Board of Directors and Staff Members

As President & CEO of 3D Consulting and Communications, Siham Awada Jaafar conducts cultural competency and diversity training customized for corporations, law enforcement, government & healthcare agencies, educational institutions, and various organizations. She is the Founder and Producer of the award winning nationally acclaimed “Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference” which has been produced as a labor of love in metro-Detroit since 2002 and was introduced in Chicago in 2013. She lives her passion through creating a conversation around Diversity and dispelling stereotypes.

Her trainings and workshops have proven exceptionally effective in building bridges of communication across cultural, racial, religious, ethnic and gender divides. Siham has been instrumental in creating and producing several projects and initiatives geared towards community and public affairs programs, women in leadership, scholarship programs and has also worked extensively with underserved communities to provide mentorship and educational opportunities.

Siham was appointed to the Judicial Tenure Commission for the state of Michigan in 2019 by the Governor and is serving a 3-year term. She feels honored and privileged to have been appointed to the commission and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the state in such a vital role. Siham was recently appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission for the Judiciary and will serve the commission until 2025. She is also the Vice President of the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Lions Club and newly serves on their Global Members initiative. She served as Co-chair of the Crestwood Schools Bond Committee and created the “Ambassadors to the Arab American National Museum” in which she also served as Chair for two years. A multi award winning public relations, diversity & inclusion specialist, Siham is a certified mediator and is currently the President of the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) and chairwoman of its advisory Board. She is a former Dearborn Heights Planning Commissioner and has served on the board of directors for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and was elected as its Public Policy Chairwoman for two years. She also helped establish the Diversity and Inclusion Commission for the City of Dearborn Heights. She served as host and produced the long running show “Off the Cuff with Siham Awada Jaafar” a WDHT TV cable production discussing pertinent issues affecting us locally, nationally as well as internationally. Most of Siham’s interests are conducted on a strictly volunteer basis as she truly believes in giving back to her community with her time and efforts.

She is the former Chairwoman of the ACCESS Coalition against Domestic Violence and producer of the “Voices over Violence” program. In addition, she is a founding member of BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity bringing community leaders, state and federal agencies together). Siham has been awarded by numerous organizations for her work in Diversity and Inclusion as well as being recognized as a Woman of Distinction in 2017 and an Esteemed Woman of Michigan in 2019.

Siham was born and raised in Michigan and has called it home her entire life. She and her husband, Hassane, have two amazing children, Gina and Alex, and an adorable, intuitive and brilliant grandson, Jordan who are her priorities.

Raj Kutty specializes in technology management, strategic business planning, and portfolio management for clients across a variety of industries. A graduate of the Cardiff Business School, University of Wales, Mr. Kutty earned his MBA in Finance and is currently enrolled for Masters in Advanced Analytics in Management Consulting at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Kutty has been working with the WCDRC team since 2010 and has served as the organization and has served the organization in several positions. Mr. Kutty works closely with the Directors and staff to further WCDRC’s mission and to help ensure the organization’s finances and operations are aligned with its strategic plan and objectives.

Suresh Pillai, a finance executive with Ford Motor Company, has served on the WCDRC board since 2013. He currently works in Securitizations Operations in Ford’s Global Treasury Organization. Prior to becoming a finance professional, he spent several years as a mechanical engineer with a focus on computer aided design. He has also consulted for several large manufacturing organizations to develop efficiencies in the product development process and reduce design to market time. Pillai holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
 

Marifer Calleja recently joined the WCDRC board, bringing years of experience in bilingual/bicultural settings around quality of life issues applied to change management, education, outreach, and mass communications. She holds professional certifications in creative problem solving and in group facilitation. Calleja has served multicultural communities as a liaison for government, non-profits, and the private sector with a concentration in Latino/Hispanic issues. She earned a B.A. degree in Communications/Journalism from the University of Texas, El Paso; and Master of Science degree in Creativity/Change Management from the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Hon. Melissa A. Cox was elected to the 3rd Circuit Court in November 2016 and is presiding judge of the Family Division. Judge Cox graduated from the University of Michigan and received her JD from Ave Maria School of Law. She began her legal career as a law clerk for the law firm Fausone Bohn, LLP, in Northville. Judge Cox continued to work for the firm as an associate attorney, focusing her practice in family law. She handled a high-volume caseload of divorce, custody, and adoption matters. Additionally, throughout her career, she served as assistant city attorney for several municipalities and, in that capacity, prosecuted criminal misdemeanors and civil infractions and defended civil litigation lawsuits. Judge Cox is a board member of the Wayne County Family Law Bar Association, a board member of the Livonia Bar association, a member of the Women's Law Association, and a member of the Judicial Community Service Committee. She was selected by "DBusiness" magazine as one of the Top Circuit Court Judges from 2018-2020.

