Aakash Patel and his dad, Minesh Patel, are first father-son duo to serve on Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Board 

TAMPA, Fla – As Tampa’s startup scene continues to thrive, the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce is working to add both millennial and seasoned leaders to its board. But for the first time in its history, two of those leaders happen to be a father and son.

Aaskash Patel, founder & President of Elevate, Inc., accepted a board position on the Indo-US Chamber effective January 1. He’ll serve alongside his father, Minesh Patel, who has been a board member since 2006.

“It is an honor to serve on the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Board, especially with my dad by my side. Both my father and I have experienced being entrepreneurs at different times in Tampa Bay’s history. As a millennial, I have a unique perspective, but one thing remains the same. Both my father and I agree there’s nothing more rewarding than helping to grow our collective business community,” Aakash Patel said.

After emigrating from Uganda, Patel’s father, Minesh, has been a resident of Tampa Bay for more than 25 years. He is the CEO of PBP International, Inc, an International Business Development Consultancy. He is also an investor in several Start-Ups, established ventures and Real Estate Development companies in Florida and globally.

Aakash Patel was just 27 years old when he followed in his father’s footsteps and founded Elevate, Inc in 2012.  His company provides strategic business and target networking consulting to help entrepreneurs learn, connect and grow in the community.  To date, Elevate, Inc. has coached more than 150 companies in the Tampa Bay area.  Last year, Aakash Patel was named Indo-US Chamber of Commerce “Businessman of the Year” for his contributions as a millennial entrepreneur.

In addition to the Patel father-son duo, the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce has named Tampa attorney Dipa Shah as chair of its board. Shah, an attorney and in-house counsel for Coastal Dental, is the first woman in history to serve in that role.

“Becoming the first woman to chair the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Board is humbling and a true privilege. As more and more businesses continue to move to Tampa Bay, we have an exciting opportunity to boost our local economy and improve our community at the same time,” Shah said.

The Indo-US Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1999. The organization connects Asian American professionals and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and improve their businesses through education and community involvement. For more information on the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce visit www.indo-us.org.

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