AKKA World Kannada Conference 2006


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Infrastructure Speakers and Panelists
	Raj Setty is a Professional Engineer, Raj received the LEED accreditation from the USGBC. He graduated from University of California, Davis with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Raj has 12 years of experience in designing and specifying high efficiency mechanical systems for energy efficiency. His expertise includes developing energy budget target data and computer simulation using DOE-2.1E, NIST modeling software, and Visual DOE. He is experienced in providing energy-efficient designs for large facilities, central plants, as well as industrial and commercial buildings and is currently involved in the construction of a green home in West Virginia. He writes energy budget target reports, and identifies suggested alternates for renovations, modifications, additions, and new facilities.
Naga Manohar President and CEO of Durgam Industries II
	Naga Manohar is President and CEO of Durgam Industries II, specializing in consulting and business development. Company is currently helping Indian Automotive suppliers to supply to US Automotive. Over his forty years of manufacturing experience Naga has owned and operated two Forging companies, a Machining company and a Tool and Die Company. His last company Federal Forge was sold to Bharat Forge last year. Over the years has acquired the extensive knowledge of the Forging Industry world wide both in technology and applications. He has a Masters degree from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management. Naga Manohar and his wife Lokeshwari have three boys born and raised in the US. Vinod has M S in Electronics and is a Major in the US Air force. Karun is a Mechanical Engineer and graduated from University of Michigan with a Law degree and is practicing patent law with Tyco in San Francisco. Pradeep is an Economics graduate from University of Michigan and is a finance manger for a non profit organization in Seattle and is also into music. Lokeshwari is from Mysore. Naga is from Basettihalli, a village 50 miles north east of Bangalore where he has been involved in various rural development projects. They are very involved in the local community of Lansing MI in building a Bharatiya Temple and various other charitable activities. His latest hobby is to do off-roading with his Hummer H1 and ride his Harley.
Basavaraj Ullagaddi
	Basavaraj,has over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, Engineering & IT related businesses. He comes from the famous town “Banavasi” the origin of Naadoja Pampa in Sirsi Taluka in Karnataka state. He graduated from Karnataka Regional Engineering College with B.Tech. Then he went to IIT Delhi for his masters program specializing in Robotics & Automation. Later on he studied masters in Artificial Intelligence related to Robots & manufacturing. He has spent over 18 years in North America as a student, as an engineer, & as a businessman. Currently he is the Vice president/General manager of Integrated Products Solutions which is a Global Outsourcing company based out of Detroit, Michigan. He spends most his time traveling in China & India for their sourcing needs related to manufacturing products. He has varied experience in sales & marketing for over a decade in North America. His company is involved in out sourcing of products related to automotive parts, Consumer items, Aerospace systems, Plastics, Hardware / Software. He has been very successful in starting & running companies related to IT consulting & engineering services
C V Shashikumar C. V. Associates NY; PE, LS, P.C. (CVA)
	C V Shashikumar is the President of C. V. Associates NY; PE, LS, P.C. (CVA), a consulting engineering firm located in Harriman, NY. Shashikumar received his BE from the University of Mysore and his ME in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He came to the US in 1989 to do his Ph.D. at Rutgers University, NJ. In 1990, he started his career by joining a firm in NYC called Hardesty & Hanover, specializing in bridge engineering. In 1995, he started CVA, with the intention of providing bridge design, highway design, surveying, construction inspection and maintenance inspection services. Recently, he was one among those honored by the Asian American Business Development Center with the ‘Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business’ award at a function held in NY City, with keynote speaker Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. For the past 7 years, he contributes and takes a lead in distributing scholarships every year to deserving children at ‘Bhagini Seva Samaj’, where he studied from 1st Std. to 7th Std. He has contributed to Kannada Sahitya Parishad (KSP), and with one of his endowments, KSP organizes an annual lecture on “Policy making, Planning, Regulation and Implementation for the Progress of Karnataka for Today and Tomorrow”. Shashikumar is married with two daughters and is active in the Kannada community in NJ.
