Lyfestone - Building Community Spaces

Our Story

Lyfestone is a nonprofit organization dedicated to both establishing and supporting initiatives that nurture creativity, uplift young people, and foster belonging. By managing the places where these programs occur, we ensure that community organizations have the foundation they need to grow, thrive, and create lasting impact.

The People

Our Team

Meet the people behind Lyfestone.

Mohamed Shaaban

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mohamad Shaaban is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lyfestone, bringing more than a decade of experience in construction, community development, and large-scale property maintenance to the organization’s mission. As the owner and founder of a highly successful multi-state contracting firm, Mohamed has built a reputation for delivering high-quality projects that strengthen neighborhoods, enhance infrastructure, and support long-term community resilience. With extensive hands-on expertise in construction management, project oversight, and property revitalization, Shaaban understands what it takes to build, sustain, and transform community spaces. His work across diverse regions has given him deep insight into the needs of residents, the challenges facing local organizations, and the importance of thoughtful, culturally informed development. Known for his commitment to craftsmanship, integrity, and service, Shaaban has led projects ranging from residential and commercial builds to community-driven improvements that uplift local environments. His leadership emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and long-term impact—values that guide his strategic direction at Lyfestone.

Joann Otero

Chief Operating Officer

Joann Otero serves as Chief Operating Officer of Lyfestone, where she is responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations, governance support, and infrastructure development in service of long-term community impact. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit administration and operations, with a focus on building systems that allow mission-driven organizations and community spaces to thrive. Throughout her career, Joann has supported organizations that serve youth, foster creative expression, and strengthen civic life. Her work emphasizes stewardship, accountability, and sustainability, ensuring that community spaces remain stable, accessible, and positioned for growth. As COO, Joann plays a key role in shaping Lyfestone’s operational foundation, helping to create and sustain environments where partners and programs can focus on delivering meaningful and lasting benefit to the communities they serve.

Owen "Sam" Sewell

Chief Strategy Officer

Owen "Sam" Sewell is the Chief Strategy Officer at Lyfestone, where he leads organizational strategy, external partnerships, and the long-term vision for community-centered space stewardship. With a background spanning political science, legal studies, community development, and organizational leadership, Sam brings a policy-informed and culturally grounded perspective to Lyfestone’s mission of empowering youth, creativity, and civic life. At Lyfestone, Sam oversees the development of strategic initiatives, grant positioning, and cross-sector collaborations with nonprofits, foundations, municipal partners, and community coalitions. His work focuses on aligning resources with community needs, strengthening institutional capacity, and shaping the organization’s public narrative to support sustainable, impact-driven growth.

Yoseph Ahmed

Chief Financial Officer

Yoseph Ahmed serves as Chief Financial Officer, bringing experience across capital markets, corporate finance, and investor relations. He has held roles as a Financial Analyst at Azimut and as an Investor Relations and M&A Analyst at Rameda Pharmaceuticals, where he supported financial strategy, investment analysis, and executive-level decision making. Yoseph has demonstrated strong expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and capital allocation, reinforced by his success in the CFA Institute Research Challenge, where he earned top recognition at the national and regional levels. As CFO, he focuses on financial discipline, strategic growth, and long-term value creation.