17th Annual Conference
Conference Program
The 17th annual conference was focused on technological potential in East Africa with topics that included agriculture, telehealth, education, technology, water, investment and more.
Click on the PDF Icon below to vew the Event Program
A BIG TEXAS WELCOME!
Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia
and Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer
welcome you to the conference!!!
Guest Speakers
Hon. Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki-Secretary General
Dr. Peter Mathuki is the current Secretary General of the East African Community. He was appointed with effect from 25th April, 2021. Before his appointment to the EAC, Dr. Mathuki was the Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), the regional apex body of Private Sector associations and corporates in the East Africa. He served in that capacity between 2018 and 2021. In his capacity as the Executive Director of the EABC, Dr. Mathuki was actively involved in the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and was part of the efforts to establish the African Business Council (AfBC), “an independent private sector institution of the African Union”. Between June 2012 and June 2017, Dr. Mathuki was a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), representing Kenya. While there, he was the chairman of EALA’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Good Governance. He was also a member of the Assembly’s Committee on Trade and Investment.
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Dr. Mathuki has also served as Director in charge of International Labour Standards (ILO) at the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU-Africa) which later became (ITUC-Africa). He also worked for European Union (EU) programs on institutional strengthening for Africa based in several African countries. Peter Mathuki sits on the boards of Kenya Investment Authority, based in Nairobi and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, based in Kampala. He is also a member of the Kenya Institute of Management. Dr. Peter M. Mathuki holds an MBA and PhD in Strategic Management & Regional Integration from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Marvin McHellon Jr. – Market President Producer for Truist
Marvin McHellon Jr. is Market President Producer for Truist in North Texas. He oversees the McKinney, TX market. Marvin joined BB&T, now Truist in 2012 through the BB&T Leadership Development Program in Winston-Salem, NC.He earned a BS-Finance Degree from Charleston Southern University (CSU) in 2007, with Honors, and subsequently received his MBA-Finance from CSU in 2011. Marvin was a full-scholarship student-athlete (Football) at CSU from 2003-2006 and served as President of the school’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee from 2006-2007. He currently holds the Credit Risk Certification (CRC) designation from The Risk Management Association, serves on the Executive Committee of the Frisco Bowl and also holds board positions with The Entrepreneurship Institute of North Texas and the McKinney, TX YMCA. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife of 14 years and their two boys (ages 2 and 5). Marvin and his family are also members of One Community Church based in Plano, TX Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Formed by the historic merger of equals of BB&T and SunTrust, Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country. The company offers a wide range of services including retail, small business and commercial banking; asset management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional banking; insurance; mortgage; payments; specialized lending; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $530 billion as of September 30,2021. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com
Bill Morgan – CEO & Consulting Principle of Avistas
Bill Morgan is the CEO and Consulting Principal of Avistas, a 20 year-old international advisory firm specializing in strategic growth and transformation. He has supported the East African Community since 2009 and proudly serves as Vice Chairman of the East Africa Business Network (EABN). He has conceived, designed and masterplanned “Smart Cities” since 1990, long before they were called smart cities. Along the way he masterplanned the initial Information Communication & Technology (ICT) for the first smart city in Saudi Arabia called King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) while supporting Emaar, SA and Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
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He later took those “best practices” to Rwanda in support of Rwanda Development Board (RDB) on behalf of the World Bank to commission their “Internet Data Center” located in Kigali. This is now operated by Broadband Systems Corporation (BSC) and spans the nation’s fiber, fixed wireless (WiBro) and LTE (Mobile) networks. Because all strategic initiatives require serious funding, Mr. Morgan brings forth billions of dollars of private placement (debt and equity) where needed, across most industries and around the world, when retained.
Sheryl Pinckney-Maas – CEO and Founder of Guardian Zone, LLC
Sheryl Pinckney-Maas is the CEO and Founder of Guardian Zone, LLC, a technology company in Colleyville, Texas that is a leading provider of crowd-sourced security solutions. Sheryl launched an innovative security mobile app and software platform that fortifies public safety. Her company is first in the market that addresses the public-private challenges at large public venues. The Guardian Zone solution bridges the communication gap between on-site security, law enforcement, and the public during an emergency.
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Sheryl created Guardian Zone by leveraging her 25 years’ experience as a U.S. Diplomat living and working in six international countries: China, South Africa, Mexico, The Netherlands, Jordan, and Peru. As a Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service, a unit within the International Trade Administration, Sheryl created business opportunities for U.S. companies in complex international markets. She was a member of the U.S. Embassy’s Emergency Action Committee and the International Trade Administration’s local representative on the Overseas Security Advisory Council, where she worked closely with U.S. based companies’ overseas operations. Using her experience of living in high threat and high crime countries, she has taken more than two decades of knowledge and created a security solution for today’s corporate, educational and entertainment industries.
