Jan 1996

™ - JANUARY 1996 Rs22 psW ..-o -A\\\W«W88 mnl^H special Issue rth American Zoroastrian Entrepreneursh- J I EDITORIAL An idea, a concept, a dream slowly canadvertiserswhosupportedthisspe- fructifies. From the blue prints drawn up cial issue on entrepreneurs. They in- on a dining table, to tinkering in a garage elude the 13 full-page advertisers Down- from endless financial permutationsand town. Kitchens of Vienna, Inc, Aspy combinations to the mental gathering of Jamshedji (Kimberly Shell), AhuraSoft, uv ,«,.«»» a.. ...w..ae piuy.etm u. resources, the entrepreneur prepares RusiKavarana(McDermid St Lawrence higher education and then, bolstered for the big plunge into the unknown. Chisholm Ltd), R. B. T. Trading, Kaiser with an armful of degrees, pursue a Left behind are the securities or inse- Foods USA, Prudential Jewellers, Inc, curities of a job; in their place appear the Coating Engineers, Inc, MedSource Ex- uncei tainties of business. What makes ecutive Search Firm, CNL Group, Inc, 1...0 i Zoroastrian migrants turn to business? Rusi Gandhi Realty, Capricorn Travel, goal. What makes them successful? What ' .................. contributes i? their failures? _ ______ __ _ ____________ __________ Parsis love a businessperson. The (New York Life Insurance Co) Anchor the preferred vocation for our commu- entrepreneur exemplifies the commu- Toolsand Supplies, Boyce Associates, nity: albeit not at the expense of, but nity dream. They aspire to follow in the Inc; the 12 quarter page advertisers rather coupled with, higher education, footsteps of a Tata, a WadiaoraGodrej. Flagship Distributors, Send-A-Gift, Business results in greater economic And their religion spurs them on: live life Bharucha & Associates, Jasavala & gains, personal satisfaction and self- to the fullest, garner your resources to Sons, Zaxon, Inc, An Admirer, Century actualization, and provides opportuni ­ better fight the good fight. Paragon Printing, A. K. Office Supplies ties for philanthropy'and service to the The FEZANA Journal, producedquar- Ltd, Mobile Mechanic, Restorative Den- community. terly byateam offivememberscompris- tist, MrsCoomi Bhatena, Hampton Inn: Of course entrepreneurship may not ing the North American Federation ’s and the 30 panel contributors Mazda be for everyone. Many have risen to information receiving and dissemina- Electric Ltd, U. R. Office Systems, Inc, great heights of success and satisfac ­ tion committee (chairperson Dr Rustom Zenobia Rivetna Productions, Oakcliff tion, working in the corporate world. Kevala, Adel Engineer, Jim Engineer, Service Center (Prestige Enterprises ------------------ --------------- Ms Roshan Rivetna and Dr Hooman Inc), Sinex Technologies Inc, P. E. Inc, .... ______ Sotoodeh), published a special supple- Ann Elavia, Dogdo & Tehemtan Arjani, pitfalls) of entreprTneurship. ment on “Zarthusti Business and Enter- MetLife, Cooper Insurance Agency, The ./"...J________________ ___ prise: A Profile oftheFiret Generation of 7-Eleven Food Store, Mrs Mehroo current situation in North'>America. Zarthustis on the Business Scene in Godiwalla, India Spice & Herb Bazaar, Through short stories and profiles of a North America ” in their issue of Winter Searock Motel, Sunshine Motel, K & P variety of large and small business en- 1995. The material was compiled by Import & Export Inc, Tranformations Un- terprises, we will observe the trends, Roshan Rivetna, the Journals publisher, limited. The Cover Company, Inc (Pe- and see if our fears are real or imagi- and her husband Rohinton Rivetna, the gasus Productions, Inc), Twinbrook nary. And finally, we will explore future first president of the Federation ofZoro- Dental Center, Premier Rubber Stamps, plans and programs for the promotion of astrian Associations of North America Rusi P. Sethna, Cyrus Rivetna, Sutton Zarthusti business and enterprise — (FEZANA). The publication has gra- Group, Blimpie, Sorab R. Vatcha, Pake what should the community do to revive ciously provided Parsiana with the pro- E Mehr, Marlin Travel, Lynnwood Travel the spirit? How can we make a shining cessed film for reprinting the issue for its & Cruise Inc, Bejan Daruwalla. contribution to the North American and readers. As it would not be financially Parsiana requests the forbearance the global economy? viable to reprint the issue in addition of the com mon subscribers of both pub- If in North America we are to crystal- Parsiana's regular features due to the lications who would have received the lize into a coherent, supportive commu- highcostsofpaperand printing involved, supplement earlier. If any of them feel nity, which we have every intention to Parsiana has devoted this issue to the aggrieved, they are welcome to write to become, we must have a collaborative special supplement. We have substi- us and we would compensate them by infrastructure. Also, at least in the USA tuted the North American advertisement extending their subscription to Parsiana the mood is to arrest runaway reliance pages with our regular advertisements by one issue. We trust this is a fair offer, on the government for social services to help defray the costs. As the issue is being reprinted from and to encourage localized, church and Parsianasalutes and acknowledges the FEZANA material, the types, layout community supported-efforts. the pioneering workdone by FEZANA in and design differ from Parsiana’s nor- Historically, our community has re- chronicalling the achievements of Zoro- mal format. For purposes of space, the lied on the philanthropy of a few busi- astrians in the New World. Edited and layout and typesetting of a few pages ness stalwarts for its funding and published entirely by volunteers, the has been changed. infrastructural support, rather than tap- FEZANA Journal is an outstanding ex- *• e ¦ j ping the grass roots community. We ample of what voluntary organizations Zannusn Spirit of Business and _ are, by and large, a com passionate com- can do with negligible financial and per- Enterprise Alive and Well in America munity, that comes together in time of sonal resources but an abundance of by Rohinton M. Rivetna crises to aid others, but collective fund ­ grit, intelligence, hard work and commit- The lament “Zarthusti youth have lost ing successes end there. Are we ready ment. We also salute the North Ameri- the enterprising spirit ” is heard often now, in this new land, to shift gears and Parsiana is edited and pubiished by Jehangir R Patel for Parsiana Publications Pvt Ltd at C/o H L Rochat, Navsari Chambers, 39 A K Nayak Marg. Fort, Bombay 400001 and printed by him at Kaiser-E-Hind Pvt Ltd, 300 Perin Nariman Street, Bombay 400001. today. Is this a fact or is it imaginary? The general impression is that for the last few decades, the preferred objec ­ tive for our young men and women has been to follow an intense program of Chisholm^Ltd)^ R. B. T. Trading, Kaiser with an armful of degrees, pursue I- r,. ..... . . “good, secure job ” with a large com ­ pany. Without any supporting statistics, this does appear to be the prevalent On the other hand, community pun- Foods USA, Prudential Jewellers, Inc, Inc: the five half-page advertisers Mehta C ' _ Motors, Bertorelli & Co, Z. J. Sethna dits are of the opinion that business is entrepreneu_r exemplifies the commu- Toolsand Supplies, Boyce Associates, _ ......................................... quarter page advertisers rather coupled with, higher education. Flagship Distributors, Send-A-Gift, ~ Bharucha & Associates, Jasavala & In this special issue of FEZANA Jour­ nal we will explo]^ opportunities (and We will make an assessment of our * , . ¦ If in North America we are to crystal- Parsiana's regular features due to the lications who would have received the lize into a coherent, supportive commu- Ngh costs of paper and printing involved, supplement earlier. If any of them feel nity, which we have every intention to special supplement. We have substi- us and we would compensate them by infrastructure. Also, at least in the USA pages with our regular advertisements by one issue. We trust this is a fair offer. As the issue is being reprinted from and to encourage localized, church and and design differ from Parsiana’& nor- I astrians in the New World. Edited and layout and typesetting of a few pages Enterprise Alive and Well in America* ALAYAR realize the enormous potential we hold collectively and evolve towards collec ­ tivization? Nevertheless, reliance on business benefactors will always be a major component in thegrowth and pros ­ perity of our community. Support of our Zarthusti businesses is, therefore, sup ­ porting the growth of our community. Further, the tax structure in the USA is especially conducive to businesses help ­ ing community organizations. As this country moves from a manu ­ facturing economy to a service economy, a wealth of opportunities open up for a ne might think