Marketing & Media Support Committee
Marketing Sub-Committee:
o Roy Abdo
o Elie Bitar
o Georges Chehwane
o Eunice Mazloom
o Edward Salem
o Joey Skaff
o Abe Tannous
Roy Abdo
Roy Abdo is the Founder of Digital Revamp, a DC based marketing agency that focuses on small businesses. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Masters of Business Administration, Roy was born and raised in Beirut. He was attending a conflict resolution program in Greece in 2006 when the war between Israel and Hezbollah took place. Unable to go back to Beirut, Roy moved to the USA to pursue his undergraduate studies and has resided in DC since then.
Elie Bitar
Independent Internet Professional.
Washington, DC
Georges Chehwane
Born in Lebanon (Achrafieh, Beirut) in 1962,
Georges is a former student of College La Sagesse, Notre Dame de Jamhour, and
Nazareth school; he graduated from St. Joseph University in 1985 and holds a
degree in Business Economics.
He married Carole Zakhour Chehwane and they have 2 children: Roy and Tamara.
In 1992, Georges started off with Group Plus and this small start-up company grew to become one of the leading media companies in the Middle East, having a total of ten offices in Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, Syria as well as two outdoor printing houses in Lebanon and UAE.
Owning the right Marketing and Media tools, he established Plus Properties in 2007, to enter the booming property market in Lebanon.
Plus Properties today offers a diverse selection of luxury projects ranging from residential buildings to mixed-use towers and gated communities in Lebanon such as Plus Towers (Solidere, Beirut), Tilal Bhersaf (Bhersaf, Al Metn), Monteverde81, Yarze Gardens, Yarze 76, etc… It also entered Cyprus’ market with two exquisite real estate projects such as Plus 1 Neapolis LTD and Plus 2 Neapolis LTD in Larnaka city.
Along with Plus Properties which expanded to Project and Facility Management, Georges has established Plus Brokers, a real estate consultancy agency operating across the Middle East Region and Plus Invest, a company which proposes investment plans built around equity participation in profitable projects in Lebanon and the region.
Moreover, Georges is the Vice President of SOACLE (Syndicate of Outdoor advertising companies in Lebanon), member of the Board of Trustees of Beirut Marathon and former President of La Sagesse Basketball Club.
Today, Georges Chehwane heads Plus Holding, a conglomerate operating in five countries (Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, Syria, and Cyprus) with over 200 employees and more than 20 companies under its umbrella.
Eunice Mazloom
BS in Facilities Management from Cornell University, 1990. Lives with husband and three children in Arlington, VA. A Volunteer for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for 18 years. Serves on the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) Leadership Council for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Edward Salem
Cf. Board of Trustees
Joey Skaff
Joey Skaff married into the Lebanese community after getting her Master's Degree at Catholic University. Joey has trouble saying "No" to volunteer activities so she has been very active in her children's school, the church, and now her grandchildren's events. She is one of the founders of the American Friends of SESOBEL and was the treasurer for the organization for eight years. She loves design and is active in landscape design and floral design. She produced award winning newsletters, yearbooks, and programs for her garden club for ten years. She now resides in Fairhope, AL and is involved with the local school and community.
Abe Tannous
Abe Tannous is publisher and editor-in-chief of Profile News, USA.
Media Sub-Committee:
TV/Radio Stations
o Chadi El Hachem, OTV
o Josephine El-Ghoul, Nour Al Shabab
o Elie Haddad, MTV
o Guitta Kiameh, LBC
o Marie-Therese Kreidy, Télé Lumière
o Vera Maalouf, Télé Lumière (USA)
o Elie Moujaes, Nour Sat (and Al-Akhbar)
o Father Elie Saadeh, Star of the East Radio
o William Srour, Charity TV
o Rita Zihenni, ART America, The Bridge
Chadi El Hachem, OTV
Chadi El Hachem is Chief Operating Officer (COO) at OTV. Studied at ESIB, USJ.
Josephine Daher El-Ghoul, Nour Al Shabab
Josephine Daher El-Ghoul is the Director of Nour Al Shabab.
Josephine Daher, married to Father Valentino Dasilva El Ghoul - 4 children
Education:
-
Ph.D. student in Journalism; concentration: Effect of Modern Technology on the
youth.
- Courses in Theology and Theater
Profession:
- 24 years for Tele Lumiere in preparing and presenting programs. Currently occupies the position of Director of Nour Al Shabab, Television Channel from Noursat (2012 - present)
Achievements:
- Documentaries, programs, conferences, seminars, events.