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On September 11, 2001, while serving at a U.S. Consulate in Mexico, the Consulate was getting bomb threats while terrorists attacked New York City and Washington, D.C., Sheryl learned that the safe world she had always known was over. But it was not until November 2015, during the terrorist attacks in Paris, that she realized she wanted and needed to do something. As she watched a woman hanging from a second-story window during the Bataclan Theater attack, Sheryl knew she wanted to create a solution to empower people during an emergency by supporting security and law enforcement.
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Sheryl is an active member of ASIS, Security Industry Association (SIA), Women in Security Forum (WISF), Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) and The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4).
Elsa Juko-McDowell – Chairwoman East Africa Business Network
Elsa Juko-McDowell, Uganda native, has a passion for people and business and joined the East Africa Chamber of Commerce in 2015. The EACC is a dynamic organization that promotes trade and investments between the United States and East Africa. In 2016, Mrs. Juko-McDowell became the first woman to hold the position of chair for the East Africa Chamber of Commerce. Her professional, small-business owner mindset led to her success in this role in addition to her strategic decision-making skills, client-centered management, and sales experience. For the past 18 years, Elsa has developed her expertise through her experiences in real estate as a realtor and her managerial roles in the mortgage servicing industry.
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She now owns multiple businesses, which include real-estate development and investments, and consulting. Elsa co-founded MYPOLARLIFE, a local mental illness advocacy company, in 2017 with her husband. She serves on the Advisory Board of Real Estate Institute of East Africa (REIEA) and is a member of the North Texas District Export Council. As a mother of three young women, a wife, and a member of her community, she is passionate about helping those around her and abroad through thriving business development.
Jessica Gordon, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth
Jessica Gordon, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
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Jessica Gordon is the Director of the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) U.S. Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth office where she leads a team of industry-focused international trade specialists to counsel U.S. companies on the export process and strategies for pursuing international sales opportunities. The Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth office is one of 100 plus U.S. Commercial Service offices around the nation dedicated to assisting U.S. companies with international business expansion, through providing counseling, business matchmaking services, market intelligence, and commercial diplomacy and advocacy support. In addition to heading the Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth office, Jessica serves as the Executive Secretary of the North Texas District Export Council (NTDEC). In this capacity, she serves as the chief U.S. Commercial Service liaison for NTDEC engagement on international trade development issues for the North Texas region. Prior to assuming the director position at Commercial Service Dallas-Fort Worth, Jessica served as an international trade specialist at the U.S. Commercial Service office in Jackson, MS (2006-2016). As a trade specialist, she managed a diverse industry sector client portfolio spanning marine and underwater technology and shipbuilding to agribusiness, healthcare, and automotive and helped U.S. companies complete millions of dollars in export sales transactions.
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In 2021, Jessica was appointed to ITA’s Inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and coordinated the Council’s Programs and Training sub-committee where she helped to facilitate organization-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) training and educational programs. In addition, she joined ITA’s Coaching Cadre in May 2020 and has been overseeing the ITA Coaching Affinity Group since March 2021. Jessica has experience in leadership development, leveraging diversity, strategic planning, coaching, mentoring, building coalitions, market entry development, and market research and analysis. She most recently completed over 120 hours of coaching training through Co-Active’s Training Institute and coaches ITA and U.S. government employees. A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned double degrees, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Spanish and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a focus in International Business, from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a graduate of the Else School of Management MBA Program at Millsaps College.
Dean Allen – Founder and President of Zontos Hydrogen Water
Dean Allen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa where he lived for 20 years before immigrating to the United States at the end of 1999. Having grown up in a family who owned their own business Dean saw first-hand how businesses could create real life change not only to those employed but moreover to the country served.
Dean earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University. During this time, it became apparent that his passion for entrepreneurship and business was rivaled only by his passion for humanitarian relief.
While earning his master’s in theology he found himself on a mission trip to Sudan, where not only his heart broke for the suffering, but he was sanctioned to be executed, so began the life altering events that lead to the inception of Zontos LLC – the Hydrogen Water Company™. Zontos is the leader in the hydrogen water industry which is decorated by over 2,000 double blind studies and peer reviewed articles.
Laban Opande, Juris Doctor (JD), MBA, BSc.
Laban Opande is a Kenyan-American lawyer with over 25 years of leadership, management and executive experience in a unique and vast array of fields including law, business, technology, science, agriculture and the environment, as well as community engagement.
