Biography of Niranjan Shah

Election Season in Full Swing

2010-10-27T11:45:00.000-04:00

Election season is heating up. This fall Democrats are launching a full throttled campaign to win the office seats up for grabs and maintain their majority share of the political landscape. With a lot of projects underway that have been initiated by the Obama Administration, it is especially vital that Democrats not lose their hold on office so that these projects can be seen through.

Niranjan Shah happens to be a big part of the political scene and voices his support for a handful of democrats throughout the election process year after year. With all of the green architecture projects he and his company Globetrotters Engineering Corporation (GEC - an architectural and engineering corporation he founded out of Chicago) are involved in, having candidates in office that support the green movement can only help his cause. Just like any business owner looking to protect their assets, Niranjan Shah would be smart to continually stay active in campaign and political functions to get his opinion voiced in Washington and get the people elected that support his mission.

In the past, Niranjan Shah has been a contributor to such campaigns as Hillary Clinton for President, Obama For America, Madia for U.S. Congress, Quigley for Congress, and Melissa Bean For Congress. He was also an instrumental part of helping John Kerry run for President back into 2004 and through GEC he donated over $27,000 to the Democratic White House Victory Fund.

With the direction that President Obama wants to take the United States in conjunction with his plan to push green initiatives, it can only be assumed that Niranjan Shah will continue to support President Obama and fellow Democratic candidates who support the same cause.

New Climate Policy Could Help Create More than 2 Million Jobs

2010-08-23T16:44:00.000-04:00

With the economy still struggling to get it's footing, the country is looking to green jobs and technologies to help find the way out of the recession and into a fruitful and profitable America once more. This is great opportunity because it works to kill two birds with one stone by creating green jobs that will obviously help the economy but will also help to curb global warming and climate change before the effects change our world completely.

The Federal Government is doing their part to help these two needed causes by having a vital change in federal climate policy. According to the Center for Climate Strategies and John Hopkins University, Impacts of Comprehensive Climate and Energy Policy Options On The U.S. Economy goes on to state that new policy regarding the environment, energy efficiency, and climate change could create 2.5 million job opportunities. This would be a great help to the almost 10% of Americans who are currently unemployed.

The way researchers came up with this conclusion was by examining climate policies in 16 states and recommending 23 different climate policy changes for these states that helped to show job growth. These policy changes could help to reduce pollution cost-effectively, create new employment, and of course protect the environment and future of this country. It was also shown that by 2020, a net profit of $159.6 billion could be obtained along with the almost 3 million jobs for the country and the struggling economy.

The economy and the environment are two issues that America must deal with in order to help bring the country into the future, but it looks like that one may just help to fix the other.

UV Light Helping With Gulf Clean-Up Effort

2010-07-14T13:35:00.000-04:00

Lately, the biggest problem solving effort undergone anywhere in the world has taken place in the Gulf attempting to stop the oil leak. BP, scientists, government officials, and even average citizens have come up with everything from stuffing the leak with gulf balls to using hay to soak up the oil. However, what many aren't focusing on are solutions to how to cleanup the oil that is already spilled. Most solutions involve skimming, control burning, and chemical dispersants. Most of these have had their impact on cleaning the gulf, but a new way is not only a great way to clean up the oil, but is actually a quite beautiful one too.

UV light, which is used to spot blood at crime scenes among other instances, are now being used to help clean up oil that has washed up the Gulf Coast's beaches. UV will help scientists and clean-up crews find hard to locate oil on the beach. Under the UV light, the minerals in the oil show up and glow purple and blue which makes it easier to spot in the sand and near perfectly during the nighttime. What the UV light also does (as seen in the picture above) is give some amazing pictures from this horribly tragedy. By using UV light, people who want to save the Gulf are being given another tool to do so.

Fuel Efficient Car Eco-Friendly and Stylish

2010-06-29T11:56:00.000-04:00

When it comes to automobiles, style can be everything. Cars have always been at the forefront of having different looks and being completely stylish and trendy to coincide with the times they are apart of. This is why dozens of books, movies, and songs have been about this very subject. However, the tide is beginning to turn when it comes to car culture with more people than ever focusing on substance rather than style.

