About Us

Staff & Advisors

Headshot of Tarlan AhmadovTarlan Ahmadov, Director

Tarlan Ahmadov is the Director of the ONA, bringing over two decades of experience in public service, workforce development, and refugee resettlement. In his previous role as the Director of the Division of Programs at the Bureau of Employment Services within the Maine Department of Labor, Ahmadov administered statewide employment and training programs designed to empower individuals and strengthen the workforce across Maine.

Prior to joining the Maine Department of Labor, he served as the State Refugee Coordinator overseeing the Office of Maine Refugee Services for Catholic Charities of Maine from 2017 to 2022. In that role, he administered Federal services to asylees and refugees, including employment, skills training, health care, and social services. Ahmadov initially joined Catholic Charities in 2003 as a volunteer, then progressed through various positions, also including case manager, program director, and State Refugee Coordinator.

Originally from Azerbaijan, Ahmadov immigrated to the United States in 2003. He holds a Master’s degree in history and social sciences from Baku State University and began his career in education as a history teacher in Baku’s public school sector. Ahmadov is also pursuing a doctoral degree in policy at the University of Southern Maine.

Headshot of Ekhlas AhmedEkhlas Ahmed, Policy Analyst

As the ONA’s Policy Analyst, Ekhlas Ahmed works with the ONA Director and internal and external stakeholders to improve the long-term economic and civic integration of immigrants into the State’s workforce and communities. She supports the programs and operations of the office, including research, policy analysis, and planning.

Ahmed joined the Office of New Americans (ONA) with a decade of experience as a nonprofit leader, educator, and advocate for refugees. Most recently, she founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the voices of immigrant refugees and asylum seekers in our state, providing funding for high school students to pursue higher education in Maine. Ahmed has also worked as an English language educator in public schools and as the Co-Director of the Cultural Alliance of Maine, where she advocated for the visibility of the arts and secured funding to enrich Maine’s cultural landscape.

As a refugee herself, Ahmed fled the civil war in Sudan in 2005 with her family, including her parents and three younger brothers. Resettled in Portland, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Southern Maine.

Advisory Council

The purpose of the Advisory Council is to advise the Maine Office of New Americans on matters affecting the long-term economic and civic integration of immigrants in the State. Consisting of 24 members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President, the council includes individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including leaders from immigrant communities, a legal assistance provider, a refugee resettlement organization, and state and local government. Learn more about the Advisory Council here.

Council Members

Governor’s Appointments

  • Julia Trujillo Luengo, Co-chair, Maine Community College System
  • Claude Rwaganje, Prosperity Maine
  • Marwa Hassanien, Northern Light Health and Bangor School Board
  • Nawar Alobaidi, Engineers Auto Service
  • Rotha Chan, TD Bank
  • Juana Rodriguez-Vazquez, Mano en Mano/Hand in Hand
  • Olesya Shkut, Bluetriton/Poland Spring
  • Kerem Durdag, GWI
  • Orlina Boteva, University of Maine
  • Jonathan Baty, MaineHealth
  • Dana Totman, Prosperity Maine
  • Ben Conniff, Luke’s Lobster

Senate President’s Appointments

  • Georges Budagu Makoko, Co-chair, Amjambo Africa and Serenity Residential Care
  • Mufalo Chitam, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition
  • Heremenegildo Paulo, South Portland School Department
  • Barbara Stoddard, New Mainer Resource Center/Portland Adult Education
  • Rick Bennett, Senate District 18
  • Margaret Rotundo, Senate District 21

House Speaker’s Appointments

  • Fatuma Hussein, Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
  • Liam LaFountain, City of Biddeford
  • Lisa Parisio, ILAP Maine
  • Inza Ouattara, Catholic Charities
  • Flavia DeBrito, House District 64
  • Amy Arata, House District 104

Business Leadership Forum

The Business Leadership Forum is a group of employers and business owners who share their experiences and expertise with the ONA and each other. From welcoming international talent, to hiring and recruiting New Mainers, to starting and running immigrant-owned businesses, their perspectives on economic and workforce issues inform the work of the ONA and foster collaborative solutions.

Forum Members

  • American Roots
  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Portland Chamber of Commerce
  • Lewiston-Auburn Chamber of Commerce
  • Luke’s Lobster
  • Coffee Me Up
  • Coffee By Design
  • Irving Woodlands LLC
  • Charter Communications
  • MaineHealth
  • Associated General Contractors of Maine
  • Northern Light Health

Timeline

Below are key milestones in the development of the Maine ONA:

August 2023: Governor Janet Mills signed an Executive Order directing the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) to create a plan for establishing an Office of New Americans in Maine.

August 2023 - January 2024: GOPIF developed a plan with input from over 800 stakeholders, including state agencies, municipalities, schools, higher education institutions, employers, community-based organizations, and members of immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking communities.

January 2024: GOPIF delivered the ONA plan to Governor Mills.