- Coverage of synods (2010), pastoral visits of Patriarchs of the Middle East in Lebanon and abroad.
- Interviews with leaders and important personalities in political, economic, social and religious fields in Lebanon and abroad.
Elie Haddad, MTV
Elie Haddad is a creative Director with 19 years of experience in the TV industry.
Elie holds a degree in Audiovisual Studies from the Institute of Fine Arts; he started his career as a Promotion Producer at ICN, then Antenne Plus, and MTV Lebanon.
As a Creative Director, he was responsible for the look and feel of many TVs such as Sat 7, Rotana TV Channels, Arabsat Promotional Channel, Waseet TV, Al Rasheed, LBC, and Al Jadeed.
He’s currently heading the Post Production Department at Studiovision.
He won best visual effects at Beirut Video Clip Festival in 2001.
As a Visual Designer, he has worked on hundreds of Video clips, Commercials, Documentaries, TV Branding, TV shows, and corporate videos.
Guitta Kiameh, LBC
Guitta Kiameh is a twenty year plus veteran journalist. She was a
senior correspondent with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) one of
the Middle East’s premier satellite channels for more than 25 years. She was
also a correspondent for Radio Vatican - English section- during the Lebanese
civil war in 1986. She has been recognized for her coverage of some of the
region’s main news events and the conflict in South Lebanon. She has received
an Achievement Award for Women Rights Issues. She has also been assigned to
cover news stories in Jordan, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Europe, USA, Mexico, and
Brazil.
She did meet during her career top leaders: Georges w Bush, Pope Jean-Paul 2 to
name just a few.
Marie-Therese Kreidy, Télé Lumière
Marie-Therese Kreidy is Director of Programs of Tele Lumiere and Noursat TV Channels.
She is also director of Nour Kids channel.
Journalist, writer, producer.
President of Signis International Group: the World Association for Catholic Communication.
Jury member at International Film Festivals.
Researcher in Social Media and NGOs.
Active in many NGOs.
Municipal Council member.
Vera Maalouf, Télé Lumière (USA)
Elie Moujaes, Noursat & Al-Akhbar
Elie Moujaes is an effective member of Noursat, Canada and the director of Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Father Elie Saadeh, Star of the East Radio
Reverend Father Elie Saadeh, OLM, is a Monk of the Lebanese Maronite Order. He was ordained a priest in Lebanon in 2006 at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. Father Elie served as a School Principal (Grades 2-12) at Central College, Jounieh from 2005-2007; then, he was sent by his superiors to Catholic University of America to continue his studies on 2007. In 2008, Fr Saadeh transferred to Villanova University in Philadelphia to continue his PH.D in Philosophy and received a full scholarship. Fr. Elie is writing his dissertation in Pragmatism and religion under the title of: “The Call to Believe and the ‘Weak’ God in William James’s Philosophy of Religion.” In 2009, Fr. Elie was assigned as a Parochial Vicar of Saint John Catholic Church, in Wallingford, PA with more than 1600 families to serve while continuing his studies. In 2011, Fr. Saadeh had a new assignment in addition to the first one, to serve the Maronite community in New Jersey at Our Lady Star of the East Maronite Church. In 2012, Fr. Elie founded the first Maronite Online Radio in the USA, Star of the East Radio (http://www.staroftheeast.org/). In June 2013, Fr. Elie was assigned to Our Lady of Lebanon, Maronite Church, Miami, FL. Fr. Elie is a poet and a musician; he has written and composed more than 15 religious hymns; and has taught at the ‘Path of Charity’ in Kaslik, Lebanon, and at Villanova University as an Assistant teacher.
William Srour, Charity TV
William Srour is the production
manager at "Charity TV". Since 2012, he has played a key role in
helping the newborn channel to grow up on the right track, along with the
exceptional Fr. Jean Khalife (founder and general manager of Charity TV). He
managed to combine experience in the business field with philosophical and
theological education. He considers solving problems and complex situation as a
hobby.
Married since 2010, William and his
wife are waiting for their second baby girl. Besides his family and work, Mr.
Srour is in the music field. He founded and conducts St. Paul Choir, and as a
choir member, he participated in many international festivals in Lebanon and
abroad.
Rita Zihenni, ART America, The
Bridge
Rita Elojail Zihenni is originally
from Lebanon and she brought from this small country so many qualifications
into the big world: languages, international flair, connections and of course
the good food!
After living in Manhattan for more than a decade, she currently lives in Westchester with her husband and four kids.
She's always found New York a fascinating place to be because of the multicultural aspects of its population.
She speaks English, French and Arabic fluently and with it comes understanding the cultures behind the languages.