Eric W. Cholack is a Wayne County Circuit Judge with the Domestic Relations division, which handles matters involving divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, property division and domestic violence/personal protection orders. Before his appointment and election to the Court, Judge Cholack served as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney, conducting more than 50 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials as well as handling special community outreach projects. He also spent 12 years in private civil practice with Lange & Cholack, P.C. and Roumell, Lange & Cholack, PLC, with an emphasis on labor and employment law and mediation of disputes. He has mediated more than 100 cases for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University, University of Detroit-Mercy and WMU Cooley Law Schools, teaching courses in counseling and negotiation. Judge Cholack earned his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and his Bachelor’s degree in business administration with high distinction from the University of Michigan.

Kathleen McCarthy, is a Presiding Judge on the Wayne County Family Court Bench, and has served on the Court since 2001. Judge McCarthy is also an adjunct professor, teaching Family Law and Law Firm Program courses at the University Detroit Mercy Law School since 2011. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan and Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law. Judge McCarthy is a frequent speaker on issues involving family law and is past president of the Wayne County Family Law Bar Association and the Dearborn Bar Association. In addition to her service on the WCDRC Board, Judge McCarthy currently sits on the Executive Board of the Court, the Board of the Mediation Tribunal Association, the Board of the Furniture Bank of Southeast Michigan, and the Board of the Arab-American Civil Rights League.

Youssef Mosallam, Ph.D., executive director of Student Achievement for Dearborn Public Schools, has 20 years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator. Mosallam is also an LEO adjunct professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a focus on Public Administration and working with English Language Learners. He is currently involved with outreach programs that have a focus on diversity education. Mosallam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Wayne State University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayne State University.

Judge David A. Perkins elected by the citizens of Wayne County to the Wayne County Probate Court Bench in November of 2018. Prior to this election he was appointed to 36th District Court in January 2014 and elected by the people of Detroit in November 2014 and then re-elected by the people in 2016.  Judge Perkins served as a Wayne County Juvenile Court Referee for 17 years, Magistrate for the 30th District Court, Assistant Corporation Counsel for Wayne County, and Judge Advocate for the Michigan National Guard.  Judge Perkins earned his Juris Doctorate from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts, Biological Sciences from Rutgers University.

Judge Perkins in 2020 was re-elected to The State Bar Board of Commissioners for the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a member of the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association  

Judge Perkins Chaired: The Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice of the American Bar Association (ABA); Chaired the Michigan Young Lawyers and served on various Committees of both the ABA and State Bar of Michigan He has been a Past President of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan and The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association.  He is a lifetime member of the NAACP, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a member of the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.  He presently serves on Board of Directors for: Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center; The Black United Fund of Michigan; the Reggie McKenzie Foundation and as a lay minister in his church. He has been actively involved with many community and labor groups. While a Referee he volunteered as a jurist for a teen-court program and presided over Juvenile Drug Court.  He currently works as an adjunct professor at WCCCD. Judge Perkins has been given numerous awards for his community work. He often mentors at risk youth.  Judge Perkins believes that all young voices, shall have a forum for their voices to be heard.  He strives to help make a better way for our young people and all citizens of Wayne County and the City of Detroit.

John Sier, an attorney for Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook, P.C., concentrates his practice in dispute avoidance and resolution of commercial, health care and construction contract issues as well as counseling clients on cyber risk exposure. Sier is head of the firm’s construction and commercial litigation group and serves as the pro bono coordinator. Sier has served on boards of several charitable and community organizations. He earned an A.B. in Political Science and Communications from Loyola University Chicago, an MA in Mass Communication and Journalism from Drake University, and J.D. from Drake University Law School.

Sier has published, presented and facilitated programs across the country on dispute avoidance and resolution, construction, health care and commercial issues.

David Turfe serves as District Court Judge for Dearborn Heights 20th District Court, first elected in 2006. He previously served as Dearborn Heights City Councilman, 2000-2001, and as Dearborn Heights Zoning Board Commissioner, 1998-2000. Judge Turfe earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration for Wayne State University and a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law. As an attorney in private practice, he has practiced at every level of the Michigan Judicial System and in the U.S. Federal District Court. Involved in numerous civic, religious and cultural organizations, Judge Turfe serves on the Advisory Boards of S.A.F.E. and Zaman International. He is a founding member of the Bint Jebail Cultural Center, member of Dearborn Heights Kiwanis Club, past president of the Wayne County District Court Judges Association, along with numerous other affiliations.