JANUARY 2022

and focus on one objective: business.
The group had an ambitious
agenda that included seeking funds
and grants for worthwhile community
projects such as the Chaldean
Federation of America (CFA) and
the Chaldean American Ladies of
Charity (CALC). They also hoped
to provide business opportunities
within the larger community, the
government, and corporations.
They hoped to develop business
opportunities in areas with
large Chaldean populations, such as
the 7 Mile Corridor, Oak Park, and
Southfield areas. They wanted to
help find job opportunities for new
immigrants, to support members of
the community who held political
ambitions, to encourage politicians
to appoint prominent members of
the community to different positions
and boards, and to provide a positive
model to young people to identify
with the Chaldean community and
to step up to future leadership roles.
Major concerns were the fact that
Chaldeans do not meet the minority
requirements for corporate America,
and that organizations such as the
Arab Community Center for Economic
and Social Services (ACCESS)
and Arab-American Chaldean Council
(ACC) were using the Chaldean
name for their own benefit. The plan
was to get the Chaldean name out and
to differentiate between Chaldeans
and Arab organizations, and to create
a good track record with the corporate
world and government agencies.
A meeting was held at Southfield
Manor in 1999, attended by Mike
George, the Board of Directors of the
Associated Food Dealers (AFD), and
about 25 other businesspeople from
within the club community. The
AFD management was initially resistant
to the formation of this new entity
and considering it to be a threat
to its mission and a competition that
would split the business community.
This argument was quickly dismissed
as the AFD focused strictly on the
grocery sector, while the new organization
would serve our evolving business
community which was much
larger and more diverse.
The agreement was finally
reached between Sabah Summa and
Frank Arcori who represented the
Association Food Dealers (AFD)
that both organizations would work
together and share membership.
Lack of support and commitment
to the Chaldean Business Alliance
(CBA) concept sidelined the
initiative; however, the objective
proved to be a bridge to the next big
idea, the formation of the Chaldean
American Chamber of Commerce
(CACC) in 2003.
Chaldean American Chamber
of Commerce (CACC)
A “kick off” meeting was held to
explore launching the Chaldean
American Chamber of Commerce
(CACC). Some 50 community
members were invited to this informal
meeting held on July 10, 2002.
Joe Sarafa and Mike Sarafa, along
with other members of the AFD
board, were to meet with Chaldean
Chamber members, Sabah Hermiz
Summa, Sam Yono, and Dave Nona
to discuss a working relationship between
the two organizations.
This group decided to hold a general
meeting within the Chaldean
community to discuss the formation
of the Chamber by March 2003 and
to present an outline of activities.
The first quarterly networking meeting
for CACC and AFD was held on
February 11, 2004.
The initial financial assistance
came from members who each donated
five to ten thousand dollars.
They were considered the Founding
and Lifetime members of CACC:
Ron Acho, Najib and Salim Atisha,
Carl Dallo, John and Chris Denha,
Jalal and Jason Garmo, Frank Jaddou,
Jamal Kalabat, Waad and Joey
Murad, Amer and Jason Najor, Dave
Nona, Wisam Paulus, Mazin Samona,
and Bassim and Mazin Shina.
Many of the first board members
such as Martin Manna, Saad Hajar,
and Sabah Summa himself, along with
others (unfortunately the complete list
of all the names could not be found)
also donated a thousand dollars each to
support the Chamber start up.
Marketing
In June 2003, the Chamber was finally
formed and was recognized as
the voice of the Chaldean American
business community. The Chaldean
American Chamber of Commerce
contracted Interlink Media, owned
by Martin Manna, to direct and
to manage the daily operations of
Chamber, with Manna as Executive
Director of the Chamber.
Interlink Media was tasked to help
attract new members, launch public
relations campaigns, assist in the development
and rollout of services that
included hosting positive networking
engagements, and service the daily
needs of the new members. The first
objective was to attract 400 members
by the end of 2004.
The Chaldean American Chamber
of Commerce’s first election was
held in June 2003 and Sabah Hermiz
Summa was selected as the first
Chairman of this organization.
The second Board of Directors
election was held on November
10, 2004. The new Board of Directors
held a meeting on November
23, 2004, to elect the 2005 Executive
Officers: Sabah Hermiz Summa,
Chairman; Najib Attisha, Executive
Vice Chairman; Saad Hajjar, Vice
Chairman; Anthony Mona, Treasurer;
Wendy Acho, Secretary; Bassam
Salman, Executive Committee
Member; and Martin Manna, Executive
Director of the Chamber.
In a short time, the CACC grew
from a handful of founders to nearly
400 members in 2005 and to over
1,000 individuals and corporations
by 2020.
2019 was a year of transformation
for the Chaldean American
Chamber of Commerce. For the first
time in its history, it surpassed the
1,000-member mark.
The Chamber leadership was instrumental
in the introduction of a
new bill, HR 2537, otherwise known as
the ‘Bill to Delay Deportation of Iraqi
Nationals.’ Working with compatriots
within the national and international
scene to make sure that our community
is recognized and to aid valuable
communities abroad, the Chamber
continues to work for the betterment
of our community here in Michigan
and for our brethren back in Iraq.
The CACC mission to build business,
build relationships, and build
community, and its successes led to
First Board of
Directors of the
Chamber in 2004
further accomplishments with the
establishment of the Chaldean Community
Foundation (CCF) in 2011.
Iraq in my heart
Despite the long separation from Iraq,
Sabah is still attached to his Iraqi and
Middle Eastern roots and wants to
give back and share his expertise.
“Iraq is my country of origin, and
I am proud to be a member of this
Iraqi Chaldean community in the
United States. My heart lies within
Iraq where I was born and grew up. I
went in 2009 and with the hope of
being able to contribute and somehow
help our unfortunate people
that were still living through an unmerciful
time of wars and conflicts.
“The greatest service to my motherland
will be for the United States to
do the things by which Iraq’s name,
fame and future will be raised up.”
Reflection on a life journey
Sabah proudly speaks about his life
journey. “I was strengthened and
influenced by my deeply religious
first wife of 41 years, Kathleen, and
our beautiful life together where she
blessed me with three wonderful sons:
Laith, Faris and Shawn, whom I am
proud of - both for their personalities
and accomplishments - and grateful
to my lovely second wife, Nazdar, that
came into my life to give me peace
and joy when most needed.
“In this, I am grateful in my attitude
to focus on the journey, not the
destination.”
Looking back on Sabah Summa’s
vision, determination, and decision to
start the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce
(CACC) in yesterday’s fastmoving
business environment means
many things today. It is all about forging
a new path for community members
and others amidst challenges and
pessimism and so much more.
As we continue to feature our
pioneers and write these articles, perhaps
those individuals that have inspired
me might also inspire you.
Special editing by Jacqueline Raxter
and Dave Nona.
JANUARY 2022 CHALDEAN NEWS 23