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Mr. Opande attended his primary and secondary schooling in Kenya, before his admission to college in Texas, USA, where he moved to in 1996. He earned his Associates degree in Applied Science from Houston Community College System in the year 1999, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Texas Southern University (TSU) in the year 2001. In the year 2003, he enrolled and graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a concentration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix. He thereafter earned admission to the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at TSU in the year 2004, from where he graduated with Juris Doctor (JD) degree in the year 2007. He was certified and licensed to practice law in Texas by The Supreme Court of Texas in February of 2008. He is also licensed to practice Federal Law in the United States Federal Courts by the United States District Court, Southern District and Northern District of Texas.
Mr. Opande is currently the Principal Attorney at The Opande Law Firm PC, a Texas based legal practice.
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(www.opandelaw.com). With a team of formidable associate attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, he has represented thousands of clients in matters law, including the areas of business law, civil litigation, immigration law, criminal defense, and family law, among others. He is also associated with several organizations in the US, among them:
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Kenya US-Bar Association – President (www.kenyausbar.com)
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American Bar Association – Member
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African Bar Association – Member
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Texas Young Lawyers Association – Member
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East Africa Chamber of Commerce (EACC) – Board Member/Legal Advisor (www.eachamber.org)
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Kenya USA Diaspora Sacco – Board Member (Chair, SC) (www.kudsonline.com)
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Kenya Houston Community – Advisory Member
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Mashujaa Awards – Legal Adviser (www.mashujaaawards.com)
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Uhuru Soccer Stars – Director/Founding Member (www.uhurusoccerstars.com)
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Mr. Opande can be reached at 713-446-6339 or 713-721-1300, or email at laban@opandelaw.com.
Herbert Austin- District Director Dallas/Fort Worth District Office
Herbert Austin is the District Director for the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Dallas/Fort Worth office, covering 72 counties of north, central, and east Texas. As director, Austin is responsible for the management and delivery of SBA programs and services which includes oversight of SBA resources – Small Business Development Centers and SCORE Chapters. The district office works with 400 participating lenders to provide access to capital to the small business community. The district covers 22 percent of the land area of Texas, contains 36.3 percent of the population, and has 898,000 small businesses. Austin joined the SBA in 1989 in New Jersey joining SBA, Austin worked in the private sector as Director of Exporting for companies in the United States and overseas. In addition to his extensive background in International Trade, Austin speaks fluent French and Spanish. Austin holds a B.S. in Marketing from New York University and an MBA from Pace University.
Hempstone Maroria – Serial Entrepreneur
Hempstone Maroria is a serial entrepreneur, innovator, and experienced professional in fintech, mobile payments, eCommerce, and disruptive technologies with skills in software product and platform design and development. Hempstone works to create impactful solutions for emerging markets, to empower underserved people with technology, and revolutionize financial services for people left out by traditional banking channels. As the Founder and CEO of Wayapay, a global financial technology company providing digital banking, money transfer, and digital payment services, he aims to drive financial inclusion in emerging and frontier markets by providing cutting-edge FinTech products and solutions to the market by connecting people who may not have access to essential financial services — like banking, credit, or lending — to those products, while offering better and more efficient products and solutions to fundamental challenges being faced in the financial services and banking industry.
Hempstone previously founded a US and Kenyan-based Digital and Technology Company, CB Group, that enables corporates in the USA and sub-Saharan Africa to leverage Digital Media, Technology, and Innovation to steer their brands and businesses to the next level. The company also builds innovative products and solutions in Mobile Communications, Mobile Value Added Services, eCommerce, and Financial Services. He is passionate about excellence in service delivery and simplification of day-to-day problems through innovation and technology. He enjoys working in challenging and dynamic environments where one can grow, learn, share and have fun sim
John Oshodi – CEO VoxTechnologies
John Oshodi is the CEO of Vox Technologies in Richardson, Texas. Founded in November 1997, Vox Technologies, a Relevant Technologies Corporation, has grown into a leading provider of industrial computing, automation, and networking solutions. Mr. Oshodi is a leader in business development, sales and marketing with substantial experience in business database architecture, business intelligence, web presence and branding. He holds degrees in economics and finance and a graduate degree in social impact and transformative social change.
Senator Tabitha Mukami Karanja
Tabitha Mukami Muigai Karanja, MBS is the current Senator for Nakuru County.
She is an established businesswoman, entrepreneur and an industrialist. She founded Keroche Breweries, where she is the Chief Executive Officer. Keroche Breweries is a large brewery in Kenya owned by a non-multinational company accounting for 20% of Kenya’s beer consumption, as of October 2012. Senator Tabitha was born near Kijabe, in Central Kenya in the year 1964. After attending Kenyan schools, she joined the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, and Operations. She took up employment in the Ministry of Tourism as an Accounting Clerk. She met and married her husband, who owned a successful hardware store in Naivasha town. In 1997, the couple closed the hardware store and went into the wine-making business. Beginning in 1997, Tabitha Karanja and her husband, started making fortified wine, targeting the lower end of the market. In 2007, when the government enacted heavy taxes on locally made wines, her product was priced out of the market.
