Board of Directors
  
 
Ehsan Bayat:
Bayat Foundation Founder/Chairman

Ehsan Bayat earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Technology from New Jersey Institute of Technology (1986). His family in Afghanistan was prominent in business, which prepared him for his future when he established himself as a successful entrepreneur in New York. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Mr. Bayat decided to embark on business endeavors that would bring about positive change to the development of Afghanistan. Today, he is the name behind three of the largest organizations in Afghanistan: Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC), Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), and the Bayat Foundation. Three different business entities, with one mission statement –
“A window for a better tomorrow.”

Mr. Bayat has received numerous awards recognizing his dedication to business and humanitarian efforts:  Businessman of The Year Award (Afghan American Chamber of Commerce 2007), Best Humanitarian Award (2007, Zeba Magazine), and the 2006 Human Rights National Award, awarded by the Afghanistan Human Rights Association through President Karzai.
Fatema Bayat:
Bayat Foundation Executive Director

Fatema “Laya” Bayat received her Bachelors Degree in English Literature and Education and earned her Masters degree in the field of special education. She is certified to teach English, Elementary education, and special education. After teaching for several years in the United States, she left teaching and became involved in the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. Currently, she is Senior Vice President of Ariana Television, and Executive director of the Bayat Foundation.
Allen J. Maines:

Allen Maines concentrates on major commercial and civil regulatory litigation, and corporate investigations. He has served as lead trial counsel to some of the world’s largest entities. Mr. Maines provides advice with respect to corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions for a wide range of transactions. Mr. Maines has also served as co-chair of the firm’s Global Litigation Department, Chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation Practice Group, Chair of the Securities Law Committee of the International Bar Association, and Chair of the IBA’s Publication Committee. He is recognized as a top practitioner by his peers and by in-house counsel for this high- quality work.
Ajmal A. Ghani:

is a Founding Member, a Member of the Board of Directors, and the current Chairman of the Board of Afghan American Chamber of Commerce .  He was one of the key authors of AACC’s bylaws and formulation of existing programs and policies. He was also instrumental in the opening of the AACC Kabul office and the establishment of the Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce (AICC) in Afghanistan in 2004.  He possesses over two decades of professional experience in management and providing advisory services to international and domestic associations and companies and has first-hand knowledge of Afghan affairs, having spent much of his time on the ground in Afghanistan since December of 2001.
Mezhgan Alamshahi:

Mezhgan Nabi Alamshahi obtained her BS in Health Education and Masters in Business Administration. She has been working at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, since 1999. Currently, she is Senior Managerial Consultant in the Capital Planning Department at the Northern California Regional office.

Se is also an active volunteer (translator) for Women Escape a Violent Environment (WEAVE), a nonprofit organization serving domestic violence survivors and their families in Sacramento County.