AMIDEAST Launches New Palestinian Advisory Board

AMIDEAST is pleased that the following prominent Palestinian business and professional leaders have agreed to serve on its new advisory board in the West Bank and Gaza:

• Dr. Adnan Mjalli, Owner and President of Transtech Pharmaceuticals, Greensboro, N.C.
• Mr. Ahed Bseiso, President, Home Engineering Company
• Mr. Ammar Aker, CEO, The Paltel Group
• Mr. Bashar Masri, Chairman and CEO, Massar International
• Ms. Maha Abu Shusheh, Chairwoman, Palestinian Shippers Council; Manager, Abu Shusheh Contracting
• Mr. Nasser Kamal, Chairman, Palestinian Construction Product Company, Limited
• Ms. Reem Abboushi, Executive Director, Asala: the Palestinian Businesswomen's Association
• Mr. Samir Hulileh, CEO, PADICO Holding Company
• Mr. Talal Nassereddine, CEO, Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company

The group held its inaugural meeting in Ramallah on June 21, with AMIDEAST President and CEO Theodore Kattouf and Country Director Steve Keller in attendance. The board unanimously elected Mr. Ammar Aker as its Chair. The board will assist AMIDEAST in its efforts to ensure that its programs and services remain relevant to the community's needs in its key functions of advising & testing, education & training, scholarships & exchanges, and institutional development.

President Kattouf announced the formation of the board the night before its inaugural meeting, at a well-attended reception in its honor in Ramallah. Expressing his appreciation of the commitment that its members are making, Kattouf noted, "AMIDEAST is most fortunate that such distinguished, successful, and public-spirited individuals have agreed to serve on our first-ever Palestinian Advisory Board. Over its 55-year history working in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, AMIDEAST has tried to adapt its programs to meet the evolving needs of the community. Moving forward, our organization will greatly benefit from the wisdom and support of these distinguished individuals.”