Sam is a Palestinian-American based in Al-Bireh/Ramallah, Palestine who relocated with his family to Palestine from the United States in 1995 to assist in the building of the Palestinian telecommunications sector. He was part of the core team that established the Palestine Telecommunications Company (PALTEL).

In 1997, Sam established a management consulting firm, Applied Information Management (AIM), which is engaged in business development, executive counsel, strategic management, and investment, with a niche focus on start-ups. Sam also worked for the Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC), the second largest private sector investment group in Palestine. In addition, he founded the Palestine Diaspora Investment Company (PDIC) in the spring of 2000.

While in the United States, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Technology from Youngstown State University (Ohio) and was employed in several national software development firms, all working in the direct marketing industry. His combination of managerial and technical experience, coupled with his MBA degree from the joint international program from Northwestern and Tel Aviv Universities, has given him a keen appreciation for working in the dynamic Palestinian market.

After taking the Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers P.L.C., a publicly-traded subsidiary of APIC, from concept to operations in 1998 he served as its CEO until 2004. The Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers built the first of a chain of modern shopping centers in Palestine, the PLAZA Shopping Center, which opened in July 2003 in Al-Bireh, in the midst of the most difficult economic times Palestine has ever faced under Israeli occupation. Today, PLAZA is an economic landmark.

Sam is an independent Director at the Arab Islamic Bank and serves in various capacities in several community organizations. He served a full term as a Board of Trustees member at Birzeit University, as well as being the Board's Treasurer. He regularly gives public talks and writes frequently on Palestinian affairs and has been widely published in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Hill, The Huffington Post, and Le Monde diplomatique, among others. Sam is co-editor of HOMELAND: Oral History of Palestine and Palestinians.

Sam is the father of two daughters, Areen and Nadine.

He may be reached at sbahour [AT] gmail [DOT] com. He blogs at www.epalestine.ps.

A graduate of Birzeit University, Abeer majored in Commerce and Economics. She has been the Administrator of AIM since its founding in 1997 and without her back office support we would not be where we are today.

After graduation, Abeer worked in several Palestinian economic sectors, including the manufacturing industry and non-profits. Before relocating to the United States in 1993, she was employed with the Cairo Amman Bank in Ramallah, Palestine.

While in Ohio, she was employed in the retail sector, before returning to live in Palestine following the Oslo Accords.

Abeer was a cultural dancer with El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe and is the mother of two daughters, Areen and Nadine.

She may be reached at info [AT] aim [DOT] ps.