from reading True to his words, he recently went variety of professional service enter- ¦ Ithe FEZANA Journal back to Iran and gave out prizes to prises. In days of yore, manufacturing rg^archine for the “reel” about 900 Zarthusti students for their required at least some sizeable capital. [Searching jor tne reel Today, with an innovative idea and de- Thing: Immigrant Entrepreneur scholarship, approved interest-free termination (and a computer would help Alayar Dabestani Finds His Pot of loans to over 100 university students, too), one can take the first steps. This ’ . r, may be an over-simplification, but one can make a case that the current eco- nomicclimatecertainlyfacilitatestaking nbly busy man — hard to approach, the plunge into the world of the self ­ employed. Large corporations are now “right ­ sizing, ” and purchasing fixed-cost, con ­ tractual services, rather than employ ­ ment of in-house staff for all ancillary makes friends very easily, services not related to the core busi ­ ness specialty. This opens up opportu ­ nities for a variety of innovative busi ­ nesses and services. Zarthustis, with the support of other successful Zarthustis, can seek out these opportu ­ nities and get into the service business at the ground floor. The generation ofwealth is part of the monotheistic religion dating back to Zarthusti ethos, as long as it is achieved honestly, and used for charitable pur ­ poses. In all our business dealings, un ­ compromisingly, our vision must be clear. We must foreover keep before us the values and traditions of our forefa ­ thers, so that in North America too, the name Zarthusti is synonymous with honesty, integrity, industry and philan ­ thropy, as it has been in India and Iran, the land of our forebears. This we must hold" dear in every thought we think, in every word we utter and in every deed we do. Reading the stories of business suc ­ cesses in this issue will inspire the reader working people, but being from adif- with what the first generation of Zarthustis have accomplished on the business scene in North America in the short span of 30 years since they first arrived here. One may even venture to say: “No, we have not lost our spirit. The spark is still within us. Maybe at times it just needs a little fanning." 11. Dabestani with son, Ardeshir o ne might think from reading the FEZANA Journal [Searching for the “reel” Thing: Immigrant Entrepreneur FEZANA 2 Parsiana January 1996 DABESTANI Beyond the "Reel Thing" and printed 10 books about Zarthusti religion and Persian culture for free distribution to all the Iranian libraries. In Canada, Dabestani pro ­ duced a short film. Salt Please, which was directed by film school grad and former employee Mojdeh Shahriari [A Rising Star, FEZANA Journal, Fall 1995, p^65] — whose father Parviz Shahriari was Dabestani ’s high school mathematics^eacher. ut I think his most important contribution to date is the germ of the idea for this issue of the FEZANA Journal. When I approached him in March to sponsor a future issue of the Journal, he deeds will ultimately prevail immediately said, “Sure, Rustom, but what is the theme going to be? Is it going to be another boring issue like Love and Marriage? ’’ I couldn ’t help laughing, and immediately had to think up a new theme that might be closer to his heart. I said, “How about Business and Entrepreneur ­ ship? ’’ — and that is how this issue was bom. Al and the entire Journal staff hope that this issue will show that Zarthusti capacities for hard work and entrepreneurship are very much alive and thriving in our newly-adopted countries in North America, as they have always thrived all across the globe. May it ever be so. Amen. ? Gold in the Theater Business, Winter 1994] that Alayar Dabestani is a ter- hard to please, and hard to get a smile out of. But actually he is none of the above! He laughs easily, always has a good word for everybody, and A recent article in NATO News, the North American Theater Owners ’ newsletter, states: “His philosophy and enormously genial manner find their roots in Dabestani ’s culture. He is a practitioner of Zoroastrianism, a the sixth or seventh century B.C. that posits that good thoughts and virtu ­ ous over evil and grant an afterlife. ’’ 1, as he likes to be called, has tremendous faith in fellow- Zarthustis. He says, “I take my obligation very seriously. Because of poverty in Iran and the revolution, many of my countrymen have immigrated from Iran. They are well-educated and very honest, hard ferent country, they don ’t know English very well, and they cannot find jobs. They adapt very well to the theater business and I have hired many of them to work for us. We are a great asset to them, and they are a great asset to us. ’’ * - By Rustom Kevala IHomi Davier Professional in Travel Business w ho said there was no future in the travel busi ­ ness? Homi Davier, a self-effacing and mild-mannered man of 45, and his wife Nergish, have accomplished what today could be termed as spectacular growth amidst adverse competitive condi ­ tions. Homi is frank about where he learned his business. He joined Air India in 1972 in Bombay, where he received hands-on experience in many departments. This was fol ­ lowed by intensive management experience at Gulf Air in Muscat, Oman. In 1978, he was hand-picked along with seven other Omani nationals to undergo an intensive management training program. Later that same year, Davier took up the assignment as General Manager of Oman Travel Bureau, a ‘general sales agent ’ for numerous international airlines. Here he had the opportunity to nego ­ tiate and commence Bangladesh Air ­ lines operations to Oman as well as increase loads of Sabena Belgian Airlines, which in turn earned addi ­ tional revenues for Oman Travel — a win-win situation for all concerned. ut like all true entrepreneurs, Homi wanted his own travel empire. So in the winter of 1980, Nergish and Homi with their two-year-old daughter Jenisteen moved to the U.S. Capricorn Trav­ el ‘N Tours was born in 1983 in Houston, TX. Concerted efforts and excellence in marketing and manage ­ ment soon made Capricorn one of the most aggressive and fastest growing travel agencies in the country. Capri ­ corn ’s offices are filled with Million Dollar and Two Million Dollar awards from Air India, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, KLM, Gulf Air, and other airlines. Today, Capricorn is inclined towards wholesale, rather than regular retail travel outlets. A network of over 700 active travel agents purchase their international tickets. s the business grew, his brother Eruch Commissariat joined the company in 1992. Eruch is a travel professional in his own right; with 25 years of experi ­ ence in the aviation industry, starting with Travel Corporation of India and then as general manager of Farhad Express group of agencies in Oman, which became the fastest-growing and largest agency in Muscat under his guidance. With Eruch conducting day-to-day operations, Homi ’s time was freed up to start and run other ventures. Davier with Oleg Korshe, Latvian Pres­ ident of Baltic International Airlines Two sister companies: Capricorn Tours and Capricorn Computers serve other facets of the travel indus ­ try. With his Capricorn Aviation Management Consultancy, Davier expanded into the partial ownership of Baltic International Airlines (BIA), and has interests with many suppliers and contractors to the avia ­ tion industry. Another company. s Baltic International USA, Inc. (the Company) is engaged in the identifi ­ cation, management and operations of investment opportunities in the Republics of the former Soviet Union with emphasis on the Baltic countries. The Company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol of BISA. The Company operates and manages BIA, a joint venture registered in the Republic of Latvia, and serves as its worldwide International Promotions Sales Agent; and there are other joint ventures created for specific purpos ­ es such as Baltic World Air Freight, based in Laguna Hills, California; Baltic Catering Services based in Riga, Latvia; and Baltic Travel Ser­ vices based in Germany. Several other projects are in various stages of development. S o whak^s his formula for suc ­ cess? “When Baltic was only a dream we had a small private placement offering, ai^ my fellow Zarthustis chipped in and the rest is history, ” says Davier, “Sarosh Col ­ lector gave me hours of advice ... on the house; Farokh Mistree was the man who kept saying “Go for it, Homi ... you can do it, ” Adil Bharucha and Farokh Rajkot said that they were investing in me and not in the project. It is these support ­ ers and their confidence that made it happen. ” “Time flew by so fast and my month ­ ly visits to Europe and Latvia allowed me to gauge the support I received from my wife Nergish who took care of Capricorn while I was away. My