Karine Sokpoh
Chief Executive Officer
402 Legal
Karine Sokpoh
PresidentKarine Sokpoh is the Managing Attorney of Sokpoh Law Group, LLC, and the President of the Midlands African Chamber, Inc. She practices in the areas of immigration, juvenile law, and intellectual property law among others. Originally from Togo, West Africa, in 2020, Karine was awarded the Nebraska State Bar Association Visionary Award for her pro bono work. Karine was also named one of the 2019 Midlands Business Journal 40 under 40 award recipients.
In 2016, Karine was recognized as a recipient of the University of Nebraska at Omaha CPACS Alumni Award For Excellence in Public Service. She has also been recognized by the Nebraska State Bar Association as an Outstanding Young Lawyer in 2010 and as part of the NSBA’s Leadership Academy in 2012. Karine is very active in the community and is the Vice President of the League for African Advancement, a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, a member of the board of the Women’s Fund, and the Women Center for Advancement.
Laban Njuguna
Board President and Chair
Zabuni Specialty Coffee
Laban Njuguna
Board President and ChairLaban Njuguna has joined the board of the Midlands African Chamber, as its new Board President and Chair. Laban is a dynamic and results-driven business leader with robust experience launching successful business ventures while continually striving to give back to local and international communities. Originally from Kenya, Laban is the CEO of Zabuni Specialty Coffee and a state of Nebraska Commissioner for African American Affairs.
He is able to leverage exceptional technical, decision- making, and communication skills to spearhead high- profile projects and deliver stellar results within strict deadlines. In his previous roles, he was recognized as a visionary leader who focused on making the world a better place, one experience at a time.
Marco Kpeglo Leroc
VP Strategic Planning/ Partnership Chair
Marco LeRoc & Co.
Marco Kpeglo LeRoc
VP Strategic Planning/ Partnership ChairMarco Kpeglo LeRoc is a leading personal achievement expert. He’s the founder of Marco LeRoc & Co., an organization that inspires people to grow personally and financially.
He is a speaker, an accountability partner, and the author of three books: Activate Your Untapped Potential, Screw College Debt, and Cash In with Your Money. Marco has been featured on many news outlets locally, nationally, and internationally.
An international speaker, Marco has engaged audiences in the Americas, Europe, and Africa on the subjects of financial literacy education, college planning, and self-leadership.
Marco is a go-getter and the host of Inside a Great Mind a web-based TV show that features the story of thriving entrepreneurs, leaders, and game-changers.
With a passion of enhancing and impacting the lives of the underserved, Marco is the founder and President of the League for African Advancement Inc., an advocate champion for the United Nations Nothing But Nets, an ambassador for Global Partners in Hope and board member for the Hidden Talent
Euloge Sekle
Treasurer
Bank of America
Bank of America
TreasurerEuloge Sekle, was born and raised in Togo West Africa, where he graduated from high school, and a few years in college in prelaw and Anthropology, transitioning to continue higher education in the United States of America. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with marketing as emphasis from Bellevue University.
Euloge Sekle have an extensive banking experience helping small businesses, from Wells Fargo and is currently holding the position as Senior Banker, Consumer and Small business Banking at Bank of America.
Euloge Sekle is a huge community enthusiast and love volunteering with so many non-profit organizations are the metro area. Euloge is board member of Midlands African Chamber, as treasurer. Euloge Sekle is also honored to be the chair of Pitch-Black competition planning committee for the Midlands African Chamber in Omaha. He was a diversity and inclusion council member for BLUPRINT NEBRASKA, a statewide effort to brainstorming, and working on impacting legislation at the local and state level to help Nebraska economic prosperity. Served as teacher and presenter of financial literacy at the annual Omaha Teen Summit, with the collaboration with black police officers Association, along with KAPA ALPHA PSI fraternity INC. Euloge is also a member of MBA (Millard business Association), and West O Chamber. For my love to giving back to the community, I often volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and volunteer to teach financial literacy in Benson high School and other school around the metro area, with Avenue Scholar, Urban League of Nebraska, Omaha Home for boys, Metropolitan Community College and so many others. Also, Coach and judge at the No More Empty Pots Entrepreneurship competition, entrepreneurship judge and coach for UNO Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising, as well as Midlands African chamber Inc.
Luper Akough
VP Fundraising
Clout Enterprises
Luper Akough
VP FundraisingLuper Akough is a first-generation Nigerian born in the United States. He was recently named one of the 40 Under 40 by the Midlands Business Journal. Luper spent the early part of his life in the Chicago area and has lived in the Omaha Metro for the past 15 years. He has a passion for helping others that want to help themselves. Luper has spent the past seven years working for a few of the top property and casualty companies in the nation and has truly found a home at Farm Bureau Financial Services.
Luper was able to grow his agency to over 500 households in five short years with word-of-mouth advertising. He is also a founder of a real estate group that buys, sells, and holds real estate property. His most recent venture is a mobile application that is currently in the beta stage. He was recently a fellow participant with the New Leaders Council of Nebraska and serves as the Insurance 101 instructor for Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, as well as the Commercial 101 instructor with the Omaha Chamber. He currently serves on the following boards: Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals and New Leaders Council of Nebraska. He is a committee member for the Omaha Chamber Young Professionals Group. He enjoys traveling, trying new cuisine, and spending time with family and friends.