She's worked as news correspondent from the United Nations for several TV stations covering the news of the Security Council and General Assembly. Her instincts as a journalist apply perfectly to her job as a realtor at Julia B Fee Sotheby's International Realty. The success in searching and negotiating for the perfect home or selling a property lies in keeping up with the news and changes of the market.
She currently hosts a talk show on ART America "The Bridge" which allows her to meet people from different trades and professions. Through her show, Rita was always able to bridge the gap between Lebanese in the Middle East and the diaspora in North America.
She is involved with several organizations that promote the Lebanese culture and the love of Lebanon like the "World Lebanese Cultural Union" and most recently "In Defense of Christians".
Through her work with these
organizations, Rita insists on making the voice of Lebanese be heard wherever
they are.
Media Sub-Committee:
Other
o Tony AbiNajem, IM Lebanon Website
o Georges Akoury, LF Website
o Patrick Bassil, Tayyar Website
o Tony Choufati, Houston Newsletter
o Rabih Haber, Lebanon Files
o Charlie Kadado, Lebanese Examiner
o Samar Nader, Al-Mohajer Newspaper
o Fadia Samaan, Jabalna Magazine
o Monsignor George Sebaali, Maronite Voice
o Abe Tannous, Profile News
Tony Abi Najem, IM Lebanon Website
Tony Abi Najem is Editor in Chief- www.imlebanon.org since foundation in June 2014. Editor in Chief- www.lebanese-forces.com from February 2007 till February 2013. Political Writer since 1995. Reporter- An Nahar newspaper from 1995 till 2010. Public Relations Manager- American University of Sciences & Technology from 2001 till 2007. Media Consultant for politicians & institutions since 1995. BA in Journalism BS in Political & Administrative Sciences.
Georges Akoury, LF Website
George Akoury, born in 1976, at Deir Al Ahmar, Bekaa- Lebanon, is the current Editor in Chief of the Lebanese Forces Official Website: www.lebanese-forces.com, after having accompanied the site since it was founded in 2007 as its Vice-Editor in Chief. After he graduated from the Lebanese University in 2000 with a degree in Political Science, he worked in the written, visual, and online media and radio. He began his journalism contribution in “Al Balad” newspaper in 2003 and moved to the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation “LBCI” in 2004 where he remained till 2009, working at the same time at Radio Free Lebanon “RLL” in 2006. From 2007 till 2009, he also worked at NowLebanon website as assistant editor in chief.
From 2009 until 2012, Mr. Akoury was News Producer at “MTV,” and he has been News Producer at “Future TV” since 2012. He has also written several articles and conducted enquiries at many newspapers and sites.
Patrick Bassil, Tayyar Website
Patrick Bassil is head of programming at OTV Lebanon and founder and head of www.tayyar.org.
Tony Choufati, Houston Newsletter
Tony Choufati lives in Houston, Texas. College graduate in computer science and a Master degree in Sociology. Very successful business man, decided to take on the challenge of writing. Sealed is his first book and his second book Incubus Immortal Seed was out summer 2003.
Recently listed in The Marquis Who’s Who in America fifty-seventh edition 2003.
Business Experience:
President and owner
P-M-T, LLC - Pain Management Therapy, LLC
President and owner
Promoting & Marketing Consulting Group, Corp
Sales Executive
Tuttle, Sullivan & Company, Inc
Sales Director at IBM Corp for 25 years.
Social and Community Activities:
Currently WLCU-Houston Chapter President
(Largest Lebanese World Wide Organization) World Lebanese Cultural Union
American Lebanese Secular & Cultural Center (ALSCC) President
Lebanese Americans Coalition of Texas (LACT) President – The only Lebanese PAC
in the US recognized by the Federal government.
President & Publisher of the only Lebanese online Newsletter in Houston.
Project Roots Former Regional Coordinator for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Six years served on the Parish Council of the Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic church in Houston, Texas and secretary of the Knights of the Cedars.