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She switched to manufacturing ready-to-drink gin and vodka, which her state-of-the-art factory still makes today. In 2008, she added beer to her repertoire of alcoholic drinks, beginning with a brand called “Summit”. In 2013, the factory began expansion plans to increase beer production from 60,000 bottles per day to 600,000 bottles per day. The refurbished plant, which cost KSh5 billion (US$55.5 million), was commissioned by Aden Mohammed, the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, on 31 March 2015.
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Senator Karanja is a passionate women’s rights activist. This is evident in business as she entered and conquered an industry that has been dominated by men for decades. In 2010, then-Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki gave Tabitha Karanja the most noteworthy accolade in Kenya—the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) Award. This was made in recognition of the substantial contributions she has made in liberating the Kenyan liquor industry from the monopoly previously held by multinationals.
Brandon Sebirumbi - Managing Partner, Brilliant Silver Investments
Brandon Sebirumbi – Managing Partner, Portfolio Management Team | Brilliant Silver Investments
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Brandon is a Managing Partner of Brilliant Silver. He has a background in asset management in multifamily properties. Brandon’s real estate journey has taken him from residential into commercial real estate properties primarily focusing on the Texas market. Brandon focuses on financing and acquisitions of new commercial properties along with asset management overseeing property operation efficiency. Prior to Brandon’s experience within real estate, he graduated from Furman University. After graduating, he began a career in professional basketball playing in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Australia, Africa, and Japan. Transitioning his international experience of creating long lasting relationships in different cultures, Brandon has developed enduring soft skills to excel within real estate.
Edward Sebirumbi – Real Estate Investor
Edward Sebirumbi is a U.S. based Real Estate investor. He is the founding partner of Brilliant Silver Investments which is a grassroots real estate investment company. Edward is part of a Commercial Real estate investment group with a portfolio of more than 200M in asset value and has been actively investing in real estate since 2004. Currently owns a portfolio of rental and Land properties in Texas and Michigan.
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Since 2017 edward has asset Managed multiple multifamily properties such as La Plaza Apartments, Regency Apartments and Autumn Chase Apartments in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Edward has been an Acquisition Specialist since 2017. Prior to being active in Real Estate, Edward has 30years of experience in Automotive Industry, He became a financial Adviser Under Primerica Financial Services. Also currently owns a Lifestyle travel Business. Edward has been married to his wife Caroline for 34 years and they are blessed with a wonderful son.
Habte G. Woldu, Ph.D.
Dr. Habte G. Woldu is a Clinical Professor in Organizations, Strategy and International Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.
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More on Dr. Woldu's education, research, and published works can be found here.
Dr David Wachira - WayaPay Co-Founder & COO
A fintech entrepreneur, public finance and governance specialist with a technical background and specialization in fiscal and financial issues. Previously, a public-sector specialist at the World Bank; and served as the co-Secretary for the World Bank Group’s Youth to Youth. Managed and supported multibillion-dollar programs across 38 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Experience includes fintech, BaaS, public financial management, tax and revenue administration, urban governance and service delivery, subnational finance, public administration, public management, and public policy since 2009. Operations, analytic and advisory work at the World Bank for 9 years. Created and led individual and collaborative research and operational projects. Possesses extensive and practical knowledge of statistics, data analysis, large database management, and reporting. Prior to joining the World Bank, he taught public policy at Southern Methodist University (SMU); served as a teaching fellow in public finance, bureaucracy, and public administration at the University of North Texas and as an assistant professor of history and economics at Wiley College. He also has several publications on transparency, e-government, organizational culture, fiscal sustainability, and spending efficiency. Dr. Wachira holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a master’s degree in History from Tarleton State University and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Management with an emphasis in Public Finance and Public Management from The University of North Texas.
David Muthiani – Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE)
Throughout his career, David has worked in demanding situations, exercising extraordinary precision to meet project deadlines while maintaining strict client confidentiality. David is comfortable managing projects for and routinely communicating with CEOs, entrepreneurs, doctors, technology gurus, financial experts, and diplomats. Most of David’s clients are professionals who appreciate and expect these traits.
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Source: https://zurirealtygroup.com
Angelo Viard — President of RESSCOP Alternative Energy & VACS Group
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Richard Thomas, CEO – The Present House Hospitality Group
Richard Thomas Chief Executive Officer-The Present House Hospitality Group Richard is the founder and CEO of The Present House Hospitality Group, a global company focused on developing “Minority Loved Brands” in the food and luxury vacation space across multiple brands:
• The Island Spot – Jamaica Kitchen & Bar, a chain of Jamaican restaurants focused on sharing the joys of the Jamaican culture through Rich Food, Reggae and Rum
• The Island Spot Villa, luxury villas mostly in the Caribbean providing guests with a taste of island life through Lifestyle, Leisure and Luxury
• Bone Daddy’s House of Smoke, a multi-unit barbeque concept with locations across Texas.
