Meet Our Team

Director, Entrepreneurship & Economic Wellbeing
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Sarah assumed the position of Entrepreneurship and Economic Wellbeing Program Director in early 2023 and oversees a suite of services that support the business needs, economic mobility, and financial self-sufficiency of IRC's refugees and new American clients. Sarah has worked with IRC since 2016, and most recently served as the Program Manager for the IRC's New Roots in Salt Lake City program.

Sarah holds a B.A. in Peace & Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley. Sarah has over a decade of experience in non-profit program management including working in food systems and supporting entrepreneurship programs for refugee and asylee communities. Sarah’s previous work prior to IRC includes conducting human rights research to support gender-based asylum claims, farming and food access work, and providing technical support and building a community of practice among farmers and ranchers in Northern California.

Financial Capability Program Manager
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Carolina is the Financial Capabilities Program Manager at the IRC SLC office. She grew up in both Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California. She works to promote financial inclusion and integration for refugee and immigrant families through financial capabilities interventions. Carolina has more than five years of experience in humanitarian efforts focusing on personal economic empowerment and business development in Benin, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Mexico. At the IRC SLC office, she supports new Americans from the beginning of their journey towards lasting economic independence, helping set goals, take key steps, and celebrate victories!

When Carolina isn't at the office, she enjoys writing short stories, enjoying a long walk, and discovering the best tacos spots in Utah!

Carolina speaks English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, ASL and Bariba.

Small Business Program Manager
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Margot is the Small Business Program Manager at IRC SLC. Margot graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in International Studies and Spanish. She then spent two years teaching English in Spain to immerse herself in the language and culture. Living abroad helped her realize the role she wanted to play in welcoming refugees and immigrants in the United States. She loves connecting with people from other cultures especially through sports and food. After her time living and working abroad, she received a Master’s in Public Administration and began working at the IRC in 2018.

Since beginning at the IRC, Margot has worked with entrepreneurs and farmers in market access. She launched several farmers markets in the Salt Lake valley while managing data, conducting accounting and developing community partnerships. She received a financial coaching certificate in 2020 to better serve IRC entrepreneurs. She now leads a team dedicated to helping people start and grow their businesses.

Outside of the office, Margot enjoys spending time in the mountains with her two dogs, trying new restaurants and playing soccer.

Financial Capability Coordinator
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Ateeq is the Financial Capability Coordinator at the IRC SLC Office. He supports refugees, immigrants, and non-immigrants in building credit, applying for loans, managing debt, and paying IOM travel loans.

Ateeq grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan. He moved to the US in 2016. He has a background in Computer Science and over five years of teaching experience. Ateeq started as a Caseworker at the IRC, and during the Afghanistan evacuation, Ateeq dedicated his energy and time to supporting the Afghan community. His skills, love, and passion for helping immigrants promoted him to Financial Capability Coordinator.

When he is not at the IRC, he enjoys spending time with family, camping, and hiking.

Ateeq speaks Persian, Pashtu, Urdu/Hindi, and some German.

Individual Development Account (IDA) Coordinator
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Ahmed helps refugees and new Americans to enroll in the Individual Development Account (IDA) program as well as providing financial coaching. The IDA is a matched savings program to help you pay for a vehicle, home, small business or post-secondary (after high school) education.

Ahmed immigrated to the United States on an SIV Visa in 2009 and had the IRC Salt Lake office help him out in his resettlement process. He worked for IRC Salt Lake office in 2010-2011 as an interpreter and after he received his U.S citizenship in 2014, he started his overseas employment journey. In 2015, Ahmed was deployed to the Middle East as an Arabic Linguist and Culture Advisor assisting the U.S military and Department of State in their operations in the Middle East. After returning home in 2022, he was excited to go back to the IRC and and help the community.

Ahmed has a BA in English and Literature and an MA in Linguistics from a university in Iraq. In his free time, Ahmed enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, swimming and soccer. He speaks Arabic and English.

Asset Building Specialist
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Izeree works on the Financial Capabilities team as an Asset Specialist. She has a background in Political Science and 7 years of case management experience. For a time, she was a freight broker, where she would manage freight drivers. She loves what she does and is happy to share her knowledge with fellow refugees.

On top of her past experiences, she is also an entrepreneur who owns a pharmacy business in Tanzania.

In her free time, when it isn't snowing, she drives semi-trucks during weekends. She also likes to workout at the gym and watch Trevor Noah.

Izeree speaks Kirundi, Swahili and Kinyarwanda.

