Halima J. Bah
Halima J. Bah was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and spent most of her childhood in Guinea as a refugee, where she completed her high school education. She is a devoted wife and proud mother of three children, one son and two daughters.
In 2008, Halima immigrated to the United States to pursue a career in healthcare. She began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and later as a Certified Respiratory Therapist with Banner Health, gaining hands-on experience while continuing her education.
In 2021, Halima graduated with distinction from GateWay Community College with an associate degree in Health Science. After successfully passing her state board exams, she became a Licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Her dedication and expertise led to a promotion to Licensed Practitioner Respiratory Therapist, where she now plays a key role in training and supervising newly hired RRTs at Banner Health.
In 2023, Halima and her husband launched a behavioral healthcare business, which is fully licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Francis F. Ganawa
Francis F. Ganawa is a seasoned finance and operations leader with a remarkable journey rooted in resilience, service, and global impact. Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, Francis spent his teenage years in Guinea as a refugee, where he completed high school in a refugee school. His academic potential was recognized with a scholarship from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), enabling him to earn an associate degree in Accounting and Business Management in French.
In 1999, Francis began his professional career with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Guinea. Over the next several years, he advanced through various roles in the Accounting and Finance Department, eventually becoming a Roving Finance Controller. In this capacity, he worked across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, supporting humanitarian operations until 2006.
Driven by a passion for education and professional growth, Francis moved to the United States in 2006. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Southern New Hampshire University and later rejoined IRC in Phoenix, Arizona, as a Finance Manager. While working, he pursued further education at DeVry University, ultimately becoming Deputy Director of Operations. In 2015, he completed dual master’s degrees, an MSA in Accounting and an MBA in Business Management.
In 2018, Francis was promoted to Deputy Director for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, where he played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the D365 platform tailored for nonprofit financial, procurement, project management, and supply chain operations. Following the successful rollout of the system, he was appointed Financial Reporting Director. In this role, he oversees the preparation of financial statements for an organization with a $1.6 billion budget.
Throughout his career, Francis has demonstrated unwavering leadership, a commitment to excellence, and a deep dedication to humanitarian service. His journey from refugee to global finance leader is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of education.