2009 IndoUS Businessmen of the Year – Team Homeowner’s Choice Insurance

This year IndoUS departed from the Businessman of the year award and awarded a management team the 2009 IndoUS Businessmen of the Year Award.  The management team consisting of Paresh Patel, Sanjay Madhu, Kris Persaud, and Minesh Patel are the founders of Homeowners Choice Insurance Inc. (“NASDAQ:HCII”).  Homeowners Choice, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a property and casualty insurance holding company. It provides property and casualty homeowners? insurance, condominium-owners? insurance, and tenants? insurance to individuals owning property in Florida.  The team has successfully grown the company from an initial market capitalization of $12 million in November 2007 to a current market capitalization of $35 million in June 2009.  The company completed a successful initial public offering in November 2008.

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2009 IndoUS Businesswoman of the Year - Mrs. Sonal Mashruwala

The 2009 IndoUS Businesswoman of the Year is Mrs. Sonal Mashruwala.  Sonal was recognized for her commitment and passion in transforming her business from a grocery store and food mart to a full service Indian restaurant and boutique, Ganesh Market and Chaat Cafe.  Sonal has been active in empowering women into positions of growth in the United States.  Sonal through Ganesh not only reaches out to all ethnicities to expose them to Indian culture, but also reaches out into the community.  Mrs. Mashruwala is also an active member of the Centre for Women.

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2009 IndoUS Community Service Award - Mr. Nitish Rele

The 2009 IndoUS Community Service Award was given to Mr. Nitish Rele.  Mr. Rele has been involved in IndoUS since the organization’s inception.  He has supported IndoUS promoting events, and writing press releases in the local media and the Tampa Tribune.  He has done the same for the numerous Indian American organizations in the Tampa Bay area.  Through his selfless efforts, he has promoted and increased the awareness about our large Indian American community in the Tampa Bay area. 

With a Masters Degree from the Presitgious Journalism school at the University of Missouri, he has done a phenomenal job and has been instrumental in increasing this awareness.  Nearly five years ago, he and his wife Shephali started their own newspaper, Khaas Baat, for Indian Americans in Tampa Bay which soon grew to cover central Florida and now serves the entire state of Florida.  Khaas Baat is an invaluable resource for those who are both new and established in Florida.

2008 Winners and Bios