About

Meena Bharti embraces her Indian roots and culture, actively engaging with her community in a big way. With a commitment to fostering positive change, she is dedicated to volunteerism and leadership both within educational institutions and beyond. From managing finances for a high school’s robotics team to teaching Hindi language and culture at the Gayathri Sunday school, Meena’s passion shines through.
Meena’s involvement with IAM spans several years, including a pivotal role on the board in 2011. This year, she is enthusiastic about the opportunity to perpetuate IAM’s mission of bringing communities together, amplifying the discourse on intersectionality, and spearheading initiatives aimed at increasing youth involvement. Her vision includes incorporating the next generation of leaders to ensure the sustained vibrancy of our community in the years ahead.

Currently, she works in 3M in their finance group. As a major advocate of Diversity and inclusion, she is part of the 3M finance D&I board and is also involved in the 3M Women’s Leadership Forum.
She was born in Allahabad, in North India and moved around India and lived in multiple countries before settling down and calling Minnesota home since 2001. Currently she resides in the Eastern suburbs with her husband and has two lovely daughters. In her spare time, she loves to travel and go hiking and practice yoga regularly. She is also a big foodie and loves cooking.

Srividya considers herself a cosmo-Indian and has been a part of the Minnesota Asian Indian community since 2015. She has been on the board of IAM since 2018. Having managed the marketing team for IAM for 4 years and served in the role of General Secretary for 3 years, she is looking forward to fulfilling her role of VP on the board this year.

As a Technical Project Manager in the Cybersecurity space, she consults at a Fortune 100 electronics retail giant on their Identity and Access Management team. Apart from work, she is passionate about working with students in the field of STEM and has been coaching and managing a large VEX Robotics program for the middle schools in her local school district for over 7 years.

She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, an adult daughter and a big-furry baby Bagheera. She immerses in hobbies which include gardening, painting portraits n landscapes, and experimenting with different cuisines in her spare time.

Mangala is originally from Karnataka, India, and a transplanted Mid-Westerner for most of her adult life. (She still complains about the Minnesota winters). She is very passionate about doing her part for my community to the best of her abilities.

Mangala was a Treasurer and Board Member for SILC (School of India for Languages and Culture) for almost 10 years, and is currently on the board of Mississippi Park Connection.

She joined IAM in 2023 and currently serves as the General Secretary on the 2024 board.

Tanwi been a US resident since I was 19 and a Minnesota resident for the last 18 years. My husband, Jason is from Minnesota and my 13-year-old daughter Raina, an avid Vikings fan, claims Minnesota is the best state in the country. The IAM Minnesota-Indian community has shown me love and filled the void of connection that I felt after leaving my country at a young age. I have met some of the most incredible people through this organization. It is a unique organization with amazing leaders that represent the community with tremendous pride.

My hope will be to continue to educate Minnesotans about the IAM pillars of Culture, Charity, Country and Connections and give Indian Minnesotans a sense of community away from home and family in India. IAM strives to make Minnesota a welcoming home for them. I, with the help of the board, hope to organize meaningful and impactful events that create a knowledgeable fellowship that is inclusive and involves people from other diverse communities. I hope to engage the youth, and pave the way for a new generation of leaders, donors, and philanthropists, I aspire to give way to new ideas and ways of doing things while keeping the precious legacy and invaluable connections we have built over the years. This board will also serve to create open-hearted space and acceptance for the underserved, the marginalized, and the unfamiliar.

Sanjay Terakanambi came to the US in 1992 to pursue his graduate studies. He has been a technology executive for over 30 years and led technology for large organizations across Education, Media & Publishing, Retail, Utilities and Manufacturing sectors. He has been on several non-profit boards and has raised funds for a number of them such as MDA, St. Jude, Hindu Temple of Eastern Iowa, etc. Currently, in addition to serving on IAMN as an Associate Board member, he serves on the Board of Directors for Gioodwill Easter-Seals of Minnesota.

Sanjay has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in telecommunications engineering from Bangalore
University, Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University at
Edwardsville, and MBA from University of Iowa. He is a passionate advocate for disability rights. He has been a champion for Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

He is married and has two adult children. His wife Sheela is an artist who loves to capture the innate beauty of everyday life and the world around us. His older son Sumukha is a graduate of Humphrey School of Public Affairs and works for the state of Minnesota. His younger son Sourabh is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and works for Pentair. Sanjay loves to travel, meet people, read, and listen to music.

