HOUSTON: The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) hosted its inaugural 2014 reception on January 8 at the HESS Club. Over 170 guests attended the reception which focused on honoring IACCGH founding President Dr Durga Agrawal on his recent appointment to the University of Houston Board of Regents.
Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia welcomed the guests who included the President of the Asian Chamber, the Fort Bend Chamber, the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance and other resource partners.
Pankaj Dhume, Immediate Past President, presented his annual report and thanked his team for their support. He presented retiring Board members Ajit Thakur, Nitin Kapadia and Amod Bavare with plaques of appreciation.
President Sanjay Ramabhadran introduced the 2014 executive team and board of directors and presented Pankaj with a plaque thanking him for his leadership. The board made special note of the support and guidance from Asha Dhume and Sanjay presented her with a special token of appreciation. The Chamber also congratulated the IIT Alumni Association on their successful global IIT conference held in Houston.
Another highlight of the event was felicitating Dr Agarwal for his recent appointment. Judge Ed Emmett in his remarks said he had been requested to felicitate Dr Agrawal but said in reality Dr Agrawal felicitates the community by all the good work he does.
Responding to the felicitation proffered by the Chambers to whom he was instrumental in founding a decade ago, Dr Durga Agarwal said organizations like this one help businesses grow through networking and learning about each other and it would be in the fitness of things that if “all of you who are not members of IACCGH become members.”
He pointed out that IACCGH helped networking with Presidents of MDACC, Rice, Enron, Compaq and many other who became good friends and supporters of the community. Besides, taking MD Anderson delegation to India and helping in signing partnership agreements with several hospitals was very fulfilling.
Touching upon his recent appointment to the Board of Regents at the University of Houston, he said that he was honored to have been chosen as Regent by Governor Rick Perry and that he would be looking forward to working with President and Chancellor Dr Renu Khator and my fellow Board Members.
Under Dr Khator’s guidance, there have been many successes at UH. He thanked Jagdip Ahluwalia, Pankaj Dhume and other Board members for their support, hard work, and dedication to the Chamber. “I also want to thank Judge Ed Emmett for being such a strong supporter of the Indo-American community in Houston. As some of you know, India House Clinic is opening soon because of the support of Judge Emmett – HarrisHealth is spending 2.5mn in the equipment and 1.5mn per year in providing doctors, nurses and other services. The clinic will be open 6 days a week. The clinic will have OT and PT (Occupational and Physical Therapy) and it is Jugde Emmett who made it happen,” he said.
In his plans for 2014, the incoming president Sanjay stated that the Chamber would build on its current success for the upcoming year. Following the Inaugural Reception, the event was highlighted with the coverage of many a topic like : Destination Driven Networking, Distinguished Lecture Series, Women Mean Business, Power / Business Dialogues, Mentoring & Young Entrepreneurs. Community / Small Business Outreach, Financial & Healthcare and Destination Driven Networking.
India Post News Service