Most are looking into buying cars that are friendly towards the environment and get great gas mileage rather than one that is sleek or looks great on the road. This can be a problem for a lot of people though because the majority of the public believe that they must sacrifice some style and power in exchange for fuel efficiency. Even the green cars that are at the top of the line when it comes to style come off as too futuristic and just don't have what it takes to hit the road in many people's mind. Yet, just because a car is eco-friendly doesn't mean it can't have amazing style. Actually the style of a new eco-friendly vehicle is hot!

Take for example, the Fisker Karma (seen above), which looks like an amazing gas fueled sports car. In actuality, it is a top of the line electric automobile. The Karma gets an electric range of 50 miles after which the gasoline engine kicks in for an added ride. It may be a little too pricey for most, but it's a beautiful car that you wouldn't assume has fuel efficient features. This hybrid vehicle thus proves that you can have style on the road and help preserve natural resources.

Solar Power Struggles To Find A Market In The United States

2010-06-17T16:25:00.000-04:00

With the disaster in the Gulf coast getting worse daily, the United States seems primed to embrace green technologies as an alternative to the risky and environmentally damaging oil dependency that the country currently uses as it's energy answer. There are plenty avenues for the United States to take when it comes to renewable energy technologies. Things like wind power and wave power are renewable, clean, and some will say the future of energy consumption in the country. However, one renewable technology (that has actually been around for decades) has had a tough time as of late finding a marketplace in the United States.

Solar power, an unlimited energy that comes from the sun, accounts for less than 1 percent of energy in the United States. This is crazy to think considering the benefits of the technology and this may be why the U.S. ranks behind Germany, Japan, and Italy in the solar market. Resources have been put into solar power in order to make it a sustainable force in the energy market place and give it a chance with consumers. However, solar power's presence is dimming in the U.S. and many experts are saying that it has to do with a lack of planning and lack of technological advancement around the country.

The United States suffers from a lack of strategy that will get them off coal and oil as powerful energy usage and move them towards green and clean technologies. Why solar power suffers more than any other in the United States is because of stiff competition from other countries. Places like Japan are coming up with new ways to use the technology and are implementing those technologies presently.

Solar power in the U.S. needs to find a marketplace in order to not just change the way energy is used in the country, but to give the environment a chance to survive.

Niranjan Shah And The NIBS

2010-06-03T16:14:00.000-04:00

When most people think of the way things are, Niranjan Shah is a man who thinks of what things could be and does what he can to build them. World leaders have recommended him, so have heads of state, congressmen, and fellow countrymen both here and in India. Now, while most of these recommendations speak of Shah's commitment to humanitarianism and charity, one particular recommendation speaks to the heart of Shah's engineering background - his recommendation to the board of directors to the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).

Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton nominated Mr. Shah to the board of directors' position for his work in the field of engineering and architecture. His ability to handle the job may have been noticed through the great things that Niranjan Shah has done as chairman of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and his countless efforts to make his hometown of Chicago a better place. One of these examples is shown through his work with mayor Richard Daley, where Shah served as a member of the Economic Development Commission for the City of Chicago helping bring positive change to society.

As a member of the board of directors for the National Institute of Building Sciences, Niranjan Shah will work with others in his field to do what he does best: improve the field of architecture and engineering. He will do this by improving already standing structures and bringing new technology and perspectives to the field. This is why Shah and NIBS are well fit for each other and why none other than former President Clinton recommended Shah for the position.

Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill In Hopes Of Fixing Economy

2010-05-26T12:36:00.000-04:00

After one of the greatest recessions in American history many were calling for changes to be made on Wall Street, in the housing market, and generally to many of the flawed and broken areas of the economy. The job fell to President Obama and Congress to make sure that this type of recession and crisis would not happen again. What they came up with was a financial reform bill that went across the broad economic spectrum and touched on the areas of Wall Street, homebuyers, lenders, and traders among others. This bill was one of the most widespread legislative documents on the economy since the Great Depression. It was passed on Friday.