Manoj is an IT professional and works for Medtronic Plc. He was born and brought up in the southern part of India and moved to twin cities 17 years back.

He believes in giving back to the community and is very passionate in building strong and healthy communities. He is an active volunteer and member of Medtronic ERGs and co-chair for Medtronic Global IT ID&E taskforce for Culture workstream. He lives with his wife and 2 boys in Maple grove . He likes gardening, cooking and loves spending time with friends and family.

Uma Venkat recently joined the IAM board as an associate board member, bringing her extensive experience in government finance to the role. Since moving to Minnesota in 2013, she has served as the Finance Director at Minnesota IT, State of Minnesota. With a rich background of over 25 years in the field, she now plays a crucial role in the IAM finance commitee, helping with the organizatioon’s budget and finances.

Born to parents hailing from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Uma spent her childhood in Africa (Tanzania and Zambia), before pursuing higher education in accounting and finance in the United Kingdom. Her academic journey led her to the United States, where she pursued her CPA. Her career in the U.S. began at the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Bond Finance in Michigan, where she contributed for a decade before transitioning to her current position in IT Finance with Minnesota IT.

Uma resides in Woodbury with her two daughters. Her oldest is pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, while her younger daughter is a sophomore at East Ridge High School. As a devoted single mother, most of her time is spent juggling family and work responsibilities. In the past she has been actively involved in her daughter’s elementary school PTA. More recently for the past three years she has been volunteering her time as a debate and speech judge in various state and national tournaments. She enjoys cooking, singing and listening to Carnatic music, reflecting her rich cultural heritage and diverse experiences.

Ram is a VP of MedTech Consulting at Virtusa and a Board Member of Trellis Area Agency for Aging. He strongly believes in Community Service. He is a new Board Member at IAM. Ram is married to a non-profit professional and they have 2 teenage daughters. Over the last 25 yrs, Ram and family have lived in the deep south for the initial 10 yrs and the midwest north for the recent 12 yrs.

Ram holds a MBA from Carlson School of Mgmt and MS from Clemson University. He enjoys playing tennis with friends and with his high school tennis team daughter. He enjoys Chinmaya Mission Balavihar and participates in Hindu Mandir activities.

Ramla was born in India but raised in a small country in the Middle East, “Oman”. Her roots are from Gujarat and Bombay and that’s exciting because she is multi-lingual (about 4 and ½ languages).

Ramla moved to the US in 1999 to pursue a degree in Computer Science and has called Minnesota home for the last 12 years (but is still not very fond of the cold). She is an active member of the Dawoodi Bohra Community that practices in Plymouth, MN and helps run Public Relations and Outreach for her group. She has served on the Edina Race and Equity Task Force for years that drove systemic change in the City of Edina and helped her build deep connections in the school and government system. She’s passionate about the Non-profit world and is currently a leader in product management at CaringBridge where she helps ensure “no one goes through a health journey alone!”

When she’s not working, volunteering, serving she enjoys watching Bollywood movies, hanging out with her friends and spending time with her tween son Burhanuddin. Ramla has this infectious smile and has a humorous and light approach. She goes out of her way to make people feel included and serves on the board to bring that passion and inclusiveness to IAM.

Somewhat of a global citizen, Shruti has lived on three continents before finally making Minnesota her home. Raised in Delhi, India, she completed her post-graduate education in the UK, and worked in New York before moving to suburban Minnesota over a decade ago.

She is a proud mother of two incredible school-age children. She has been an active volunteer at their school for several years in various capacities (Communications Chair for the Parent Association, Grade level parent representative, InterCultural Life Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee member, Art Adventure volunteer, Lego League Jr. coach), and has been an active volunteer at School of India Languages and Culture (SILC) serving previously on the Board and as Director of Internal Outreach.

Shruti is a recipient of the 2006 People to Watch Award by the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester for advocating for women’s rights and racial justice. She strongly believes in service above self and living life with integrity. Shruti is passionate about the Earth, all its inhabitants and all the myriad intricate ways in which we are connected in this web of life. She enjoys the arts -both performing and visual, yoga, the outdoors, sunsets, books and travel.