daughter Jenisteen blos ­ somed from a teenager to a young lady and I did not even enjoy the pleasure one gets during this process. I do hope other budding entre ­ preneurs from amongst our midst find the Nirvana I did. ” ? - By Rustom Kevala 4 Parsiana January 1996 4’ 4 I ¦sMeherwan Boyce World Authority on Turbo Machinery and Power Plants Id M eherwan Boyce came to the U.S.A, in 1958 from Bombay at age 17, as an undergraduate student at the South Dakota School of Mines and Tech ­ nology. He quickly got his Bache ­ lors, Masters and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering, worked in industry for a short time, then came to Texas A&M University as a pro ­ fessor in 1969. By 35, Boyce felt there was nothing more to achieve at Texas A&M — he was the University ’s youngest full- tenured professor; had founded their Gas Turbine Laboratories; had founded the annual Turbo Machinery Symposium, attracting hundreds of Boyce also designs, builds and oper- engineers from 30 countries; had become the youngest fellow in the history of the American Society of Engineering International, formed Mechanical Engineers; and had gained recognition as the world ’s leading authority on gas turbines. And so, in 1977, starting in a small rented office in a Houston high-rise, Meherwan and bride Zarine started Boyce Engineering. arine, an interior and floral designer by profession (which is very evident in their gor ­ geous mansion in Houston, where she entertains with flair) met Meherwan on a chance visit to Hous ­ ton, while on a trip to the U.S.A from her native Bombay. “He talked about getting married the second day, ” says Zarine, “And we got married six months later, became the guest that never left. ” Zarine is now an integral part of the business. “When I married Meherwan, I married turbo machin ­ ery ”, she remarks, as she runs the business while Meherwan travels around the world. Within a year, Boyce Engineering moved to the present 20,000 sq. ft. building. They are now intemation- I “When I ally recognized in the field of turbo machinery, and have a product line of condition monitoring, diagnostic and control systems for turbo machinery. ates power plants world wide through their other company, Boyce w just last month. ith a staff of over 50, they have offices in India, Pak ­ istan, Norway, Nether ­ lands and U.K., and representatives in China, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Thailand, Malasia, Singa ­ pore and throughout the U.S.A. Their clients aj-e governments or independent power producers. Cor ­ porate clients include Phillips Petroleum Norway, Statoil of Nor ­ way, Shell, Conoco, Amoco, Tata Electric, Tata Chemicals, Bharat Heavy Electric, Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan, EPON in the Netherlands, U.S. Elec ­ tric Power Research Irfetitute, and many more. Meherwan is the grandson of Khan- bahadur Colabawalla, the engineer responsible for Sukker Barage in Pakistan, who was knighted by King George in the 1940s for his contribu ­ tion to the world of engineering. Is that where Meherwan gets his drive and enterprise? Or is it Zarine? - By Roshan Rivetna * “I take my obligation very seriously. Because of poverty in Iran and the revolution, many of my countrymen have immigrated from Iran. They are well-educated and very honest, hard-working people, but being from a different country, they don ’t know English very well, and they cannot find jobs. They adapt very well to the theater business and I have hired many of them to work for us. We are a great asset to them, and they are a great asset to us. ” Alayar Dabestani 6 Parsiana January 1996 IFE7ANA JOURNAL BUSINESS SUPPLEMENT ZARTHUSTI BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE A Profile of the First Generation of Zarthustis on the Business Scene in North America Compiled by Rohinton and Roshan Rivetna While Zarthusti entrepreneurs in North America have yet to blaze the trails left behind in India and Iran by stalwarts of the stature of the Tatas or the Wadias or Arbab Jamshedian, each in his or her own niche, has taken giant strides, at tremendous financial and personal risk, weathering good times and bad, each weaving Zarthusti values of integrity and industry into the fabric of the nation. Within the short span of 30 to 40 years since the first gener­ ation of Zarthustis arrived in the U.S.A, and Canada, they are building a reputation, and beginning to have an impact on the business scene. Some following a dream, some through dogged persever­ ance, some through pure chance, and some out of necessity as corporations “right size” and “restructure”, each has built their enterprise, big or small, from ground up. Each is, in a way, a trail blazer. About this Compilation This compilation is not a comprehensive directory, but rather a sampling of the variety of businesses that Zarthustis have ventured into, and the successes and pit ­ falls they have encountered. This com ­ pilation just barely scratches the surface. A comprehensive directory is being pro ­ duced by Cyrus Toorkey, based on an earlier version by Farshid Salamati, of the FEZANA committee for promoting business and enterprise. Acknowledgement The help of Maharukh Motafram in gath ­ ering the data for this compilation is very gratefully acknowledged. Architect , Builder, Developer WADIA ASSOCIATES 158 Main Street New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-0739 Architect Dinyar Wadia is “more than a workaholic ”, says wife Gool, “he drives all the people around him to work too. As soon as he comes info the office, it is buzzing. He thinks the harder he works the lucki ­ er he gets ”. And so he works with a passion, seven days a week, in his large Connecticut office, with a staff of over 15 architects, project man ­ agers and office help. Wadia designs and builds high-end homes, having built over 150 homes in the last 20 years ranging from $1M to $17M, averaging $3M each. Styles rangeThey cau ­ tion new starters to stay away from making a big investment all at once in any such “package deals ’. PREMIER RUBBER STAMP CO. 80 Forest Manor Road, Suite 1104 Willowdale, ONT M2J 1M6 (416) 499-3885 Cyrus Antia manufactures self-ink ­ ing and wooden-mount rubber stamps, and sells retail and whole ­ sale, at very competitive prices. An ex-Captain in the merchant navy for 25 years, Antia came to Canada in 1992 on an “Entrepreneur Visa ”, and got the idea for the rubber stamp business from a Business Opportuni ­ ties Show. AK OFFICE SUPPLIES, LTD. 10 West 15th Street New York, NY 10011 (212) 620-0401 Kaika Clubwallahas a printing bro ­ kerage and an office supplies busi- 4 I 42 Parsiana January 1996ness from his office in New York. He provides end-to-end service for client s printing needs, and subcon ­ tracts the work to printers all over the country. He deals mostly with com ­ mercial printing, including docu ­ ments and books for the U.N. The office supplies are ordered by his clients from a catalog. This is one business where get in with minimal investment, ” says Clubwalla, who discovered the opportunity quite by accident. As financial controller for a previous job, he was asked by a client to get some printing done. Clubwalla got the job done by a local printer, marked up the invoice by 40% and wass.i„ab,e,osa.isfy.hec.ie„.»i.h showing -’ the quality and service he provided. across the U.S. and Canada. Ttio t J V .• T-, With a bachelor ’s degree in aviation vice he nroX^ ‘,V entrepreneur, Daroo- Btrd.e chanced into this business ce he provtdes be it in the print wala was regional manager of a while filling in for a friend in 1978 brokerage or the office supplies busi- major Canadian bank until it closed Then went back t» school totake sre property manage.' ---------- ------------------ P ment and shoDoing management. B Realtor, Mortgage Broker SUTTON GROUP #101 -133 West 15th Street North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 1R8 (604) (986-9321 Shahrookh Daroowala is an inde- you can he was in London and Hong Kong before moving to Canada. KABOLY AND ASSOCIATES 755 E. Carisbrooke Road North Vancouver, B.C. V7N INl (604) 980-9000 “*’***' “ independent estate agent with ReMax Crest, and deals with commercial, residen ­ tial and farm land. CNL PROPERTIES, INC. 400 East South Street Orlando, FL 32801 (800) 522-3863 Mezdie Birdie is Director of Asset also exploring (with Management dealing with commer ­ cial properties, and acquisition and specializing in the hospitality indus- try. They buy, sell and finance hotels (some recent ones being the Four Seasons, Sheraton and Holliday Inns) in Canada and the U.S. His target clientele is the immigrant community of Iranians and Indians, who he feels have a lot of potential. Daroowala is ; ’ Alayar Dabestani) opportunities for across the U.S. and Canada. Banker turned entrepreneur, Daroo- wala was regional manager of a major Canadian bank