management and administration

​Ellen Smith, Executive Director

​Ellen Smith serves as the Executive Director for Keeping Our Promise, Inc. She works on educating audiences about the SIV program, grant writing, housing, fund-raising, and in-kind donation management. She has assisted over 1,000 SIV refugees and their families since 2014, and her passion for helping these families started with assisting one Army captain in Syracuse, NY gather donations for his interpreters.

The National Council of Jewish Women – Greater Rochester Section selected Ellen as the winner of the 2019 Hannah G. Solomon Humanitarian Award. and she was awarded the “Spirit of America” award by the Reserve Officers Assn. for starting this model program, and creating a welcoming community for those who served our country.

​Ellen was previously a credentialed journalist for 29 years, with 37 top journalism awards including awards from the National Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, the Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc., and the Edward R. Murrow Award.

Kristen Makineci, program manager

Kristen was born and raised in the Greater Rochester area, but spent 20 years as an expatriate in Turkey. During her time overseas, she was involved in a mix of leadership, fundraising, donation collection and interpreting roles for various charitable and state organizations. She served as a board member of a sizable non-profit, and spearheaded committees for large-scale fundraisers.

Kristen is fluent in Turkish.

She is a bibliophile who also enjoys the arts, the outdoors, upcycling/home design, crossword puzzles, and spending quality time with her husband and two daughters.

Kristen coordinates arrival preparations, provides support to Caring Circle volunteers, manages grant deliverables, maintains KOPs driving program, and more. We are thrilled to have her on our team! 

Shaista Shaheed, case manager

Shaista Shaheed is originally from Nangarhar, Afghanistan. With the help of KOP, she moved to the United States in August 2021 during the U.S. withdrawal, and is now pursuing an Associate Degree in Business Administration. 

Her background includes two years of valuable experience as a Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant with various organizations in Afghanistan. She has developed strong analytical and organizational skills.

Shaista is proficient in four languages: Dari, Pashto, English, and Urdu, which underscores her exceptional communication abilities and cultural versatility. This linguistic skill set enables her to effectively navigate and connect in diverse settings. 

Shaista's case management work ensures that every family arriving under KOPs care receives consistent and ongoing support for the first year after arrival. She also provides translation support, both spoken and written.

In her free time, she enjoys volleyball, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Bellal AhmadZAI, OPerations

Esmatullah is a dedicated and impactful journalist with a mission to illuminate the truth, promote transparency, and advocate for the rule of law and democracy. Originally from Afghanistan, he relocated to the United States three years ago following the Taliban's takeover of his home country.

With over 15 years of experience in journalism and media, Esmatullah has established himself as a prominent journalist and news anchor, holding various significant roles across multiple media channels in Afghanistan and the United States. He has also served as a media advisor to the Parliament of Afghanistan, contributing his expertise to enhance legislative communication.
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Currently, Esmatullah is bringing his wealth of experience to WROC in Rochester, NY, where he continues his commitment to high-quality journalism. His work has earned him numerous prestigious awards from renowned local and international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders for Press Freedom, the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC), the Rumi Awards, and the Afghan Professional Journalist award.

​Beyond his professional achievements, Esmatullah enjoys spending quality time with his wife and sons. He is also a fitness and bodybuilding enthusiast, dedicated to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Chandee searcy, Community & Volunteer Engagement

Chandee Searcy began volunteering for Keeping Our Promise in 2019. She is KOP’s liaison with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has participated in many late night arrivals at the airport, been a part of a Caring Circle, and volunteers on the fundraising committee.

​In 2021, Chandee transitioned to a part-time position with KOP focusing on community & volunteer engagement and administrative work. Chandee enjoys finding new places in nature to explore with her husband and four children, sneaking away to her basement to throw on her pottery wheel, and serves on the board of directors at Family Promise of Greater Rochester.