A native of Guam, Joann Garcia Camacho garnered 23 years of experience as the divisional merchandise manager of Duty Free Shoppers before beginning her service as the island’s sixth first lady in January 2003.

For eight years, she served as an ambassador of Guam, focusing on promoting literacy and education, positive youth development, and advancements in health care.

During her time in the Governor’s House, Mrs. Camacho served as the island’s “Ambassador for Reading” by partnering with Scholastic Books, teachers and schools to promote literacy. She also recruited community businesses to serve as sponsors for the bookmobile.

In 2003, she established the Guam HOPE Foundation, aimed at improving the welfare of children and families across the island. The organization helped Guam residents find solutions to specific educational, health care, and work-life balance issues.

In September 2009, Mrs. Camacho launched the environmental and recycling campaign called START (Simple Tasks Aimed at Reducing Trash). The program was created to encourage the island community to reduce waste and contribute to reducing Guam’s carbon footprint. It was launched in four phases, culminating on Earth Day 2010.

From 2009-2010, Mrs. Camacho served as vice chair of the National Governor’s Association (NGA), Spouses Leadership Committee and worked with the Early Learning Childhood Advisory Council as a representative for her husband, Gov. Felix P. Camacho. The initative, a component of NGA, allowed her to focus on development and implementation of a comprehensive system of support for infants and toddlers at risk of having substantial developmental delays.

In 2010, she partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services and the Mayor’s Council to establish the first “People’s Garden.” The program offered sustainable food systems for Guam’s homeless by allowing them to grow, consume, and market their own food.

Mrs. Camacho has also served on various boards for public-sector organizations including the Guam Civil Service Commission, the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, and the Guam Power Authority. She is an honorary member of the Tourism Education Council, and has served as a board officer for the Guam Special Olympics and the Sugar Plum Tree Project, a nonprofit that provides donated presents to underprivileged children on Guam during the holidays.

Mrs. Camacho graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in finance management. She has been married to former Gov. Felix P. Camacho for 28 years and has three children, Jessica (28), Felix (22), and Maria (18). She is the proud grandmother to three boys.