Joseph K. Karaki
President,
Western States Engineering


Joseph Karaki is the President and Founder of Western States Engineering, Inc. / KARAKI Group, a Design-Build and Development Company, specializing in commercial, industrial and retail fueling facilities for major oil companies. Joseph Karaki is also the CEO of GET, a Construction Equipment and Trading Company in Dubai, UAE.  Joseph Karaki is the Chairman of the Planning Commission in the City of Anaheim. He was also, the winner of Laguna Beach Architectural Guild Award in 1996

Joseph Karaki attended University of Detroit and the University of Michigan where he earned a BS, BA and MA, in Architecture and Construction Management. He is AAIA member, and member of the Lebanese Order of Architects and Engineers. From 1983 until 1988, Joseph worked for Bechtel Group, and Travers Morgan in Saudi Arabia, and Doha Qatar.

Joseph Karaki was born in Bois De Bologne,(The Meten Region) Lebanon, and he is married to Rachelle Ajouri Karaki, and have two beautiful kids, Karim and Kiana.

Wafa Daya

Wafa Daya is an established artist in Long Beach, California.  Of Lebanese descent, she grew up and studied in Syria where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Visual Communications as well as a certificate in Ceramics.  Among her early mentors are Abdul Kader Arnao'ut, Fateh Moudarress, Elias Zayyat, and Said Makhloof.  She then moved to the US and strived to enrich her skills by experimenting with a variety of media and by taking different art classes at Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach.
 
Wafa's interests are diverse and encompass jewelry making, pottery, metal carving, and printmaking.   Her focus now is on all aspects of printmaking such as intaglio, relief printing, lino cut, woodcut screenprinting and monotype. 
Wafa's work has been exhibited worldwide in solo and group shows in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, France, Austria, China and the US.  She has earned honorable mentions at venues such the Long Beach Arts Gallery and the state Department's Art in the embassies Program. Her artwork is featured in public and private institutions such as the Damascus museum, the Long Beach World Trade Center, and Senator Allan Lowenthal's office.
 
 Wafa has been a member of the Long Beach Arts, and the 2nd City Council Art and Performance Center since 2000.   However, in an attempt to reconnect with her roots she joined the House of Lebanon's artists group in 2008.  Wafa's art is the expression of her identity; at the essence of this identity is her cultural heritage molded by her life experiences. To reinforce the cultural element of one's identity, what best than interacting with kindred spirits sharing the same traditions.