The vote passed 59-39 and is a big achievement for the Obama administration. It represents an overhaul of down-and-out businesses on both Wall Street and Main Street. The bill calls for restraints on the risks in the financial system and makes it easier to liquefy large firms that are failing. From the consumer perspective, it also creates new rules to securities that had a lot to do with the 2008 economic collapse and creates a new consumer protection agency that stands as a watchdog for big corporations, banks, and firms trying to bully the marketplace.

President Obama made it clear that this new reform bill isn't attacking the banks but rather protecting the economy and the American consumer. The bill is scheduled to be on his desk and signed into law sometime in early July.

Kagan Nominated for Next Supreme Court Justice

2010-05-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

Last Monday, President Obama ended the speculation on who was going to fill the open Supreme Court Justice seat left by John Paul Stevens. The person chosen wasn't that much of a surprise. As expected, President Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court ending weeks of curiosity surrounding the choice. Many felt that Kagan would be the nominee as most considered her to be the front-runner after Stevens stepped down from the court some weeks ago.

Just like all of the other justices before her, Kagan was nominated by a President and will have to be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate in order to take the open seat and become the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States. If confirmed she would be the fourth woman in history to be on the court and the third woman to join the current court alongside Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. However, unlike the other judges, Kagan has no prior experience as a judge. This, President Obama hopes, will bring a fresh and new perspective to the highest court in the country.

President Obama was happy to nominate Kagan saying that she is a "trailblazing leader" and "one of the nation's foremost legal minds." At 50 years old, she would be the youngest person on the Court. Taking into account the lifetime tenure of a Supreme Court Justice, this means that she could sit on the Court for decades to come.

Niranjan Shah And The City of Chicago

2010-05-10T17:40:00.000-04:00

The city of Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There's so much to do, and so much to see in Chicago that it would take a complete lifetime to take it all in and really enjoy it. Yet, the greatest part of the city is its amazing buildings and architecture. New and modern skyscrapers teamed seamlessly with older but yet beautifully constructed buildings to make the perfect city. This is why the city of Chicago is such a great fit for the architectural brilliance that Niranjan Shah brings to the table. It may be his home and the birthplace of his company, Globetrotters Engineering Incorporated, but it is also a place that works with Shah and helps him work his magic on a grand scale.

The new international terminal at O'Hare International Airport (one of the biggest and most frequented airports in the world) has been well documented, but to think that's all Shah and Globetrotters Inc. has done for the city of Chicago would be incorrect. Shah has also worked on the design for the new Midway international airport, which cost up to $250 million and was 850,000 square feet in size. He and Globetrotters engineering services also helped two McCormick Place Convention Center facilities expand for greater use.

Niranjan Shah and the city of Chicago go hand in hand and both have helped the other prosper and show off what they can accomplish.

World's Largest Laser Could Make Fusion A Reality

2010-04-29T16:04:00.000-04:00

Energy topics are leading discussions all over the world. Natural resources are finite, conservation efforts are sometimes slow to start, and green technologies may not be getting implemented fast enough. Everyone is looking to come up with the policy that really sparks the green movement. However, a science breakthrough may offer the Ace up the sleeve for fixing the energy problem.

California scientists are attempting to use the world's biggest laser, which is about 300 yards long or three football fields in length, to see if the laser can cause a nuclear reaction. Not just any nuclear reaction either but one strong enough to create the energy of a star on the surface of the planet. What the laser is basically doing is creating a power source much like the sun right here on Earth. This sounds more like science fiction than science, but if the laser can pull of this feat then many energy concerns may have a solution.

Tapping into the energy of the small star would be able to solve many of the energy crisis' that are going on and also have many in the field seeing this as a way to make nuclear fusion a reality. The scientists are confident that this experiment will garner some sort of positive results. Either way, in fiction a laser is usually used to destroy the earth but it seems like in reality it may be able to help it.