Rabih Haber, Lebanon Files
Rabih Haber is a Lebanese pollster, founder and Managing Director of Statistics Lebanon Ltd., a company specialized in opinion polling and research since 1994, and he is also founder of lebanonfiles.com in 2006. Lebanonfiles.com is one of the leading news sites in Lebanon. In 2013 he founded “Polethics” a company specialized in political marketing and electoral campaigns. Rabih Haber holds a Master’s degree in Statistics, a DEA in Political Science and Public Administration and a Diploma in Air Navigation. He is an expert in conducting elections campaigns; he led several electoral campaigns in Lebanon and the Arab countries, where the last was in Lebanon during the 2013 elections and Iraq during the same year. He is a lecturer at several universities since the year 1999. In 1999 Rabih Haber heading Statistics Lebanon Ltd. had undertaken the first ever mapping in Lebanon, in cooperation with Henkel Germany, Statistics Lebanon mapped almost 547000 households in Lebanon, out of the 841000 available households. In 2000, 2001, 2003 Rabih Haber headed similar projects covering the various Lebanese areas. During the elections of 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010 Statistics Lebanon covered the National Elections and succeeded in reaching 99% - 100% accuracy. Rabih Haber worked in both Syria in 2010 and Iraq in 2013, he is now known among the best pollsters in the region. Rabih Haber heads 3 companies Statistics Lebanon, a well-established research company with a staff of 47 research experts, Lebanonfiles.com the leading news website in Lebanon with a staff of 45 journalists, and POLETHICS a company specialized in propaganda and political marketing with a staff of 5 members. Rabih Haber holds the Lebanese and the Canadian nationalities and is married with 2 children.
Charlie Kadado, Lebanese Examiner
Charlie Kadado is a Lebanese-American author and journalist, and one of the nation’s youngest professional speakers.
Charlie is the author of “Sacrifice: Reporting in Kabul,” an award-winning novel loosely based on the true-life story of ABC Anchor Bob Woodruff. He also wrote and published children’s book, “Perry Finds His Talent.”
A former reporter for the world’s largest children’s magazine, Scholastic News, Charlie covered dozens of national news stories, including the 2008 and 2010 elections, the Haiti earthquake, and BP oil spill. He conducted a rare and exclusive sit-down interview with world-renowned anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall in 2012, which appeared on Scholastic News and on Discovery Channel.
Charlie’s work has been featured in Scholastic News, Discovery Kids, Radio One, the Huffington Post, and AOL Online. He has made television appearances on ABC News, CNN Newsroom, and FOX Business News.
Charlie is also founder and managing editor of LebaneseExaminer.com, a 24-hour online news website providing breaking, business, lifestyle, entertainment, and community coverage for Lebanese-Americans nationwide.
Charlie is the recipient of the prestigious Call to Service Award from President Barack Obama, recognizing at least 4,000 hours of lifetime community service work. He also received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, the Optimist International Oratorical Award, and a Special Proclamation from the State of Michigan for his service work. His book, “Sacrifice: Reporting in Kabul” received the 2012 Bookfield Creative Minds Emerging Author Award.
Charlie serves as Secretary for the Lebanese-American Club of Michigan (LACOM), a Board Member for Hospice of Metropolitan Detroit, and the Founder of the Lebanese-American Association of Media Professionals (LAAMP). Charlie is always looking for ways to preserve Lebanese-American heritage and help the people of Lebanon.
Samar Nader, Al-Mohajer Newspaper
United
Nations anchor for NTV -Lebanon & RCI –Canada.
News Correspondent in the United Nations - Security Council.
Arabic Editor of Al-Mohajer Newspaper.
Fadia Samaan, Jabalna Magazine
On the 7th anniversary of her emigration to The US, Fadia Samaan launched, in July 2013, Jabalna Magazine, the first specialized online journal which covers the news, the activities, and the concerns of the successful and the talented Lebanese abroad. In addition to being their echoing voice, Jabalna Magazine is a virtual bridge which connects the Diaspora to its roots and motherland.
With more than 3 million visitors to her website per month (Lebanese and Lebanese descendants from all over the world), Fadia Samaan wishes to play a role in encouraging them to register in Lebanon and obtain the Lebanese ID, in order to vote in the Parliamentary Elections, and to participate in shaping the future of their Motherland.
She worked over 19 years as an editor, news anchor, and reporter in the Lebanese media (spent 11 years in Radio Orient and Future TV). She also worked as an editor in chief and column writer in many Lebanese-American newspapers and news websites.
In 2011, she launched, through Voice of Freedom Newspaper (Michigan), a campaign to enable the Diaspora to vote in the Lebanese elections, which she called “Lebnani meghtereb w baddi entekhib”.
Also, Fadia Samaan is a weekly guest on the Argentinean-Lebanese radio program “Watani”, which is popular among the Lebanese community in Argentina and Latin America, broadcast via Radio Papa Francisco. During the 30 minutes given to her on air, she talks mostly about the importance of the Diaspora to Lebanon and how the Lebanese expatriates can be a part of Lebanon’s Future.
Monsignor George Sebaali, Maronite Voice
Abe Tannous, Profile News
Abe Tannous is publisher and editor-in-chief of Profile News, USA.