In 2010, Richard opened the original location of The Island Spot in Carrolton, TX with the goal of sharing the Jamaican culture, food, and music with a universal demographic. Richard is currently working on the third location of The Island Spot and has a strategy to create the first national Jamaican chain of restaurants through strategic partnerships with private equity firms. The Island Spot has been awarded Best Jerk Chicken and 100 Favorite Dishes by Dallas Observer.
Richard Thomas recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer of Borden Dairy. Richard was responsible for managing Borden’s strategic partnerships with suppliers and vendors totaling one billion dollars of annual spend. By sourcing all of the company’s raw milk, direct and indirect materials, Richard ensures that Borden has the materials it needs to produce its full range of wholesome, nutritious products. He also led Borden’s mergers and acquisitions strategy, creating alliances that enhance the company’s overall performance.
CT Mobley – Small Business Services (SBS)
CT Mobley is a part of the Small Business Services (SBS) Sales team as Division Vice President, Diverse Business Markets. CT’s background includes over 20 years of executive experience leading cross-functional leadership teams, indirect and direct sales teams, strategic planning and execution in diverse markets. He joins us from the Better Business Resource Group, a boutique sales consulting and marketing firm, where he was Executive Director with a client roster that included T-Mobile and Verizon. In this role he built a new division while significantly contributing to the company’s top-line growth and expanding their client base. In 2020, CT began a financial literacy program, specifically targeting the Black and LatinX communities, inspired by the challenges that many began to face as the nation went deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The program has been able to assign over $13 million in cash accumulation vehicles, life insurance and future income assets to people in the target communities and within the networks’ scope through group and one-on-one video meetings. At ADP he is responsible for the go-to-market strategy and execution for diverse channel growth and will lead the formation of alliances and partnerships with clients who represent URG, differently abled, veteran, LGBTQ+ and women-owned businesses. This new area of business is critical to the evolution of how we connect our clients, prospects and diverse communities to ADP’s product offerings and expertise.
David Bryant – Coastal Communities
As the Director of Commercial Real Estate at RE/MAX Premier, David is the go-to advisor for landowners, business owners, local developers, and international investors across Marion, Sumter, Polk, and Lake counties. With approx. four decades of real estate sales and development experience, David has become known as a dealmaker throughout the Southeast, from Florida to Texas.
He has an extensive background in international real estate marketing and sales. He has clients in 40 states and 25 countries, and has personally developed properties in 10 states. With a database with just under a million contacts, including builders and developers, investors, realtors, and international buyers. David's reach spans buyers from all 50 states and 7 continents, making him a valuable asset for sellers.
David’s career includes instrumental roles in a wide range of projects, including land, housing developments, apartments, retail spaces, hotels, and strip centers. His extensive experience in international marketing and development underscores his ability to manage complex deals and deliver outstanding results.
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Sen. Abdulkadir Mohammed Haji, MP
Senator Abdulkadir M. Haji is the current Senator for Garissa County. He was first elected to Parliament in 2021 through a by election after the demise of his father, the late Hon. Senator Yusuf Haji, EGH, MP.
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Senator Haji has served in two Senate committees during his short stint as the Senator for Garissa County. He served as the
Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Energy as well as a member of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. He is passionate about devolution and always advocated for the strengthening of devolution, in both the plenary sessions of the Senate, and at committee level. When he was elected in 2021, there was a devastating drought in Northern Kenya that claimed the lives of livestock, resulting in the general populous suffering the effects of starvation. It was deemed the worst drought in 40 years.
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He played a leading role in mitigating the effects of the drought. In addition, he exercised his oversight role over the County Government of Garissa effectively. He is a peace ambassador and consistently promotes peace in all his endeavours. His mediation skills ended the long standing leadership wrangle that crippled the operation of the County Government of Garissa. Before he joined the Senate, he was an entrepreneur who successfully managed several companies. He is a team player, networker and focused leader who loves his Country, and is always ready to serve his people.
Lydia Tate - EABN Board Member & Truist Sr. Vice President, Commercial Banking
Lydiah’s banking career spans for nearly 27 years, having started her career in banking in 1994. She has held several positions at different Financial Institutions, from Teller, Customer Service, Branch Manager/VP to Business Banking and Commercial Banking VP. Lydiah joined Business and Commercial Banking in 2002 and has worked for several financial institutions in both Tennessee and Texas. Lydiah graduated with honors from university of Memphis in 2002 with a Finance degree and an MBA with honors in 2005. She is multi-lingual and speaks 5 languages. She is a member of National Association of Women Business Owners and National Black MBA Association. Lydiah is also a published spiritual empowerment writer and public speaker. Her passion is to make a difference for businesses and individual’s by providing tailored banking solutions to diverse businesses.
