ABOUT
The Ethiopian-American Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that protects, fosters, and enhances the success of Ethiopian-American businesses through a focus and collaborative effort.Founded in 2003, the Ethiopian-American Chamber of Commerce primarily focuses on Ethiopian businesses in the greater Los Angeles area to build and uplift the community.
EACOC provides advocacy, training, and networking services to help business people begin, run, and mature their businesses and companies.
MISSION & VISION
MISSION
Our mission is to enable the overall success of our members by providing timely and pertinent resources, enhance member success by aggressive advocacy work, by identifying and helping secure member benets and services. The chamber’s business is the success of member businesses.
VISION
Our vision is to expand and grow our chamber from local to global venues, to set foundation for generation wealth for young members, to preserve, foster culture and identity.
Meet the Team
President
NEGEST (NIKKI) LEGESSE
Negest (Nikki) Legesse was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After graduating from high school Nikki moved to Buffalo, New York, to attend college. Soon after completing her Bachelor degree from Canisius College, she decided to leave cold and snowy Buffalo for a sunnier and warmer place. Negest moved to Los Angeles where she completed law school and discovered her deep passion for helping others realize their dreams. Ever since, she has helped countless people acquire small businesses and has offered her knowledge and experience to ensure their success. In 2003 she founded the Ethiopian American Chamber of Commerce serving over 100 businesses, helped organize the Little Ethiopia Business Association and created the International Unity Parade. Nikki was the president and board member of Ethiopian American Youth Development, an organization dedicated to the development of Ethiopian Youth in Los Angeles as well as in Ethiopia. Negest is the president of Global Community Development Council, a non-profit organization that promotes art, culture, empowers the youth and acts as a fiscal agent to small organizations that do non profit work. She was committed to helping homeless youth in South Los Angeles where she provided housing to those in need. Negest was the Co-Founder of Ethiopia Creates, a program that fosters and promotes Ethiopian artists and Ethiopian Art. Negest continues her work as an ambassador of the Ethiopian Community promoting its culture, history and language and contributing to the Los Angeles Community at large. She is the executive director of Little Ethiopia Cultural and Resource Center where she provides services including but not limited to the Ethiopian community, particularly for adopted kids and their families. She is also the advisory board chair of Destination Little Ethiopia, a project of Community Partners, a non-profit organization. Nikki worked in the 2010 and 2020 census and was awarded recognition of the work done. She was a board member of Pico Neighborhood Council for more than three years. She also served as a City of Los Angeles commissioner, Commission for Community and family services. She is president of Legesse Enterprises, Inc. a real estate investment company.
Treasurer
TERSIT ASRAT
Ms. Tersit Asrat is a seasoned professional in the marketing and communications industry. She is a published author, public speaker and producer of various television programs and events. In the past, Ms. Asrat owned and operated Universal Media
Group, an ethnic marketing and communications company for over 10 years. She has built her career in the advertising industry working with major clients such as Phillip Morris, Blue Cross, Nordstrom, Sumitomo Bank of California, and So. Cal Gas
Company. She has earned a reputation for her ability in strategic and implementation of marketing plans. She has managed over million-dollar accounts, planed, and implemented advertising campaigns that brough success to her clients.
Currently, Ms. Asrat is fulfilling her God-given purpose to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to underserved people of the world, as well as care for the poor and the needy through Hosanna Broadcasting Network – the Voice of Jesus Christ founded in 2007 - a non-profit organization she founded in September 2002. Ms. Asrat is the founder of Hosanna House, an orphanage that cares for beautiful homeless girls who have lost their
parents due to the HIV/AIDS. She is also a published author and has written 2 books “His Purpose” and “I am that I am”. Ms. Asrat holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and has earned several diplomas and awards for her humanitarian work. Ms. Asrat is responsible in initiating the naming of the famous “Little Ethiopia”. Ms. Asrat has a son and resides in Long Beach, California.
Secretary
SHAMEKA BROWN
Shameka Brown is the Founder and Principal of Divine Brown Media Group, LLC, a Los Angeles–based boutique public relations and strategic communications firm. She specializes in elevating the visibility and influence of change agents, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs through purpose-driven branding and communications strategies that deliver measurable impact.
With a strong foundation in marketing, public relations, and business strategy, Shameka designs integrated solutions that span digital media, brand development, and earned media. Her work includes guiding organizations through brand launches, positioning initiatives, media relations, and stakeholder engagement—serving as a trusted strategic advisor to clients across industries.
