Board

Sam Awesome

Sam Awesome

President

 

Sam Awesome is a Dallas native. He studied economics at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 2012. He started Awesome Insurance in 2013, and has now been in the insurance industry for over 6 years. He is licensed in property & casualty insurance, life & health insurance, and carries his Series 6 and Series 63 security licenses as well. The business has helped feed his passion of helping others and growing commerce among the Iranian-American community in Texas.

Sam is an active board member of CASA Denton County, which helps to support children who are removed from their homes due to significant parental issues.

2020 will mark Sam’s 5th year of service on the IACC board. Grateful for the support from other business owners and mentors, he actively supports existing and new businesses in the area. It will be a primary focus of his to empower the IACC in order to help spread Iranian-American community recognition and commerce throughout DFW in the coming years.

 

 

Mason Shayan, MiCP, CCIM

Mason Shayan, MiCP, CCIM

Vice President

 

Mason Shayan is a licensed commercial real estate advisor with KW Commercial.  He is managing director of KW Commercial | DFW Preferred market center.  Mason also has his own commercial team, MSCRE Group.

Mason holds a Bachelor Degree in Business with major in International Marketing and Minors in Finance and Information Systems, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, and he has earned a Masters in Commercial Property, and as a commercial realtor, received Certified Commercial Investment Member, CCIM Designation in 2018.

Membership

  • Member of CCIM Institute
  • North Texas CCIM Chapter
  • National Association of Realtors
  • Texas Association of Realtors
  • North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors
  • International Council of Shopping Centers, ICSC
SAEED DAEMI

SAEED DAEMI

Treasurer


SAEED DAEMI, CPA, PFP brings more than 5 years in diverse tax, financial, and business consulting experience to his role as a Certified Public Accountant and Personal Financial Planner.

Education, Professional Memberships & CPA Licenses

Saeed is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Texas. He earned double Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from University of Texas at Dallas.

Client Focus

Saeed is dedicated to helping clients achieve business success by helping them establish practical and sound tax and financial processes. Focused on services for small to medium sized businesses, as well as clients in the banking and financial industry, he is committed to delivering tax and financial services that meet each client’s unique objectives.

Professional Profile

Saeed has gained extensive accounting experience through working on small to medium‐sized businesses. Saeed has expertise in providing comprehensive accounting services, including individual, corporate, partnership, and nonprofit income tax returns and audits, compilations, and payroll tax reports.

In addition, Saeed has expertise in consulting and supporting computerized accounting systems.

 

Laura Rodriguez

Laura Rodriguez

Secretary

 

Laura Rodriguez has served on the IACC board for the past three years and has served as the Board secretary for two of those 3 years.  She is a retired elementary school principal who has been an Independent Associate with Kynect for the past seven years.  After being an elementary school principal for 13 years at a K-5 elementary school, she retired from a 27 year career in the Texas public education system.  During her 27 year career in education she has been a bilingual elementary classroom teacher, an Instructional Specialist, a college instructor, a school district Bilingual Supervisor and an Assistant Principal.  She has worked for Austin ISD, Carrollton-Farmers’ Branch ISD and Denton ISD.

Laura Rodriguez also worked for 10 years in the private education sector as a consultant for the textbook publishing company, Houghton Mifflin.  She is also the author of a children’s book in Spanish published by Houghton Mifflin.

Laura Rodriguez is originally from Laredo, Texas and now lives in Dallas, Texas.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Texas A & I at Laredo and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Nader Arzani

Nader Arzani

Board Member

 

Nader Arzani is an Attorney practicing Civil Litigation, Business Law, and Commercial litigation at MAS Law Firm.

Nader obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). He then earned his Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law.

He is a licensed member of the State Bar of Texas. He is also a member of the Litigation, Business Law, and Computer & Technology Sections of the State Bar of Texas.

While at Texas Tech, Nader served as Executive Article Editor for Texas Tech’s Business & Bankruptcy Law Journal. At Texas Tech, Nader received several awards for Excellence in Legal Research, Cybersecurity Law & Policy, Commercial Law, and Professional Responsibility.

Before graduating from law school, Nader as a student lawyer, provided legal assistance and advice to low-income clients, through Legal Aid of Northwest Texas in Lubbock, Texas. As a licensed, practicing lawyer, Nader remains committed to assist his community members.  

 

Kory Didehbani

Kory Didehbani

Board Member

 

Kory Didehbani is a founding member and Past-President of the Greater Dallas Iranian-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC). Kory has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, and currently owns her insurance agency. In this role, Kory has been selling insurance products to fit individual client and group needs while building long-term relationships through outstanding customer service.  Her current sales lines include commercial, personal, and builder’s risk, contractor, GL and life policies.

Prior to working in the insurance industry, Kory worked at American Airlines for 15 years. While at American, she worked in many departments and initiated several projects for their Cargo Division such as developing cargo automation and rating system and developing a purchasing database. She was recognized for her work at American through receiving several awards for her automation projects.

Kory has been married to her husband since 1970. She has four children.

