Board of Directors and Staff Members!

As President and CEO of 3D Consulting and Communications since 1998 Siham Awada Jaafar
specializes in corporate, Law Enforcement, educational, and government Diversity training. Her clients have included Wayne County Airport Authority, Immigration Services, Various Law Enforcement agencies, Educational Institutions, corporate and government agencies including private entities seeking cultural competency, equity and inclusion education and training.

Siham 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 racial, religious, ethnic and gender divides.

Siham has been instrumental in creating and producing several projects and programs in the areas of community and public affairs, women’s issues, scholarship programs and has worked with underserved communities to provide mentorship and educational opportunities.  She is the Founder and Producer of the nationally acclaimed “Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference” recognized in 2013 and 2017 by CorpMagazine for the “Excellence in Diversity Award”. Siham was honored by Wayne County with the “Women of Distinction Award” in 2014 and recognized by NAWBO’s “Top 10 Michigan Women Business owners” in 2015. The Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference is in its 17th year of production in Metro Detroit, which will take place on April 30th, 2020, at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn Michigan and will celebrate its 5th year in Chicago Illinois, in November.

Siham is a certified mediator and is currently the President of the Wayne County Dispute
Resolution Center (WCDRS). She is also the chairwoman of the WCDRC advisory Board. Siham is a Dearborn Heights Planning Commissioner, she sits on the board of directors for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and is its Public Policy Chairwoman. She is host and producer of “Off the Cuff with Siham Awada Jaafar” a WDHT TV production which hosts guest discussing pertinent issues affecting us locally, nationally as well as internationally with a focus on diversity and inclusion. She is the former Chairwoman of the ACCESS Coalition against Domestic Violence and producer of the “Voices over Violence” program. She is also a founding member of BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
 

Roland Samaroo is a psychologist, practicing individual and group therapy and psychological crisis intervention. He is a member of a Traumatic Incident Stress Management Team and was previously the executive director of an organization serving individuals with developmental and mental disabilities. Samaroo holds a number of certifications including the Michigan Department of Health “Trainer of Trainers” and “Critical Incident Stress Management.” A trained mediator since 2005, he joined the Board of Directors in 2010. Samaroo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Wayne State University and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University.

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.