ASACA BOARD
Rana Lotfi
ASACA President
The President
My name is Rana Lotfi, and I have been involved with several non-profit organizations over the years, focusing mainly on our beloved Motherland’s humanitarian cases, in addition to participating in any project that involves youth and education matters here in my second country The United States and in Syria and Lebanon.
I have a B.A. in Fine Art from Damascus University, with a major in Communication Arts and Graphics and a sub-major specialty in Photography.
In addition, I am the CEO and Founder of DAMASK LLC for art and design and the Office Manager and Media Specialist of BOKANI GROUP, a US and international real estate Investment company.
But most importantly, I am the proud mother of three great kids, Michael, 17 years, Alexander, 12 years and Maya, 11 years.
As the new president, I hope to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors and lead the organization to greater heights.
Our primary goal is to make a meaningful impact in the community by increasing awareness of the issues we champion and raising funds to support them. During our 3-years term, we will be mainly working on the following goals:
- Focusing on empowering the youth to become cultural ambassadors and leaders in their future.
- Developing and executing strategies to attract businesses, create partnerships, and manage resources to support the organization.
- Foster social connections and a sense of community amongst our members through activities such as social gatherings, workshops, and volunteer opportunities.
- Commence local philanthropic activities with the help of our ASACA
My vision is for all of us to be working together, members and board. Supporting each other is the key to a big success.
I am pleased to introduce to you the new Board of Directors. Each member brings a wealth of experience and expertise and is committed to serving our organization’s mission as we embark on a new phase.
“As a team, we have been working tirelessly to promote and support our beautiful community, and I am grateful to be part of such an exceptional organization. I understand that you are a key stakeholder in our organization, and I am eager to introduce myself to you.“
ASACA Board Members.
Mr. Amer Batal
Vice President
Amer is a real estate investor and a business entrepreneur with 20 years of operational experience. He is an individual investor who has been able to acquire a portfolio value through a blend of residential and commercial real estate. Amer’s core values are respect and integrity, teamwork, and accountability. A father of two great kids Naya 9 years and Michael 6 years, along with his wife Rawan Batal.
Mrs. Rouba Samman
Executive Director
Rouba has been ASACA’s Executive Director since 2001. She also served on the Board of Directors and later became a member of the Board of Trustees. Rouba has a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Damascus and a minor degree in French from The Sorbonne. She also works as the Manager of NAAMA, the National Arab American Medical Association, since 2018. Rouba is married to Basel Samman, together, they have two great kids, Jad, 23, and Luna, 19. Rouba is passionate about social justice, art, and culture.
Mrs. Nadia Atassi Hak
Treasurer
Nadia was born is Syria and moved to the US at the age of seven. Her parents Faris and Salwa Atassi, may God bless their souls, were among the original founders of ASACA. She is a wife and mom to three kids and an adorable dog. For ASACA, Nadia hopes to commence philanthropic activities for the ASACA community to partake in.
Mrs. Heba Takouz
Secretary
Heba Takouz Dayoub received her BSc in Computer Engineering from the University of Aleppo in 1999, and her MBA in 2004, from Johnson & Wales University / Rhode Island. Worked as a financial analyst for 12 years at Aon consulting Toronto and Southfield. Moved to Rochester, MI in 2009. A Proud mother of 3 (Ryan 11, Julia 9, Sami 7) and an active volunteer in Rochester community schools serving on the PTA. Heba Loves the Syrian community in Michigan and she is looking forward to bringing everyone together to represent our amazing community.
Dr. Reham Haroun
Board Member
Holding the Syrian culture in her heart and the American dream in her head, Reham immigrated to the United States nine years ago. Fast forward to the present, she became a wife, a mother of two wonderful kids and a physician specialized in interventional radiology. Still the young Syrian girl at soul and always looking forward to giving back to Syria and the community. Reham is looking forward to serving the community.
Mr. Naif Antoun
Board Member
Naif is a seasoned banking professional, currently serving as the Vice President and Senior Small Business Banker at Bank of America. With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Naif has developed a deep expertise in helping small businesses achieve their financial goals and grow sustainably.
Mr. Khalil Chiha
Board Member
Khalil has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Damascus University. In a short amount of time after moving to the United States he became one of the top real estate agents in Michigan at his company ReMax First. Khalil is happily married to his wife Tala for five years, and they have a wonderful 3-year-old son named Anthony.
Mrs. Rajaa Haidar
Board Member
Rajaa previously served on ASACA Board of Directors as Treasurer. She received her electrical engineering degree from Syria. Rajaa is a mother of three kids, she loves our community and always tries to bring everyone together for a worthy cause. Rajaa said she is looking forward to another great 3 years with all the board members!
Mr. Sakhr Youness
Board Member
Sakhr has lived in the US for over 34 years. He is a Civil, Environmental, and Software Engineer/Architect. He is also an adjunct university professor who teaches graduate courses in computer science at
UD Mercy. Sakhr lives with his wife, Neda Saker, and two daughters, Maya and Jenna, in Troy, Michigan. Neda is a pediatrician in Troy. Maya graduated from dental school at UoM this year, and Jenna will graduate next year with dual degrees in business and Jazz Studies at UoM.
Mr. Basel Alyasin
Board Member
Basel Alyasin brings a wealth of experience in business management and technology as a board member of ASACA USA. With a background in both IT and Computer Engineering, he has excelled in roles such as Panasonic General Manager in the GCC region and Corporate Marketing Manager for LG Electronics. His tenure in these positions underscores his adeptness in navigating diverse markets. Combining his Syrian heritage with an American perspective, Alyasin brings a unique blend of cultural insight and strategic vision to the table, enhancing ASACA’s global perspective and operational effectiveness.
Mrs. Reem Akkad
Board Member
Reem is the Principal of the award-winning interior design firm Reem Akkad Design. Reem is the head of the design studio and interiors store House of Reem located in Birmingham, Michigan. Alongside her interior design work, Reem has been an active volunteer in the non- profit world, which ultimately lead her to co-found the Syrian American Rescue Network (SARN). Reem is married to Khaldoun Tarabin and together they have three young children. In her free time, you can catch her relaxing with a book, playing tennis, and spending quality time with her family.