Ramiz Tafilaj
Ramiz Tafilaj (born 6 May 1949 in Deçan, FPR Yugoslavia) is an Albanian-American businessman, philanthropist, activist, and publisher.
He acquired his higher education at the University of Zagreb and University of Houston, before becoming involved with hightech in oil and gas industries. Currently, he serves as president of Chemical Recovery Technology LLC and president and chairman of the board of Progressive Chemical Technology LLC. He is also head of Superior Computer Services in Houston, owns a publishing company Jalifat Group,[1] and is the founder of Tafilaj Group LLC.[2]
Tafilaj has been long devoted to the liberation and independence of Kosovo, has helped the transition to democracy in Albania in the 1990s, and has sponsored over 100 students for their education in the United States. As owner of the Jalifat Publishing, he has published works by major Kosovar writers such as Jusuf Buxhovi, Hajredin Kuçi, Faton Bislimi, Avni Spahiu, and Nuhi Vinca. He is a leading member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, while in Texas he is a member of the Republican Party.
In 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump honored him with the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the highest distinction given for volunteering.[3]
Tafilaj is married with three children—a businessman, a VP in the banking industry, and a nonprofit executive.