Board Members
Akbar Gbajabiamila
Akbar Gbajabiamila is the host of NBC's heart-racing obstacle course competition series, American Ninja Warrior and USA Network's Ninja Vs. Ninja. He also hosts NFL Network's highest-rated show, Fantasy Live. The SoCal native has parlayed ad five-year stint in the NFL, into a career in TV as a host and actor. Gbajabiamila is one of seven children of Nigerian immigrants. Drafted by the Oakland Raiders, Gbajabiamila played five years in the NFL. After retiring in 2008, Gbajabiamila turned his focus to TV, serving as an analyst for the NFL Network and joining NBC's The Night Shift. Other notable hosting appearances include NBC's 2017 Red Nose Day as well as the Macy's Day July 4th Spectacular.
Ari Warmerdam
Mr. Warmerdam supports the Asomugha Foundation's development and marketing program and is currently part of the US Private Client Group at Fisher Investments. In this role, he is responsible for assisting a portfolio of high net-worth clients in reaching their long-term investment goals and objectives.
Mr. Warmerdam is committed to helping youth reach their full potential and intimately familiar with the ACTS program, having worked directly with Chairman, Nnamdi Asomugha, on several projects including the California Tours and College Summits. Mr. Warmerdam was a four-year student-athlete and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from the University of California, Davis. He also holds a Master of Science in Sports Management from Columbia University and an MBA from the University of San Francisco.
Chijioke Asomugha
Mr. Asomugha is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Inkwell Group, an innovative private equity firm advancing middle market companies. Before founding The Inkwell Group, Mr. Asomugha served as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Strategy for ERICO International (now known as nVent). Previously he was a principal investor at Cyprium Partners, a leading middle-market private equity firm. Before joining Cyprium, Mr. Asomugha worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Investment Banking division. While at Goldman, he acted in the advisory and execution of cross-border acquisitions and M&A transactions.
From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Asomugha served as an International Development Fellow focusing on economic development and private equity in emerging markets, specifically sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. Asomugha previously served as a Mayoral Appointee to the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board and is a founding board member of two urban charter schools in the Cleveland-area. Mr. Asomugha was recognized by Crain’s Business as a 40 under 40 awardee and by Inside Business Magazine as a 25 under 35 awardee. Mr. Asomugha received his B.A. with a double major in Economics and Public Policy from Stanford University and his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, where he was a Robert Toigo Fellow.
Richard Rozman
Mr. Rozman serves as a founding Board Member of the Asomugha Foundation. In addition to this Mr. Rozman is a Senior Vice President – Investment Officer at Wells Fargo Advisors in El Segundo, California. Before joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Mr. Rozman spent 32 years with Merrill Lynch as a Vice President and Senior Resident Director, providing tailored financial solutions for individuals, family foundations, institutions, and charitable organizations.
Mr. Rozman serves on and chairs several boards of non-profit organizations. Additionally, he has personally invested in the future of our youth by serving as a speaker and mentor for at-risk students, as well as providing office visits for local high schools. He has been recognized for his passionate community leadership and remains actively involved with several local and national non-profit charitable organizations. Mr. Rozman received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).
As Development Director for the Asomugha Foundation, Mr. Rozman acts in a completely separate role from his position as a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors.
Frank Oti
Mr. Oti is the president of SPEC Home Realtors in Gardena, California. He holds a B.S. degree in Engineering and has a certificate of accreditation from the Graduate Realty Institute. Mr. Oti is currently the director of Inglewood Board of Realtors, California Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors. He has served on the OWIN Advisory Board and displays a wealth of interest and passion in helping the underprivileged, especially in Africa.
amaka akudinobi
Mrs. Amaka Akudinobi, was admitted to the Nigerian Bar Association in 1990 and the California Bar in 1994. She is currently on the United States Secretary of State’s Hague Attorney’s panel. With an enduring interest in social justice, she puts her principles and vision into voluntary work, earlier on, at Maynard Toll Center, Los Angeles, California, where she assisted pro per litigants in Family Law proceedings, including divorce, paternity and domestic violence proceedings. In 1996, she was recognized as an Outstanding Family Law Volunteer, by the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She has earned four Awards of Merit from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in appreciation for her outstanding commitment to the protection of children and knowledge of the Hague Convention on the Civil aspects of International Child Abduction.