In addition to her consulting practice, Shameka brings extensive leadership experience in event production, operational strategy, and financial literacy. She is recognized for her ability to align vision with execution, helping organizations define clear value propositions, set attainable growth objectives, and scale with intention.
In 2024, Shameka joined the Hollywood Park Guest Experience leadership team, where she oversees frontline operations and leads employee rewards and recognition initiatives at SoFi Stadium, one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment venues.
She also serves as Secretary of the Ethiopian American Chamber of Commerce, contributing to cross-sector collaboration and economic development efforts within the Los Angeles business community.
Shameka holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Texas Southern University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Pro Sports Assembly.
Board Member
Aida Dorsey
Aida Dorsey was born in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, graduated from Nazareth Academy high school in Rochester, New York. After graduating from high school, Aida received her associate degree in liberal arts. Furthering her education, Aida received her Bachelor’s degree in Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Services. Aida continued her education in healthcare and received her Masters degree in Maser of science in Healthcare Administration. Currently, Aida is a seasoned professional in the healthcare services working in the Pathology / Lab administration setting improving patients’ lives with quality of services she and her team provide.
Aida wears many hats. Outside her role in the healthcare field, Aida has experience in managing reals estate. Following her passion Aida also manages musicians in the entertainment industry and helps the up-and-coming artists shine in their God given talent.
Board Member
Elsabet Ademe
Elsabet Ademe is a dynamic force driven by passion and purpose. As a devoted mom and community volunteer, she blends her nurturing spirit with her professional expertise as a financial innovator and life insurance specialist. With a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Film from the prestigious New York Film Academy, Elsabet embraces creativity in all aspects of her life.
As the co-founder and president of the Habesha Film Association, she champions diverse voices in film, fostering an inclusive artistic community. An accomplished author of "Behind Sunrise," based on a true story, Elsabet's journey is a testament to resilience and the power of storytelling. Her multifaceted career as a casting director, producer, actor, and writer showcases her commitment to inspiring others.
Through her personalized financial strategies, Elsabet empowers families to secure their futures, proving that with the right guidance, dreams can become reality. Her life is a vibrant tapestry of creativity, compassion, and determination, inspiring all who cross her path.
Partner
Afomia Seleshi
Afomia “Mia” Seleshi is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ethiopian Legacy Professional Development and Consulting Firm along with her husband, Mr. Wondwossen Teka.
Mrs. Seleshi is also the Director of Alumni Career Engagement at UCLA Alumni Affairs. In this role, Mrs. Seleshi has three responsibilities: 1) overseeing the campus partner programs team that leverages alumni in the career development of students, 2) facilitating the career management of alumni, including designing and organizing networking events with senior level speakers at top organizations around the nation, and 3) leading employer relations.
In her last of three roles of a 15-year career at UCLA Anderson School of Management, Mrs. Seleshi served as Associate Director of Student Life in MBA Student Affairs. She was the point person for all competitions at Anderson, including case and pitch competitions. She also consulted MBA professional student associations on all aspects of their association from strategy to operations. Finally, Mrs. Seleshi managed marques events, such as the Diversity Conference and Velocity, the annual women’s conference. As the point person for case and pitch competitions, Mrs. Seleshi organized competitions and trained students to compete effectively developing an expertise for presentation coaching. She founded the Think in the Next Innovation Challenge at Anderson to give students experiential learning in future of work skills, which was the forerunner to the Cross-Campus Challenge that is still held annually.
Before joining the MBA Student Affairs team, Mrs. Seleshi was the Program Manager for the UCLA-UAI Global Executive MBA for the Americas Program overseeing the program from admissions to graduation, including career management. She often travelled to Chile, Miami and Brazil to run the program.
The first role Mrs. Seleshi held at UCLA was the Customer Relations Manager at the Parker Career Management Center where she was mentored by the career coaches. She developed coaching skills there and a robust network of hiring professionals that she remains in contact with.
Mrs. Seleshi earned her Executive M.B.A. (EMBA) from Loyola Marymount University in 2019. In her EMBA program, Mrs. Seleshi travelled to Japan and China leading her capstone project team to first place in class with a proposal for a professional development joint venture.
She earned her B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles in Communication Studies in 2011, and an A.A. from Santa Monica College in 2009. She is currently on the General Advisory Board for Santa Monica College and leads Career Development Workshops for their Biotechnology Program.
She is honored to be realizing her dream to transform lives in achieving independence through workforce development, fostering entrepreneurship, and developing leaders globally through her career at UCLA and Ethiopian Legacy.