Staff, Writers, Producers & Content Creators
MIDDLE EAST | NORTH AFRICA
Our staff is comprised of journalists, business writers, geopolitical experts, regional analysts, and business people all with experience or interests in the MENA Region.
Each member of our staff has their own perspective, yet the share in common a goal of presenting their insights about the MENA Region from an American perspective.
Michael Levesque
Publisher
J. Michael Levesque enjoyed a distinguished career in government and politics before leaving to start a career in international business development and real estate.
In 1988, Mr. Levesque was elected the first Mayor in the history of the Town of West Warwick, Rhode Island. After his second term as Mayor, he ran for Governor of Rhode Island.
He was elected Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, was appointed by Presidents Reagan and Bush as an Advisor on business and labor matters, including United States Commissioner for Employment Policy from 1988 to 1993.
After leaving government and politics, Mr. Levesque founded a political consulting/business development firm that assisted companies in the fields of construction, engineering, gaming, and solid waste management in their efforts to secure both government and private contracts both domestically and internationally.
In 1999, he became a Partner in a company that had offices in both the United States and the United Arab Emirates, who’s mission was to provide US companies with the ability to offer their products and services to both government and private entities in the MENA (Middle East and North African) region, with a particular emphasis on media and entertainment, real estate development, oil field products and services, and financial services.
Mr. Levesque has extensive relationships in the United Arab Emirates, with related experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
He continues to write editorials for various newspapers, is a frequent political analyst on Rhode Island television stations and is the Associate Publisher of the Rhode Island Echo newspaper.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, and lives with his family in Warwick, Rhode Island.