until it closed down in 1991. With a B.Com,L.L.B., With Best Wishes from Mr Rusy M. Shroff, M.B.E. 43 Parsiana January 1996 and Mrs Purviz R. Shroff I“The harder you work, the luckier you get ” is his recipe for success, “That is how I got where I am. ” RUSI GANDHI REALTY (312) 973-7714 RE/MAX LEADING EDGE 28 Route 46 West Pinebrook, NJ 07058 (201)575-6005, (800) 573-RUSl Owner of Rusi Gandhi Realty in Chicago and Broker Associate with Remax Leading Edge in New Jersey, Rusi Gandhi has 18 years of experi ­ ence in Real Estate, and has sold over $100 million in property, including residential, commercial, vacant, hotel/motel and shopping centers. He networks with over 6,000 agents in 52 countries and serves all 50 states and Canada. Having come from Bombay in 1970 as an MBA student, Gandhi was recently declared the Number 1 bro ­ ker in Illinois for 1993 for General Development Corp. He has also received numerous awards from the Chicago Association of Realtors, and was listed in Who ’s Who in Illinois for 1994. Gandhi goes one step beyond in the services he offers his clients — in tax matters, mortgage financing, invest ­ ments and financing. In a recent let ­ ter to all Zoroastrian Associations he offered to help anyone who purchas ­ es, sell s or rents a commercial or res ­ idential property in the U.S, Canada or any of 52 countries, “At the time of closing, ” says Gandhi, “I will send your Association or FEZANA a check for 10% of the fees I receive. ” B B Restaurants SUS KAISER FOODS U.S.A. 11909 Beechnut Street Houston, TX 77072 (713) 561-0500 Kairasp Rusi Lashkari owns a take-out restaurant, bakery and full ­ service catering kitchen for serving up to 2,000 people. He is available to travel anywhere in U.S.A., for wed ­ dings, navjotes and other functions. Specializing in Parsi, Indian and Pak ­ istani cuisine he also offers burgers and Philly Steak sandwiches in his shop, which has now built up a size ­ able local American clientele as well. He also supplies meals on a regular basis and will ship anywhere. Lashkari, arrived in Houston in 1981, having left after 3 years of a medical MBBS program. After graduation with a Masters in Hotel and Restau ­ rant Management, he taught and worked at several hotels — the Mar- riot, Westin and Ritz-Carlton Deciding to finally take the plunge, in 1992, with an initial investment and a lot of support from Parsi friends and businesses, he purchased a vacant, ‘out-of-business ’ restau ­ rant, completely re-designed the kitchen and set out to follow his dream. “I want to deeply thank the Parsi community of Houston from the bottom of my heart, ”, he says, “Especially Mr. Homi Davier, for their untiring support and encourage ­ ment. ” His ambition now is to popularize his Batasas, Nankhatai, Khari-mithi bis ­ cuit, vasanu, suterfeni and other Parsi delicacies “all over America. ” BLIMPIE SUBS AND SALADS Texas Medical Center, 2246 W Holcombe Houston, TX 77030 (713) 661-7384 Adil Bharucha’s Blimpie Italian sandwich shop accommodates 50 persons, serving hot and cold sand ­ wiches, salads, desserts, and ‘lite ’ dishes. He also does catering and party trays. When Bharucha opened his Blimpie in 1982, there were about 200 fami ­ ly-owned Blimpies; after becoming a public franchise in 1990, there are A costs I-* now 1500 across the USA. Blimpie franchise now < $120,000, and Bharucha will help interested persons get started. SHEIKH CHILLI’S 6121 Hillcroft, Houston, TX 77081 (713) 568-7503 Syed and Villie Azhar own a Pak ­ istani-Indian restaurant seating 120 persons. With 9 cooks from Punjab, Azhar serves tandoori specialties, biryanis, kabobs, vegetarian dishes, snacks (bhajyas, samosas) desserts (gulab jamun, kulfi), mithai and more. They also cater for private parties. GREEN LIGHT DELI 9333 Genesee Avenue San Diego, CA (619) 453-9673 Hoshang and Katy Khambatta own a soup and sandwich shop, with a few tables and'patio seating in the plaza level of an office building. With a cook/helper and 1 delivery boys, Katy keeps very busy catering to her mostly business lunch clien ­ tele. While the shop serves mainly deli items, she does also prepare hot specials like curry rice, pullav and samosas which are quite popular. FRESCO — ITALIAN EATERY Techworld Plaza 800 K Street NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 682-9333 Hoshang Daruwalla serves pizza, pasta, lasagna, spaghetti, calzones and other Italian dishes at his Italian Eatery in a business area in Washing ­ ton. A Catering graduate from Bom ­ bay, and manager of Taj Hotel in Bombay for some years, Daruwalla purchased the Eatery two years ago, and is doing well. KANVAL PALACE 2501 West Devon Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60659 (312) 761-7270 44 Parsiana January 1996 * II Feroze Captain is a partner in the two-year-old Kanval Palace Indian restaurant in Chicago ’s “Little India ” neighborhood. Well designed and decorated, the restaurant seats up to 150 persons. They also do catering for parties, weddings and such. Shortly they plan to relocate to fancy new premises next to the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Chicago. B Restaurant Supplies » GLOBAL LEASING AND SALES 650 NW 123rd Street, North Miami, FL 33168 (305) 688-8700 Kersey Rajah sells, leases and exports restaurant equipment — refrigeration and A/C, coolers, freez ­ ers, ice-machines, walk-in coolers, commercial kitchen equipment. His clients are restaurants and fast-food chains, mostly in Florida, but he also exports all over the world. With a refrigeration and A/C degree. Rajah came from Bombay in 1970 to Montreal, Canada, and thence, in 1979, to Miami. He started very small, in 1988, leas ­ ing out a couple of ice-machines. He has now steadily grown to annual sales of over $2 million and a lease portfolio of $3 million, and has 12 full-time employees. He is currently looking to expanding to another branch in Florida. li il H School B B K B SUGARMILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL 1120 Burney Road Sugarland, TX 77478 (713) 530-3747 Khurshid Challa is owner and director of a Montessori School that currently has 54 children, and a staff of 7 teachers. Originally from Lahore, Khurshid bought the 4200 sq. ft. building, which used to be a day care facility, in 1993 and developed it into a Montessori School. She personally supervises every aspect daily to ensure a quality education for the children. “I will be very happy to help anyone get started in this busi ­ ness, ” says Khurshid, “I have learnt a lot from the experience. ” Sii»BTEAli^^» IRANI & CO., TEA SPECIALISTS P.O. Box 26072 Indianapolis, IN 46226 (317) 894-4465 Shapur Irani has been in the tea business for 50 years now, first as the “Bombay Tea Depot ” in Poona, and, since 1958 as Irani & Co. in Indi ­ anapolis. Inspired by his uncle Aspandiar Irani of Ideal Restaurant at Flora Fountain in Bombay, who taught him the “art, science and phi­ losophy ” of the tea business, Shapur still lives by the words “In Quality Lies Success ”, which are engraved on every box of tea he sells. To ensure a consistently top grade flavor and aroma, Irani us^s special blends of Nilgiri teas, because it is I i With Best Commitments From LEACH & WEBORNY When in Bombay Contact For attending to your laundry. They are Launderers & Dyers of repute. They will also attend to your carpets for cleaning or dyeing. 66, Off E. Moses Road, Worli, Bombay 400018 Phone: Head Office 2654294 Factory: 4924384,4925644 45 Parsiana January 1996 1 :fnot possible to get consistent quality even from the same bush from one year to the next. Gradation of the product comes from the size of the leaf. Thus Pekoe or Orange Pekoe are not different teas, but just differ ­ ent size pieces of the same tea leaf. “We businessmen have to have more faith in God than you people that go to work, ” says Irani, as he recalled the tough early years, “America was very clannish then, it was before Viet Nam, ” and he was not very welcome at his first job at International Har ­ vester in the small town of Lafayette, Indiana. Irani had come to the U.S. in 1954, on a “Point 4” program for training in mechanized farming. “I came entirely on my own, ” he proud ­ ly says, “with not a penny in scholar ­ ships or loans. ” His whole life changed in 1958 when friend and mentor, P.E.McAllister, to whom he is grateful to this day, encouraged him to go into the tea business with $2,500 for a partner ­ ship. Irani immediately ordered 10,000 lbs of the best of Fannings Nilgiri tea, then set out to knock on a lot of doors looking for buyers. Today, Shapur, the sole owner now, distributes his special blend of Irani Tea wholesale to a number of hotels, restaurants, hospitals and colleges (Purdue University is a long-time fan) in the Midwest. This year, he has redesigned his packaging and plans to sell retail. B Technology Consultant BEHRAM KAPADIA 2519 Collins Road Pittsburgh, PA 