Our Senior Leadership
Rebecca Shi is the founding executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), a bipartisan coalition of 1200 CEOs, retired CEOs, donor class, employers, and business associations across the country, from Texas to Maine, Florida to Idaho. ABIC’s mission is common sense immigration reform to grow the economy, create jobs, and keep families together. ABIC’s niche is delivering business support to hard-hitting national, state, and local campaigns that benefit the undocumented. ABIC understands the necessity of Right – Left coalitions and alliances to win concrete victories. ABIC’s victories include winning driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, healthcare equity, access to justice across red, purple, and blue states; inclusive PPP and small business community navigator recovery programs in Washington working with Republican and Democratic Members of Congress.
Rebecca immigrated from China when she was ten years old; graduated from the University of Chicago with high honors and selected graduation speaker; and is tri-lingual in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. She has worked as a leader and organizer in the immigrant rights movement for 12 years, in part because her mother had a final deportation order for 19 years.
Rebecca was honored as “20 in their 20s” by Crains’ Business Chicago; is an Asian American Community Leadership honoree; and an Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Fellow. Rebecca’s work has been featured in the WSJ, Washington Post, New York Times, Texas Tribune, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, Politico, and Axios, among others. She has testified before Congress multiple times.
Michael Deheeger has juggled organizing, communications, political and fundraising roles on a range of domestic and international issues, in both advocacy and electoral settings, including years of advocating for immigration reform with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. He is a graduate of Colby College and received a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and two children.
Angelene Winn is a seasoned professional with a wealth of expertise in operations management, human resources, and compliance. Currently holding the position of Operations Director at ABIC, Angelene plays a crucial role in the organization by overseeing ABIC’s operations budget, managing human resources, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
With a combined experience of over 15 years in operations management, executive leadership, and compliance, Angelene brings a depth of knowledge and strategic insights to her current role.
Before joining ABIC, Angelene served as the Director of Operations for a lobbying and education consulting firm based in Washington DC.
Angelene is an active contributor to her community. She serves as the Vice Chair on the fashion committee for a small non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic independence and thrive in both their professional and personal lives. Through her involvement in this organization, she supports initiatives that foster growth, self-confidence, and financial stability among women.
Born in Korea and raised in Japan, Angelene’s background and personal experiences have shaped her deep dedication to her work at ABIC.
Hania Abu-Eid serves as the Director of Communications at the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), where she oversees ABIC’s external communication and public engagement efforts. Her work focuses on ensuring that ABIC’s mission of comprehensive immigration reform is a priority for policymakers, the public, and the business community. ABIC advocates for sensible immigration policies that stimulate job growth, strengthen the economy, and benefit all American families.
With over a decade of experience in strategic communications within the social impact sector, Hania has held key roles at prominent organizations, including Skoll Global Threats, Kiva.org, Open Road Ventures, and Edelman PR. Throughout her career, she spearheaded successful communication initiatives across corporate, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Before joining ABIC, she was the Director of Communications at Open Road, an impact-first asset manager providing bridge loans to companies focused on reducing inequality and addressing climate change. Hania also developed communication strategies at the Skoll Global Threats Fund (SGTF) to tackle the world’s most urgent global challenges, partnering with experts and policymakers on issues like climate change, pandemics, and water security.
At Kiva Microfunds, Hania managed communications and conceptualized marketing, branding, and PR campaigns that achieved the highest site traffic in the organization’s history. Additionally, she worked at Edelman PR, managing communications for some of the largest tech companies.
Hania holds a B.A. in Communications and Marketing from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In her spare time, she serves as a mentor for organizations promoting the development of social entrepreneurship globally. Hania supports various local and global humanitarian causes, driven by her belief that economic opportunity is a fundamental human right, and she is particularly passionate about advocating for immigrant communities who contribute to the fabric of our society.
