Chaldean American Professionals

California, USA - From his sixth floor executive office window, Sam Attisha has an unobstructed view of the action on the Padres home field at Petco Park, which, by the way, is 7,713 miles from where Attisha was born 42 years ago — in the fabled, now troubled, capital of Iraq, Baghdad.

Attisha is vice president of business development and external affairs for Cox Communications San Diego.

He was recently named one of San Diego’s Top Influentials by The Daily Transcript newspaper, a plaudit he appreciates, but had to laugh, “It still doesn’t get me much influence over my three boys and my wife.”

Attisha is a combination of outgoing (“You have to be in this job”) and laid-back (enjoying hanging out with his three young sons). He’s tall, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, with brown eyes, olive complexion, and a bald, neatly shaved head.

Chaldean Youth Day (CYD-2008) is Sunday, August 17!  Hundreds of Chaldean young adults will converge on Camp Chaldean for a day of fun, food, and festivities.  Hang-out. Chill. Picnic. Play. This event is free for those 35 and under.  Anyone over 35 the cost is $45,000 per person. 

This is a non-alcoholic camp.  Bring your own lawn chairs.  Bring food coolers if you like.  Food and beverages will be available. Games. Competitions. Prizes. Boat Races.  Water-balloon wars.  Tug-A-war.  Sports.  Bring your own BALLS.  Best of all bring some biceps, brains, and bounce. 

The event is sponsored by the St. George Chaldean Camp Council in partnership with Chaldean youth groups, which include but are not limited to, the Chaldean Church Sports League, Chaldean Teens Coming Together, Chaldean Youth Bible Study, Chaldean Loving Christ, Jesus Christ University, Chaldean American Professionals, Chaldean Football League, Chaldean Basketball League, Chaldean Hockey League, Chaldean American Student Association, and Chaldean Church Youth Choirs. 

You have been told!  Someone post this on MySpace, Facebook, and whatever other social network you freaks got going! 

Michigan, USA - It goes without saying that the Chaldean community holds remarkable wedding events.  Rich in Catholic tradition and Chaldean heritage these incredible events require a competent and experienced professional.  The planning that goes into such affairs are overwhelming.  Hiring an expert who has the right connections with the best vendors, has learned to become an ace negotiator to get you the best value or 'deal' for your money, and knows where to find all those unique and dazzling touches to transform your wedding into an absolute fantasy.

It was not so long ago that wedding consultants were thought of as a luxury to be used mainly by the wealthy and elite. Times have changed.  According to Modern Bride Magazine, over 50% of all American couples who married in 1999 used the services of wedding consultants, also commonly referred to as wedding coordinators, bridal consultants, and wedding planners.  In the Chaldean community that percentage is even higher and continues to rise. 

In Michigan, one impressive Chaldean wedding expert continues to wow the community and critics alike.  Weddings by Dalia, continues to win awards and is now in the finals for Michigan’s best of 2008.  The firm placed 5th best in 2007 and now is poised to be the top rated. 

The Chaldean community is showing their support by visiting the online voting booth  and casting Weddings by Dalia as their best choice for Wedding and event consultation.  On the site supporters like Nuha Roumayah, Sarah Eskander, Melody Kouza, Vonica Abouna, Jennifer Shunyia, Merfit Yaldo, and Joe Bahri applaud her amazing work, creativity, organization, and insight. 

Michigan, USA - Chaldean American Professionals (CAP) invites Chaldeans and their business friends to a breakfast business network meeting.  The meeting will be held this Friday, June 27 in the Southfield Town Center 4000 LaTerrace Mediterranean Restaurant from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the morning.  For a map of the Southfield Town Center, CLICK HERE.

The event is open to both Chaldeans and non-Chaldeans.  The event is free to CAP members and only $5 for non-members.  The event will include continental breakfast and a literature table for business cards, fliers, and literature.   Guests are reminded to bring plenty of business cards and to where name badges. 

Every Chaldean business entrepreneur is in business to make a profit.  That means having customers, and lots of them.  It goes without saying that location is important.  Having a hotel by an airport, business district, or entertainment district is a “no brainer”.    Opening a store at the crossroads of a busy intersection or highly dense residential area is just as simple.  So simple that you will find four convenient stores facing one another or two hotels across the street from one another.  Location is one of the primary deciding factors for guests. 

If the hotels are next door to each other; one isn’t closer to the airport.  One isn’t closer to downtown. If the location could sustain a million dollars in sales and there are four stores vying for that million we can safely estimate $250,000 each.  Can we?  Will each business operate the same?  Will each owner carry the same goods or offer the same service?  Drive by any corner crowded with businesses and you would be stunned at how similar they are.  There is nothing unique about any of them.  They are virtually indistinguishable from each other.

Limited business entrepreneurs turn to the easiest solutions to differentiate their business.   Lower prices or give more goods away.  This simplistic solution may be a good short term solution but in the long run hurts the business.   The long term fix for any Chaldean business owner is to differentiate their business by offering better service and developing meaningful customer relationships.

And this is how to do it…..

Michigan, USA - The Chaldean Education and Career Center, Chaldean American Student Association of Michigan, and Chaldean American Professionals share with the community four very important instructional family based seminars on children with special needs.  The events are free and will be held throughout Oakland and Wayne County.

Chaldean parents and health professionals which include teachers, counselors, social workers, nurses, psychologist, ministers, and community family aid providers as well as Chaldean college students studying in these fields are strongly encouraged to register and attend.  The events offers state accredited certificates and an opportunity to network with other professionals in your field. 

The seminars will be held in English by industry experts.  The dates for the events are February 16, March 5, and March 18. The seminar will cover state aid and educational services for families with children of special needs. 

Afterwards CE&CC, CASA-MI, and CAP will be organizing special culturally focused sessions for families with children of special needs.  A brief summary including the seminar syllabus, location, and registration requirements follows.

When Joseph Garmo attended a Chaldean wedding, he never imagined that he would hear the benefits of his own product begin shared by a fellow guest. 

There at the table, says Garmo, another guest seated with the group began to share his excitement for a new product our firm developed to help reduce check cashing fraud.  "It was like a totally unsolicited sales pitch" for the Michigan-based firm helping the Chaldean community deal with the rash of check fraud.  “The Michigan economy is horrible. Add low morals with a poor economy and you get lots and lots of crime,” says Garmo.  “Chaldeans in large part are victims of these crimes and not much is done to help them.  We wanted to change that.”

Garmo explains how the table guest began what would continue on as a 15- to 20-minute discussion between the guests at the table about his company's product. “It was hard to keep quiet, but I did.  I wanted to hear what they would say,” he says. “I wanted to learn if our idea could make a difference.”

It was also the moment he realized the power of his connections. He hadn't spent a dime on marketing his product and before him was a table filled with his target market discussing his Check cashing prevention system.  Listening to the Chaldean business talk, Garmo realized where the guest had learned about his product. 

How did he do it?