15235 (412) 243-3032 Behram Kapadia is a metallurgi ­ cal consul ­ tant dealing in ferrous metallurgy, heat treat ­ ment and failure analysis. He has some large corporations including Westing ­ house, among his clients. He started the business in 1991, after taking an early retirement package from U.S. Steel where he was a Research Con ­ sultant in the Steel Products Division for 27 years. BOYCE ASSOCIATES, INC NANDI ROYCE INTERNATION­ AL 1235 Bay Street, Suite 1000 Toronto, ONT (416) 250-0514 Bomi Boyce and son Jamsheed mar ­ ket technology and equipment from principals in Europe to the U.S. and Canada, and transfer North American and European technology to India. “We have a niche market, ” says Boyce, “we fill in the gaps not cov ­ ered by anyone else, for example if India manufactures a piece of machinery but is missing a special kind of bolt, we provide it. ” Among the variety of fields they cover are fertilizers, chemicals and polyethy ­ lene products. “We are not always experts in the product, we just know how to transfer the technology. ” A chartered accountant and MBA, Bomi came to Toronto in 1969 from Bombay, and worked with IBM Canada for 11 years, then decided to go into business. SORAB R. VATCHA, Ph.D, PE 707 Continental Circle, Suite 1037 Mountain View, CA 94040 (415) 988-0696 Dr. Sorab R. Vatcha is a technology and management consultant to the process industries. He assesses sig ­ nificant technology trends and busi ­ ness opportunities, facilitates successful product and process inno ­ vation, and helps companies reduce waste and pollution. He is also involved with intemation^ technolo ­ gy transfer between the U.S. and India. In 1969, Sorab came from Bombay to the U.S.A, as a graduate student at Caltech. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, and later an MBA, Sorab worked in the energy and chemical industry, where he helped develop and successfully commercialize several new products and processes. Highly respected in the field, Sorab has-written hundreds opportunities, 4* * We have a niche market, ” says Boyce, “we fill in the gaps not covered by anyone else. For example, if India manufactures a piece of machinery but is missing a special kind of bolt, we provide it... We are not always experts in the product, we just know how to transfer the technology ” (I Boyce Associates Inc, Nandi Royce International — Bomy Boyce and son Jamsheed 46 Parsiana January 1996of professional publications and sem ­ inar presentations, and has been an invited speaker at numerous interna ­ tional conferences. He started his consulting practice in 1993. “It takes a lot of skill and effort to build up a client base, ” says Sorab, “The main ingredient is self confi ­ dence and believing in yourself. But the rewards are many, mainly in terms of professional achievement and recognition. ” 8 8 Textiles, Fashion li M DILEMMA INC. SHROFF & ASSOCIATES, INC. 49 Colonial Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (914) 693-5163 I The New York Times [January 1, 1995] called Phil and Dhun Shroff, designers who make predictions about fabric trends, “Prognosticating Pros and Comer Psychics for Corpo ­ rate America. ” From their large stu ­ dio in New York, the Shroffs predict textile color and texture trends for the fashion industry. With a staff of artists and illustrators. Dilemma, Inc. also designs textiles, accessories and apparel. Shroff & Associates focuses on technical development and mar ­ keting of fibers, yams, fabrics, gar ­ ments and home-fumishings in the textile industry. The Shroffs created a collection of knit fashions to launch Monsanto ’s new acrylic yam, Fi-Lana, in 1992, which received notable mention in Women’s Wear Daily [March 10, 1992], In October, Phil directed a fashion show at the ground-breaking Wrap, 100% soft virgin wool “Floral Fantasy ”, designed by the Shroffs. ceremonies, (with Mayor Ed Koch presiding), of a new $15 million plant for sweater manufacturer. Mademoiselle. But success and the glitter of the fashion mnway have not changed Phil or Dhun, who fondly remember friends from Dadar Parsi Colony in Bombay, where they grew up. Phil came to the U.S. in 1960, stud ­ ied Textile Engineering and Market ­ ing, and worked for Monsanto. When Dhun got paid more as a consultant, than he did as Monsanto ’s Director of Fashion and Fabrics, the couple decided it was time to start their own. NASH JAMES INTERNATIONAL 438 Queen Street West Toronto, ONT MSV 2A8 (416) 703-6274 When his immigrant visa was repeat ­ edly refused. Noshir Jamshed Parekh came to Toronto from Bom ­ bay as a visitor in 1964 to promote his fabrics business, “to see the world ”, and perchance try his luck again at the immigration office. On ipplied fab- the way, in the plane, grasping at any straw to improve his odds, he decid ­ ed to pick a more ‘British-sounding' name, and so was bom Nash (Noshir) James (Jamshed) International. It wasn ’t the name, though, that got him his immigration visa. It was his Parsi background. The immigration officer, having been in India during World War II, had met and knew, and and had the deepest regards for the Parsis of Bombay. He granted him the necessary papers immediately. “I was never so proud to be a Parsi Zoroastrian, as I was that day, ” says Parekh. He started his business in 1966 in Toronto. With a few scarves, stoles and bolts of silk fabrics, from his basement apartment, he trudged many a mile, from shop to shop and boutique to boutique. The big break came five years^ater when Eatons of Canada placed an order for 1000 meters of raw silk. He suj rics to Eatons for 20 years^until they phased out their retail fabric depart ­ ment some years ago. Today, Parekh sells in Canada from coast to coast, to bridal houses, fab ­ rics shops, and small manufacturers of ready-to-wear clothes. He also has a retail fabric store, which daugh- ter-in-law Sherry Ann helps manage. He goes to Europe and around the world twice a year to trade shows to buy the latest in textile trends: laces from France, embroideries from Switzerland, velvets from Germany, silk prints from Italy and the finest raw silks from Bangalore. 8 8 » Theater , Movies 8 8 « AT A THEATER NEAR YOU 11404 51st Avenue, NE Marysville, WA 98271 (360) 653-7055 See Personal Profile of Theater­ owner Alayar Dabestani in this issue of Parsiana, p.2. 47 Parsiana January 1996 * II BARDELL ANIMATION, LTD. 509 Richards Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2Z6 (604) 669-5589 Founded in 1987 in a 700 sq. ft. stu ­ dio, with a $2,000 investment. Bardell Animation Ltd. [See FEZANA Journal Spring 1995] owned by Delna Bhesania and hus ­ band Barry Ward, has grown into one of the largest animation houses in Vancouver, fulfilling service con ­ tracts for large companies like Toron ­ to-based Nelvana Ltd., the largest animation company in Canada, and MGM/United Artists in Los Angeles. With a staff of upto 90 animators who paint the cells for animated car ­ toons, they have had giddy successes and frightening failures. Theirs is an ‘accordian operation ’, the trick, according to Delna is “To learn to roll with the punches, and be able to bounce back. ’’ Delna migrated to Canada with her family in 1967 at the age of three. » S K Travel SI ¦ tt SACHEM TRAVEL, INC. 80 Orville Drive Bohemia, NY 11716 (516) 567-2840 Manchi and Genevieve Engineer are owners of a world wide, indepen ­ dent travel agency located in the Atrium Building opposite Islip McArthur Airport. They specialize in airline tickets, cruises, hotel book ­ ings, tour packages, corporate groups, and will be happy to arrange a package for Zoroastrian groups. Manchi was regional sales manager at Auto-Europe, the oldest car rental partly owned by Davier. company in Europe besides Hertz, then an airline executive with Air India and Braniff, prior to starting Sachem Travel, Inc. (Sachem is an American Indian word for ‘chief ’). TRADE WIND ASSOCIATES INC. Hew York Houston Chicago Toronto Vancouver Mexico (212) 286-0667 (713) 960-0343 (312) 664-3434 (416) 966-4853 (604) 683-6900 (525) 629-0380 Trade Wind Associates, Inc. was started by Mitzie Birdie and brother Happy Minwalla in New York in 1984 and quickly grew to 6 branches in North America with about 60 employees. The Toronto agency was opened by Nilufer Mama in 1992. They are the sole agents for Gulf Air Lynnwood, WA 98036 in Canada. Family-owned and operated, all the employees as well, are committed to providing the very best in service, for that they believe is the secret of their success. CAPRICORN TRAVEL, INC. 9623 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074 (713) 270-5519 (800) 665-5660 See Personal Profile of Homi Davier, in this issue, p.34. Below: crest of Baltic International Airlines, BALire- ^Cinternational airlines ?