Staff
Florizelle Liser
President and CEO
Florizelle (Florie) Liser is the third President and CEO of CCA. Ms. Liser brings expertise and an extensive network on trade and Africa to her new role, along with a strong track record of working with the private sector to translate policy into action. She is the first woman to lead the Council since its founding in 1993.
Ms. Liser joined CCA from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she was the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa since 2003. At USTR, she led trade and investment policy towards 49 sub-Saharan African nations and oversaw implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Previously, Ms. Liser served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Industry, Market Access, and Telecommunications from 2000-2003. She also served as Senior Trade Policy Advisor in the Office of International Transportation and Trade at the Department of Transportation from 1987-2000; worked as a Director in USTR’s Office of GATT Affairs, and served as an Associate Fellow at the Overseas Development Council (ODC) from 1975-1980.
Currently, she is a co-chair of the Advisory Council for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and a member of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee for the Export-Import Bank (EXIM). Previously, she served as a Board member for the Women in International Trade (WIIT). Ms. Liser holds a M.A. in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science from Dickinson College.
Florizelle (Florie) Liser is the third President and CEO of CCA. Ms. Liser brings expertise and an extensive network on trade and Africa to her new role, along with a strong track record of working with the private sector to translate policy into action. She is the first woman to lead the Council since its founding in 1993.
Ms. Liser joined CCA from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she was the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa since 2003. At USTR, she led trade and investment policy towards 49 sub-Saharan African nations and oversaw implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Previously, Ms. Liser served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Industry, Market Access, and Telecommunications from 2000-2003. She also served as Senior Trade Policy Advisor in the Office of International Transportation and Trade at the Department of Transportation from 1987-2000; worked as a Director in USTR’s Office of GATT Affairs, and served as an Associate Fellow at the Overseas Development Council (ODC) from 1975-1980.
Currently, she is a co-chair of the Advisory Council for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and a member of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee for the Export-Import Bank (EXIM). Previously, she served as a Board member for the Women in International Trade (WIIT). Ms. Liser holds a M.A. in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science from Dickinson College.
Florizelle (Florie) Liser is the third President and CEO of CCA. Ms. Liser brings expertise and an extensive network on trade and Africa to her new role, along with a strong track record of working with the private sector to translate policy into action. She is the first woman to lead the Council since its founding in 1993.

Hillary Lucas
Director, Human Resources & Executive Assistant to the President
Phone: 202.263.3505

Ellen Thorburn
Senior Advisor to the President
Phone: 202-449-9684
Akaego Okoye
Director, Member Relations
Phone: 202.261.3624
Biova Kabine
Program Director
Phone: 202.263.3506
Carla Battle
Director, Conferences & Events
Phone: 202.263.3517
Morayor Essieh
Program Manager
Phone: 202.263.3534
Kelly Burton
Senior Accountant
Phone: 202.263.3520

Olaotan Awoyomi
African Marketing Specialist
Phone: 202.263.3531
CCA'S TEAM ON-THE-GROUND
One primary way we support members is by providing 'on-the-ground' support on the continent.

Asfaw Alemayehu
Program Director, Ethiopia and African Union
Ekenem Isichei
Program Director, West Africa

Sonia Mfasoni
Program Director, East Africa