NEW YORK (TIP): An Indian-American woman entrepreneur and community activist in the Tri-state area, Pam Kwatra, President of Kripari Marketing, was named member of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation’s (NYCEDC) Board of Directors by Mayor Bill de Blasio late last month.

Pam Kwatra, one of the ten new members named by the Mayor to the Board of Directors, joined the likes of William S. Floyd, Head of External Affairs for Google New York, and Matthew Hiltzik, Founder & CEO of Hiltzik Strategies & Former Vice President Of Communications & Government Relations for Miramax Films, following her appointment on July 24.

The board members help guide NYCEDC’s agenda as the City’s primary economic development vehicle. It leverages the City’s assets to create good jobs and drive growth, ensuring equitable and sustainable development across all five boroughs. The membership to the board of directors is an honorary position and people serve as long as the Mayor wishes. The appointees include business, community, nonprofit & academic leaders and will join the organization’s 27-member board.

The Mayor noted that Kwatra, President of Kripari Marketing, is a member of the Association of Indians in America, serving as a liaison between major American corporations and the Indian-American community. She is on the boards of several organizations namely The American Conference on Diversity, South Asian Business Alliance Network, to name a few, and is the founder/President of South Asian Business Alliance, Founder of South Asian 4 Better Choice & G30 for India Vision Foundation. Supported Mayor’s Campaign, Kwatra was on the Mayor’s Transition Committee. Additionally, She has served few New York City boards, like Mayor’s Fund, City Center of Music & Drama Inc.,/ New York City Ballet,/ David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center and was nominated as an Executive committee Member to be part NYC Democratic National Committee (DNC) 2016 Convention. Kwatra has been honored with several awards few namely,  Voted NRI of the month by National Magazine “NRI Today” in January 2003. The only Indian American Woman to receive “Congressional Ellis Island Medal of Honor” award in 2008,  “Mother Teresa Award” in 2011 in India and many more.

“We are honored to have these new leaders from tech companies, non-profits and academia join our team as we invest in the human capital, infrastructure and space needs to drive a fair and strong economy,” Mayor de Blasio said in a statement.

Kwatra, a graduate of Delhi University who has been taking up causes dear to Indian-Americans in New York metropolitan area, was thrilled about the appointment, but when asked what you will do or Indian Americans, she mentioned that she would represent all New Yorkers, and not just Indian-Americans.

“South Asian Business owners should be treated fairly and NYCEDC vendor relationship should be fair and transparent by the City. But honestly, it is an agency for all New Yorkers, and so I cannot just separate needs of South Asians in particular although they are important to me & I will do everything I can to support them.’ Kwatra, a small business owner for 30 years, said.

“My experience of serving on other broads and the community at large has been a priority. So, I will work along with other board members to ensure that NYCEDC also focuses on serving the community while keeping agency goals on track,” Kwatra said in a statement.

Given a chance she would like to focus on women’s issues with special programs on women, and NYCEDC’s vendor relationship in the city.

She mentioned that other than her personal growth in N.Y.C. she met with so many women who had difficulties in adjusting to the culture and also did not have any support from their partners, which she was fortunate to have. “My husband is very supportive which makes a huge difference” said Pam Kwatra.