STAFF

Mary Romaya

Executive Director

Mary Romaya is a retired teacher and former Executive Director of the Chaldean Cultural Center. Born in Detroit to Chaldean parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Telkeppe, Iraq. She graduated from the University of Detroit with a B.A. degree with a major in History and received an M.A. Degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University. Mary worked for 45 years as a professional educator with Warren Woods Public Schools leaving the district in January 2011. Mary served on the Board of Directors of the Chaldean Cultural Center since its inception from 2003 until becoming its Executive Director in 2011 through 2017.  She resumed the position of Executive Director in 2025

BOARD MEMBERS

Mark Mukhtar

Chairman

Mark Mukhtar is a partner at Ernst & Young LLP.  He is a licensed CPA and specializes in International Tax.  He has spent the last 30 years in the public accounting arena servicing a wide variety of clients ranging from smaller owner operated businesses to large multinational organizations.  He has held a number of leadership positions within the firm.  Mark has also held a number of board positions over the years.  He was the Athletic Booster Club president for Notre Dame Prep from 2019 to 2021.

Wafa Bunney

Vice Chairman

Wafa Bunney is an Information Technology (IT) Executive (retired) at Ford Motor Company. Wafa’s 35-year career at Ford included leading global IT teams from Americas, Europe, and Asia in delivering major IT programs Manufacturing, Product Development, Marketing, Sales and Service, Finance and Human Resources. In addition to her job responsibilities, Wafa recruited, mentored and coached future IT leaders for Ford. She is currently working part-time as a finance/HR manager at a local small business, board member in the Business and IT school Advisory Board at Lawrence Technological University, and a vice chair of the Chaldean Cultural Center Board.   Wafa has a BS in Computer Science from LTU and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Raad Kathawa

Treasurer

Raad Kathawa was a retail grocer in Detroit for over 40 years.  He has been a member of the Chaldean Iraqi America Association of Michigan (CIAAM) since 1989 holding many leadership positions including president and member of its Board of Directors.  He is a founding member of the Chaldean Cultural Center.  Raad has also served on the Board of Directors for the SpartanNash Corporation and the Associated Food Dealers of Michigan. As a grocer in Detroit, he was a member of the Southwest Detroit Business Association.  Raad has served and continues to serve and support many committees of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese in Detroit.

Jacob Bacall

Board Member

Jacob Bacall was born in Telkaif-Mosul, Iraq, into a Chaldean Christian family.  He completed high school in Baghdad and pursued studies in Mechanical Engineering in the United Kingdom.  In 1977, he immigrated to the U.S. and entered a family business operating retail drug stores.  Over time, the business transitioned into real estate investments with income-producing properties.
Jacob is actively involved in the Chaldean community. He has served on the boards of the Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan (CIAAM), the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, the Chaldean Community Foundation and the Chaldean Cultural Center.  As an author and historian, Jacob has written three books: Chaldeans in Detroit (2014), Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan (2018), and the Chaldean Catholic Church (2025), co-authored with Bishop Bawai Soro.

Martin Manna

Board Member

Martin Manna has served as the President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC) for over 20 years.  The Chamber represents over 5000 businesses and advocates on behalf of its members.  In 2006, he co-founded the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) with the Board of Directors, an organization that supports tens of thousands of individuals each year overseeing programs that serve individuals from over 70 countries.  These programs include English language and citizenship classes, employment support, healthcare, housing, and other essential services.  Martin is also one of the original publishers of the Chaldean News, a position he still holds today, which has over 20,000 readers monthly, with a growing international subscriber base.
Martin is deeply involved in civic and community affairs, both on a local basis and globally.  He is a member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the American University of Iraq-Baghdad, a commissioner for the Oakland County Land Bank, a Trustee for Lawrence Technological University, among other leadership roles.

Habib Hannona

Board Member

Habib Hannona’s personal journey is one of determination and accomplishments. His achievements in the United States, Kuwait and Iraq exemplify human strength, an enduring spirit, survival, and success. Hannona has had illustrious careers illuminating the way as an author, engineer, linguist, painter, poet, historian, and grand master of culture. Hannona was born in the Chaldean town of Karemlesh – Nineveh province in 1943. In 1959, he moved with his family to Baghdad, where he graduated from high school. He then spent two years studying English and German at the Higher Institute of Languages. Hannona later traveled to West Germany to study architecture, returning to Iraq in 1964. Eager to further his education, Hannona took advantage of opportunities offered by the Jesuits at Al-Hikma University in Baghdad to study civil engineering. There, many of his talents emerged and were supported by a creative environment that encouraged painting, literature, poetry, and theater, in addition to scientific research. Hannona came to the United States with his family on Christmas Eve in 1991. Hannona says, “My journey was not easy; America is the place you come to change your life – America is the place to start a new life, and that is why I came here.”