SPECIAL ISSUE

Niranjan Shah - a pioneer in community activism

Niranjan S. Shah, CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and member of Governing Board of University of Illinois, enjoys a special position not only among the Indian immigrant community but also in mainstream America. Niranjan Shah has been instrumental in working with the US government to improve relations with India. Through his community involvement, he developed personal relationships with public officials such as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in the US Congress and the President of the United States. More meaningful than his own success in his professional field are Niranjan Shah’s numerous contributions to his home country of India as well as to the United States. Shah was presented the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award of 2006 by the government of India.

By J.V. Lakshmana Rao

Chicago: Niranjan S. Shah, CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and member of Governing Board of University of Illinois, enjoys a special position not only among the Indian immigrant community but also in mainstream America.
As an early immigrant and community activist, Niranjan Shah commands respect as a fatherly figure by community members. But as a popular CEO who built a huge engineering empire, and as a community activist and participant of American political matters, Niranjan Shah is highly respected by both Democrats and Republicans. Niranjan Shah has been often consulted about Indo-US relations by elected representatives of people.
Niranjan Shah is a self-made engineering professional, a successful entrepreneur, a community activist, above all a lovable person with a lot of compassion and enthusiasm to serve the community he lives in, the country he hails from and the country he has adopted to pursue his career.
After growing up in a small village in India, Niranjan Shah earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavi-dyalaya at Sardar Patel University in 1967. He moved to the United States in 1970 to further his education and to seek new opportunities. He earned a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Mississippi and then completed the Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School.
More meaningful than his own success in his professional field are Niranjan Shah’s numerous contributions to his home country of India as well as to the United States. He has provided support for services, educational institutions, and medical clinics in India and worked with the Chief Minister of Gujarat to coordinate relief efforts for victims of the Gujarat earthquake in 2001.
As one of the most prominent Indian-Americans in the country, Niranjan Shah has been instrumental in working with the US government to improve relations with India. Through his community involvement, he developed personal relationships with public officials such as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in the US Congress and the President of the United States.
Niranjan Shah’s contributions are amply illustrated by the following statements:
“During my administration, Niranjan Shah was often a source of counsel on Indo-US relations. He has been a powerful force in gaining support in Congress for Indians and Indian-Americans.” — Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
“Niranjan Shah provides firsthand knowledge and insight regarding India-Pakistan relations, India-China relations, the situation in Kashmir and H1b visas.” — Henry Hyde, Chairman of the International Relations Committee for the United States House of Representatives (1997-2004).
Niranjan Shah founded Globetrotters Engineering Corporation in 1974. By sheer dint of his hard work, the company has grown to eventually employ over 300 professionals and become one of the preeminent engineering, architectural, and facility management firms in the United States. Under his leadership as CEO, Globe-trotters has received numerous local and national awards and has been a key contributor to the revitalization and growth of the City of Chicago. Globetrotters was one of the lead consultants for Chicago’s Deep Tunnel Project which received an Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award of 1986, a national award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Globetrotters has been a consultant for the City of Chicago for the last 30 years. Globetrotters provided development consulting services in the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Belize, Costa Rica, and other countries in Central America in the late eighties.
Besides heading his own company, he has been on several commissions and boards.
He has been a member of Illinois State Police Merit Board since 2002 and he holds the position even now. He was appointed by the Governor of Illinois.
Nirnajan Shah is a trustee on the Board of Trustees of University of Illinois, System in State of Illinois. He was appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich and confirmed by Illinois Senate. He is also Capital Construction Committee Chair responsible for contracts and purchases upwards of one billion dollars.
He was a member of National Steering Committee and National Finance Committee, Clinton for President in 1992 and 1996.
Niranjan Shah was a member of the United States National Institute of Building Science. He was nominated by President Clinton in 1996.
Niranjan was also a member of Gold Water Foundation for Excellence in Technical Education from 1994 to 2002. He was nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the US. Senate.
During 1992-2000, he was a member of Clinton-Gore Finance Committee.
In 1992, Niranjan Shah was invited by President Clinton to Economic Conference with national political, economic, and business leaders of the United States. Niranjan Shah was the only Indian-American to be selected to attend, and the only CEO of an architectural and engineering business to participate.
In recognition of his professional and community accomplishments, Niranjan Shah has been honored at the highest level in both the US and India.
Niranjan Shah was presented the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award of 2006 by the government of India. Presented by India’s President, this award recognizes the contributions of the Indian diaspora to India. While honoring Shah, President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said: “Shri Niranjan Shah has made the country proud of his achievements and increased the prestige of India and Indians not only in America but in the entire world.”
Niranjan Shah was selected as a recipient for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2006, an award presented to influential leaders of various fields and ethnic backgrounds who contribute greatly to American society. Past medalists include four US Presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports, and government.
Niranjan Shah was presented the Glory of Gujarat 2005 Award by the Governor of Gujarat in recognition of his contributions to his home state in India.
Niranjan Shah was chosen as International Businessman of the Year in September 2007 by the Asian Market Group in London. The award was presented by Sara Brown, First Lady of the UK.
Niranjan Shah has been married to his wife Pratima for over 35 years, and they have two children, Ajay and Smita.

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