Ifeanyi Onubogu
VP Advocacy
Northwestern Mutual
Ifeanyi Onubogu
VP AdvocacyIfeanyi Onubogu is our new VP of Advocacy. He is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, with a passion for advocacy and helping people achieve their financial goals. In his professional pursuits, Ifeanyi is deeply committed to community development and supporting those in need. With his expertise and dedication, he is poised to positively impact the lives of his clients and the communities he serves.
Martine Quartey
VP Membership
Radio personality, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker
Martine Quartey
VP MembershipMartine Quartey is our new VP of membership. She is a radio personality, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker, who partners with small business owners, authors, and community leaders to help them gain exposure for their businesses. She has landed coverage in print and broadcast outlets, including 95.7 FM THE BOSS, KPAO Public Access Cable TV, the Omaha World-Herald, and the Omaha Star Newspaper.
Fidele Mienso
Secretary
Nouvelle Beautée, LLC
Fidele Mienso
SecretaryOriginally from Togo (West Africa), Fidèle earned a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2015. She is currently working for UNMC as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to that, she worked as a Community Health Advocate At CHI Health. With her passion and ambition to lead dynamic organizations and contribute to the betterment of her community, Fidèle brings to the Midlands African Chamber the same passion and ambition.
Fidèle is the owner of Nouvelle Beautée, LLC, a beauty salon specializing in makeup and hair. She earned the title of Master International Makeup Professional after completing her Master Makeup Artistry course at QC Makeup Academy in 2019. She truly believes everyone should look their best in every occasion and this translates into her mission to offer her clientele professional-grade beauty services with a personal touch. When she's not busy with everything she's involved in, she enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Philipe Bruce
Member at large
The Bloc
Philipe Bruce
Member at largeOriginally from Togo, in West Africa, Philipe Bruce moved to the United States at the age of 21. He has held several executive leadership positions in start-ups over the past ten years. He is currently the CEO and Founder of The Bloc, a nonprofit organization that aims to change the quality of life of all community members through education, charity and philanthropy, and community building.
Before founding The Bloc, Phil held the title of Assistant Vice President of Cybersecurity and Third-Party Management at BNP Paribas | Bank of The West. He joined BNP Paribas from Nebraska Furniture Mart, one of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway companies, where he worked in the technology department for eight years.
In 2013, Phil founded P.O.D.S. Coaching, LLC, a Professional and Organizational Development Solutions company. As the CEO of P.O.D.S. Coaching, he coached organizations and startups in Africa, Europe, and the United States. Phil is a published author and teaches Organizational Management courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, through the Nebraska Business Development Center. Before all, Phil is a husband, a father. He is passionate about understanding how people and processes function in an organizational setting so much so that he spent the past 15 years studying leadership and organizational management. He has earned his Master’s degree in Organizational Management, Economics, and Entrepreneurship from Peru State College.
Ali Husain
Member at Large
Bank of America
Ali Husain
Member at LargeAli Husain is the Consumer Banking Market Leader for Bank of America in Omaha. Ali has been in banking for 10 years and is responsible for serving clients, associates and the community in the Omaha market.
Ali was born and raised in Pakistan and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Finance (Banking & Financial Institutions). Ali is currently enrolled at Boise State University for MBA and will be graduating in December 2023. He currently lives in Omaha with his wife Omema and two children.
Toyi Jack Beguedou
Member at Large
Beguedou Insurance Services LLC
Toyi Jack Beguedou
Member at LargeMillennial entrepreneur, WSET ii Spirits expert, and content creative Toyi “Jack” Beguedou is building community through his spirited digital platform , the Hood Sommelier. Jack is a native of Togo in West Africa who currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska and is a proud “girl-dad” to his daughter Brennan.
Jack is the co-host of YouTube web series MONDAY SUCKS, founder of the trending, TRUTH IS BARREL PROOF PODCAST, SCOTCH SCHOOL education series , AFROFUSION food and spirits pairing series and owner of BEGUEDOU INSURANCE SERVICES LLC.
As a native French speaking immigrant, Jack resonates with the importance of creating community. His thoughtful and inspiring approach to content development focuses on humanizing the spirited consumer journey experience. Jack enjoys being an educational resource to both consumers and talent in the hospitality community. A community architect at heart, Jack bridges the gap between curious consumers at every level and brands through empowerment and engagement. He applies this philosophy both in the insurance and the spirits world.
LaTricia Harris
Member at Large
Hayes & Associates, LLC
LaTricia Harris
Member at LargeLaTricia Harris is currently the Senior Manager of Support Services at Hayes & Associates, LLC, a minority-owned CPA firm. She holds a management degree and has over ten years of experience in the banking industry and thirteen years of rail transportation experience. She firmly believes she is most successful when she finds a way to accomplish her goals while helping others along the way.