Kareema became the Executive Assistant at Tawani Foundation in September 2009. Her previous experience includes four years as the Executive Assistant to the Managing Directors of Discovery Group Holding Company, a merchant banking firm formerly affiliated with Piper Jaffray that manages private partnerships in highly specialized investment strategies and conducts corporate merger and advisory services. While there she was responsible for the creation and distribution of fundraising presentations and monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to investors and was instrumental in the design and development of the company website, enabling investors and prospective investors to view market updates and historical performance reports for the fund. Kareema also spent three years working as a clerk for The Chicago Community Development Corporation, an Illinois corporation organized for the purpose of acquisition, development, rehabilitation and preservation of existing multifamily affordable housing in the Chicago area.
A native of California, Ms. Cruz graduated summa cum laude from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science (Commerce) in Marketing. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honour Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma. Kareema is a 2003 graduate of the Army ROTC Leader’s Training Course in Fort Knox, KY.