> '•AMERICAN LYNNWOOD TRAVEL & CRUISE 3717 196th Street Pb Box 2487 (800) 643-8624 (206) 353-3438 Manijeh Deboo, long time resident of Seattle, Washington, is a certified travel consultant. While she was with Pujet World Travel, of which she was the owner for 11 years till she sold it a couple of years ago, Manijeh had the opportunity to trav ­ el around the world twice. * The New York Times called Phil and Dhun Shroff, “Prognosticating Pros and Corner Psychics for Corporate America. ” From their large studio in New York, the Shroffs predict textile color and texture trends for the fashion industry Dilemma Inc. Shroff & Associates, Inc, - Phil and Dhun Shroff The immigration officer, having been in India during World War II, had met and knew, and had the deepest regard for the Parsis of Bombay. He granted the necessary papers immediately. “I was never so proud to be a Parsi Zoroastrian, as I was that day, ” says Parekh Nash James International - Noshir Jamshed Parekh 48 Parsiana January 1996 I¦T T i MARLIN TRAVEL 2009 South Park Royal West Vancouver, BC V7T lAl (604) 929-0406 Rukhshana Daruwalla is an inde ­ pendent travel agent connected with Thomas Cook. The business, started 3 years ago, specializes in cruises. Originally from Bombay, Rukhshana lived in England and Hong Kong, prior to coming to Vancouver. » » K K Yoga « SI SI H PERVIN DAVAR 3818 Lakeview Terrace Falls Church, VA 22041 (703) 354-3072 Pervin Davar teaches Yoga ”, that combines stretching, breathing and relaxation techniques, in the belief that yoga is for the com ­ plete and harmonious development of the individual. She holds classes at the U.S. Senate, for the mostly Senate staff, and also at a local Church and Alexandria Hospital wellness Center. Davar, who has an Education degree from Poona, came to the U.S. in 1966. She has a teacher ’s certifica ­ tion from the Integral Yoga Institute in Virginia, and over 20 years yoga experience. YOGA & MEDITATION SCHOOL 425 Camino Del Rio SOuth San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 497-6933 Katy Guard (and late hus- ® Zarthusti Supplies SUDREHS, KuSHTIS COOMIBHATHENA 220 Oak Street #2517 Toronto, ONT M5A 2E1 (416) 863-6615 Mrs. Coomi Bhathena is an expert with the needle, and takes orders for sudrehs, navjote and wedding clothes, sari blouses and petticoats. She will ship anywhere in North America. With her exceptional cook ­ ing talents she also often helps out at the Darbe Mehr in Toronto. A handicraft teacher from the Petit Girls High School in Bandra, near Integral fr®™ Bombay, Katy and Bombay, Mrs. Bhathena, or ‘Coomi- mai ’ as she is affectionately called, came to Canada in 1964. For about 10 years she was employed at Cana ­ dian tailoring shops, until she left to devote more tipie to her crafts, her family and her community efforts. ZOROASTRIAN SUPPLIES 10511 Brinwood Drive Houston, TX 77043 (713) 461-2970 Mrs. Mehroo Elavia sells Zoroastri ­ an religious items: sukhar, lobban, kushtis, topis, sudrehs, artifacts, Farohar pendants, German Silver utensils, ses, prayer books and more. The shop, operated from her home, was started in 1985. The items are A < ¦' / * five yoga teachers. They moved the school to San Diego in 1979. Behram studied under the world master B. K. Iyengar. She practices Hatha Yoga, a science of exercises, breath control and meditation which brings body fitness and flexibility, with control and reduction of stress. and! X 'V I > * SHERNAZ SETHNA 185 Red Maple Drive East Levittown, NY 11756 (516) 579-7654 Shernaz Sethna, teaches yoga atj schools work shops.I She finds her classes for the^^ Senior Citizens Club most rewarding. A certified teacher imported from family contacts of the Iyengar yoga school she start- Navsari and other places in India, ed studying yoga with senior Iyengar Mrs. Elavia came to the U.S. in 1978 from Bharuch. [The Elavias are returning to India shortly, and wish to sell their inven­ tory of Zoroastrian Supplies. We encourage any individual or Zoroas- of the Iyengar yoga school she start- I ^^7 —•—liua- juuujiiig, Wllll OVlllVl band Behram) founded the teachers Freny and Sam Motivala in Dadar, Bombay, and has traveled to Pune to study with Iyengar, and to renew her certificates. Shernaz came to the U.S. in 1970, and started the classes shortly there- trian Association to continue this - - most unique and valuable service yoga school with 2 stu ­ dents, from their home in Rockford, IL, in 1969. Through word of mouth the numbers have steadily grown, and over the past years, the couple taught thousands of students, and trained and certified over seventy- after. “Yoga is not a physical thing, j • ;¦ it is a whole way of living. ” She is provided by the Elavias to ZarthustL sad that there are no Zarthustis, and in North America very few Indians, in her classes. 49 Parsiana January 1996LOOKING TO THE FUTURE A collection of thoughts, ideas and suggestions to promote Zarthusti business and enterprise. KEY TO SUCCESS IS NETWORKING By Farshid Salamati, Chair, FEZANA Ad-Hoc Committee for Promotion of Zoroastrian Business­ es and Professionals s we approach a new century, we are rapidly expanding our society with incredible new technology. Zoroastrian profession ­ als have emerged over the last fifty years to bring our society into a lead ­ ing position in international trade and business. With the present and future generations, we continue to increase our knowledge and resources to build an even stronger society. Yet, the generations of today are not quite like those of the past. The new generations bring new ideas, new insights, new attitudes, and they take new actions which are often more effective than those of the past and most essential for success. owever, many of these aspir ­ ing professionals are lost when it comes to entering the ‘real world ’. They need guidance from the older generation. Since every business is crowded, the newer generation faces a problem when they enter the world of business. This is where the older generation can help, but there is a communica ­ tion gap. It is this gap that we must narrow, by involving our community, and most important, by communicat ­ ing with each other. Business prospers and thrives on support. Our community can provide a this support, and provide new entrants with a consistent, easily accessed program. This kind of approach will benefit both our com ­ munity, and our companies at the same time. Our program should include: Directory listing all the businesses and professionals; Yellow Pages containing advertisements of busi ­ nesses; an annual conference or sem ­ inar to update businesses and the community about current issues and events; an annual Business Expo where businesses can show their products and services; a Business Chamber of Commerce which pro ­ vides a chance for the community to voice their opinions; and a Who ’s Who Roster listing positions, titles, company and achievements for every business person. A Zarthusti Business Expo is being planned, for late 1996, to provide a forum for networking and show-cas ­ ing Zarthusti businesses. he future of our society depends on the continuous success of universal business. And as the makers of our society, we must reach out and do everything possible to ensure this success. We must work as a team to generate our future and the only way to do this is by communication. We are eager to hear your opinions and need infor ­ mation about your businesses, so write to us (at 7901 Oakport Street, Suite 3100, Oakland, CA 94621, tel: (510) 632-0104) with your ideas and comments. We welcome all.. o ZARTHUSTIS SUPPORT­ ING ZARTHUSTIS By Rohinton Rivetna ur entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, as is amply evident in the vast array of business stories profiled in this issue, and this is just scratching the surface. But what has the community done thus far to promote entrepreneurship among Zarthustis in North America? Zarthusti business owners and prospective entrepreneurs first came together at th? 1992 North American Congress in Houston, at a Workshop under the initiative o^ Meherwan Boyce. Since then, Business Work ­ shops have been held at every Congress, with increasing popularity. EEZANA has formed an ad-hoc Committee to promote Zarthusti businesses and professionals, chaired since its inception by Farshid Sala ­ mati. In 1993, Salamati prepared a Zoroastrian Business and Profession ­ al Directory. At the Philadelphia Congress in 1994, Cyrus Toorkey of New Jersey volunteered to coordi ­ nate a business network. He has established business contacts in major centers in North America and is continuing to gather information on businesses and professionals with an aim to compiling a comprehensive directory. This special issue of FEZANA Journal is yet another effort by FEZANA in this direction. EZANA is striving to develop the support infra-structure to promote enterprise by first 50 Parsiana January 1996 II I I listing providing a networking forum, and as FEZANA matures, providing direction, discovering opportunities, helping jump-start new businesses, and most important of all, help with finances. he first step is networking. Production of an exhaustive directory listing every Zarthusti business in North America is of the utmost importance. Farshid Salamati and Cyrus Toorkey ’s efforts in this direction are to be applauded and encouraged. It is also my hope that FEZANA hold a Business Expo, possibly in con ­ junction with each North American Congress, featuring business work ­ shops and exhibit booths. ritical to the prosperity of the community is the need to fos ­ ter synergies — between and among Zarthusti businesses, profes ­ sionals, and the community. Every Zarthusti must pledge to patronize Zarthusti businesses where possible. Before we look up the local Yellow Pages, we must endeavor to seek out a Zarthusti who provides that product or service. Be it travel, insurance, catering, accounting, medicine, law, construction, tailoring, manufactur ­ ing, gifts, nursing homes, laundries, print shops — there are Zarthusti goods and services everywhere. In a perfect, mutually beneficial sym ­ biosis — the community supports its businesses, and the businesses sup ­ port the community. 