--- title: "Meet One of Our Employee Owners: Abdu Araele" description: Our employee-owners are what make Kentwood Office Furniture special and we want to share that with current and future customers. image: https://blog.korece.com/hubfs/Adbu2-featured%20image.jpg --- **Open:** Monday - Friday • 877-698-6250 [Let's Connect](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/shop-online/) [![Kentwood Office Furniture](https://blog.korece.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KentwoodOfficeFurniture_June2022/images/logo_2022.svg "Kentwood Office Furniture")](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com) - [About](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/) - [Blog](https://blog.kentwoodoffice.com) - [Contact Local Offices](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/) - [EKOS – Our Workstations](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/remanufactured/) - [Careers](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/careers/) - [Newsletter Signup](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/contact/e-news-signup/) - [Manufacturers](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/manufacturers/) - [Products](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/) - [Furniture Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/new-office-furniture/) - [Desks](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/desks/) - [Storage](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/storage/) - [Seating](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/seating/) - [Tables](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/tables/) - [Workstations](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/workstations/) - [Accessories](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/accessories/) - [Remanufactured](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/remanufactured/remanufactured-workstations/) - [Used Inventory](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/used/) - [Architectural Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/architectural-products/) - [Acoustical Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/acoustic-solutions/) - [Marker Boards](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/marker-boards/) - [Sound Masking](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/sound-masking/) - [Wall Systems](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/wall-systems/) - [Services](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/) - [Space Planning and Design](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/space-planning-and-design/) - [Relocation Management](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/relocation-management/) - [Delivery and Installation](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/delivery-and-installation/) - [Office Furniture Decommissioning](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/office-furniture-decomissioning/) - [Storage and Asset Management](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/storage-and-asset-management/) - [Leasing Options](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/leasing-options/) - [Refresh Your Space](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/refresh-your-space/) - [Projects](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/our-projects) [Let's Connect](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/shop-online/) [Call Us](tel:8776986250) Navigation - [Home](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/kentwood-office-furniture/) - [About](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/) - [About](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/) - [Blog](https://blog.kentwoodoffice.com) - [Contact Local Offices](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/) - [EKOS – Our Workstations](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/remanufactured/) - [Careers](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/careers/) - [Newsletter Signup](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/contact/e-news-signup/) - [Manufacturers](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/manufacturers/) - [Products](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/) - [Products Overview](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/) - [Furniture Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/new-office-furniture/) - [Desks](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/desks/) - [Storage](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/storage/) - [Seating](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/seating/) - [Tables](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/tables/) - [Workstations](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/workstations/) - [Accessories](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/furniture-solutions/accessories/) - [Remanufactured](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/remanufactured/remanufactured-workstations/) - [Used Inventory](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/used/) - [Architectural Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/products/architectural-products/) - [Acoustic Solutions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/acoustic-solutions/) - [Marker Boards](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/marker-boards/) - [Sound Masking](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/sound-masking/) - [Wall Systems](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/product-category/architectural-solutions/wall-systems/) - [Services](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/) - [Services Overview](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/) - [Space Planning and Design](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/space-planning-and-design/) - [Relocation Management](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/relocation-management/) - [Delivery and Installation](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/delivery-and-installation/) - [Office Furniture Decomissioning](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/office-furniture-decomissioning/) - [Storage and Asset Management](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/storage-and-asset-management/) - [Leasing Options](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/leasing-options/) - [Refresh Your Space](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/services/refresh-your-space/) - [Projects](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/our-projects) ![](https://blog.korece.com/hubfs/Adbu2-featured%20image.jpg) # Meet One of Our Employee Owners: Abdu Araele Published by [Kentwood Office Furniture](https://blog.korece.com/author/kentwood-office-furniture) on Sep 28, 2022, 8:15:00 AM Here at Kentwood Office Furniture, we are committed not only to serving our customers but to helping our communities and highlighting our employee-owners. Most recently, one of our hard-working employee-owners became a naturalized U.S. citizen. His journey has been challenging and it’s far from over, but we’re so glad that he’s part of the Kentwood Office family and we wanted to share a little more about him.  Abdirashid Arale, fondly known as Abdu, immigrated to the U.S. from Somalia and has worked for Kentwood Office for nearly 7 years. He currently works in the panel department.  Abdu came to the U.S. to escape civil unrest in Somalia and as a refugee, spent time in Uganda, Sudan, Libya, Malta, and Turkey. Unfortunately, Abdu’s wife and their young children are still in Somalia waiting to immigrate. ![Abduheadshot](https://blog.korece.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Abduheadshot.jpg?width=375&name=Abduheadshot.jpg) In the time that Abdu has been part of the Kentwood Office family, he’s taught himself quite a bit of English. Abdu has also only been able to visit his family once. However, now that he’s a naturalized citizen, Abdu plans on taking English classes at Grand Rapids Community College and is working to bring his family to the U.S. In his free time, Abdu spends time with friends he met in Malta that also ended up in Grand Rapids and he loves to watch movies on the weekends.  We’re so very proud of Abdu and appreciate the gifts and talents that he brings every day to our employee-owned company.  Congratulations on becoming a U.S. citizen; we’re excited to see what comes next in your journey.   Tags: [Blog](https://blog.korece.com/tag/blog) [Back to Blog](https://blog.korece.com) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [Meet One of Our Employee Owners: Gregg Poppema](https://blog.korece.com/meet-one-of-our-employee-owners-gregg-poppema) Here at Kentwood Office Furniture, we are dedicated to not only serving our customers but helping... [Read More](https://blog.korece.com/meet-one-of-our-employee-owners-gregg-poppema) ## [Kentwood Office Furniture celebrates corporate headquarters reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony](https://blog.korece.com/kentwood-office-headquarters-reopening-headquarters) Kentwood Office Furniture hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the significant renovations... [Read More](https://blog.korece.com/kentwood-office-headquarters-reopening-headquarters) ## [5 Reasons to Follow a Blog about Office Furniture](https://blog.korece.com/5-reasons-to-follow-a-blog-about-office-furniture) We know, we know... There are so many great blogs on the Internet. Whether it’s about the next big... [Read More](https://blog.korece.com/5-reasons-to-follow-a-blog-about-office-furniture) ### Locations - [**Grand Rapids**, MI: 616.957.2320](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/grand-rapids) - [**Chicago**, IL: 630.693.2263](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/chicago) - [**Detroit**, MI: 248.442.4888](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/detroit) - [**Indianapolis**, IN: 317.288.2678](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/indianapolis) - [**Jackson**, MI: 517.990.0362](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/jackson) - [**Lansing**, MI: 517.492.7000](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/lansing) - [**Grand Rapids**, MI](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/grand-rapids) [Call](tel:6169572320) - [**Chicago**, IL](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/chicago) [Call](tel:6306932263) - [**Detroit**, MI](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/detroit) [Call](tel:2484424888) - [**Indianapolis**, IN](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/indianapolis) [Call](tel:3172882678) - [**Jackson**, MI](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/jackson) [Call](tel:5179900362) - [**Lansing**, MI](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/locations/lansing) [Call](tel:5174927000) ### Resources - [COVID-19 Resources](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/post-covid-19-resources/) - [Get Inspired Gallery](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/get-inspired/) - [Virtual Showroom](https://kentwoodofficegr.myportfolio.com/) - [Manufacturers](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/about-us/manufacturers/) ## Newsletter ### Newsletter ©2026 • Office Furniture & Interior Solutions in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Lansing, Jackson, Indianapolis, and Chicago [Terms & Conditions](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/terms-conditions/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.kentwoodoffice.com/privacy-policy/)