Eliz Nestorov

Eliz Nestorov is the President of the American-Bulgarian Business Association (ABBA), which promotes cooperation and joint work between small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organizations and individuals from Bulgaria and the United States. For the past 21 years, she has lived in the United States and has gained a thorough understanding of the unique professional needs and challenges facing the Bulgarian-American community. As founder and CEO of AKAEVA Consulting, she is committed to fostering the personal and professional growth of individuals and businesses in the United States by providing innovative and effective solutions. In addition to her role at AKAEVA Consulting, Eliz is Chief Business Officer at DOBIZZ Business Council — a women-led nonprofit that focuses on training and connecting diverse teams to drive economic growth globally. Eliz also works as the Director of Development for MidPenn Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that provides high-quality, free civil legal services to low-income residents and victims of domestic and sexual violence in 18 counties in Central Pennsylvania.

Eliz is a dedicated member of numerous international and national organizations, holding leadership positions such as President of the International Women's Association, Washington, D.C.; Co-Chair of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Women in International Trade, Washington, D.C.; and a member of the Advisory Board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the World Affairs Council in Harrisburg, a member of the non-profit Council of Presence Bank, Harrisburg, PA, a member of the Women in International Security, a member of the board of the Bulgarian Cultural Center of Central Pennsylvania, and chairman of the Special Interest Group for Economic and Community Development and International Programs, managed by the United States with AGWA.

Eliz's outstanding contribution to the community has been recognized through numerous awards and honors. She is the recipient of the Harrisburg Mayor's Award — S. Reed for Outstanding Public Merit, in 2022 was the recipient of the “Inspirational Influencer Award” for Global Impact by the International Women's Association, and in early 2023 she was awarded the “Women of Excellence” by the YWCA Greater Harrisburg. In addition, she was awarded the 2023 “Women in Influence Awards” by the Central Penn Business Journal.