Manju Kuppa RE/MAX Gateway Inc. President & Broker of record
	Manju Kuppa Manju is Long recognized as an emerging leader with vision, Manjunath is the broker-owner of real estate business Re/Max Gateway Inc and INDUS Mortgage Inc. In 2005, Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada has this to say on Manjunath “I am certain his efforts will meet with great success, as he continually demonstrates an unparalleled commitment to the goals he sets in place. The word ‘can’t’ simply isn’t in his vocabulary. He exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that RE/MAX was founded on” Moving from business success and community involvement, Manjunath entered public life to represent the community where he has lived most of his life. First elected to the Kannada Sangha, Toronto executive committee in 2000 and then as the coordinator of “Business Forum Canada” during WKC-2006. Manjunath is well known to AKKA as sponsor and fundraiser. Manjunath a successful entrepreneur got elected as Convener For AKKA WKC-2008 if hosted in Toronto
Dr Raj Kumar Khatri Commissioner for Industrial Development, Government of Karnataka
	Dr Raj Kumar Khatri is the Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries & Commerce, Government of Karnataka. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in the year 1988 first serving in various assignments at sub-district level and district level, with national and global working exposure. Before his posting in the Industry Dept, Dr Khatri was the Project Director of SSA Mission in Karnataka. This massive project involved coverage of 43,591 Government and 2.405 aided schools in the State. The high light of his distinguished achievement was the convergence achieved by establishing partnerships with various departments and Government and Non-Governmental organizations and corporate bodies Dr Raj Kumar Khatri took his Bachelor Degree in Public Health, Medicine & Surgery from the University of Delhi. He also has masters in Business Administration- Public Services, for the International University, Birmingham, UK. He has undergone training at national and international institutions.
Umesh Vishwanathaiah Managing Director KSFC
	Umesh Vishwanathaiah Umesh Vishwanathaiah heads KSFC, a leading India’s leading State Financial Corporation. Specialized in term lending, merchant banking, hire purchase, leasing, factoring and other financial products, KSFC has over 1300 staffers of whom more than 600 are executives with professional skills. Annual assistance to SMEs is over 30 billion INR. Mr Umesh’s earlier posting includes Development Commissioner, has returned to the premier development banking institution of the State. He was the Managing Director of KSFC in 2001-04. He was later posted in Belgaum as the Development Commissioner, North Karnataka and & Regional Commissioner Belgaum Division Belgaum. The main role & responsibility of Development Commissioner, Northern Karnataka, was to monitor & co-ordinate all the developmental activities of the 12 districts of Belgaum & Gulburga divisions in the light of the recommendations made by the High Power Committee for Redressal of Regional Imbalances. Mr Umesh has served as Director & Ex-officio Secretary to Government, Department of Disinvestment & Public Sector Enterprises Reforms, Secretary to Government, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department (Ecology & Environment), Chairman & Managing Director, Mysore Minerals Limited, India, Director of Agricultural Marketing, India, Director of Horticulture, Managing Director of Karnataka Milk Federation , Director of Employment and Training and as Deputy Commissioner of Chikmagalur and Mysore Districts. Mr Umesh has Master degrees in Sociology and Social Systems respectively from the Bangalore University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He also holds postgraduate diplomas in Social Services and Marketing, besides a degree in Economics. He undertook a study program in Development Administration with special emphasis to Regional Development with the Development Study Center, Rehovot-Isreal and Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. (1993-94)
Prakash Banavar President DesBuilder Inc.
	Prakash Banavar is the President of Desbuild Inc. a successful construction company in Hyasttsville Maryland Managed by three NRIs from Bangalore. Other two partners are Ananth Badrinath and Prakash Hosadurga. Desbuild Inc was awarded successful Business entrepreneur for DC area for 2002 by US government. Desbuild Inc. is involved in construction of Embassy and Consulate in many part of the world including India.