3 NRIs bag entrepreneurship awards

Three Indian Americans have been awarded by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce for their outstanding and tireless work as entrepreneurs.

Dinesh Shah, owner of Shah Companies; Jaspret (Rick) Pal, master franchisee for Liberty Tax Service; and Krishna Vavilala, a professional engineer, were presented with the 'Outstanding Entrepreneur, young Entrepreneur and Community Service Awards' by Senator John Cornyn at a glittering event here on Saturday.

Shah manages and operates several real estate development businesses, shopping centers, office buildings and land development for mixed use development in the fast growing cities of Sugarland and Fort Bend County.

He is on the board of various prominent organisations, including Greater Fort Bend County Economic Development Council, Chamber of Commerce, Child Advocates, Community Revitalisation Projects, Pratham USA, Sugar Land Mayor's Multicultural Committee, Indo-American Political Action Committee, etc.

Being a philanthropist, he has both donated as well as raised funds for various community causes. Originally from Ahmedabad, he immigrated to the United States in 1974 and now lives in Sugarland.

Pal has helped Liberty Tax grow from 17 offices to over 40 in greater Houston area. He is also the Founder and CEO of marketing, which specialises in promotional products and marketing services for small to mid-size businesses.

Krishna Vavilala, originally from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, migrated to New York in 1974 and moved to Houston, Texas in August 1981.