Air Force Set to Launch New Baby Space Shuttle

2010-04-23T09:46:00.000-04:00

A new era in space exploration, and maybe even space defense, is about to take flight. On Thursday, the Air Force is set to launch its "baby space shuttle" into orbit from Cape Canaveral in Florida and many eyes will be focused on what has been mostly a secret project thus far.

The X-37B looks just like the normal NASA space shuttle that takes off from Cape Canaveral all the time, but the differences between the two are extensive and go much further than just size. The X-37B will be the second re-usable spacecraft in America and will have no pilots aboard. Instead it will be in the hands of the military that will fly the ship via remote control. Since the military project is just being introduced, not much is known about the ship outside of that it can stay in space for up to 9 months and that it's dimensions are about 30 feet in length. Outside of that, the Air Force is keeping much about this new piece of engineering flying technology under wraps.

Some feel that the use of discretion is because the military is planning on using the baby space shuttle as a weapon from space. These reports are unfounded if nothing more than speculative rumor, and according to the military the baby shuttle will launch a new era for space experimentation and even perhaps exploration. It will test experiments in space and determine which breakthroughs can be transported to use on land. No matter the use of the ship, one thing that's not a secret is that the X-37B baby shuttle is an example that when technology and engineering come together it can break the orbit around what is possible.

Robots Could Be Used To Help With Coal Mining

2010-04-13T15:12:00.001-04:00

The coal mine explosions in West Virginia have shown once again that coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs to have. The risk to coal miners is extensive with dangers like structural failures, underground crashes, suffocation, gas poisoning, chronic illness and explosions lurking within the mine. These are realistic fears that have become reality many times over the years of coal mining. Miners who work thousands of feet under ground do realize the risk that come with the job, however there is no price you can place on a human life. With all of the advances in technology, it makes people wonder if risking a human life is even necessary anymore?

Robot technology has had many advances in the last decade. With some of them able to perform the most dangerous aspects of a coal miners job, it is apparent where they could be put to good use. Coal mining is obviously a safety issue for humans. A lost life is irreplaceable. However, replacing a robot would simply cost resources.

Robots have already been used by the coal mining industry for mapping purposes in mines that humans cannot access. Small robots utilize lasers and cameras, which allow humans to explore certain mines with no danger to themselves. This is a great example of how robots can help mining and keep miners away from the potential dangers of the job. However, many issues still remain between robots filling in for miners.

A major issue is the one between the need for safety and reliability of artificial intelligence. Coal mining is a massive production and requires a lot of work to accomplish everything that needs to be done. This may not be a setting for robots especially if there are failures in communication between humans above ground and robots hundreds of feet below ground. In addition, there is the obvious loss of jobs that will result from the use of robots. Replacing humans with robots could hurt the economy significantly and leave a lot of families struggling.

While we have safety regulations in place to reduce risk of injury and do our best to prevent accidents from happening,there are still problems that occur. However, with all of the complex political debates that result from replacing humans with robots, we shouldn't expect a full transition from human labor to robotic labor in the near future. However, in light of recent events, you may see an increase in robotic labor for the most dangerous aspects of the job.

Oil Drilling & National Security

2010-04-05T16:36:00.000-04:00

President Obama allowed the waters of the Atlantic coast, northern Alaska, and Gulf of Mexico to be open to new oil drilling. The President hopes that these newly approved drilling areas will help turn the U.S. away from foreign oil dependency and more towards domestic oil dependency, thus increasing national security. The President approved much of the east coast (from Delaware to central Florida) for potential drilling and asked Congress to lift drilling bans in many areas of the Gulf of Mexico. He also opened up drilling in the oil-rich northern coasts of Alaska.

While some did not meet this decision with open arms, the President did take some environmental concerns into account. He announced that areas like Alaska's Bristol Bay would continue to stay untouched (he named it a national treasure). In fairness, it's always been a tough balancing act between environmental concerns, the economy and national security but, the President hopes that the decision will at least promote bipartisanship with Republicans who favor the idea.

