LEDI’s leadership combines passion, inspiration, integrity, dedication, ethics, competence, talents, and professionalism to drive the organization’s success. LEDI goal is to be a trusted leader in poverty alleviation by ensuring economic development is achieved in the communities served. Meet the Founders!
Rufus Darkortey - LEDI Co-Founder
LEDI President & Co-Founder — Rufus Darkortey is passionate about poverty reduction, as well as economic and infrastructural development, especially in underdeveloped countries. That is why he co-founded the Liberia Economic Development Initiative (LEDI) in 2007, launching a flagship project to construct the first modern public, state-of-the-art library and technology center in his native country, Liberia. Construction of the building is currently ongoing.
He brings strong leadership qualities to LEDI. Prior to co-founding and serving as President of LEDI, he served with distinction as President of the Liberian Association of Cleveland and its Environs (LACE) in Ohio for several years. He also served as a student senator in the Student Government Association at Cleveland State University, and as Vice President of the university’s Black Alumni Organization. Additionally, Rufus served as the Liberian Ambassador for ClevelandPeople.com and represented LACE at various levels in Cleveland, Ohio.
Rufus is an economist and financial manager with many years of experience working for multinational institutions, including the African Development Bank as an Executive Director; KeyBank NA (the 10th largest bank in the U.S., with $136 billion in assets) as a Risk Reviewer; Forest City Real Estate Trust (a leading commercial and residential real estate development, management, and servicing company with $8 billion in assets) as a Senior Financial Analyst/Accountant; and the State of Ohio Human Services Department (serving over 11 million people) among other vital firms. He also serves as Senior Economic and Policy Advisor to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning of the Republic of Liberia.
His professional experience includes economic development; infrastructure and real estate development; revenue performance management and domestic resource mobilization; fiscal and monetary policy formulation and management; budgetary and resource allocations; domestic and international trade; and small-, medium-, and large-sized enterprise development and investment.
Rufus holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Economics from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, and an associate degree with honors in Computer Science (with an emphasis in computer programming) from the A.M.E. Zion Community College in Liberia. He has been recognized for his leadership and community engagement efforts with the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Cleveland State University Alumni Association in 2017.
He is married to Joan Curran Darkortey, LEDI Co-founder, CEO, and Board Chair. They are the proud parents of two children: Rufus Jr. and Jeremiah.
Joan Curran Darkortey - LEDI Co-Founder
LEDI CEO & Co-Founder — Joan Curran Darkortey, also known as “The Difference Maker,” is an accomplished business woman, philanthropist, motivational speaker and all-around servant leader.
She is an established corporate executive and administrator, trainer, and people-builder, having worked for notable organizations, including the United States Federal Reserve System, Emory University, Georgia Department of Agriculture – International Trade Division, and CNN/Turner Broadcasting.
She is deeply passionate about literacy, business and economic development, and women and youth empowerment. In 2007, she co-founded Liberia Economic Development Initiative (LEDI) to provide life-changing hope and empowerment to impoverished individuals while rebuilding communities decimated by the Liberian civil war. She is committed to completing LEDI’s flagship project—currently underway—to build the first modern public library and technology center in Liberia.
Mrs. Darkortey holds an Executive MBA from the Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University (2014), a Paralegal Certificate from Clayton State University (2005), and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Emory University (2002). Mrs. Darkortey is a Certified Information Governance Professional (CIP), Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (CLSSGB), and Certified Litigation Paralegal.
She has served on numerous boards and is currently the Chair of LEDI’s Board of Directors. She also served as Board Chair and Trustee at the International Community School of Abidjan (ICSA) from 2023 to 2025.
Joan has been recognized with numerous honors, including:
- International Community School of Abidjan – Visionary Guidance and Exceptional Leadership Award (2025)
- Federal Reserve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards (2022 & 2021)
- Federal Reserve Bank’s Corporate Citizenship Award (2019)
- Cleveland State University Distinguished Alumni Award (2015)
- Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 (2014)
She is also a lifetime member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society.
Joan is married to Rufus Darkortey, LEDI Co-founder and President, and is the proud mother of their two sons, Rufus Jr. and Jeremiah.