PR 26-0653

MURIEL BOWSER
    MAYOR
April 20, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 5 of the Office and Commission on
African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-111, D.C. Official Code § 2-1394),
I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
                                       Ms. Zena Wubneh
                                         16th Street, NE
                                      Washington, DC 20002
                                            (Ward 5)
for appointment as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs, filling a vacant seat
formerly held by Tereguebode Goungou, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end October 27,
2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
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                                                                        ,{(ep~
                                                                         at the request of the Mayor
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 6  A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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10  IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15   To confirm the appointment of Zena Wubneh to the Commission on African Affairs.
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17  RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
18   resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African Affairs Zena Wubneh Confirmation
19   Resolution of 2026".
20  Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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22  Zena Wubneh
23  16th Street, NE
24  Washington, DC 20002
25  (Ward 5)
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27   as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs, established by section 4 of the Office
28   and Commission on African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-111, D.C.
29   Official Code§ 2-1393), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Tereguebode Goungou, for the
30   remainder of an unexpired term to end October 27, 2028.
31  Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
32   upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
33  Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
                        Zena Wubneh |
Professional Summary:
Experienced financial consultant and budget analyst with over 14 years managing budgets, financial reporting, and grants for
nonprofits and small businesses. Skilled in cash flow management, variance analysis, and collaborating with cross-functional
teams to optimize resource allocation and support strategic decision-making. Proficient in Excel, QuickBooks, and other financial
systems.
EXPERIENCE:  Savvy Numbers LLC
                     Independent Financial Consultant
                     January 2017 - present
                          •  Managed bookkeeper to controller level functions for over 80 clients across multiple industries
                          •  Generated, reviewed and analyzed financial statements for each revenue/cost center
                          •  Conduct monthly budget vs. actual variance analysis to improve financial accuracy and cost
                             controls.
                          •  Oversee grants management and reporting for nonprofits
                          •  Assisted outside CPA with tax preparations as needed
                     Nest DC
                     Finance Specialist
                     January 2015-Sept. 2017
                          •  Prepared monthly financial reporting packages for 50+ condo associations
                          •  Led transition planning for newly acquired associations, ensuring financial data integrity.
                          •  Assisted external auditors in annual audit preparations and tax filings.
                          •  Performed general ledger maintenance and month-end closing, including accruals and
                             adjustments.
                      Fiola
                      Controller
                      August 2016 – April 2017
                           •   Managed all finance functions for a Michelin-starred restaurant, including budget monitoring
                               and cash reconciliations.
                           •   Assisted biweekly payroll processing for 100+ employees and ensured timely vendor payments.
                           •   Developed and maintained weekly and monthly financial budgets (P&L) for management
                               review.
                      The Brookings Institution
                      Financial Coordinator, Economic Studies
                      August 2015-July 2016
                          •   Managed grant budgets and compliance for research projects; tracked expenditures against
                              forecasts.
                          •   Drafted proposal budgets and coordinated financial reporting for funders to support fundraising
                              efforts.
TECHNICAL SKILLS:
                                    Applications:  Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat X Pro, SPSS,
                                                               SharePoint, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online,
                                                               Dropbox, Square, ADP payroll and Paychex.
                                    Languages:  Intermediate Spanish: Reading, Writing and Speaking
                                    Audio Visual:  SMART Board
ACTIVITIES & AWARDS: UNC Chapel Hill Institutional and Tuition Grant, 2006-2010
       Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
  John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
                                       Zena Wubneh
                       Ms. Zena Wubneh is a finance and operations professional, entrepreneur,
                       and founder of Savvy Numbers LLC, where she partners with nonprofits,
                       small businesses, and service-based organizations to build strong
                       financial systems and drive sustainable growth. With more than a decade
                       of experience across community development, arts and culture, and
                       mission-driven enterprises, Ms. Wubneh brings a strategic, solutions-
                       oriented approach to advancing economic opportunity.
                       A trusted advisor to growing organizations, Ms. Wubneh specializes in
                       financial management, budgeting, and grant reporting – helping leaders
                       translate vision into actionable, measurable results.
Deeply rooted in the African communities of the District of Columbia, Ms. Wubneh is passionate
about inclusive growth, economic mobility, and community-centered leadership.
A Ward 5 resident, Ms. Wubneh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
                              GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                                 Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
To:  Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From:  Betsy Cavendish
Date:  March 25, 2026
Subject:  Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing members of the Commission
                    on African Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building   • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW   •   Suite 300 •   Washington, D.C. 20004   • Office (202) 724-7681