partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore infrastructure and provide temporary housing for displaced workers.
According to PFM, it specializes in various construction disciplines, including civil, earthwork, structural, and maintenance services, and works with both the federal government and the government of Guam, as well as private institutions like Guam Community College and the University of Guam.
Under Salas’s leadership, PFM has achieved significant milestones, including ranking No. 89 on the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Top Performers list among all construction firms for 2025.
PFM also ranked No. 43 for ABC’s Top General Contractors, No. 9 under the Top Performers with Special Designations, and No. 5 for Top Military Contractors. It has also been recognized as an Accredited Quality Contractor for the past four years and earned the Merit Award for the National Safety Award for 2025.
Locally, PFM has won numerous Guam Contractors Association Excellence in Construction Awards over the years for exemplary work for both federal and local contracts.
Some of the GCA awards received in 2024 include work on GCC’s Building B, which is nearing completion and for Community/Public Service-All contract amounts up to $100 million.
Salas’ commitment to Guam extends beyond his professional achievements.
He is an active member of the community, serving on the boards of several organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation where he is an annual platinum sponsor and serves as Finance Committee chair.
Salas also serves as treasurer of the Father Duenas Endowment Foundation, community service chair of Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, and Smart Trees Pacific treasurer. He is also a member of the Guam Contractors Association and the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, the SBA awarded M80 Systems’ Jessica Leon Guerrero as Small Business Person of the Year for Guam.
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