1 I BUSI­ NESS DEVELOPMENTS By Phiroz Dastoor Toronto, Ontario t is of interest to note that between January 1994 and Febru ­ ary 1995, a total of 56 business developments between Canadian firms and Indian firms, were reported [India Journal, Toronto, May 19, 1995]. hese include: waste water management projects, con ­ sulting services in the power and environmental areas; manufac ­ ture of industrial fans; an oilfield renewal scheme and oilfield drilling training; software development; manufacture of holographic identity cards; production of telephone direc ­ tories; liquid cleaning products; engineering design work; solar panel phenyl and PVC raisins, production; tissue culture analysis; manufacture of toothpicks and straws for international airlines; mining and processing of titanium; security systems; and electronic paging equipment. C-Can of Winnipeg signed contracts for delivery in 1994 of 50,000 tons of green peas with traders in Bombay. Bata in Bangalore will produce Hush Puppies for the U.S. market and Adi ­ das shoes for Europe. The Four Sea ­ sons Hotel Group will establish new all-suite hotels in Bombay, Goa, Bangalore, Madras and Delhi. Vadi- lal Dairy of Bombay will produce cheese and butter for Ault Foods of Toronto, and many more ... This is just a sampling of the variety of interesting and lucrative business ventures between Canada and India. I WZO—ENCOURAGING SELF-EMPLOYMENT n April 1995, the World Zoroas ­ trian Organization (WZO) in Bombay initiated a scheme for “Encouraging and Promoting Self ­ employment ” among Zoroastrians in India. In response to its invitation for proposals, WZO was inundated with proposals ranging from the excep ­ tional to the ludicrous. After careful evaluation, they made available interest-free Ioans to be repaid on a B mutually agreed-upon schedule to 41 deserving Zoroastrians, totaling Rs. 4,423,060. usinesses included auto-rick ­ shaws, taxis, trucks and tem ­ pos, computer units, interior decoration of cars, beauty parlor, video shooting, sound recording stu ­ dio, electrical workshop, off-shore catering, STD booth for long dis ­ tance telephone service, soft drinks bottling plant, manufacture of food items, battery acid, liquid soap. The project was funded by a munifi ­ cent donation by one individual Zarthusti in mempry of Bai Maneck- bai and Seth Pirojshaw Bomanjee Jeejeebhoy. WZO hopes Zarthustis around the world will emulate the generosity of this Zoroastrian and donate generously to WZO to assist in initiating and financing various welfare projects for Zarthustis. ! t MATRIMONIAL Wealthy parents of high status invite matrimonial alliance for their 28-year-old, beautiful, tall, intelligent, good-natured, considerate, double graduate, domestically trained daughter from well-placed professional s/businessmen from similar background. Apply with full details and recent photograph (returnable) to: The Advertiser Parsiana, Matrimonial (Jan/4-96)*, GPO Box 892, Bombay 400001 ‘Please make sure the reply envelope bears the reference number cited here. J * k Always remember TATA BATA KHAMBATA Ketayun & Bomi 22/A, Wellington Tenace Wellington Street, Bombay 400002 Tel No: 2069636, 2057242 Pager No: 9602-104007 51 Parsiana January 1996Ketayun H. Gould, Ph. D. is a professor emerita in the School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After electing the\ early retirement option from the University, she and her husband moved to Stafford, Virginia where they have formed a partnership. Independent Scholars Associated. Currently, she is authoring a book on the historical and demographic decline of the Parsi Zoroastrian community in India, | that is based on data that she collected in the rural and urban areas of Gujarat, as well as Bombay, and the India Office Library in London. LOOKING OUTWARDS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE AGENCIES By Professor Ketayun H. Gould Independent Scholars Associated Stafford, Virginia sciousness to take advantage of this basic right. Perhaps we have been lulled into thinking that our own ini ­ tiative and leadership qualities can overcome the obstacles that other minorities have faced in confronting the marketplace. Moreover, the con ­ troversy surrounding Affirmative Action has contributed to the stigma attached to this program. Thus some Zarthustis who could be potential beneficiairies might have shied away ? In this context, it provides from utilizing these guidelines for fear of being accused of succeeding solely on the basis of their minority status. f the above scenario is accurate, it might be instructive to examine .some hard evidence about the realities of the free market enterprise. Then, it might be easy to understand why the federal government found it necessary to take a pro-active stance in dealing with economic discrimina ­ tion. Statistics reveal that the minor ­ ity community represents approximately- 25% of the Ameri ­ can population, but currently owns only 6% of operating businesses. he majority of articles in this Special Issue will undoubted ­ ly be concerned with looking inwards at our collective resources: past accomplishments, plus a show ­ case of successful enterprises that can be organized into a Zarthusti business and professional network. This article, however, focuses on looking outwards. It asks the follow ­ ing question: Is the community over ­ looking opportunities for full participation in the North American economy? ] . some answers by giving examples of government agencies that might be of great value in promoting Zarthusti entrepreneurship . Zoroastrians from India, along with all other groups in the Asian and Pacific Islander category, are consid ­ ered a minority under Affirmative Action guidelines. This status enti ­ tles them to receive various types of assistance from public and private sectors, which in this case translates to opportunities for minority busi ­ ness enterprises. Unfortunately, it is clear that the community as a whole has not developed the political con- community generating just one percent of gross | business reveijues, nationwide. n an effort to deal with this situa ­ tion, the U.S. government estab ­ lished the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in 1969. It is the only U.S. government agency that has been created to foster the establishment and growth of competitive minority-owned busi ­ nesses. MBDA’s national office is headquartered in the U.S. Depart ­ ment of Commerce in Washington, D.C. In addition, MBDA has six regional office locations: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas* New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., and four district office locations: Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. MBDA does not provide any direct financial assistance to minority busi ­ nesses. Instead, it funds Business Development Centers nationwide to assist the start-up, expansion and acquisition of minority-owned firms. There are more than 100 of these [Continued on page 55J I I 52 Parsiana January 1996Small Business In Canada And The United States By Bomy Boyce s in the forest where supple, adaptable saplings outnum ­ ber the creaking old oaks and elms, entrepreneurs are gaining pre ­ eminence in an f enthralled with corporate bigness. And the forest is changing in other ways as well, seniors, immigrants and those who traditionally joined corporations (MBAs) are beginning to outpace the once traditional entrepreneur, those with limited education, in the number of businesses they start. The forest will never be the same again. Market muscle and sheer size no longer gives a company an insur ­ mountable advantage. Its arsenal has to include innovation and flexibility as