Inspired by her dad at a very young age, Sunitha’s interest in this uniquely vibrant cultural heritage has led her to seek opportunities to participate in and organize cultural events. Subsequently, it led her to join as the National Women’s Rep (2022-2024) for the Federation of Malayalee Association of North America (FOMAA), an umbrella organization of all the regional Malayalee Associations of North America. Sunitha Pillai was also on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Malayalee Association (2016-2018).

Over the last 14 years, Sunitha has volunteered her professional expertise to International Professors Projects and BENNU Legal to help out their noble initiatives. Ms.Pillai is currently working for the State of Minnesota.

She is passionate about arts and culture and loves to spend her free time doing theater, exploring Indian Classical and Bollywood dancing, doing fun reels, TikTok videos, etc… When not working, Pillai enjoys spending time with family, which consists of her husband, Suresh Pillai, daughter Krisha, and their Cavapoo Cooper, watching movies, & traveling. Sunitha is excited about continuing to serve the community through IAM and would like to welcome everyone to unite in supporting IAM’s mission and causes.

Fun Facts: You can always find a case of LaCroix in the back of her car- for emergencies, of course!

Known for igniting the spirit of wanderlust and capturing the essence of diverse cultures, Nidhi is not just a traveler; she is a storyteller and community advocate with a heart for holistic well-being.

Having explored over 20 countries, Nidhi is a firm believer in the power of collecting experiences and memories through travel.

For Nidhi, happiness lies in the simple act of walking, and she is a super keen hiker. Whether navigating the trails of majestic landscapes or immersing herself in the tranquility of National Parks, nature is her sanctuary, and she seeks to share this joy with others.

Nidhi is not only an explorer but also a follower of Indian holistic well-being techniques, including Yoga and Ayurveda. She will like to raise awareness about these practices within the community and beyond. Recognizing the pervasive challenge of mental health, Nidhi is determined to contribute towards this cause. Drawing from her own experiences and understanding, she aims to initiate conversations, raise awareness, and actively participate in endeavors that promote mental health and overall well-being.

Sandeep has been an integral part of the IAM family for over a decade. He has been the driving force behind the successful IAM Golf Event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.

Sandeep is a sports enthusiast with a penchant for fostering community connections. His love for sports extends to a diverse range of activities, with a current focus on Pickleball and Golf. A true Minnesotan at heart, Sandeep proudly cheers for all Minnesota professional sports teams, embodying the spirit of unity and camaraderie.

Sandeep has a vision to deepen the relationship between IAM and Minnesota’s professional sports organizations, including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, and MN United. His goal is to create meaningful partnerships that go beyond the surface, establishing IAM as an integral part of the broader Minnesota sports community.

Anurag is an IT professional and works for Capgemini. He belongs to state of Bihar in the northern part of India. He is holding Master’s degree in Computer Application and Marketing Management from University of Pune and lived in Mumbai before making Twin Cites his home in the year of 2008. He believes in giving back to the community and is very passionate in building strong and healthy communities.

He is the founding member of Bihar & Jharkhand Association of Minnesota back in 2016. He is an active volunteer for many local charitable events, member of Capgemini Diversity Inclusion task
force and Member of Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF).

Anurag resides in Woodbury with his wife (Shalu) and three kids (Anika, Anusha and Aayansh). He is passionate about cricket and Captain of ‘North Star’ MTBC cricket team. He loves nature, managing events, traveling, listening to music, dancing and spending time with friends and family.

Riya is from Woodbury, MN. She is a sophomore at University of MN, Twin Cities, majoring in Computer Science. She is involved in the Marketing, Technology, and Outreach departments. Riya has a passion for volunteering, and you will constantly see her at local parades, STEM fairs, family events, and more. Her interests also include photography, kayaking, hiking, and biking. Additionally she is involved with many leadership positions at the Univ. Riya hopes to use her skills and experiences to connect with the Asian Indian community.

Kuhu is a Senior Content Strategist/Digital Marketing Professional in Twin Cities.

She has been a journalist for many years and is passionate about social equity and justice.