Small Business Counselor
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Faisal is a Small Business Counselor on the Small Business team. He started at the IRC in Jan 2022 as a translator and after a few months he was promoted to be a SBA Small Business Counselor. He graduated from Hillcrest High School and then studied Business for 2 years in college. He also worked with the US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan for 2 Years before transferring his skills into his current position with the IRC. Faisal assists clients who are interested in starting a business and specializes in assisting clients to buy cars for their Ride Share businesses such as Uber & Lyft. He likes what he does at the IRC and really enjoys helping clients.

Faisal speaks Dari, Pashto, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Small Business Counselor
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Jamaica brings years of varied experience to her role as a Small Business Counselor; her years as a small business owner, her extensive experience in the grocery industry, her art degree and lessons learned as a Mother of three boys. She first entered the grocery world as a deli team member for Wild Oats, but soon worked her way into management roles and eventually HR and accounting positions. She furthered her grocery knowledge with Sprouts and eventually moved on to work as a grocery broker, representing brands and selling into local stores.

In 2018 she opened Hello!Bulk Markets, Utah’s first refill grocery store. The journey of being a small business owner quickly became something Jamaica was passionate about as she found struggles, success, and stumbling blocks around each bend. The introduction to other small businesses and local organizations that support small businesses, ended up making all the difference on her journey and for this reason she is a huge advocate for community. Jamaica has a passion for improving the often difficult journey of the entrepreneur and loves feeling like she can make a difference through her position with the IRC.

Small Business Counselor
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Niyo is a Small Business Counselor on the Small Business team. For as long as he can remember he’s been interested in business which motivated him to study business in college. Niyo has worked and have been involved in various types of businesses, most recently in the trucking business. Much of his motivation comes from his parents and siblings. His siblings are business savvy and have their own businesses ranging from hotel businesses to private pharmacies abroad. Niyo is looking to start his own childcare business here in Salt lake City. He is working with some of his close friends on starting their own non-profit refugee basketball league for at risk refugee youth here in Salt Lake City.

During his free time Niyo enjoys traveling, hiking, going to the gym, snowboarding and playing sports, such as basketball, soccer and kickball. Niyo also enjoys doing Pilates from time-to-time. Niyo also works as refugee youth mentor through Catholic Community Services. Niyo speaks Kirundi, Kinyarwanda and English.

Small Business Counselor
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Veronica brings years of experience to her role as a Small Business Counselor. She immigrated from Mexico over 20 years ago and has since gained over a decade’s worth of experience in professional management and administration. She has a background in planning, project management, operations, and human resources. In 2016 Veronica co-founded Pack n’ Crate, a family-owned shipping and packing company and currently manages most of the bookkeeping and administration for the company.

When Veronica isn’t working she enjoys walking and hiking with her dog, spending time with family and friends, and trying new restaurants.

Veronica is passionate about helping provide a voice for fellow immigrants, as well as assisting them in navigating the American system. Veronica speaks Spanish and English.

Childcare Senior Coordinator
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Saida Emami has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. She has been working at the IRC here in Salt Lake City since March 2023, where she assists and supports refugees and asylees. Having experienced the IRC’s invaluable assistance during her own resettlement in the US, and sharing the belief in the mission and vision of the IRC, she joined the organization to help others in need. Saida’s passion lies in helping refugees and asylees to establish their own in-home childcare business.

In her free time Saida enjoys reading books, listening to music, and exploring new places.

Childcare Business Senior Specialist
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Abdul Rahman Safi joined the IRC in SLC as a Childcare Business Senior Specialist in June 2023.

Abdul Rahman Safi holds a master's degree in education management from Al Mustafa University in Kabul, Afghanistan, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration (BBA) from Alfalah University in Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

Safi has over 20 years of experience working with international organizations and has extensive experience in vocational training, financial coaching, loan advisory services, and educational services. He has empowered individuals through different community activities and local organizations, primarily in rural areas focusing on vulnerable families.

In his free time, he enjoys watching cricket matches and playing cricket with his children. You can find them rooting for the Afghanistan cricket team, their favorite team.

Safi speaks Pashto, Dari, Urdu, and English.

Childcare Senior Specialist
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Andine is the Childcare Senior Specialist at the IRC SLC office. She grew up in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She relocated to the United States in July 2022 with her family. Andine has over five years of experience in humanitarian efforts focusing on childcare microenterprise development, training, community building, and community development in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Nairobi.

At the IRC SLC office, she supports refugees in acquiring the skills and knowledge required to start their own childcare business through training and technical support. Andine helps develop and administer training to guide participants through the childcare licensing process so they can open a home-based childcare business. She also conducts outreach within the refugee community to recruit eligible participants.

Outside of the office, Andine spends all her time with two children exploring and discovering Utah, cooking, and enjoying personal care.

Andine speaks English, French, Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, Luganda & Kirundi.