WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fifteen people from across the country
have been appointed to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Council
on Underserved Communities (CUC), including Dearborn’s Dr. Ned Fawaz, the
president of the Lebanese International Business Council. Fawaz is also the
founder and CEO of Energy International Corporation.

The CUC is chaired by Catherine Hughes, founder and
chairperson of Radio One and TV One, and will have 20 members who represent a
diverse range of backgrounds and geographic areas.

Fawaz has an extensive background in international business
and in the mechanical and electrical engineering and equipment industry and
also studied mechanical engineering at York Institute in York, Pennsylvania and
worked for 10 years for York International. He was awarded an honorary
doctorate degree (LLD) from Davenport University of Michigan, served in the U.S.
Army and was stationed in Germany for 2 years.

Building on SBA’s core programs and recovery initiatives,
the CUC will provide input, advice and recommendations on strategies to help
strengthen competitiveness and sustainability for small businesses in
underserved communities. These strategies will be focused on increasing
entrepreneurship and technical assistance, creating new and strengthening
existing outreach and training, and raising awareness in underserved
communities of SBA programs and services.