She has been on the board IAM for several years in the past and has now returned on the advisory capacity to share her past experience in guiding the board.

She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband and her son.

Suyash is an IT Professional at Target in the Big Data and Analytics space. He joined IAM to contribute to the local Indian community, and has served on the board since 2014. Originally from Vapi, Gujarat, he currently lives in Downtown Minneapolis with his wife Aishwarya.

Suyash holds an MBA from Pace University, NY, and his love of numbers inspired him to serve as IAM Treasurer for 2019 & 2020. He was the IAM president in 2022.

He likes traveling, hiking, and gaming.

Dr. Dash is currently the Chairman and Founder of UAS Laboratories, LLC/Probiotic Company located at 555 N 72nd Ave, Wausau, WI 54401, USA. Dr. Dash is also the President of DD Innovations, Inc. located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 208, Edina, MN 55435, USA. Dr. Dash is also a director and a major shareholder of world class Kalinga Hospital and Foundation located in Odisha, India.

Through his Dr. Dash Foundation, he has established a Probiotic Innovation Center and Endowed Chair (Professorship) at Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, India. A similar Probiotic Innovation Laboratory and Dr. S.K. Dash Professorship are established at South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD from the contribution from the Dr. Dash Foundation.

Besides probiotic research, development and innovation, Dr. Dash has been actively involved in educational, social and philanthropic projects in USA and India since 1979 and for these contributions, he has received several national and international awards and honors.

Recently Dr. Dash has received the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from South Dakota State University. He also received the D.Sc. degree, the highest Honorary Academic Award from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India in February, 2015.

Dr.Corrie longtime Concordia University faculty member Dr. Bruce Corrie was named Associate Vice President of University Relations and International Programs at Concordia in February 2013.  In this role Dr. Corrie works to build community and governmental relationships for the university and helps develop Concordia University’s International Programs.

A faculty member at CSP since 1987, Dr. Corrie is well known in the community for his work on the economic contributions of immigrants and minorities and his research has been featured in the national and local media. He has served on the board of several national, state and local public and non- profit boards such as the US Small Business Administration, Governor’s Workforce Development Council, Chair of the Governor’s Working Group on Minority Business Development and the World Cultural Heritage District. He has helped develop foreign study programs in India, China, and Mexico and served on international accreditation panels for the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs in India and Mongolia.

Dr. Corrie’s travels have taken him to 25 countries and five continents. He has a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Notre Dame. He served as Concordia’s Dean of the College of Business and Organizational Leadership from May 2008 to Feburary 2013.

Ram has been in Minnesota since 1965 and has been connected with IAM since 1983 in various capacities like Bylaws Revisions and TAC formation, Community Liaison Committee, Nomination Committee, Scholarship Award Judging, and Annual IAM award Judging.

Ram with his wife Neena Gada is involved in several organizations like SILC, Gujarati Samaj, Jain Center of Minnesota, Hindu Society of Minnesota, MAIDA, KOJAIN, and JAINA. Ram has played a very important role in developing IAM oral History Projects since 1992 and bringing Beyond Bollywood Exhibit at the History Center in 2016. Ram is an honorary Council Member at Minnesota Historical Society after serving on the Council from 2003-12 as vice president and served on the finance, and Grant Award Committees.

Ram is a recipient of several awards, including 2014 Lifetime Achievement award from Asia Pacific Council in 2014 and 2019 JAINA Ratna Award from Jain Federation in North America. Ram and Neena Gada are part of the book “$8MAN” published in 2017. Ram was a founder and president of Gada & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers (1980-2010) and served as a president of Minnesota ASHRAE in 1982 and as a historian in 1984- 85.

Yash Goswami is a sophomore in high school at St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Bayport Minnesota. This is Yash’s second year as an intern at IAM and he hopes to further connect with his fellow Indians and others in the community through the IAM internship program. Yash is involved in numerous school-related activities and clubs including being a member of his grade’s student council, part of service club, and the boys golf team. Yash is also very passionate about volunteering, having earned letters in service for the past two consecutive years. Outside of school, Yash enjoys skiing during the winter, and playing cricket during the summer.

