Sam Koya brings to the ULDA Board of Directors, a wealth of professional experience spanning Community and Housing Development, International Trade, Business diplomacy and Real Estate Investment.

 A former Executive Director of a Memphis, Tennessee economic and housing development corporation (with economic development oversight over a territory hosting, among others, Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion, Federal Express Global Flight Operations Headquarters, Memphis International Airport, Smith and Nephew Pharmaceutical), he designed programs (in partnership with Memphis Chamber of Commerce and Memphis Department of Housing and Economic Development) focused on advancing public policy proposals that contribute to long-term economic growth and housing development.

He provided leadership and organizational development counsel to urban-based, growing small businesses and nonprofits, created and implemented programs to support Economic Redevelopment and business growth, interfaced and collaborated regularly with Corporate Executives, Chamber of Commerce leadership, City, State and Federal US officials, civic organizations and prospective firms. He also facilitated community stakeholder collaborations and devised strategies identifying community barriers, community asset mapping, and linking assets to the barriers they were best positioned to address.

As an economic development executive, he formulated novel strategies on how finance and business services are provided in under-served markets with a view to maximizing the growth, impact, and success of business entities in inner city America.

A citizen of the United States, Sam Koya holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree, Bachelors degree in Political Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Politics (specialization in Scandinavian Region).