Dr. Clifford C. Eke
He obtained his Bachelor of Science and Postgraduate Degrees in Biology, from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, in 1987 and 1988, respectively, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM), Loma Linda, California, in 1992, followed by a General Surgery Residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center, in 1997, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fontana, California in 1998. Currently, an Attending General and General-Thoracic surgeon, at Kaiser Permanente, in Fontana/Ontario, California. Dr. Eke served as President of the American Cancer Society, California Division, from 2011 to 2012.
Certified by the American Board of Surgery as well as the Medical Board of California Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Eke is, also, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at LLUSM, a member of the Residency Oversight Committee, at Arrowhead/Kaiser General Surgery Residency Program, and Diplomat of the National Boards of Medical Examiners. He has made multiple presentations, on various forms of cancer and allied health issues, like tobacco harms, at distinct forums that include the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Healthy Heritage Conferences, G.R.E.E.N Foundation, Riverside County Women’s Affairs, The Asomugha Foundation, churches, among others.
A son of the late Reverend C. S. Eke, and, Her Honorable Excellency, The Right Reverend Dr. Virginia C.S. Eke, who encouraged him as a child to be a “missionary doctor,” he, annually, leads medical teams to diverse parts of the world like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, including under-served areas of the USA. Not surprising, he is the founder and CEO of Chima Medical Missions International, a nonprofit organization that provides general medical care and surgical services in Nigeria, and travels, yearly, with his wife, Eucharia Ada Eke, a healthcare professional (RN, B.S.N.), to provide free medical mission services in Nigeria. More, Dr. Eke was the Executive Director of Imo Medical Mission, Inc., and current Chair of Medical Missions for the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA). Notably, he is a member and strong financial supporter of Durham Baptist Church, Amafor, Imerienwe, Nigeria, which his parents founded fifty years ago.
Dr. Eke and his wife, Eucharia, are blessed with four children (Olivia, Gabby, Chioma, Chimaobi), and live in Riverside, California. Devotion to compassionate medical care and philanthropy aside, his hobbies include soccer, weightlifting, music and disc-jockeying.
Advisory council
Udodirim Asomugha
An artist and scholar, Udodirim Asomugha earned a B.S. in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California – San Diego and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. After graduation from the University of Michigan, Ms. Asomugha began her career designing custom clothing and a line of accessories as the founder of Klutch it.
Ms. Asomugha is multifaceted with a passionate desire for design, photography, and helping the underprivileged. No stranger to hard work, Ms. Asomugha shares her story by communicating the influence of regional cultures on style. Currently, she serves as Public Health Advocate for the Asomugha Foundation since 2007. Ms. Asomugha is the administrative director for Noah's Dwelling, LLC.
Joyce Okeneme
Joyce Okeneme is a Certified Nurse Midwife who has delivered more a thousand babies over the course of her 22-year career in Los Angeles, CA. Mrs. Okeneme earned her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from California State University and a Master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in Women’s Health. Mrs. Okeneme has been a strong supporter of Asomugha Foundation from the inception. She previously served as Secretary for the OWIN program and currently serves as an Advisory Council member for the Asomugha Foundation.
Susanne Alexander
Susanne Alexander has engaged in various aspects of real estate including sales, mortgage brokerage, and asset management during her successful career. She provides exceptional delivery of client services and works effectively on both the buy and sell side of transactions with efficiency and ease. As her client, you’ll benefit from Susanne’s honed negotiation skills and a focused strategy as well as her unparalleled attention to your specific real estate goals and concerns.
When she’s not engaged in real estate, Susanne pursues a love of international travel. Her most recent trips were to Australia, France, Belgium, Nigeria, Costa Rica, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Susanne is an extraordinarily talented plant-based chef who creates inspired plant-based vegan cuisine for clients, family and friends.