The President insists that renewable energy is vital to a sustainable future, but with attacks on the U.S. constantly threatening, it is apparent that something needs to be done in the immediate future to decrease our dependency on foreign sources of oil while we wait for the green infrastructure to mature. It will be interesting to see how the country is affected in the near future.

Congress Passes College Aid Bill, Helps Students Pay For College, Student Loans

2010-03-25T14:45:00.000-04:00

Congress just passed a historic health care reform bill this weekend, but what may have gotten lost in the shuffle is the passing of another important piece of legislation. The House on Sunday passed a bill that will help millions of students pay for tuition and will make paying back student loans more effective and easier for these student borrowers.

The bill (which was attached to the landmark health care reform bill) changes the student loan system by eliminating private lenders and expanding Pell Grants, which are grants from the government through the FAFSA that do not require repayment, as much as $36 billion. This will help borrowers to not get bogged down by massive student loan payments and will help to put the emphasis on gaining a college education rather than paying college finances. The bill would also give billions of dollars to community colleges, which will help many low-income students gain access to a college education that before may have been out of reach.

The bill also helps borrowers pay back their loans by putting a smaller cap (10% rather than the current 15%) on the borrower’s monthly income that is devoted to paying back loans. This stimulation of the bill wouldn’t be immediate (it wouldn’t take effect until 2014), but it would eventually have a great impact on people maintaining their own incomes rather than constantly paying back loan after student loan. This bill may not be as historical as the health care reform bill but for millions of students struggling to pay for college it's as important.

Energy Efficiency & Spain

2010-03-10T18:08:00.002-05:00

GEC incorporates LEED certified systems into facets of their engineering designs. This is one step in the proper direction for energy efficiency. Hopefully larger scale projects are on the horizon. Recently CNN aired a story about Spain and a tremendous leap they have made into a sustainable energy future. It explains Spain's solar revolution and how one project is responsible for 11MW of electricity - soon to be 300MW.

The project involves a farm of highly reflective mirrors over 75,000 square meters in combined size. The mirrors gather light from the sun and reflect it to a centrally located tower which absorbs the reflected light. Down the line, the light is converted into steam which is used to spin a turbine. The turbine spins a generator which converts motion into electricity. The whole process converts more than 92% of the light into steam and is highly efficient and is expected to expand. While the project they examined is called PS10 and utilizes over 600, 120-square-meter heliostats to power approximately 6,000 homes, PS20 is located right next door and is capable of producing 20MW, enough to power approximately 10,000 homes. For 2013, the project goal is to operate 300MW of electricity, enough to power over 700,000 homes.

This is a very good example of how renewable energy technology can be implemented to make real, noticeable results in the mission to cut carbon emissions and reduce our carbon footprint. It would be great to implement a large scale project like this in various locations across the United States. Technology has also given us point-of-use solar panels (PV panels) which convert sunlight into electricity right where it's demanded. That way, if you happen to live in a densely populated city, you can still benefit from solar power. This is a huge benefit for metropolitan areas since there is very little (or no room) for solar farms like the one built in Spain. Hopefully we can utilize vast areas of the desert to incorporate giant solar farms to power neighboring cities right here in the United States. Combined with energy conservation measures and point-of-use solar panels, the end result could be a surplus of clean energy and a favorable rate of return on your investment.

Obama High Speed Passenger Train Plan To Cut Down On Oil Dependence, Traffic Congestion

2010-03-04T16:42:00.000-05:00

For many, trains seem to be an outdated and slow mode of transportation, but with green initiatives in full effect, riding the train may be making a comeback. President Obama revealed a plan for a new countrywide network of high-speed passenger train lines. These trains would help in cutting down on foreign oil dependency, carbon emissions, and even traffic buildup. They would be much faster than conventional trains and would initiate a new age of train travel.