Birdie leads the ABIC team to fundraise for philanthropic dollars from generous individuals, foundations, and corporations. With over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, she most recently served as Philanthropy Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, a national organization dedicated to serving unaccompanied children in detention and reuniting separated families.
Prior to joining the fight for immigration reform, Birdie was steeped in the arts sector for nearly 20 years and led the growth of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic as its first Executive Director.
Birdie’s passion for the confluence of arts, culture, and social justice have always driven her professional career and personal interests. She is a board member of Chicago Art Department, a collective of local artists addressing civic issues, and enjoys playing music, cooking global comfort foods, and traveling.
Birdie graduated from Columbia University with a BA in East Asian Studies and from University of Chicago with an MA in International Relations.
Our Staff
As a survivor of civil war, Fatu has dedicated her life to tackling issues that are at the root of social conflict and instability. She is passionate about addressing poverty, and the different ways it impacts our local and global societies. Fatu has done this by advocating for individuals’ rights to receive support in their time of need and working with communities to create a proactive environment where everyone has a role in building their communities and narratives. With years of experience in organizing, advocacy, and campaign management, she has consistently driven efforts to create lasting, positive change.
As a Liberian immigrant, Fatu brings a unique perspective to her work, rooted in her personal journey and professional expertise. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations with a focus on Humanitarian Issues from Webster University and a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management, with a minor in Marketing from Southwest Minnesota State University.
Fatu currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and loves hiking and traveling.
James O’Neill is the Director of Legislative Affairs for ABIC specializing in building out chapter potential in the Midwest Region and relationship building in the Agriculture sector. Prior to joining ABIC and during college he was a summer intern for IBIC, and after graduating, he worked briefly as a constituent services caseworker for then-Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) before coming on as the Director of Suburban Outreach for IBIC. James graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy and two minors in Philosophy and Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy.
Juan Carlos Cerda is a DACA recipient and the Director for the Texas chapter (TBIC). Prior to joining ABIC, Juan Carlos organized immigrant communities at the Texas Organizing Project and taught kindergarten through the Teach for America program. He was also an ambassador for fwd.us, a bipartisan political advocacy group working for immigration and criminal justice reform, and currently serves on the Bishop’s Immigration Task Force for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Juan Carlos graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2015. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife.
Enddy Almonord is the Director of Coalition Partnerships at ABIC, where she manages and expands ABIC’s relationships with advocacy organizations and faith-based institutions. Prior to ABIC, Enddy provided support to immigrant communities in various roles, including managing a number of subgrantee organizations for state and local programs dedicated to connecting undocumented immigrants with immigrant education and legal services. She also served immigrant communities as a legal intern at several organizations, assisting attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives in preparing cases. Enddy graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Arabic Studies. Enddy is the proud daughter of Haitian and Mexican immigrant parents, and is based out of Chicago.
Connor Gallivan is ABIC’s new Midwest State Director who will oversee the organizing efforts in the Midwest. Prior to joining ABIC, Connor spent a decade working on electoral campaigns across the country where he specialized in campaign management, community organizing, and data analysis. He currently lives in the Chicagoland area.
Romy is the new Florida Deputy Director, where she’ll focus on building business and community support for immigrants in South Florida to deliver sensible immigration solutions in Florida and at the federal level. She comes to ABIC as a Venezuelan professional whose journey has been characterized by a commitment to human rights advocacy and cultural enrichment. In 2019, amidst challenging circumstances in her home country, Romy made the difficult decision to leave Venezuela. Her passion for fostering international understanding and defending human rights led her to the diplomatic mission of the Interim Government of the Venezuelan Embassy in the United States. She earned a bachelor’s degree in arts from Central University of Venezuela.
