Sufia Junaid, Trustee of the Junaid Family Foundation, is a passionate advocate for her community and volunteers her time and philanthropy to numerous local and international organizations.

Sufia is an advocate for girls and women to support their ability to reach their potential regardless of circumstance. She is an active board member of the Pakistan Ladies Association of the Midwest, which aims to support and bolster the engagement of Pakistani women in several spheres of the community and break through barriers of misinformation through the depiction of real Pakistani women.

Sufia is also a champion of economic, social, and healthcare development both locally within her community in Cleveland and abroad. Together, she and her husband, Ansir Junaid, have worked tirelessly to expand the horizons for education amongst young girls and women in the rural communities of Pakistan, through funding of school construction projects and scholarships for girls entering all levels of school, including university and vocational programs.

As the Founder and President of Engelke Construction Solutions, Eric is responsible for the overall vision, performance, and consistent growth of the company. He has more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry and has managed over $750 million in construction projects for various sectors.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and International Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University. Eric is vital in promoting a collaborative work environment, and his philosophy of “being seen and not heard” in his actions have led to tremendous growth and a culture that is built for the future.

Eric is extremely passionate about giving back to others in Northern Ohio. As a founding board member of the H2O Foundation Inc., a founding board member of One Hope NEO, and being active in his hometown parish, he enjoys the consistent opportunity to give back his time, energy, and resources for the common good.

Volunteerism has been Nancy’s calling card her entire life. Regardless of whether it’s for family, friends or her community, Nancy is on call and in action. Frankly, her priority is to take care of others before assessing her own needs. She is truly a selfless person.

In recent years her volunteer passions have gravitated toward helping and supporting those who need a bit of a lift. For Global Cleveland she is focused on lifting up the new citizens as they go through the magnificent Naturalization Ceremony in in the Federal Courthouse. For a population that doesn’t have easy access to food, she delivers home meals for Jewish Family Service Association twice a week. In that role she not only brings sustenance, but also a communication and socialization link that these folks treasure. In another activity she helps support elderly dealing with dementia, by assisting them in outings that bring enrichment and socialization to their otherwise somewhat restricted lifestyles.

Ying Pu is a longstanding business owner in AsiaTown and a passionate advocate for the AAPI community. As the owner of the Erie Chinese Journal since 2002, her immigrant-owned, women-led newspaper has been a cornerstone of information, culture, and community connection for over two decades.

Ying’s journey began in China, where she studied journalism and worked for a state-owned publication. Confronted by government censorship and limitations on private ownership, she pursued her dream in the United States. Here, she identified a critical need within the Chinese-speaking community for accessible news and advocacy.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Ying noticed the isolation faced by Chinese immigrants due to language barriers. Determined to bridge this gap, she launched her bi-weekly newspaper, delivering comprehensive coverage of local, state, and international affairs. She also shines a spotlight on uplifting stories from the AsiaTown community, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging civic engagement.

Ankit is an accomplished professional with an MBA in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management, bringing over 6 years of experience in sales, strategy, analytics, and business operations. His background includes driving process improvements and managing projects across various industries, from IT, Edtech to Manufacturing. Ankit specializes in developing scalable business operations, implementing and delivering high-quality insights with dashboards.

Ankit is passionate about using storytelling, data analysis, and effective communication to drive business growth. Beyond his professional work, he advocates for CPT/OPT awareness among local hiring managers and helps international students navigate their careers in Cleveland. In his free time, he enjoys watching sunsets, hiking, attending concerts, and working on visualization projects—or simply relaxing on a beach.

Azzam Allahewi is an Industrial Business Development Professional and John Carroll University alumnus. He started his career as a process engineer within the oil and gas sector in his home country of Iraq. Azzam worked in the region and internationally for several years before he came to the U.S. He then decided to work in the commercial side of his industry and pursue his MBA.

Azzam is passionate about workforce development initiatives and enjoys volunteering activities that give back to the community and enable him to share his career pivot journey. He is grateful for his participation in Global Cleveland’s Global Rising International Leadership Program, where he was introduced to great mentors and connected with brilliant minds and key decision-makers in Northeast Ohio. Azzam’s participation in Global Cleveland’s program not only fueled his passion, but also helped him establish a personal and professional network that opened up opportunities for him as a newcomer. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and playing pool.