The plan would potentially have up to 600-mile long passenger rails that would transport people around different portions of the country. The different portions of the country would be the Pacific Northwest, the Southeast, the Northeast, and the Midwest with possible connections to other portions of the country. This would significantly improve the heavily congested traffic routes running from Washington, DC to Boston, Massachusetts and the rest of the Northeast. The Obama administration’s new rail plan would also help cut down on the carbon emissions that come from cars as a result of using them less, which would be another step towards the creation of a cleaner environment.

Vice President Biden went on to say that creating this new nationwide high-speed rail system would make traveling in the country both cleaner and leaner. People from New York to California will be able to travel at high speeds knowing that where they’re going is both clean and quick. I guess, sometimes to see the future of travel it’s useful to go back to the past.

Niranjan Shah and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi

2010-02-22T10:10:00.000-05:00

Niranjan Shah has made many significant impacts on the world and these impacts haven’t gone unnoticed. This is why Mr. Shah has had so many influential people speak about the amazing and historical things he has done. One of these recommenders is Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who is no stranger to making history. Pelosi was the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and also the first Italian-American to hold that office. She also, being second in secession, is the highest-ranking female politician in American history. Since becoming Speaker of the House, Mrs. Pelosi has worked night and day to bring better health care to the American people, end conflicts overseas, and protect the environment. Recently, she has worked with President Obama to achieve these goals and bring the country into a brighter future.

Obama Administration Projects Slow But Steady Job Growth For The Upcoming Year

2010-02-11T17:37:00.000-05:00

New jobs cannot come soon enough for the millions of unemployed Americans. Unfortunately, the struggling economy will continue to test their patience. The Obama Administration is projecting a positive, but stagnant, average job growth of 95,000 jobs each month this year. This number falls considerably under the market expectation of 116,000 new jobs. Therefore, in the short term, the unemployment rate will likely not change from around 10%. In the long run, an unemployment rate of 6% is not projected until 2015. While some feel this growth is too slow, other, yet, feel it's good because, at the very least, jobs are being created as opposed to being lost.

The Obama Administration predicts that the economy will have a slow growth rate of 2.5%. Regardless of whether or not this is viewed as good or bad, economists believe that the financial system must keep moving forward because any slowing down may cause the economy to fall into another recession - a burden that may be too great for the country to bear. Fortunately, there are ideas being generated to help the economy move forward and keep it from being damaged once again.

Economists and financial seers understand that the return to nation-wide economic prominence will be a slow and sometimes rigorous journey, but with the right solutions, the country can get there sooner rather than later. They report that boosts to the economy can come from a $100 billion White House jobs bill that will help create jobs while boosting statistics and customer purchase power. However, most economists agree that the economy has no chance of being fixed unless the financial system that broke it is completely repaired.

The Obama Administration realizes that it inherited most of the economic problems that were created by previous administrations. While they could use this as grounds to sweep those problems under the rug and put them on the back-burner behind new endeavors of their own, they also understand that using it as an excuse will not fix the economy. The only way that the economy will be fixed is by moving it in the right direction, even if it is slow movement. They intend to stick by that philosophy.

Obama Creates Carbon Capture Task Force

2010-02-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

Global warming and climate change are issues that will change the world that we share in the upcoming years. As President Obama stated in his State of the Union address, whether you believe global warming is real or not, something needs to be done to curtail our use of natural resources and develop clean, domestic energy. At the very least, a plan for clean energy can create thousands of jobs across the U.S. and not only make energy more affordable, but make the United States less dependent on foreign sources of energy, thus reinforcing our independence and increasing our national security.

The problem with this ideology, however, is that there are adversaries to the green movement that rely on things staying the way they are in order to keep their business alive. The coal industry is an example of an industry which could suffer if a new energy plan does not incorporate them. This is why President Obama on Wednesday created a task force who’s mission is to find ways to work with the coal industry to develop "clean coal".

