When it comes to the world of business, Ahmad Chebbani is a businessman who started his own successful firm and then under his leadership co-founded one of the most recognized ethnic chambers of commerce in the United States-the American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC). The AACC is an organization he co-founded in 1992 in order to empower other American Arab business owners. Ahmad Chebbani served as Chairman of the AACC from 1998-2006 and was recently re-elected to serve again as Chairman of the Board. Today the AACC has a membership of over 1,300 companies ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations and executive professionals.
Mr. Chebbani is Chairman and co-founder of the American Middle East Economic Affairs Committee (AMEEAC), which organizes the US-Arab Economic Forum (USAEF). Since USAEF's inception in 2002, Mr. Chebbani's leadership led to three internationally successful Forums in 2003, 2006 and 2008 that brought together the top decision makers and business people from the Arab world and the United States to create economic and personal ties that will lead to a more economically stable and peaceful region.
Ahmad is frequently a host to foreign national visitors from across the globe as they look to engage Detroit as an economic hub between the U.S. and the Middle East in business partnership. Ahmad's lifelong advocacy on behalf of Arab-American entrepreneurs, domestically and internationally, has been top priority in his business practice.
Whether it is assisting CEOs across the globe or neighbors across the street, Ahmad Chebbani is called on by world leaders and friends to create links and find solutions to complex social, economic, and regional problems.
Board Affiliations
Chairman & Co-Founder, American Arab Chamber of Commerce (1998-2006) & (2009-present)
Board of Trustees, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan (2008-present)
Governing Council Board Member - New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan (2007-present)
Chairman/CEO - Founder US-Arab Economic Forum (2003-Present)
Member of the Board, Oakwood Health Systems (2002-present)
Co-chaired the Boy Scouts of America/AACC Alliance (2006)
Member of the United Way Special Task Force (2000) & (2005)
Board of Directors, Detroit Regional Chamber (2003-2006)
Board of Governors, Arab American Institute (2002-2006)
Advisory Board, DTE Energy Community Relations Council (2000)
Advisory Board, Comerica Bank Business Roundtable (2000)
Advisory Board, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan (2000)
Appointments and Political Accomplishments
Appointed to Governor Granholm's Commission on Arab and Chaldean Affairs (2004-Present)
Appointed to Governor Jennifer Granholm's Governor's Council of Economic Advisors (2003-2007)
Appointed by the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Iraqi Private Sector Development Advisory Group (2003-2004)
Appointed as an advisor to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's Transitional Team (2005)
Initiated Detroit's first Sister City Commercial Relationship with Dubai (2003)
Appointed by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano to the County's Transition Team (2003)
Invited by the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amre Moussa, to address the Arab Foreign Ministers Council - Egypt around American Arab issues and to promote dialogue between the Arab world with the United States (2002)
Worked closely with Vice President of the United State Al Gore and his Advisory Team to handle issues regarding Mideast peace and Arab American civil rights (1999-2000)
Awards Received
State of Michigan Governor's Service Award for outstanding service given to Michigan citizens (2005)
Civic Service Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) (2003)
OMNEX Accounting and Tax Services was featured on PBS's "Small Business School " program as a model of small business success, and was aired in over 200 cities around the country (2002)Founder's Award of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce (2002)
Extra American Dreamers Award from Crain's Detroit Business (1999)
Special recognition award by Yassine Jaber, the Minister of Economy and Trade, Republic of Lebanon , for promoting economic development in Lebanon (1998)