Edison Chamber of Commerce honors High Achievers  

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The Edison Chamber of Commerce honored several citizens of the Township recognizing their contributions to the community and their achievements.

Among those honored at the ECC’s 23^rd Annual Meeting and Awards Reception October 11, 2022, were several Indian-Americans as well as frontline health care workers, teachers, and others who had made a difference in the lives of people in Edison and around the world.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a physician with a string of clinics in the tristate area and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Ankit Gupta of Nandansons International, received the Citizen of the Year; Kamal Arora of Arora Hospitality Group, was awarded Best Hospitality award; Anika Bhatnagar was recognized as Vocational Student of the Year.

Township of Edison Councilman Joe Coyle conducted the proceedings and handed the awards to the recipients. He greeted all those attending and thanked those who have contributed toward organizing the event.

He introduced Dr. Parikh saying, “Thank you for all you do in the community and all over the world.”

In his speech accepting the award, Dr. Parikh thanked the Chamber for giving him the honor, adding, that it was the best of all the awards he had received to date, “Because it is given by my hometown friends and my colleagues and peers. And there is no higher recognition than those from your own family members.”

He gave a brief account of his journey to where he is today. As a doctor specializing in allergy, asthma and immunology, he began his practice in 1978, and began acquiring retiring practices around his state. “Today, I am the largest group owner” of clinics in this specialization in the United States with 22 practices in New York and New Jersey, and expanding to Florida and Arizona.”

As to why he got into media, he said, “When I turned 60, I decided to empower the second generation of Indians and to show Americans, including our own children, how rich our culture was and where we came from.”

“And I also worked on US-India relations for 40 years.”

Today, Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold bring out 4 print publications and run a 24-7 television channel.

“I want to continue the relationship of the younger generation to their home Mother India, as well as other younger generations of different ethnic groups,” he said. The media outlets were his philanthropic work and to make good citizens.

He thanked his family, his wife Dr. Sudha Parikh, and his two children Purvi and Ravi, who are also doctors, and were present at the event, for his success.

Ankit Gupta thanked everyone present and the Chamber for their support.

Kamal Arora noted that he migrated to the U.S. in 2005, and Edison has been where he chose to live and bring up his family. His first job became his avocation and his only business, he noted.

Anika Bhatnagar said she wants to benefit the Edison community and improve life in the city.