Our Team

Our Board of Directors

  • Naquetta O. Ricks

    President & Co-Founder

    Colorado Representative Naquetta Ricks (District 40) is the President and Co-Founder of the African Chamber of Commerce Colorado. Naquetta is an esteemed leader in the Colorado House of Representatives and is also a trailblazer with a compelling journey.

    Born in Liberia and raised in Aurora, Colorado, she earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Metropolitan State University, Denver, and her MBA from the University of Colorado, Denver. A pioneer, Ricks is the first African immigrant elected to the Colorado General Assembly and the initial Liberian American in any state legislature. Fleeing Liberia’s civil war at age 13, Naquetta overcame adversity to make Colorado her new home.

    In addition to her legislative role, Naquetta is the President and Co-Founder of the African Chamber of Commerce Colorado and manages a successful mortgage brokerage business. Committed to community development, equity, and diversity, she tirelessly advocates for economic opportunities and immigrant rights. Ricks’s legislative impact includes spearheading groundbreaking laws, such as the Immigration Legal Defense Fund and the Towing Bill of Rights. Recognized with awards like the 2021 Legislator of the Year from Habitat for Humanity, she’s a distinguished member of Healthier Colorado’s Leadership Circle.

    With an unwavering commitment to community service, the African Chamber President, Representative Naquetta Ricks, remains a beacon of leadership, driving positive change and tirelessly advocating for her constituents’ well-being.

  • Zamy Silva

    Board Member

    Zamy is currently serving as the National Vice-President of Civil Rights Compliance with WSP USA, a global professional services and consulting firm.

    Zamy is a public servant who leads through the lenses of equity and true inclusion. She is an experienced civil rights professional who is dedicated, passionate, and committed to change and making a difference, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. Zamy is an innovator and a progressive thinker, who prides herself in pushing the envelope beyond regulatory confinements by strategically promoting and implementing civil rights programs and policies through effective and meaningful partnerships and collaboration.

    She has 18+ years of experience and expertise leading, managing, and overseeing every aspect of civil rights regulatory compliant programs at three government entities –Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and currently at a global consulting firm, WSP USA.

  • Eli Asfaw

    Board Member

    Eli is the National Black McDonald’s Owners Association - West Zone President. Eli often acts as a spokesperson for McDonald’s and franchisees, both locally and nationally. Eli believes in giving back to the communities and cities in which he does business. His family founded the Asfaw Family Foundation International (AFFI). AFFI organizes and sponsors several events every year including a Senior Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Bicycle Giveaway, and the Aim High Scholarship Program.

    He also participates as a mentor in the Aurora Public Schools Badging Program where he speaks at schools about achieving business success. The students also shadow him to learn more about owning a business.

  • Tony Frimpong

    Board Member

    Anthony worked with Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) as a Mining Engineer for over 5 years in Ghana. He has bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees in Mining Engineering, which were obtained from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He moved to the United States in 1999 and acquired a master’s degree in accounting at Regis University. He further obtained an MBA at DeVry University. He worked as a Financial Analyst with Chase Corporate office in Colorado.

    He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. He is a Business and Tax Consultant and a philanthropist. He is very involved in educating many local and foreign communities in Colorado where he frequently holds multiple conferences to educate them on taxes. He is the President of Jeroyaf Group and Jeroyaf Accounting and Tax Services, Aurora Colorado. He is a husband and a father of three wonderful boys .

  • Michael Washington

    Board Member

    Mike Washington supports HDR’s National Equity Services program and is a national lead in our Transportation Business Group Equity Services team. Mike is an equity and government affairs expert who brings a wealth of knowledge in equitable transportation policy, government relations, environmental justice, public engagement, and communication strategies. Mike brings over 15 years of urban planning and policy experience with an emphasis in equitable transportation planning. He is also adept at coaching executive-level management seeking socially equitable outcomes, recognized as a civil rights expert, and experienced in engaging elected officials and CEOs.

Our Staff


  • PROJECT MANAGER

    Marpessa Allen is the Project Manager whose work focuses on strengthening African and Black-owned businesses through strategic planning, community outreach, and policy-centered initiatives. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Colorado Denver, she brings a strong foundation in culturally responsive engagement, relationship-building, and community-centered program support.

    Marpessa is currently pursuing her MBA at Goizueta Business School at Emory University, where she is expanding her expertise in business strategy, leadership, and organizational development. Her advanced studies deepen her commitment to building sustainable economic pathways and designing policy-informed strategies that uplift diverse communities.

    Her work includes advancing Cross Community Collaboration, an approach designed to connect Black, Brown, immigrant, and refugee communities through shared learning, resource exchange, and intentional partnership. This model prioritizes culturally grounded engagement and strategic alignment across sectors to strengthen collective progress.

    Drawing from her background in maternal health advocacy, civic engagement, and family policy initiatives, Marpessa brings an equity-focused and holistic perspective to her role. She remains dedicated to elevating community voices, supporting small business development, and cultivating environments where families and entrepreneurs can thrive.

    Outside of her professional work, Marpessa enjoys learning golf, staying active, and exploring videography projects that highlight culture, community, and meaningful storytelling.

  • COMMUNITY BUSINESS NAVIGATOR

    Lawrence Eghabor is the Community Business Navigator at the African Chamber of Commerce.He has been working with the African Chamber since March 2021.

    He started out as the Community Outreach Coordinator during the peak of Covid 19 pandemic where he was in charge of logistics, setting up school temporary clinics and neighborhood Pop-up clinics with our team.

