HMEC Steering Committee has been formed since November 2010. The steering commitee is responsibe for overseeing HMEC strategic and operational activities.
Umesh Shukla, VHPA, NJ: Dr. Umesh Shukla is Senior Director of Research and Development at Johnson and Johnson in NJ. He is an accomplished scientist with development of six new medicines in the last 26 years. Community service is his passion. He is actively involved in supporting several mandirs and ashrams as well as fundraising for humanitarian projects. Dr. Shukla is the convener of the HMEC since 2009 and a Governing Council Member of VHP of America. He is also a regional president of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation.
Mythili Bachu is the current Chairperson of Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) located in the Washington DC area and is one of the largest temples in the western hemisphere. Mythili has served in the Board of Trustees for the last five years and has held the positions of Vice Chairperson and President of Operations. She has been involved with the temple for the last 25 years as a volunteer.
Mythili is the Vice President for the Association of Hindu Jain Temples of Metropolitan Washington (UHJT) a non-profit, joint partnership of Hindu and Jain temples in the MD-DC-VA area. The organization goal is to enrich, promote and raise awareness of the Hindu and Jain cultural identity and heritage in America and all over the world.
Mythili is the President and CEO of MGA Pension Consultants, Inc. She has an MBA in Business Finance and is a member of ASPPA and NIPA, organizations dedicated to pension industry. She is actively involved in several of the committees in these organizations. Mythili is married and has one son studying in the Air Force Academy who is getting ready to serve the country.
Sharma Tadepalli served on the executive board of Sri Meenakshi temple as Secretary (2010-2011) and Joint Secretary (2008-2009).
Dr. Sharma is a committed and dedicated volunteer for more than 14 years in Sri Meenakshi temple Society in Houston, Texas. He is passionate about Hindu temple services – provide leadership in areas of preserving Hindu Dharma values, morals and ethics; leadership in temple safety and security; improve cleanliness and devotee satisfaction; integrate youth through temples seva and outreach programs; effective usage of technology in servicing devotees; continuously improve priest living standards (English classes; 401k and life insurance; driving classes etc). He constantly travels to various Hindu temples in USA and benchmarks and analyzes services for devotees. Dr. Sharma served as coordinator for Vedic Heritage programs for children/youth for more than 10 years. He is very interested in setting up a process in entire Houston for priest/volunteer visits to Hindu patients in Hospitals who are in a critical stage and will appreciate volunteer visits from local temples.
He is actively involved in both HMEC and Hindu Council as he strongly believes that collaboration, networking and shraddha is the only way we can preserve Hinduism in America for decades and centuries ahead.
Professionally, Mr. Sharma holds a Ph.D., degree in Geophysics and works for a Super Major International Oil and Gas Company as a Senior Geophysical Advisor in identification and finding new Oil and Gas resources worldwide for the past 22 years.
Ravi is the chief of strategy and marketing for HMEC Steering Committee. Ravi served as a board of trustee at Bharatiya Hindu Temple, Columbus, Ohio.
Ravi’s spiritual mentor is his mother Mrs. Jayalakshmi Kunduru. The seeds of spiritual belief from his mother has taken Ravi to the next level of dedicating him and his support to the Hindu Communities all over the world. As much as he is not able to volunteer by serving other devotees physically, he has enabled several community programs in several Hindu temples in India and USA helping the organizations excel in their purpose – to serve others. As of today, he had donated over $250,000 to the cause of community activities , services and support.
Ravi is the Founder and Chairman of Ventech Solutions, a CMMI M Level 5 software company with offices in US and India. Ravi is a visionary and as a CEO he is responsible for Corporate Strategies, Multi National Establishments, Marketing, Team building and Corporate Relationship. His passion towards the company’s growth, employee career and customer satisfactions are the hallmarks of Ventech’s success of being one of the fastest growing IT services company in the USA.
Ravi’s dream in life is to set footprints of his activities to the world for Human welfare and Education. He hopes to achieve this dream before his journey ends.
Ravi has a bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering from University of Madras, India. Married and two boys – Rasesh and Rohan.
Renu Gupta lives in Cincinnati area and is a VHPA chapter member since 1981.
She is currently member of Executive Board and organizing secretary Great lakes Region. A board member of International Hindi Association, USA and editor of Vishwa quarterly Hindi Mag zine. A professional writer in Hindi and has published several books and novels.
Renu Gupta is also an instructor and Dept. Head (Computer Science) in Community college Cincinnati Since 1989 personal business. In current business (multiple units) managing 50 employees (owns Great Clips franchise 5 units in Detroit).
Renu is married to Arun Gupta with two sons Nishkam Gupta and Vedant Gupta. Nishkam Gupta ex-Marine and served in Iraq war just finished Law school Vedant Gupta, Physician, doing residence in Cleveland Clinic.
Member of Board of Trustees Hindu Jain Temple Pittsburgh, PA, Ex President of Hindu Jain Temple 2007-2009. Member of Planing and Construction Committee associated with Hindu Jain Temple Since 1983, attended HMEC in Atlanta, Detroit and Baltimore/Washington.
Dr. Abhaya Asthana is a Bell Labs Fellow with Corporate CTO at Alcatel-Lucent. He directs Reseach and Development in the areas of computer and communications systems and solutions, multimedia, wireless systems, converged network systems, computer architecture, operating systems, optical networks and VLSI design. He led the design of VLSI systems at INTEL from 1982-1985 and was on the faculty of IIT Kanpur in 1984. Dr. Asthana received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical engineering from I.I.T. Kanpur in 1970, and his Doctorate degree from Tulane University in 1974.
Learning about Hindu Dharma, history and cultural tradition, living it and then passing it on to the next generation is his passion. He has been active in community service at the local and national levels. His main focus has been in promoting educational and spiritual programs and projects that will help Hindus living in North America to remain Hindus, and through their lives contribute to the richness of their adopted land. Organizing Youth Camps, Bal Vihars, Youth Conferences, Dharma Samsads, Hindu Awareness Yaatras, Hindu Mandir Executive Conferences, Hindu Heritage Days, Hindu Seva Day are some examples of what he has been actively doing for the past 25 years.
Sant Gupta moved to the US over 40 years ago. He holds B. Tech from IIT Delhi, MSEE from University of Florida and MBA from Rutgers University, NJ. He resides in Washington DC suburbs and works full time as Business Development Executive for the US DOD industry.
Sant has been associated with the Durga Temple of VA and other activities serving Hinduism. He volunteers for other causes such as Inter-Faith dialog, Outreach to local communities and County Government, etc. He is active with HMEC, HAF, VHP, UHJT, AJC, JCRC, CapIIT, IFC, IAFPE, VA and many other local organizations.
Sant is married and has three adult children and two grand daughters.
HMEC Steering Committee has been formed since November 2010. The steering commitee is responsibe for overseeing HMEC strategic and operational activities.