MIRA Staff & Consultants

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MIRA Staff & Consultants

MIRA STAFF

Auday P. Arabo, Esq.
MIRA President & CEO

Ed Weglarz
Director, Petroleum

Juan Escareño
Director, Government Relations & Community Outreach

Jim Green
Vice President, Program Development

Ken Schulte
Director, Business Development & Vendor Liaison

Ila Konja
Bookkeeper/IT

Raneen Samona
Accounting Assistant

Mary Ann Yono
Business Development/Front Desk Administrator

Mahasen Salman
Business Development

Andrea Valente
Illinois Business Development

AJ Abuhamdeh
Ohio Business Development

Kristine Zrinyi
Event Coordinator/Publication Sales

Mary Jaddou
Event Assistant

Raquel Dombrowski
Event Assistant

MIRA CONSULTANTS

Matt Miner
Michigan Lobbyist
Capitol Strategies Group

Terry Fleming
Ohio Lobbyist
TC Fleming & Associates

Morrill & Fiedler, LLC
Illinois Lobbyist

Tamar Lutz
Graphic Designer
Tamar Designs, LLC

Vanessa Denha
Magazine Writer
Denha Media Group

UHY-MI
Certified Public Accountant

This industry is in my blood, and I want to serve it to give back what it has brought me.”

“I learned the business from others who were successful and being on the board gives me a chance to communicate how to better serve the industry—as well as make more money—to those who don’t yet know how. It’s important to hand our knowledge over to those who are new or are taking over a family business. We need to ask them what their most important issues are and help them understand the return on investment they can realize through MIRA’s programs, which save them money through better group pricing on everything they buy and all of their business expenses.” “If people know what MIRA is fighting for, they will want to be part of it. And if we work together, we can raise our industry to the next level.

Jim Garmo
Shoppers Valley Market
I want to see MIRA grow its membership so that we have more clout in lobbying for favorable legislation. We need to promote membership so that the MIRA can be a strong voice in speaking for independent retailers.

Clifton Pattah
Food Pride Super Market, Detroit MI
The strength and success of any organization, whether it is for profit or non-profit, can be measured and judged by its accomplishments and the number of members it serves.”

“MIRA has worked tirelessly over the years to protect the rights and interests of independent retailers. “These accomplishments have made a positive impact on many business owners, whether or not they are members and, by encouraging and promoting membership, MIRA will be a stronger and more powerful organization.

Sam Shoukri
Showerman's Fine wine & Liquor, Livonia MI
Because MIRA is flourishing while other associations are floundering, I would like to see us broaden the membership base to include other areas such as restaurants and bars.”

“It’s vital to have a strong member base capable of presenting a stronger voice to legislators. Government has failed us during these difficult economic times, and we must do more to promote ourselves and our industry so that we have more control more than our own destiny.

Richard Fiato
North Pointe Insurance Company, Southfield MI
Rutowski was happy that Michigan’s bottle bill is on MIRA’s 2013 focus list. “We’ve recycled bottles for so long, it’s worked into our system, but it’s a nightmare I’d rather not deal with,” “I’d love to see it replaced with a recycling program outside the stores.

Ed Rutowski
Walker Street Pharmacy
MIRA is a great organization – no doubt about it. It’s worth every penny. Even if you don’t participate in every program that they have – and they have a ton of them – you’re going to get your money’s worth. It’s a great value.

Steve Ali
Xtreme Proformance, Cleveland OH