    This was to ensure that the majority of our minorities and the general public - had easy access to the Covid vaccination without much delay. In a way, our rigorous efforts paid off. We were part of the vanguard of foot soldiers of nurses and non medical personnel who helped to mitigate the number of casualties during the pandemic.

    At the end, more than 8,000 people were vaccinated through our combined efforts.

    While there were so many people dying during the peak of the Covid 19, others were highlyskeptical and resisted the immediate relief the government had provided for the pandemic.

    The local state officials have to use various ingenious ways to make people take the vaccines -by rewarding them with gift cards and all kinds of gifts. This gesture was to encourage them to go for the vaccine. Taking the vaccine was very important for the state and the residents because Covid 19 was dreaded all over the world.

    After the Post Covid 19 Pandemic, he was given a scholarship to study as an Apprentice at the Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Center in Centennial CO. He studied how Non-profit businesses and for profit business organisations work together to sustain the economy.

    Lawrence’s training has exposed him to a lot of business projects and developments. He understands how to recruit, train, and retain workers, among other things.

    Upon the completion of his studies of Business Apprenticeship, he earned a certificate of Completion in Business Studies. However, his Business Technical Training Skills have to continue within and outside our office.

    Before joining the African Chamber, he earned a Master's degree in Theology from Notre Dame Graduate Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana in May 2000. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

    Lawrence has been a Certified Hospital Chaplain from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, since May 2004. He has done a lot of volunteer pastoral ministries in Atlanta and Washington DC metro before coming to Denver Colorado.

    The Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Center did a great job - preparing him to work for the African Chamber of Commerce and the communities we serve..

    The challenges that confronted him as a black male since the early 1990s - when he came to this country newly - did not allow him - to apply his professional skills in the job market for so many years.

    However, he chose to survive. Whenever it was possible, he worked as a Professional Hospital Chaplain and Counselor at some hospitals and care giving centers etc.

    According to him, “all these trying years have taught me the need for forgiveness towards others and the readiness to be resilient in dealing with people and life issues.”

    “I am driven to listen to client's needs and see how I can help them. Every time this goal is accomplished I am encouraged to do more.”

  • PROJECT MANAGER (PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION)

    Teguo, a trained clinical neurophysiologist, contributed his expertise to the University of Colorado for a decade before embarking on a transformative journey in public health. In 2018, he earned a Master's in Public Health, sparking a passion for addressing health disparities and social determinants of health.

    Amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Teguo pivoted to volunteer work with the Chambers, actively engaging in community initiatives. Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Harvard in Boston, he focuses on health equity, bringing a wealth of knowledge and commitment to his academic pursuits.

    Public Health Programs at the Chamber:

    In response to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, the African Chambers took proactive steps to address public health concerns. Beginning with grassroots efforts such as distributing masks to the community, the Chambers collaborated with state and federal partners to organize COVID clinics and disseminate crucial prevention information.

    Building on these efforts, the Chambers forged partnerships with Tri-County Health to offer COVID vaccinations at community-centric locations such as churches, mosques, and soccer fields. Since 2022, the Chambers have been developing a dedicated Public Health program. This department serves as a trusted voice within the community, directing individuals to essential public health resources.

    Furthermore, recognizing the importance of mental health, the Chambers have initiated a capacity-building program in collaboration with Aurora Community College. This program aims to empower community health workers to become behavioral health providers, addressing the critical intersection of physical and mental well-being.

    The African Chambers proudly collaborate with NACCHO, Adams County, and Arapahoe County as close partners, solidifying their commitment to their communities' holistic health and well-being.

  • STRATEGIC OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Rosepetal Van de Graaf is a dynamic, results-driven professional with over eight years of experience in community empowerment, program management, and stakeholder engagement. Throughout her career, she has made a significant impact in advocating for youth, women, and children through roles in leadership, conflict resolution, mentorship, and training.

    With a proven track record of planning and executing high-profile events, successful fundraising campaigns, and expanding social media presence, Rosepetal is skilled in event coordination, content creation, and social media strategy. She excels in building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders to foster organizational success. Her expertise extends to program development, evaluation, and analysis, particularly in areas such as conflict resolution, community development, governance, and leadership.

    Rosepetal holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Gender, and African Studies from the University of Nairobi and is currently pursuing a Graduate degree in International Development at the University of Denver, where she also serves as Graduate Student President.

    In her spare time, she enjoys nurturing her creativity through activities like painting, writing, and exploring the outdoors.

  • PUBLIC HEALTH COORDINATOR

    Yao Ahonon is a dedicated Public Health Officer/Biostatistician with nearly a decade of experience at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. With a strong academic background—including studies like the acquisition of a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology & Disease Control) at the University of Ghana, currently at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA for a Master of Science program in Health Informatics.

    Yao has specialized in the managing and analysis of large health data sets, conducting operational research, and designing effective methodologies for research. He has broad experience in training and supervising Health Information Officers and coordinating data collection activities for large public health programs.

    In his career, Yao has massively contributed to public health by managing over 30,000 COVID-19 data points, developing an Access Database for the Orthopedic Unit, and leading the creation of a Public Health RedCap database system. He led medical outreach programs and demonstrated a fierce commitment to healthcare delivery through data-driven approaches in service, which further explains his passion for improving health outcomes.

    Yao has publications in different prestigious medical journals and has illustrated mastery in the presentation of research findings and associated complicated statistical data. He has further demonstrated competence in research and data analysis using SPSS, STATA, and R, with computer application skills, making him a great asset in public health and biostatistics. Guided by a passion for excellence and commitment to continuous improvement, Yao would like to make his experience in solving public health crises and promotion of healthcare services of high-quality count.