Dr. Daniel Juma
Dr. Daniel Juma is a graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas. Dr. Juma, earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery in 2012 from Baylor, having been awarded for his excellence in Periodontology as well as being a recipient of the prestigious W.R Hammond Scholar and Dr. P Earl Williams Awards. In addition, Dr, Juma’s preceptorship at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester General Hospital and Eastman Institute in New York exposed him to the different specialties of dentistry including Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery and Prosthodontics. Having a focus on complete oral rehabilitation procedures, Dr Juma is an active member of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, The International Congress of Oral Implantologists and American Academy of General Dentistry.
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As well as his love of dentistry, Dr. Juma has found a passion in volunteer work, having established a foundation in memory of his late father and mother, which focuses on access to healthcare and supports primary education efforts in rural parts of Kenya. Locally, Dr. Juma is a proud sponsor of “Save a Smile” program by Cooks Children’s which provides restorative and preventative dental care to children from low-income families in the community through volunteer dentists. Dr. Juma is also involved with community health fairs in conjunction with local medical doctors, churches and hospitals. Dr Juma practices at Mckinney Dental and Implant Center in Mckinney Texas, Dental Place of Plano in Plano, Texas and Penn Dental and Implant Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Ivan Edwards
Dr. Ivan Edwards is a renowned public figure who wears many hats. He is a physician, CEO, owner of two healthcare firms, a USAF flight surgeon, an active community leader involved in various humanitarian initiatives, and a seasoned public speaker.
His medical expertise lies in musculoskeletal medicine, and comprehensive pain management. He treats patients with trauma, injuries, or musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, including low back, joint, and extremity pain. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a Fellow of the Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
As the CEO and owner of JOVANA Rehabilitation Medicine and Pain, based in San Antonio, TX, Dr. Edwards oversees operations and provides consultancy services to numerous facilities in the area.
In addition, Dr. Edwards serves as a USAF Reserve Flight Surgeon at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He is the first flight surgeon of Ugandan descent. He has also held the position of Health and Wellness physician for the San Antonio Fire Department.
His influence extends to several hospitals' medical executive board committees, where he has served. He has contributed to humanitarian efforts in childhood education, neurorehabilitation, pain management, PTSD, and COVID-19 relief.
He is a respected authority in his field, having assisted in numerous court cases involving injuries, trauma, and rehabilitation. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Aerospace Medical Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Society of USAF Flight Surgeons. He is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and the Royal Society of Medicine.
Notably, Dr. Edwards was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Beshear on October 25th, 2021. His public speaking engagements span local and international stages, where he discusses topics related to health, the human condition, and personal growth.
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Sources:
1. https://www.doximity.com/cv/ivan-edwards-do-faapmr
2. https://drivanedwards.com
Dr. Sam Bore – Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Sam Bore is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in the state of Texas specializing in counseling with individuals, couples, families, and teenagers. Dr. Bore holds a Ph.D. in Counseling with a specialization in child/adolescent and marriage/family counseling from Texas A&M University – Commerce.
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Currently Dr. Bore is an Associate Professor of counseling and Chair of the Counseling Program at the University of North Texas, Dallas as well as in private practice. He is involved in research on immigrants and has extensive experience working with immigrants from diverse backgrounds. A native of Kenya, Dr. Bore is a popular presenter in conferences, churches, workshops, and small groups where he addresses a wide variety of topics of interest to immigrants.
Nelson Bamundaga – Director of IT For Premier BH
Nelson Bamundaga is the Director of Information Technology for Premier BH– a healthcare management provider located in Los Angeles CA. He attended the University of Texas at Austin studying Management Information Systems. He’s spent the last decade in Healthcare–primarily in the skilled nursing sector.
Most recently he’s led IT teams supporting IT Operations and Hybrid local/cloud Infrastructures in various locations throughout Southern California. He would best describe his role as “a creator of road maps on how our technology can best evolve in the rapidly changing IT landscape.”
Fareed Zein El Abdin – Entrepreneur, Business & Community Leader
Founder and CEO of Universal Toll Tag, Inc (Unytag), a tech startup looking to disrupt the toll road fee payments industry and ease daily toll road commute through a mobile payment solution. Fareed retired as an IT Planning Manager following a 26-year career in Information Technology with Royal Dutch Shell Plc covering various positions of increasing responsibility with broad experience in enterprise IT systems, a track record of project delivery, and results through teamwork. A community leader, Fareed is co-founder and Board Chairman of the Sudanese American Public Affairs Association (SAPAA), a national non-profit serving the Sudanese American community.
