LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
OACC's strength depends on credible leadership, effective governance, and accountability.
Our Team
Connecting Businesses. Creating Opportunities. Driving Economic Growth.
At the Ohio African Chamber of Commerce, we believe businesses thrive when they have the right connections, resources, and opportunities.
Our team works to help entrepreneurs and businesses start, grow, compete, and scale by connecting them to capital, markets, strategic partnerships, business resources, and decision-makers across Ohio and beyond.
More than a membership organization, we are a connector, convener, and catalyst for economic opportunity—building bridges between Ohio’s African business community and the institutions, industries, and markets that can accelerate growth.
Ready to move your business forward?
Our team is here to help you make the right connections and turn opportunity into growth.
Leadership
Our Leadership is composed of esteemed leaders who provide strategic oversight and guidance.
Their collective expertise and diverse perspectives drive our organization's success, ensuring
we fulfill our mission and achieve our vision. We are privileged to have such distinguished professionals on our team.
Dr. Barth Shepkong
President & CEO
Nene Adama Diallo
Director of Membership
Tricia Quartey
Director of Programs
Alpha Tongor, MBA
Senior Vice President of Government Relations.
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board consists of industry leaders who offer strategic guidance and valuable insights.
Their diverse expertise helps drive our innovation and growth, ensuring we achieve our mission and vision.
We're honored to have such esteemed professionals on board.
Guadalupe A. Velasquez
Managing Director, Welcoming Cities
Ibrahima Sow
Executive Director, Ohio New African Immigrants Commission
Jayme Staley
Executive Director, Greater Columbus Sister Cities International
Madison Lisotto Whalen, Esq
Partner, CHW Advisors
Emmanuel Olawale
Attorney, Olawale Law Firm
Sandra R. López
Fifth Third Bank-Corporate Responsibility
Dr. Cecilia Mengo
Associate Professor, Ohio State University, College of Social Work
Dr. Barth Shepkong
- President & CEO
- Ohio African Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to the Ohio African Chamber of Commerce.
At a time when entrepreneurship, innovation, and global connectivity are reshaping our economy, African entrepreneurs and business leaders are making significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Ohio. The Ohio African Chamber of Commerce exists to ensure that these businesses are not only represented, but empowered to lead, compete, and thrive.
Our mission is to advance economic opportunity by championing African-owned businesses, fostering strategic partnerships, and creating pathways to sustainable growth. We connect entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, and corporate leaders with the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to build successful enterprises and strengthen our communities.
We believe that business is more than commerce. It is a vehicle for innovation, job creation, generational wealth, and community transformation. When businesses succeed, families prosper, neighborhoods flourish, and economies grow stronger. That belief drives everything we do.
As the voice of African business in Ohio, we are committed to advocacy, business development, access to capital, supplier diversity, workforce advancement, and market expansion. We work tirelessly to ensure that our members have a seat at the table, a voice in critical conversations, and access to opportunities that drive long-term success.
What makes our Chamber unique is our ability to bridge cultures, industries, and communities. We proudly celebrate the rich diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and global perspective of the African diaspora while building partnerships that create lasting economic impact throughout Ohio and beyond.
Our vision is bold: to establish Ohio as a premier destination for African entrepreneurship, investment, and business excellence. We are building a future where African-owned businesses are recognized as engines of innovation, catalysts for economic growth, and leaders in shaping a more prosperous and inclusive economy.
Whether you are launching a startup, growing an established enterprise, seeking strategic partnerships, or looking to invest in the future of our communities, we invite you to join us.
Together, we can create opportunities, expand possibilities, and build a legacy of prosperity for generations to come.
"We are not simply building businesses; we are creating opportunities, generating prosperity, strengthening communities, and forging a legacy that will inspire generations to come."
Together, we grow. Together, we lead. Together, we succeed.
Warm regards,