Anuraa is a 10th grader from East Ridge High School, interning with IAM for the first time. She is passionate about empowering advocacy on important political issues that impact her community. She travels across the nation competing in public forum debate, and is president elect of her high school debate team. She also dedicates time to coaching younger kids in speech and debate. She is president of the Young Democrats club at her high school and works with legislators and nonprofits on many social advocacy projects. In her free time, she likes to bake, read, and hang out with friends. Anuraa is passionate about becoming a lawyer and hopes to learn about the policy needs of the Indian community through interning with IAM.

Ananya Velpuri is a rising senior at Prior Lake High School. This is Ananya’s second year with IAMN and she hopes to further connect with her fellow Indians and others in the community through the IAMN internship program! She is involved in numerous school-related activities and clubs including being President of Model UN, a founder and captain of Debate, and a leader of a leadership club. Outside of school, she volunteers at a hospital, works as karate instructor, and participates and competes in karate! Some of her interests include lifting at the gym, hanging out with friends, and traveling around the world. Ananya is passionate about a future in medicine and is dedicated to using her experiences from IAMN to better develop herself as a young professional!

Anand is currently a junior at Centennial High School. This is his second year as an IAM intern and serving on the outreach committee. He’s currently focused on creating a IAM marketing brochure that informs the people what IAM is all about. Besides IAM, Anand is involved in DECA,Tennis, and Robotics hence his wish to pursue a career in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. In his free time he loves to play his guitar, do volunteering, and read.

Aditya Suresh is a senior at Edina High School in Edina, Minnesota. This is his second year as an intern with IAM, and he’s ready to jump back in. Aditya is passionate about helping and connecting with new people. He hopes that, through the IAM internship, he’s able to make those new connections, learn new skills, and serve his community in any way possible. Outside of IAM, Aditya loves involving himself in various school activities. He’s a part of the high school swim team, participates in Model U.N., and serves as the President of Minnesota HOSA. Aditya is also a community leader with the Edina Asian American Alliance. There, he leads the outreach department, working to establish new connections.

Fun Fact: Aditya loves anything related to the water!

Tanuj Sagar is a junior at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, MN. This is his second year on the IAM intern team. He is dedicated to making a difference in his community through his involvement on the intern team. Tanuj has a desire to help others and make sure they have access to resources that they will need. He hopes to make good connections through IAM and get to know more people. Along with this, Tanuj is an active member of his high school community. He is a part of multiple high school sports. Also, he is a part of his school’s National Honor Society, Asian American Student Union, and Math Team. Some of Tanuj’s hobbies include lifting weights, playing guitar, and traveling.

My name is Shaunya and I’m a rising sophomore at Shakopee High School. I care deeply about philanthropy and the power of giving, particularly in addressing the educational and economic disparities prevalent in India. Joining the IAMN family is a tremendous honor, and I’m excited to have the platform to raise awareness in our community about critical issues that truly matter. Beyond IAMN, I actively volunteer with India Philanthropy Alliance and Dalit Solidarity, where I’ve spearheaded initiatives for organizations like Sehgal Foundation and Hope for Children, India. I am thrilled to bring my dedication and enthusiasm to IAMN’s projects and make a meaningful impact!

Hi my name is Sricharan and I am a sophomore at Wayzata High School. I am a avid learner and I  always want to learn more. I love spending time with my family and playing instruments, including the mridangam which I preform concerts for regularly.

I am a 10th grader at Wayzata High School. This is my first year as an intern for IAM and I am excited to make new experiences in IAM and expand my knowledge in Indian culture. I am very passionate about making music, volunteering in the community, and reading books. I volunteer regularly for the Maple Grove Hospital and Swaravedika, a non profit organization. I aspire to be an architect and musician. I am a practitioner of Carnatic music and the western violin. I also participate in the Business Professionals of America.

Alice is a lifelong resident of Minneapolis and although she has travelled many places in the world, she is always happy to come home to Minnesota. She has a BA from the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communications and a Mini MBA certificate from the University of St. Thomas. She worked for 31 years in the building products industry for a national manufacturer as general manager for its three Twin Cities locations. Her interests are gardening,
reading and sports, especially tennis and the Vikings.

Alice joined IAM in February 2019 to handle the behind the scenes administrative work. She enjoys working with the community and has made many Indian friends.