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Fareed is a Board member of the East Africa Chamber of Commerce (EACC) in Dallas, a non-profit working to promote trade and investment opportunities in East Africa and help realize the goals and ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Fareed has been a speaker and leader sharing industry trends and best practices across business and non-profit communities. Fareed obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is an alumnus of the Founder Institute , the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Fareed is a native Arabic language speaker and writer.
Senator John Kinyua Nderitu
Senator John Kinyua Nderitu was born in 1974 in Laikipia County, Kenya. He studied Botany and Chemistry at the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Law in the same University. Prior to getting into politics, he was working with C. Mehta pharmaceuticals Ltd. in the sales department, Europa healthcare Ltd. as a manager and Laborex Kenya Ltd. as product manager and key account manager.
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POLITICAL LIFE
2007- 2013 -He started his political career as a councilor in Mutara Ward and was the vice chairman of Laikipia County Council for two and a half years.
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2013 – He vied for Senator with the Gnu ticket and was not elected but he did not give up as he joined politics so as to influence power to elevate the standard of living of his people through, improving the quality of life.
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2017 to 2022 – He was elected as the Senator of Laikipia County and his main goal was to contribute and take part effectively in resource sharing and management. He started at the smallest unit in politics so that he could have more contact with people’s needs at the ground level and this was strategic so that, it could serve as learning experience.
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August 2022 to Date – Re-elected as the Senator of Laikipia and has a strong drive to continue working and serving the people of Laikipia.
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PARLIAMENT
He brought a motion to parliament on payment of a one-off honorarium and monthly pension to former councilors that is currently in treasury. He has been on the frontline trying to call on the Government to enhance security in Laikipia, especially in the herding communities where insecurity has been rampant.
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MEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATION
2018- June 2020 – He served as a Chairperson in the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations committee. He also served as a member in the Energy Committee and I.C.T committee.
August 2021- August 2022 – He served as a member of the Speakers Pannel where he stood in place of the speaker in parliament in the absence of the latter and that of the deputy speaker.
John C. Robinson – Chief Executive Officer
John C. Robinson is a seasoned investment professional with more than 25 years of global institutional financial services and capital markets experience. He has held senior management, investment consulting, investment banking, marketing, and product development roles in the private and public sectors. He has extensive experience in throughout the United States and internationally. During Mr. Robinson’s career, he has been the Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for the Government of the District of Columbia and Trustee for the District of Columbia Retirement Board. He also served in the City of Atlanta’s Finance Department as Chief Investment Officer, Cash and Investments. He was a Board Member for the Pan American Development Foundation and currently serves as the Treasurer for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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During his career, Mr. Robinson has been an underwriter of approximately $8 in capital market debt. Analyzed and issuance of governmental debt, asset securitization, tax increment, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, and varied revenue-backed financings. Mr. Robinson has managed a governmental treasury department with over $5 billion in cash management transactions and several billion dollars of capital market debt. He had oversight and managed operating and investment portfolios in excess of $1.5 billion. Mr. Robinson holds a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University and Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Association of Financial Professionals and holds the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation Chartered Investment Analyst Level II Candidate and an advisory board member of the African Investor Emerging Manager Forum. Mr. Robinson holds several board and advisory positions.
W. Mark Cotham—Attorney at Law
President and Founder Books for Development, a Houston area non-profit dedicated to building libraries in developing countries (2011-date). Through Books for Development and a predecessor project at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, over 400 libraries have been established in Northwest, Central and Eastern Uganda (including the National Zoo), Northern Kenya, Northern and Southern Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Belize and Jamaica, using donated books and all-volunteer labor to sort and establish library collections.
Additionally, for almost 40 years, Mark has served as an attorney with a diverse docket emphasizing commercial and oil and gas matters. He also has an extensive experience serving as an Arbitrator, Master in Chancery (special master) and Mediator by appointment of State District Courts.
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1616 South Voss, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77057
(713) 417-7680
Mcotham@ombtxlaw.com
Oswell Binha – CEO African Roundtable
Oswell Binha, The Chairperson CEO African Roundtable board of governors, is the Promoter and Chief Executive of Orac Systems. Oswell Participates in several SADC and African Union Think Tanking conferences, Former Chairperson of Business Council of Southern Africa and Private Sector Representative, participated in the formulation of a roadmap for creation the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) facilitated by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
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Holds Bachelors Commerce degree in Marketing (B. Com Marketing), Executive Master’s in Business Administration Degree, Master of Commerce Degree in Economics. Currently, he is studying Doctoral Degree (PHD) in Peace Leadership and governance with Africa University.
