State Chapters: Pennsylvania
PA -USINPAC provides bipartisan support to candidates for federal, state and local office, works to impact policy on issues of concern to the Indian-American community in the state and the country, and assists in raising awareness among the citizens and political representatives in Pennsylvania through:
- Educating elected officials, aspiring politicians and the community on issues relevant to US-India, Pennsylvania – India, Indian-American and South Asian Issues.
- Training and supporting Indian-American citizens running for local, state or federal office.
- Strengthening and promoting the agenda and strategic objectives of National USINPAC
The selection of Pittsburgh as the host for the 2009 G-20 summit symbolizes the growing importance and opportunity in this region and the State of Pennsylvania. The City of Pittsburgh has undergone a profound and lasting economic transformation built on its historic strengths with investment and innovation. Pittsburgh is a center of ideas. Building on its superior educational systems, leadership in healthcare, state of the art airport and its champion sports franchises, Pittsburgh’s political, economic and social achievements mark the region’s growing importance in state and federal polity.
Pennsylvania is also a crucial battleground state. Its strategic importance is evident when measured with the electoral votes, demographic diversity and impact the State can have on Presidential elections.
Vision
- Promote and strengthen the USINPAC mission to impact policy on issues of concern to the Indian American community in the United States.
- Provide bipartisan support to candidates for federal, state and local office.
- Impact policy on issues of concern to the Indian-American community
- Assist in raising awareness to the citizens and political representatives in Pennsylvania through
Dr. Ravi Balu is a practicing dentist and active Entrepenuer in the Pittsburgh region. He is actively involved in the local and national political activities. Dr. Ravi serves as Murrysville Democratic committee and precinct captain. Ravi received his Bachelor in Economics from The University of Virginia and The Temple University School of Dental Medicine. Ravi has been actively involved in indian American issues from the collegiate level. While at Virginia, he led the effort to create the first Indian student association in 1983.
Today, the organization has over 1200 members. Settled in Pittsburgh for the last twenty years, Ravi is an active leader in the indian American community. His recent activities include his involvement at a successful trade mission with the mayor of Pittsburgh to India. Dr. Ravi is a committed fund raising organizer and has been involved in the election of U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire and Senator Bob Casey.
Attorney Seth is a Shareholder and Chair of the Immigration Law practice at Tucker Arensberg, P.C. and has served thousands in the Indian community through his work as an attorney over the years. Over the past decade, Piyush has acquired an extensive background that includes business immigration, contract/commercial litigation, tax, and business structuring. Before joining Tucker Arensberg, P.C., Mr. Seth served as Managing Shareholder of the Seth Law Associates.
Mr. Seth obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with a certificate in International Studies and a minor in Economics from Binghamton University, State University of New York, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with a certificate in Health Law. Mr. Seth has developed a substantial practice focused on immigration law and has served hundreds of corporate clients with their business immigration needs. In the past, Mr. Seth has provided consultation to the Pittsburgh media on immigration related issues. Mr. Seth has been ranked by myvisajobs.com as one of the top immigration attorneys in Pennsylvania. Additionally, he has the pleasure to serve the needs of the Indian American community throughout Pennsylvania and the United States on all legal matters with his practice.
Chirag is the founder and CEO of Mogambo Solutions LLC, a full service international patent research and strategy firm. In addition, Mr. Shah also serves as a founding member of InvestorIP, a premier patent analytics and patent consulting firm. Since 2005, Chirag has managed a portfolio of Fortune 500 clients, Venture Capital and Private Equity firms and leading AM 200 law firms. Prior to Mogambo, Chirag worked in the Intellectual Property group of Fox Rothschild, he is a former U.S. Patent Examiner, and NIH Research Scientist.
Academically, Mr. Shah holds a Juris Doctor from The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he specialized in Patent Law. In addition, he holds undergraduate degrees in physiology, philosophy and chemistry and a Master of Science in Biotechnology from The Johns Hopkins University. Chirag also obtained his Master of Arts in Political Science from The Jwaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi , where he specialized in US-Indo Politics. For the past few years, Chirag has demonstaretd leadersip in Indo-American, South Asian and several other political and cultural organizations.
Dr. Ganesh is a financial services domain expert and an accomplished entrepreneur in the area of embedding high-value IP in various business processes. One of his prior start-ups was acquired by State Street Bank, thereby creating the nucleus of State Street Global’s Advanced Research Center, which was the knowledge locus for managing institutional portfolios worth several tens of billions of dollars.
Ganesh was part of the Applied Security Analysis Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned an MBA in Finance and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. He has a BTech in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Ganesh is a charter member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Pittsburgh chapter and was an early member of the Chicago Quantitative Alliance.
Dr. Brahma Sharma received his undergraduate and graduate medical degree from The University of Rajasthan. After completing his medical training at The University of Alabama, Dr. Sharma pursued his fellowship at The University of Pittsburgh. Currently Dr. Sharma is a Clinical Associate Professor at UPMC since 1990. Dr. Sharma is an active member in several Association of American Physicians from India (AAPI).
Servicng as AAPI convention chair for international association, secreatry of AAPI charitable foundation and secreatary of TRI state Physician association. Brahma is a founding member of international SAI health organisation and chairman USA Sai national medical council He has been recently selected as co chair for the upcoming Indo- U.S. Summit from January 2, 2009. Dr. Sharma has traveled extensively to almost 40 countries as a physician volunteer and has led a number fo public health projects in India, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Guyana, Peru, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Australia.