 

Sam Farsaii

Sam Farsaii

Board Member


Dr. Farsaii, Senior Partner at
Visionary Technologies, LLC consulting firm has been a pioneer in the field of technology for more than 35 years. He focuses on IT consulting and product development.

He joined Coppell ISD as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2013 managing 24,000 district devices. He also implemented two rounds of technology bond funds totaling $55 million dollars. A veteran teacher of mathematics and computer science, he has also served as Technology Director, in Irving ISD, as well as Technology, Business Innovative, and Training Coordinator in Houston ISD.

As a software developer, Farsaii has helped many districts and nonprofit organizations with custom-developed software solutions. He has also served on the Texas Computer Education Association’s (TCEA) board of directors. He helped pioneer and chair the 1-to-1 Special Interest Group of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

Farsaii’s interests span across both the instructional and technical realm. He has produced district and statewide online courses, established online virtual schools for gifted as well as at-risk students.

In the past, Farsaii has chaired the Texas statewide Computer Science Competition, created, and then managed the statewide Robotics Contests for over a decade. He writes articles for national and international magazines on technology integration and innovation. He has collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to train principals and superintendents across Texas.

A speaker who makes presentations internationally, Farsaii recognizes the power of technology to inspire global learners. He trains and collaborates internationally and has represented ISTE at several international events including Dubai, UAE and Chennai, India.

Hobbies include tennis, golf, sailing, skiing, and lots of traveling.

 

Parvin Koohgilani

Parvin Koohgilani

Board Member

 

Parvin Koohgilani has a Masters Degree in Community Economic Development from New Hampshire University. She was the owner and managing director of Zard Publication Inc. from 1998 to 2017 which published and run Shahrvand community publication, Middle Eastern Translation Inc. and Persian Yellow Pages and Directory of North Texas & Oklahoma.

She is now the owner and Chief Operating Officer of One Preston Event Venus in Gunter Texas. Parvin has been a community organizer and spokesperson for many causes for the Iranian community in North Dallas and has conducted numerous interviews with local media about Iran. Her goal and passion is to bring the Iranian community together and make sure this community has a voice and representation in this region.

 

Niki Mirshams, PhD, JD

Niki Mirshams, PhD, JD

Board Member

Dr. Mirshams is an Attorney practicing Business law, and Trademark & Copyright law and the founder of Mirshams Law, PLLC. 

Dr. Mirshams is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and the United States District Court for the Eastern District. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas, cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. Upon completion of her degree, she went on to earn her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmacology and Neuroscience from the University of North Texas Health Science Center before attending Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Prior to graduating from law school, Dr. Mirshams was active as the Vice President of the Texas Aggie Legal Society, provided legal support to clients in the school legal clinic, and was awarded the AT&T J.L. Turner Legal Intellectual Property Association Scholarship. She was also chosen to be part of the Inaugural Leadership Class of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association and Co-director of the Irma Rangel Law and Leadership Symposium.

 

 

Sean Modjarrad

Sean Modjarrad

Board Member


Sean Modjarrad is the founder and the managing shareholder of Modjarrad Abusaad Said Law Firm (MAS Law Firm). He practices primarily in the areas of Business Law and Civil Litigation. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, United State District Court for Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Mr. Modjarrad’s commitment to his clients has earned him a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating, top rated attorney by Newsweek, and ranking among The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.”  Mr. Modjarrad has been named as a top attorney in his field by the Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly, and D Magazine for his excellence in practice.

His law firm offers a full range of legal services to individuals, businesses, and professionals across Texas and throughout the nation. MAS Law Firm focuses on business and corporate lawcivil litigationpersonal injuryfamily lawSocial Security and Disability, and criminal defense.

The legal team at MAS Law firm was built on a shared passion to diligently and compassionately serve each client through every step of the legal process. The award-winning attorneys at MAS work tirelessly with one purpose: achieving the best results for the clients.

Mr. Modjarrad attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He then earned two Master’s Degrees: one in Business Administration and the other in Accountancy from Brock School of Business.  Further, he earned his Juris Doctor from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law.

Currently, Mr. Modjarrad sits on the Advisory Board for Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and the Board of Visitors for the University of North Texas School of Law. Also, he has been teaching Constitutional Law (Race and Law) at The University of Texas at Dallas for the past 7 years.

 

Shideh Modjarrad, DDS

Shideh Modjarrad, DDS

Board Member


Shideh Modjarrad is a dentist licensed in Texas and California and has been practicing since 1998.

Shideh Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from TWU in Denton, she then attended Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas where she earned her D.D.S degree in 1998.

Shideh owned and managed a dental practice in Oak cliff, Dallas for a number of years. After 20 years of practicing dentistry, Shideh has decided to slow down her active dental practice and follow a different passion by assisting multiple local public servants with their political campaigns.

Currently, Shideh is working as an executive coordinator and consults at Modjarrad | Abusaad | Said law firm in regards to dental malpractice cases and provides an array of expertise to the law firm’s clients.

Shideh lives in North Dallas and has a beagle named “Mr. Miller.” She loves to spend her free time traveling, reading and entertaining her nieces and nephew.

 

Sam Awesome, Board President

Email: iaccdfwboard@gmail.com