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TiE Ohio International Entrepreneur Awards
Windows on the River
September 20, 2011

The 2nd annual TiE International Entrepreneur Awards were held in a ceremony at Windows on the River. The awards were created to recognize the achievements of international entrepreneurs helping to reshape and rebuild Ohio's business landscape and to highlight how international entrepreneurs contribute to the local economy.

Reka Barabas, Director of TiE Ohio, welcomed the crowd to the 2011 TiE Ohio International Awards Ceremony.

Reka Barabas, Director of TiE Ohio

Reka Barabas, Director of TiE Ohio


Reka introduced TiE Co-Chair Pradip Kamat of Indus who introduced keynote speaker Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, President and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED) and eQED.

Pradip Kamat

Pradip Kamat

Pradip Kamat




Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, President and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED) and eQED

Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, President and CEO of
Quality Electrodynamics (QED) and eQED


Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, President and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics (QED) and eQED




Reka Barabas thanked Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita

Reka Barabas thanked Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita after his keynote



Immigration Attorney and TiE Ohio Co-Chair Richard Herman told how immigrants are driving the job-producing startups in the US.

Immigration Attorney and TiE Ohio Co-Chair Richard Herman

Richard Herman




Richard Herman then introduced TiE Community Catalyst Award Recipients Anthony Yen and Jeanette Grasselli Brown.

Richard Herman

Richard Herman




TiE Community Catalyst Award Recipient Jeanette Grasselli Brown

TiE Community Catalyst Award Recipient Dr. Jeanette Grasselli Brown


Dr Anthony Yen

Dr Anthony Yen

Dr Anthony Yen



Then Radhika Reddy, TiE Ohio Program Chair, explained the 4 categories of the 2011 TiE Ohio International Awards.

Radhika Reddy

Radhika Reddy

  1. Immigrant Entrepreneur Award <$5M . This award recognizes an entrepreneur who was born outside the U.S., started his or her company in Ohio, and the business currently generates annual revenues under $5M). Finalists were Laura Bennett (Embrace Pet Insurance), Dr. Charu Ramanathan (CardioInsight), and Bahman Taheri (Alphamicron).

  2. Immigrant Entrepreneur Award >$5M. This award recognizes an entrepreneur who was born outside the U.S., started his or her company in Ohio, and the business currently generates annual revenues above $5M). Finalists were Saji Daniel (Tradex), Stella Moga-Kennedy (Le Chaperon Rouge), and Alex Sonis (AVADirect).

  3. Global Entrepreneur Award This award recognizes an entrepreneur, either foreign-born or local-born, who started his or her company in Ohio and has a global presence today). Finalists were Yuval Brisker (TOA Technologies), Dr. Mehran Mehregany (Nine Sigma), and Rini Das (Pakra).

  4. International Student Innovator Award. A new award this year, this award recognizes an international student currently enrolled at a higher education institution in Ohio (or graduated within the past year) who has shown leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Finalists were Lingxiao Xue from CWRU (Chinese Student Housing Program), Kshitij C. Jha from the University of Akron (BienaTech), Rakib Islam from the College of Wooster and Abdullah Alkhaddah from Kent State (Kent H.O.M.E. Markets).

It was an inspiring night. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners and to TiE Ohio for hosting these important awards. Enjoy these photos from the evening.


>TiE Community Catalyst Award Recipients Anthony Yen and Jeanette Grasselli Brown

TiE Community Catalyst Award Recipients
Anthony Yen and Jeanette Grasselli Brown


2011 Tie Ohio International Entrepreneur Award Winners

2011 Tie Ohio International Entrepreneur Award Winners


Pulkit Gupta, Dr and Mrs Hiroyuki Fujita and Richard Herman

Pulkit Gupta, Dr and Mrs Hiroyuki Fujita and Richard Herman


Bahman Taheri of Alphamicron with award

Bahman Taheri of Alphamicron with award


Gia Hoa Ryan and Dr Anthony Yen

Gia Hoa Ryan and Dr Anthony Yen


Richard Eastburn, Byron Dillard and Pat Valente

Richard Eastburn, Byron Dillard and Pat Valente


Reka Barabas and Larry Miller

Reka Barabas and Larry Miller


Cathy Belk and Radhika Reddy

Cathy Belk and Radhika Reddy


Lev Kavfhik, Pradip Kamat and Alok Kavfhik

Lev Kavfhik, Pradip Kamat and Alok Kavfhik


Phil Alexander and Rita Patel

Phil Alexander and Rita Patel


Stella Moga-Kennedy and Tom Sudow

Stella Moga-Kennedy and Tom Sudow


Albert Ratner and Baiju Shah

Albert Ratner and Baiju Shah


Olga Sonis with son (and finalist) Alex Sonis of AVADirect

Olga Sonis with son (and finalist) Alex Sonis of AVADirect


Bahman Taheri and Tamas Kosa of Alphamicron

Award winner Bahman Taheri and Tamas Kosa of Alphamicron


Finalists Charu Ramanathan of CardioInsight and Laura Bennett of Embrace Pet Insurance

Finalists Charu Ramanathan of CardioInsight and Laura Bennett of Embrace Pet Insurance


Finalist Rini Das of PAKRA with award

Finalist Rini Das of PAKRA with award


Mrs and Dr. Anthony Yen

Mrs and Dr. Anthony Yen


Stella Moga-Kennedy of Le Chaperon Rouge

Stella Moga-Kennedy of Le Chaperon Rouge


Lt. Colonel Joe Meissner and Doug Sebring

Lt. Colonel Joe Meissner and Doug Sebring


Judy Wong of Margaret W. Wong & Associates and Richard Herman

Judy Wong of Margaret W. Wong & Associates and Richard Herman


Gia Hoa Ryan of Saigon Plaza and Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com

Gia Hoa Ryan of Saigon Plaza and Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com


Andy Zyngaaccepted the award for Mehran Mehregany of Nine Sigma

Andy Zynga accepted the award for Mehran Mehregany and Nine Sigma


Alex Sonis of AVADirect with award

Alex Sonis of AVADirect with award


Award winner Kshitij C Jha of BienaTech with advisors

Award winner Kshitij C Jha of BienaTech with advisors


Radhika Reddy and Stella Moga-Kennedy

Radhika Reddy and Stella Moga-Kennedy


2011 TiE Awards finalists and winners

2011 TiE Awards finalists and winners


Crows at TiE Awards at Windows on the River


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