President & CEO

Hamdi co-founded ACHD in 2018 as a community solution to institutional barriers facing the African immigrant and refugee community. She is a prominent leader in the Puget Sound region and has over 20 years of experience advocating for the African Diaspora community. Hamdi holds degrees from Lafoole University and George Mason University and was an accomplished teacher in her home country of Somalia. She is a member of the Community Café Collaborative, the Communities of Concern Commission, the WA Dept. of Commerce Rental Assistance & Homeless System Performance Measures Steering Committee, and the King County Parks Healthy Communities & Parks Fund Commission. Hamdi is the proud recipient of numerous accolades celebrating her commitment to community advocacy, including King County Council’s MLK Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service and Congressman Adam Smith’s Champion of Justice award. She was also presented with the South King County Council Human Services Equity and Social Justice award for exemplary community leadership, and King County’s Larry Gossett Service Award for her contributions to racial equity. Hamdi is polylingual (English, Somali, Arabic, and Italian) and spends her time away from work writing Somali-language poetry and playing chess with her grandchildren.  

Vice President

Bilan co-founded ACHD with Hamdi and advances our mission through dynamic projects that prioritize the next generation of the African Diaspora community. She is fluent in English and Somali and utilizes her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Seattle University and her master’s in education from the University of Washington, IslandWood, to develop programs deeply rooted in culture. Bilan believes in continuous education and holds Family Engagement and Nonprofit Financial Stewardship Program certifications from Harvard University and a P-3 Executive Leadership certificate from UW. She serves on the People’s Economy Lab Steering Committee, the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board, the Communities of Opportunity Governance Group, the inaugural Black Homeownership Legacy Fund Committee, and the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission. Outside work, she keeps busy exploring the PNW environment with her husband and daughter. 

Chief Business and Finance Officer

Daniel Ovando is an experienced entrepreneur, executive, and educator. With an MBA and a BSBA in Accounting, he has a strong background in business development, nonprofit management, and financial operations. As the owner of Floor Coverings International and president of Ovando Consultants, he provides expert guidance in accounting, business planning, and nonprofit administration. He has also served as an adjunct professor at several universities, teaching business, accounting, and entrepreneurship. Previously, as CFO/Business Manager at The Dream Center, he played a key role in securing over $60 million in funding and managing large-scale redevelopment projects. Additionally, he holds a California CSLB B and C-15 license for construction and is currently pursuing an EdD with an emphasis in Counseling at La Sierra University.