The President also incorporated a plan to help finance biofuels which are fuels that come from recyclable and renewable sources such as plants, animals, and other materials. President Obama believes that this will not only help curb the effects of global warming but will also bring business to farm states that produce corn - a key ingredient in ethanol (a major biofuel) - thus boosting another aspect of the floundering economy.

So, no matter what side of the argument people fall on when it comes to global warming, a green movement can be an important and effective step to take.

Executive Education Program

2010-01-04T14:58:00.002-05:00

Mentioned a few times already, Shah furthered his academia by pursuing an O.P.M (Owner/Presidential Management Program) in Executive Education at Harvard Business School. Classes at Harvard involve exposure to some leadership, HR (human resources), capital issues, and more. These are a few examples of what's taught, but the question that anybody would ask is what more could any business owner/industrialist possibly interpret from pursuing an education above a masters degree?

In this case, the simple answer is a more diverse professional exposure to variants like the ones listed above, but also true visibility to loss, competition in your own market, wage rates, entrepreneurial advantage, economic metrics, and many other beneficial business development tools. Some of these tools include case studies to your own industry. In accordance, Shah was surrounded by business peers, and those in his own competitive industry; he was able to exchange information on the regular with people that may or may not have been experiencing similar issues with their own business.

Overall, obtaining an O.P.M. allows a corporate individual to ground his/herself as a more professional business owner. Also, it teaches people how to accurately craft business models, networking, benefits, partnerships, and lastly, it was an overall greater learning experience which helped Shah manage his 200+ company operation.

Niranjan Shah Civil Engineering Career

2009-12-23T13:28:00.003-05:00

Niranjan Shah pursued his degree in civil engineering and founded the Globetrotters Engineering Corporation (GEC) in 1974 and continues to reign as CEO for a company upwards of 200+ employees. To demonstrate his leadership and design skills, it's important to recognize the growth of the company itself and to highlight all the major occurrences/additions.

GEC has provided a full range of professional architectural and engineering consulting services for over three decades thanks to additions like the Information Technology Group, established in 1992. The Group provides seamless integration of communication and computer technology for business, industry, and governmental agencies. Ultimately, it gives a sense of direction in management and technological consulting services, which aligns with the companies mission statement: "Globetrotters is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals by understanding their needs and providing highest quality cost effective solutions." It's crucial that every engineering firm integrate some form of IS sooner or later in order to create cost efficiency.

In their earlier years, they provided civil, structural and transportation engineering services with less efficiency. However, these core professional services remain a crucial and critical part of GEC's infrastructure. In accordance, they work directly with multiple phases including planning, design and construction. To provide some examples of what they work on, GEC provides these services for highways, bridges, airports, site improvements, utilities, drainage, and parking.

Prior to the addition of the Information Technology Group, GEC needed to implement a few other factions before they could become a full service engineering corporation. These included the following: mechanical, electrical, plumbing. The implementation group was labeled GEC Design Group, and it stood alone as in-house design studio.

Shah hold's his position as CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and continues to maintain large financial projects, including those listed above and more. He is sometimes responsible for projects upwards of a billion dollars.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

2009-12-03T09:15:00.000-05:00

The American Society of Civil Engineers was an organization formed in early 1852 with a vision to "position its engineers as global leaders building a better quality of life." It represents over one hundred and forty seven thousand members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. In addition, it's America's oldest national engineering society.

The ASCE is run by a board of direction, and annually elects a president. Furthermore, leadership is provided by the Executive director, and the deputy of Exectuve Director. The board of directors is made up of the president, a president-elect, past presidents, assistant executive directors, and more. It's also comprised of multiple internal committees and Divisions, including Young Members, Diversity, Educational, International, National, Professional, Technical, and more. Some of the Society's governing document include the following:

Bylaws and Rules of Policy and Procedure
Code of Ethics
Constitution
Proposed Amendments to Society Governing Documents
Strategic Plan

The society also has a specific committee for managing post disaster assessments. The official documentation can be found at http://www.asce.org/inside/TCERP_Manual_Final.pdf. Shah was an integral part of this society for quite some time. He continues to do his party in transforming Chicago into a fantastically engineered city.

