CHAMORRITA LEADS SEAHAWKS FACILITIES

By Patrick Lujan

The impact of our Chamorro/CHamoru people go far beyond the fields, courts, or sidelines in the world of professional sports.

The bloodlines of the Marianas extend to the behind-the-scenes sphere of the Seattle Seahawks with Gina Green as the Director of Facilities.

Green’s roots stem from Songsong, Rota, but she was raised in the metropolitan area of St. Louis, MO. Now she oversees both Lumen Field and WAMU Theater in downtown Seattle, both facilities under the ownership of the Seahawks.

Her experience in facilities management and leadership has taken her through eight states along the way before gliding into her current position in the Pacific Northwest. She credits her cultural roots and traditions as an intrical part of her success.

“My Chamorro roots are a big part of who I am. I was raised with values centered on respect, humility, service to others, and accountability. Those principles guide how I lead today—how I treat people, how I make decisions, and how seriously I take the responsibility of caring for the places and teams entrusted to me.”

As we all know, the Seahawks are heading to Super Bowl LX next week. They hosted two huge playoff wins at Lumen Field over the San Francisco 49ers and L.A. Rams.

“Postseason success brings a whole new level of intensity—longer hours, tighter timelines, and elevated expectations across the board,” Green shared about the last few weeks. “Facilities play a critical role in supporting that momentum and ensuring everything runs seamlessly during a championship run.”

So how does it look to run such a large facility like a NFL stadium?

“There truly isn’t a typical day, and that’s what I love about it. My time is spent supporting my team, coordinating with vendors, overseeing maintenance and capital projects, and making sure the stadium is always ready—whether it’s for a game, an event, or something unexpected. At the end of the day, my focus is ensuring everyone has what they need to deliver a world-class experience. I lead with purpose, make everyone feel valued and supported.”

The ability to handle such a complex and mostly stressful job comes from her mother Rufina Mendiola (Beamon), who left the tranquil land of Rota in the 1960’s and headed to America, seeking opportunity and stability for her family.

“Her journey took immense courage, sacrifice, and faith, and watching that firsthand shaped my work ethic and deep sense of responsibility. Even as my career has taken me to various places, staying connected to our Chamorro aunties and uncles has always been important to us. Social media and regular communication have helped us maintain those bonds and keep our culture and family ties strong, no matter the distance.”

The last time Gina has been to Rota is some 30 years ago, but she’s currently planning a return to her roots in 2027.

NO OFF-SEASON

Now that the Seahawks are done with home games, the focus now shift on other events at the stadium, to include the 2026 Supercross World Championship on Feb. 14.

“As we transition toward the off-season, the pace does not slow. We are hosting the Seattle Sounders, preparing for the FIFA World Cup, welcoming artists like Ed Sheeran, and supporting concerts at the WAMU Theater. It is demanding, but it is incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that supports so many historic moments. For the next week, we are also focused on cheering on our Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl LX!!”