[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF FAY BEYDOUN'S INDUCTION INTO THE HERITAGE HALL OF 
             FAME OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOUNDATION

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                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2014

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my 
friend Fay Beydoun on her recent induction into the International 
Institute Foundation's Heritage Hall of Fame. Each year, this honor is 
given to just a few individuals in the State of Michigan whose work 
within our many ethnic communities has enriched the entire state and 
beyond.
  As a first-generation American, Fay understands the challenges that 
newly arrived immigrants face as they seek to become part of our great 
nation and achieve the American Dream. During her many years as a 
leader in Michigan's Arab-American community, she has brought 
individuals from across the Greater Detroit region together to advance 
social, political and economic causes that have enhanced the vitality 
of Michigan. And while much of her work has been in Michigan, Fay has 
also taken a lead role in developing the Arab-American business 
community, both nationally and internationally.
  In her current role, as Executive Director of the American Arab 
Chamber of Commerce, Fay leads the largest Arab-American business 
organization in the United States and oversees the support programs and 
services it provides to its more than 1,500 members, which span the 
gamut from small businesses to large multinational organizations. Fay's 
approach to her work is to focus on empowering entrepreneurs in our 
many minority business communities with the information they need to 
recognize and realize their goals. As part of her commitment to empower 
others, Fay has also served as Chief Operating Officer for the American 
Middle East Economic Affairs Committee (AMEEAC) since 2008, where she 
focuses on increasing economic relations between the United States and 
the Middle East. During her tenure in the leadership of AMEEAC, Fay 
brought together a wide array of stakeholders to form the TEJERA Global 
Development Center, an incubator and accelerator with a mission to 
promote entrepreneurship and exporting businesses in ethnic and 
minority communities. For the remarkable impact she has made on her 
community, Fay has been honored by the Michigan Women's Foundation with 
its Top 25 Women Making a Difference Award and by Corp! Magazine's with 
its 2011 Diversity Leader Award.
  In addition to her work promoting entrepreneurship within the Arab-
American community, Fay has been a strong advocate for women in 
business. As a cofounder of the Arab American Women's Business Council, 
Fay brought together women leaders in business with the mission to 
ensure that minority women would have access to the network, tools and 
knowledge necessary to succeed in their commercial endeavors. Fay 
furthered her commitment to this mission when she brought together 
members of the American Arab Chamber to found its Women's Council to 
support women aspiring to be leaders in business.
  Beyond her professional pursuits, Fay has volunteered her leadership 
and experience with countless community organizations including: Global 
Detroit, the Michigan Council for the Arts and Culture Affairs, the 
ACLU of Michigan and Henry Ford Community College--all with the goal of 
supporting entrepreneurship in Michigan and building ties between the 
diverse communities of the Southeast Michigan region.
  Mr. Speaker, the commitment of leaders like Fay Beydoun is essential 
to ensuring the robustness of our communities. Her work has fostered 
greater cross-cultural dialogue and helped others to realize their part 
of the American Dream, which has greatly enriched the lives of many of 
my constituents. I congratulate Fay on this great affirmation of her 
work that she has received from the International Institute Foundation 
and I thank her for the many insights she has shared with me on local 
issues, as well as her unwavering dedication to building a strong and 
diverse Greater Detroit region.

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