Commission on African Affairs Hana Gebremeskel Confirmation Resolution of 2026

M
URIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
April 20, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section
2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to section 5 of the Office and Commission on
African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-111, D.C. Official Code § 2-1394),
I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Hana Gebremeskel
C Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
(Ward 7)
for appointment as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs , filling a vacant seat
formerly held by Josiane Ndoyombaye, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end October 27,
2026, and for a subsequent term to end October 27, 2029.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
~~~ ehairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15 To confirm the appointment of Hana Gebremeskel to the Commission on African Affairs.
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17 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African Affairs Hana Gebremeskel Confirmation
19 Resolution of 2026".
20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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22 Hana Gebremeskel
23 C Street, SE
24 Washington, DC 20003
25 (Ward 7)
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27 as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs, established by section 4 of the Office
28 and Commission on African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C . Law 16-111, D.C.
29 Official Code§ 2-1393), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Josiane Ndoyombaye, for the
30 remainder of an unexpired term to end October 27, 2026, and for a subsequent term to end
31 October 27, 2029.
32 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
33 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
34 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
HANA GEBREMESKEL
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Versatile professional with a diverse background in Financial Services, Retail Leadership, and International Wildlife Management.
Licensed in Life Insurance and FINRA Securities with expertise in multilingual communication. Complex project coordination and
cross-cultural engagement. Proven track record in operational management and community advocacy across the US and East
Africa.
CORE COMPETENCIES
 Financial & Operational: FINRA Compliance, Life Insurance, Data Quality, Cash Management.
 Leadership: Team Supervision, Program Development, Conflict Resolution, Project Facilitation.
 Interpersonal: Multilingual (English, Amharic, Oromifa), International Relations, Advocacy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
WHOLE FOODS MARKET | Washington, DC
Team Member / Cashier | 2013 – Present
 Delivers high-quality service in a high-volume environment, maintaining rigorous data accuracy for financial transactions.
 Collaborates across departments to streamline peak-season operations and project management.
CVS HEALTH | Washington, DC
Supervisor / Cashier | 2012 – 2018
 Promoted to Supervisor to manage complex operations and high-level autonomous tasks.
 Audited daily deposits and managed cash office operations with 100% financial accuracy.
BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK | Ethiopia
Park Expert & Warden
 Managed conservation efforts for one of Ethiopia’s critical ecosystems and enforced wildlife regulations.
 Coordinated with global stakeholders to protect biodiversity and manage park operations.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & GLOBAL ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY SUPPORT VOLUNTEER | Washington, DC | 2011 – Present
 Provides translation and resource navigation for the Ethiopian and African American communities.
 Participated in Organizing civic events and local public service and beautification initiatives.
HOMELESS ANIMALS PROTECTION SOCIETY (HAPS) | Ethiopia
Founder / Director | 2001 – 2010
 Established a pioneering animal welfare NGO; implemented spay/neuter and public health programs.
 Represented the organization at international conferences in London, Prague, Nairobi, Cairo and Cap Town
 FINRA Securities License (Active)
 Life Insurance License (Active)
 B.A. in Business Administration | Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
 Diploma in Forestry | Wondo Genet College of Forestry, Ethiopia
 Diploma in Wildlife Management | College of African Wildlife Management, Tanzania
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Microsoft Excel (Data Analysis), Financial Modeling, POS Systems, CRM Software, Project Facilitation

E
xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
H
ana Gebremeskel
Ms
. Hana Gebremeskel is a community advocate dedicated to financial
empowerment, social welfare, and public service. With over a decade of
experience serving underserved communities, she combines financial
expertise with multilingual communication to help individuals and
families access critical resources and build long-term stability.
As Founder and Director of the Homeless Animals Protection Society in
Ethiopia, Ms. Gebremeskel established a pioneering organization focused
on public health and animal welfare, leading spay/neuter initiatives and
international awareness campaigns. She has represented these efforts at
global conferences across Europe and Africa. Across all areas of her
work, Ms. Gebremeskel remains committed to strengthening
communities through leadership, advocacy, and cross-cultural collaboration.
A Ward 7 resident, Ms. Gebremeskel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from
Addis Ababa University.

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
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The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: March 25, 2026
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing members of the Commission
on African Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish