Nassau County Executive Laura Curran presents awards at a glittering gala to Pinky Rangi, Dr. Isha Mehta, Nami Kaur, Reema Rasool, Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzalez

HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): Four distinguished women were honored with Achievement Award for their outstanding achievements. They included Pinky Rangi, Dr. Isha Mehta, Nami Kaur, Reema Rasool, and Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzalez.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran presented the awards at a glittering gala at Antuns by Minar in Hicksville, March 22, a day after the official arrival of Spring, albeit with a lot of snow.

Speaking on the occasion, County Executive lauded the honorees for their achievements and hoped many more women will come forward to play significant role in the County. She spoke of many opportunities available in Nassau County to women entrepreneurs and exhorted women to take advantage of them.

The gala which was attended by a couple of local politicians and oficals, attracted a large number of community members

Those who addressed the gathering included IAF founder Bobby Kumar Kalotee, IAF chair Indu Jaiswal, and Mohinder Taneja, IAF PR chair. Gala chair Shammi Singh welcomed guests.

A colorful entertainment program was the highlight of the evening.

Profiles of honorees

Pinky Rangi

Pinky Rangi came to the USA in February 1964 with her parents. Her father JS Premi was commissioned to open the first Indian government office of the Handicraft Handloom Export Corp at the World’s Fair in NY.

Pinky started her career with her father in 1972. She had just finished high school, and at her father’s request, joined his company. She was planning to study medicine and got accepted to Barnard at Columbia University. Soon after she started, she designed a line of costume jewelry and scarves that took off immediately. That sign was too much to ignore, so she was in the fashion business to stay! She then moved full-time into designing and selling her father’s clothing line. So far for the beginning.

She met her husband Raj Singh in 1975, who was also working in the same business. With a common interest (that was the foundation for their love), they decided to start their own company in 1977 called “Pinky “. Within the first year they made major strides, selling to many major department stores and specialty stores. In 1980, they launched a line for children in one of the most prominent stores on the west coast – JW Robinson’s.

With their desire to get into a more of a designer line in 1986, they launched their flagship brand, Ultra Pink. Their initial projection was $12 million yearly revenue, but to their surprise it grossed over $100 million. By the fifth year, the brand was global. At this point, the sky was the limit. Their peak was over $500 million in revenue from 1988-1992, providing licenses worldwide. Ultra Pink became a household name for all school kids! Some high- lights; they sponsored Miss Teen America, hired Michael Damien from the “Young and Restless “as spokesperson, launched an MTV ad campaign nationwide with their product, donated a certain percentage of every garment sold as proceeds to the Make A Wish Foundation, and much more

In mid 90’s they had major business setbacks due to market crashes and major bankruptcies of many stores where they experienced disastrous losses. They had to reorganize and restart, and today they are back with a very successful business selling to many major department stores all over the country. Currently, Pinky is the president of two brands – Ultra Pink and Pinky, which they have kept strong in the Women’s fashion world by creating and selling trendy sportswear for Juniors, as well as Missy and Plus Sizes.

Dr. Isha Mehta

Dr. Isha Mehta is President of Rotary Club of Jericho Sunrise for 2017-2018. Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million leaders and problem-solvers who act to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves-by using their passion, energy, and intelligence to solve real problems with real commitment and vision through sustainable projects in areas from literacy and peace to water and health. Rotary Club of Jericho Sunrise, since its inception, has been a partner to continue the mission of Rotary locally and globally with dedicated Rotarians.

Dr. Isha Mehta is the Chief of Gynecology at Elmhurst Hospital, a Mt. Sinai Hospital affiliate, a position she has held for 15 years.  She is also a clinical assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine since 2000.

Dr. Mehta has been working with women in need for more than 25 years. Her many years of experience in helping women have convinced her that a healthy woman is essential for a successful family and the society. Her research and opinions on women’s health and medical practices have been published in peer-reviewed journals and medical texts.

Dr. Mehta has organized and participated in gynecological and healthcare camps in New York City, Honduras, Guatemala and Ethiopia and rural India. She has also traveled to Bangladesh and Guatemala several times for surgical camps. Her ability to speak several languages allows her work to attain a wider berth of impact and transcend beyond man-made barriers. One of her personal missions is to make a difference in a person by a person, of which these health care camps are just the beginning of fulfilling such a dream.

When Dr. Mehta and her colleges founded A Stitch in Time, they knew it would be a timeless organization as it creates clear-cut impacts on the lives of the women they treat and their families.  In her experience, successful pelvic surgeries are life-changing, and the benefits are life-long when performed by committed and experienced gynecological surgeons. For the past five years since its inception, A Stich in Time has grown and the impact it has made on women’s lives, young and old, is immeasurable.

Her husband, Dr. Parag Mehta is Senior Vice Chairman of Department of Medicine and Chief Medical Information Officer of New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, affiliated with Weil Cornell Medical School and New York Presbyterian System. Her daughter, Ruju, is an Environmental Engineer working at WSP and other daughter, Setu, is a freshman at Harvard University and is motivated to follow her dream in medicine.

Nami Kaur

Jasbir “Nami” Kaur is a freelance marketing communications consultant and volunteer in four organizations, after completing a corporate career at IBM Corporation.

Nami is donating her skills and services to the nonprofit sector. First, she serves on the Executive Board of Children’s Hope India (CHI); a New York based nonprofit organization. At CHI, she initiated its Social Media engagements, coordinated the development of its Business Plan with an intern from New York University, and led the project to develop its new website with a team of CH2 volunteers and an external website contractor. She also manages CHI relationships with the South Asian media to distribute Press Releases and host selected media at its flagship fundraiser events. Nami manages outreach initiatives with selected dignitaries to invite them, solicit their congratulatory letters for the event journal, and host them at CHI key events.

She is currently the Chair of the Media Council at GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) International, a global advocacy NGO for people of Indian background living outside India. Additionally, at GOPIO she is the Editor of the monthly GOPIO Newsletter. Previously she completed a four year term as Secretary of GOPIO International and has served as a volunteer since 1989. She manages relationships and communications with the South Asian media via press releases, alerts, and press conferences.

Nami was elected to serve on the Board of her Riveredge Coop Building where she resides. Her focus, along with the normal Board responsibilities, has been to improve communications between the Board, Property Management and the Resident Shareholders. Towards this end she led a team of resident volunteer editors to develop and distribute a quarterly newsletter for the Riveredge community.

Fourth, she volunteers at the New York Botanical Garden in different assignments at their public relations programs department. She serves as a roaming docent for their key exhibit shows, and as one of many ambassadorial faces of the Garden for the public she receives, ushers, and guides visitors to have a delightful experience at the Garden.

Her 32 year career at IBM consisted of three sequential tracks in Technology, Marketing and Communications. During her last assignment she was the Analyst and Influencer Relations Manager within the Communications Group at IBM.  She led the external communications with focus on IT and industry analysts for Media & Entertainment, Consumer Electronics, Healthcare and Life Sciences industries.

Nami holds an MBA in Marketing from New York University, an MS in Computer Science and Mathematics, and a BA in Physics from State University of New York, in Buffalo.

Reema Rasool

Reema Rasool is a luxury branding strategist and marketing expert with years of experience in business development, content strategy, social media strategy, image building, media relations and international marketing and market launch. Her work has spanned the field from fashion to tech to finance.

Reema is the principal of LUXE Consulting Groupe, a New York City based international marketing firm, which specializes in marketing financial products to international investors.

Reema has worked for and with Conde Nast, Edelman International, JINGO Media, IMG, LVMH, Wells Fargo and the Bulgari family to name a few over the years. Reema has also consulted and held titles at many fashion tech start-ups. She is the founder of SAYWE, a national women entrepreneurs trade association that has been underwritten by Fortune 500 companies for the last 8 years.

Reema’s latest venture ElleBhi, is closing its first seed round of funding (all women led) and brings together her backgrounds in high fashion and social change.

Reema has her degrees in the fine art of creative writing from NYU Tisch School and is the proud mom of 2 beautiful boys.

Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzale

Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzalez is a teacher and dancer of the school Gopeswara Danza. She has performed Classical dance of India both in Peru and abroad (India, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Malaysia and China).

She has been learning dance from a very young age. Besides learning from her Gurus, she has been blessed to take workshops from some of the greatest exponents of dance including Padma Bhushan Dr Sonal Mansingh, Dr Janaki Rangarajan and Smt. Indira Kadambi to name a few.

She has also participated in major festivals and performances in both India and Malaysia with her teacher Shankar Kandasamy, bringing with her recognitions and merits in each of her presentations. She was bestowed the titles of ” Yogyata Patra” & “NrityaJyothi” for excellence in her performances.

Ananga Manjari has extensive knowledge not only in the style of Bharatanatyam Dance she is also trained in ballet and contemporary from the age of 7.