Colby C. Boone
Colby C. Boone hailing from the Coastal Plains of North Carolina holds the title of Author, Founder, International Speaker, Community Activist, Tech professional, and Servant leader.
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A graduate of the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Colby has landed coverage in print and broadcast outlets such as Fox News, worked with Grammy-nominated artists, and more. Along with his devout faith he lives by three words “Trust Your Journey”!
Dr. Robert W. Chiuri, Phd
Robert W. Chiuri is Chairman of Global Standards Resources & Institute (USA) an organization involved in certifications, manufacturing quality audits and management consulting having worked for many international firms in various senior leadership capacities.
Dr. Chiuri is a certified global standards lead auditor, for various accredited audit schemes includingQuality Management Systems (QMS), Food Safety Management Systems
(FSMS), International Organization of Standardization (ISO), Global Food Safety Initiative GFSI’s SQF, PrimusGFS and FSSC among others.
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Dr. Robert Chiuri is also the founder and visionary of One Voice Consortium
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Sources:
1. https://foodsecurityconsortium.com/team-2/
2. https://onevoiceconsortium.org/one-on-one-with-dr-robert-chiuri-visionary-behind-global-force/
Hon. Fatuma Adan Dullo, C.B.S, Member of Parliament (MP)
Hon. Fatuma Adan Dullo, C.B.S, is a third-term Member of Parliament (MP), the current elected Senator for Isiolo County as well as the Minority Whip of the 13th Senate of the Republic of Kenya. In the 12th Parliament, she occupied the position of Deputy Majority Leader – Senate and was among the first women to be elected to the Senate. Hon. Dullo has had an extensive career in public administration and public service spanning over three decades.
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Professional Career
Hon. Fatuma Adan Dullo has served in various capacities in the public sector and in civil society. Upon completing her paramilitary training, she became one of the youngest serving District Officers, having been posted to Lamu in 1989 at just 22 years of age. She was later transferred to Embu in 1990 before being promoted to Administrative Officer in 1994.
Sen. Dullo proceeded to serve as an Assistant Secretary / Legal Officer at the Ministry of Health in 1995. In 2006, she worked as a Legal Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-Kenya and was attached to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD). She was later appointed as a Commissioner at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in 2007.
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Educational Background
Sen. Dullo attended the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, undertaking the Administrative Officer Course in 1989 as well as the Paramilitary Training (Administrative) Course in 1993. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from The University of Nairobi in 2003 and later completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law (Advocates Training Programme) at the Kenya School of Law. Sen. Dullo was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 2006. She subsequently pursued and completed a Master of Laws (LL.M-Governance) degree in 2011 at The University of Nairobi.
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Political Career
Fatuma Dullo was nominated as a Senator by the United Republican Party (URP) in 2013. During her time as Senator in the 11th Parliament (2013 – 2017), she served as Chairperson of the Select Committee to Inquire Into Policy and Legislation on the Treatment of Detained Persons in Correctional Facilities in Kenya; Vice-Chair of the National Security and Foreign Relations Committee; and member of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee.
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Following the 2017 General Elections, Fatuma Dullo was elected Senator on a Party for Development and Reform (PDR) ticket representing Isiolo County. She was the only female in the tightly-contested race. She was subsequently elected by the majority coalition to serve as Deputy Leader of Majority in the Senate, a position she has held between 2017 and 2022. In August 2022, Hon. Dullo was elected to the Senate following a landslide victory. In September 2022, Sen. Dullo was selected to hold the position of Minority Whip of the 4th Senate
Ms. Rashanda Johnson– Business Development Specialist at OPIC
Ms. Rashanda Johnson is a Business Development Specialist in the Small & Medium Enterprise Finance department at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). As Business Development Specialist, Rashanda focuses on counseling U.S. companies seeking financing, evaluating new project proposals and loan applications, and developing new business opportunities.
Prior to joining OPIC, Ms. Johnson served at US Commercial Service and USAID. Her primary responsibilities were assisting in outreach to the U.S. business and trade communities, and facilitating new business opportunities. Ms. Johnson holds an MPA with an emphasis on Policy and Management from Bowie State University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Wright State University. She also is alumna of a multi-country study abroad program, which emphasizes global comparative study.
Regina Hill Onyeibe –Africa Liaison and SBA Coordinator, City of Dallas
Regina Hill-Onyeibe is the Africa Liaison and Senior Coordinator/Entrepreneur & Small Business Initiatives at City of Dallas. During almost two decades at the City of Dallas Regina has had a significant impact building relationships between Dallas and several countries across the continent of Africa. Regina has also worked as a Senior Business Planning Manager for Hewlett Packard. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University. Originally from Kansas City, Kansas; Regina graduated from F L Schlagle High School.
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