Achievements and Awards

2009-11-26T14:45:00.000-05:00

Shah had a long list of awards and accomplishments. He served on many important financial and educational committees throughout his career and demonstrated great acknowledgment for his own culture by staying socially involved. Some of his earlier accomplishments include his commitment to former President William Clinton, who he served on the board for the National Steering Committee, National Finance Committee, and more (1992-1996). During this period, he was also invited as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City, held on July 13-16 of 1992. He continued his advisory to the president by serving as a board member for the Goldwater Foundation for Excellence in Education in 1994-2003 (Appointed by President Clinton.) While still serving as CEO of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, he was able to also place himself into substantial academic roles, as demonstrated in his membership to the University of Chicago's Visiting Committee on University-School Relations. (1988-1994)

In 1991, he was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar to the Illinois Board of Regents, where he governed three state universities and also served as chair of Finance Committee. His involvement lead him into the position of a member of the governing board of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, an educational facility designed to enhance the learning experience by practice. He was invited to serve by the University's president, Hanna Gray. (1992-1997)

His academic and financial involvement kept him busy, but wasn't enough to slow him down. He was also a member of the Cook County Citizens Budget Review Committee, appointed by President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Some of his other achievements include the following:

Member, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago (1991-1995)
Invited by Clinton, Economic Conference with national, political, economic, and business leaders of the United States (1992)
Member, Economic Development Commission of Chicago (1992-1997)
Vice-Chairman, Asian American Advisory Committee of Senator Paul Simon
Member, National Finance Committee for John Kerry (2004)
Trustee, University of Illinois (2003-2009)

University of Mississippi

2009-11-20T13:36:00.000-05:00

Commonly known as Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi (1848) is a public coeducational educational facility located in three separate locations, including Booneville, Tupelo, and Southaven. It also includes the medical center, which can be found in Jackson, MI. With a substantial endowment, upwards of 450,000,000 and a fabulous education foundation, the school quite selective in acquiring students. It's current student body is 17,000+ and has a motto of Pro scientia et sapientia, which translates to "On Behalf of Knowledge and Wisdom." Operating under Dr. Daniel Jones, the campus has a fantastic history behind it, dating way back past the civil war era. In fact, the war itself hindered the educational experience at Ole Miss, due to a large percentage of students joining the militia. The campus was actually shut down towards the beginning of the era, and continued to operate shortly thereafter.

The Lyceum, one of the oldest buildings on campus, used to house every department including classrooms, faculty, and dorms. It continues to remain the crest of the university, standing directly at the middle of campus. The medical facility once served as a a safe house and nursing center for those wounded in the civil war, and was later condemned after serving as a housing unit for a large number of students (1970.) It was soon reopened as the chemistry center. The school encountered many problems on top of the civil war, including the desegregation era, which provoked riots and much turbulence for the students and faculty. Although, it managed to overcome all obstacles and remains a prestigious educational facility in the heart of Mississippi.

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

2009-11-15T10:36:00.000-05:00

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation was founded in 1974 and operates on basic principles of commercial engineering including civil, structural, and transportation services. Founded by Niranjan Shah, the company is now a 200+ Employee operation.

It began with a vision and turned into a great entrepreneurial success for shah. He attended the University of Mississippi, a public coeducational college located in the heart of Mississippi. It currently consists of 17,000+ students and has an endowment upwards of 400,000,000. Shah graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1971, which he put to good use when he founded GEC. The firm implements all facets of planning, design and construction phase engineering for the following

highways
bridges
airports
site improvements
utilities
drainage
parking

It currently employees over 200 employees and has an integrated Information Technology Group, which was added in 1992. The group provides integration of communication across all networks inside the company, permitting it to operate much more efficiently in such a fast pace world. Shah continues to have success with GEC, and does his cultural duties by setting up small business programs to allow for minorities to become educated in the construction industry.