Detroit – The Arab American Women’s Business Council will hold its 9th Annual Networking Breakfast on Thursday, November 5, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Byblos Banquets in Dearborn. Highlights of the event include keynote speaker Theresa Ghafari, president and CEO of G-TECH Services, college scholarships to Arab American women and the 2015 Arab American Business Woman of the Year Laila Alhusinni, founder and journalist, U.S. Chaam Media and U.S. Arab Radio.
Registration is $30 per ticket or $275 for a table of 10. To register, visit www.aawbc.org. For more information, call Renée Ahee at 586.484.2390.
“Since our inception, our signature event of the year has grown because professionals from all industries come to share contacts and expand business and professional networks,” said Renée Ahee, CEO, ”and to hear the motivational stories of our keynote speaker and our Arab American Business Woman of the Year. “The experiences of overcoming obstacles of both Ms. Ghafari and Ms. Alhusinni will inspire all those who hear their stories,” added Ahee.
Ms. Theresa Ghafari is President and CEO of G-TECH Services, Inc., an award-winning, WBE-certified technical services firm dedicated to providing high-quality, flexible staffing solutions to a nationwide client base. Under her leadership over the past 25 years, G-TECH has grown exponentially, expanding its employee base and geographic presence while diversifying its clientele.
A native of Lebanon, Theresa immigrated to Metro Detroit in 1988. At the time, she was a single mother of two with limited English language skills and just $500 in her pocket.
Ms. Alhusinni, a Syrian-born journalist, founded and is the spirit of U.S. Arab Media and U.S. Chaam Radio, providing weekly news and informational programming with the perspective of and of importance to the Arab American community. She is a founding member of the National Arab American Journalists Association.
This year, five young Arab American women will receive scholarships to attend college, bringing to over $20,000 the amount of scholarships awarded by the AAWBC to encourage Arab American women to pursue advanced education. This year, Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, president and CEO of the Arab American and Chaldean Council, has funded two of the scholarships, and a third scholarship will be awarded in memory of community leader Mike George.
Founded in October 2007 in Dearborn as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit professional organization, the Arab American Women’s Business Council addresses the needs of Arab American women professionals and business owners as well as young Arab American women seeking professional or business careers in Michigan and across the country. Its purpose is to assist its members by providing mentorship, internships, scholarships and professional development programs.