Enrique Sanchez is a graduate of the University of Utah, holding a degree in Political Science and a degree from Salt Lake Community College in Criminal Justice. Enrique spent time in Washington D.C. completing an internship with the Ibarra Strategy Group. A long-time Utah resident, Enrique worked as a Community Specialist with a local police department and local government for almost five years prior to joining ABIC. Enrique is a board member of the Park City Youth Football Ute Conference and the Park City Community Foundation. Prior to making strides in the Utah leadership realm, Enrique spent time in Courchevel, France as part of a foreign exchange program. As a proud DACA recipient and activist, Enrique is excited to bring his perspective as a Utah-raised Latinx immigrant to the table and is passionate about ABIC’s mission to promote sensible immigration reform.
Emiliano Valencia is a dynamic individual with a diverse background that weaves together his Mexican heritage and American upbringing. Born in Mexico City and having arrived in the USA at the age of 2, Emiliano was raised in the vibrant city of Houston.
With eight years of extensive experience in the banking sector, he served as a dedicated branch manager, honing his skills in financial management and customer relations. Emiliano earned his bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, a testament to his commitment to education and personal growth.
Entrepreneurship runs deep in Emiliano’s veins. He is the proud owner of Super Tortas, a thriving restaurant that serves as a testament to his culinary passion. Additionally, he is at the helm of Texas Strong Builders LLC, a construction company that reflects his ventures into diverse business domains.
Emiliano’s commitment to community and advocacy shines through his role as the New Texas Deputy Director of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC). In this capacity, he brings his wealth of experience and diverse perspective to contribute to the organization’s mission.
Emiliano Valencia’s journey encapsulates a fusion of cultural richness, professional excellence, and entrepreneurial spirit, making him a valuable asset to every endeavor he undertakes.
Nicholas Maio is ABIC’s Development Manager where he will support our overall fundraising strategy, help establish tactics, messaging, and benchmarks. Nick comes to ABIC with experience in grants administration and non-profit management. Nick specializes in organizational, multitasking, and information management. Before joining ABIC, Nick worked at the American Association for Cancer Research, where he assisted in administering multi-million dollar research grants. Nick received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Marist College. Currently, Nick is a first-year graduate student in Northeastern University’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.
Katherine Scarpitta is ABIC’s grant writer where she works with the Development Team to manage all grant applications, reports, and prospective opportunities for funding. Katherine loves telling the story of an organization’s accomplishments and making connections along the way. Prior to joining ABIC, Katherine worked in grant management and fundraising at Catholic Charities of Long Island and Educational Alliance. She received a bachelors degree in cultural anthropology from Boston University.
Synclaire Warren is a Digital Communications Strategist with ABIC. With a background in communications, international affairs, media, and policy, Synclaire has worked with UNICEF USA, DoSomething.org, Global Citizen, and other NGOs. She is a United Nations Keynote Speaker and a Champion at Madre, an international NGO that advocates for the rights of women and girls in the Global South. She is also pursuing her Master of Science Degree in Humanitarian Studies Specializing in Global Human Rights at Fordham University. Synclaire is a Junior Olympic gold medalist and a second degree black belt in Taekwondo. She currently lives in New York City and is an avid baker.
Ken is a seasoned professional with a unique blend of expertise in data management, project management, and small business advising. With extensive experience in overseeing complex data systems, he excels in leveraging platforms to streamline workflows, ensure data accuracy, and provide actionable insights that drive organizational goals. As an experienced leader in small business development, Ken has successfully managed state grant programs, coordinated technical assistance efforts, and fostered partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies to amplify impact. Ken is also a skilled project manager, adept at aligning cross-departmental objectives and leading teams to achieve measurable outcomes.
Miriam Harrison is the Senior Executive Assistant of the American Business Immigration Coalition. Prior to joining ABIC, Miriam served as an Executive Assistant at the University of Vermont. She brings experience in nonprofit administrative support through her work with Vermont Housing Managers Association. Miriam is a graduate of Boston University. Born in the Netherlands and having lived in Massachusetts, West Virginia, South Dakota, Connecticut, Indiana, California, and Vermont, Miriam now happily calls the coast of Maine home with her partner and a bevy of four-legged creatures.