well — weapons more at home with smaller companies. Have you noticed we don ’t hear the word megaproject any more? Until the 1982 recession this is all we did entrepreneurial skills than the few hear. megabucks, were the crown jewels of North American industrial strategy. They were to make us the sheikhs of Bomy Boyce, of Boyce Associates, Inc. and Nandi Royce International, is a technology transfer consultant. See his profile on page 81. the north. Instead they proved to be the first victims of the recession. The entrepreneurial revolution takes the opposite tack. It ’s putting our eggs in many baskets and tapping the energy and creativity of millions rather than the cloistered few. This is sane strategy considering the foibles of megaprojects, yet for some strange reason critics attach inordinate risk to this splendid bit of common sense. As a corollary to the emergence of the information economy, dramatic developments in computers and telecommunication technologies are enabling organizations to downsize and maintain their efficiency. Economies of scale are no longer a decisive advantage. Where we once relied economy less contentedly on institutions, . “ - ; big business, government Women, youth, organized labor to do our nation building, it is now the task of millions of entrepreneurs. People often limit use of the word entrepreneur to describe a person who has achieved success. This is unjust. An entrepreneur, whether successful or not, displays a charac ­ ter and grit different from those who shelter themselves in the security of a job. Perhaps there is some truth that an entrepreneur is born, not made. But far more of us are born with Megaprojects, costing who take advantage of those talents to start their own business — to pilot it through the first difficult years. 53 Parsiana January 1996 There is a wide gulf between the the ­ ory and practice of entrepreneurship. Dreams of independence and wealth are overshadowed by long hours and short cash flows. Many a ship, though weathered by true entrepreneurial winds, has floun ­ dered. Statistics abound in closures and bankruptcies. There could be several reasons but four play a major role: money and ownership control. weathered marketing, organization, arketing. important dictums in small business are market ­ ing, marketing, marketing. You must make the customer the focus of everything you do. It is not to the victor goes the spoils, but to the one who spoils the customer goes the vic ­ tory. Ideas in themselves are worthless unless they can be tume<^into a prof ­ itable business. You need somebody to pay for the idea. In other words, have a way to market it. If you can ­ not figure out how to do this, it is best not to order those business cards. In terms of the products you carry, markets you serve, or geographic areas you reach, put your eggs in more than one basket. In today ’s fast changing conditions, you run the risk of losing flexibility, so essential to survival, if you concentrate on only one product. rganization. The growth of your business depends on the size and strength of the organization. Unfortunately, build ­ ing an organization can be expensive. An alternate is to build a solid net ­ work. This grows from continuous exposure and investment of time in meeting people. It is a combination oM of new acquaintances and deep friendships. Major companies now operate on the concept of just-in-time inventory. Can you visualize a just-in-time workforce? Its know-how when you need it, without associated long term costs. And a good network can pro ­ vide superlative skills, knowledge, contacts and expertise which is diffi ­ cult to rival with a staff of your own. You create assets without liabilities. oney: Its water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Your company ’s need for cash grows right alongside revenues. And it normally means boosting your operating line of cred ­ it, if you have one. Here discretion is the better part of valor. Owning half or less of a successful company is better than owning 100% of nothing. If need be, take a partner, and usual ­ ly you will be ahead in your quest for capital. Selecting a good hank is crucial. To know a banker is as important as hav ­ ing a good family doctor you can trust. Since banks often balk at the risk of financing independent busi ­ nesses, would-be entrepreneurs often canvas family and friends to finance new ventures. A number of entrepreneurial equity funds are springing up to quench the indepen ­ dent business owners ’ thirst for ven ­ ture capital. These funds can also offer consultation advice on mergers, acquisitions and bridge financing. Venture capital funds favor fast growth companies. If you can demonstrate extraordinary manage ­ ment and extraordinary potential, money is available. Many entrepreneurs turn to a funding alter ­ native that makes start up losses a virtue - a limited partnership. Here investors fund the partnership in exchange for the right to write off start up losses. available. Where the entrepreneur has a unique process which will be in great demand once commercialized, major clients may advance monies to commence opera ­ tion. The secret is spotting a major trend and then climb­ ing aboard at just the right moment. The Canadian Federal Government provides financial assistance through the Small Business Loans Act and the Federal Business Development Bank. Each Province also has its own program, and in some cases provide cash grants. In the U.S.A., the Small Business Administration of the Federal Eco ­ nomic Development Assistance Pro ­ gram can provide Direct Loans. Each State, through the SBA pro ­ grams of the Department of Com ­ merce, promotes business expansion and employment. wnership Control. A naiive start-up entrepreneur deals equity to everyone who wants in on the game. Soon he deals himself out of control, which becomes apparent at the first hint of trouble. Two classes of stock, voting and non-voting, can prevent loss of control. mall business today faces not only unprecedented challenges but countless opportunities. History has shown that each succes ­ sive age has been characterized by a distinctive mode of wealth creation. While no one can be certain of the predominant trends in the 199O’s, the following may be of interest: Aging of North America. By the end of the century seniors, satisfied with their income and wealth, but not o s with retirement, will become a dynamic force controlling over half of U.S. and Canadian assets and dis ­ cretionary income. Environment. Governments will continue with new legislations requiring better purification systems, alternate fuels, healthier preservation of foods, bio-degradable packaging. There will also be ample opportuni ­ ties to educate, train and consult the masses on the problems as well as the solutions. Global Significance. Technology has overcome distance and barriers are coming down. Increase in trade will require new energy, transporta ­ tion and distribution, and above all, know-how. Home Services. With two incomes, families are prepared to pay for per ­ sonal services such as house-clean ­ ing and hiBme shopping, and time-saving and convenience prod ­ ucts. Information Age Overload. We are assaulted by information — news, memos, reports, statistics, prices and laws. For those who can show how to manage, organize and instantly access appropriate information, countless opportunities will arise. Information Age — Privacy. Tech ­ nology has made information readily available to everyone: credit card companies, direct mail marketers, investors. Cellular technology lets us speak across airwaves. Money can be transferred electronically. Person ­ al privacy and security is becoming a serious concern and creating oppor ­ tunities. Information Age — Retraining. Workers from the lowliest to the loftiest will need higher levels of education and retraining to keep them up to date. Mail Order. Mail order houses ful ­ fill the need for quick and easy 54 Parsiana January 1996 4* 4 «access to products, and are growing rapidly. Marriage Market. Traditional wed ­ dings are back. There is a growing market for floral arrangements, cater ­ ing, pastries, musical groups, invita ­ tion printing. Marrying couples are prepared to pay for quality. NRI. One of the fastest growing markets is none other than India, with a middle class of over 100 mil ­ lion with extra discretionary income. This market is wide open to partici ­ pation, through investment, to NRIs (non-resident Indians). Product Manufacturing. 70% of the products society will use in the coming decade have not yet been developed. North America leads in innovation technology and offers a time-window in manufacturing of newer products before the develop ­ ing nations take over. W e presently have a synergy of (a) the recognition of small business as a basis for economic growth; (b) the full support for small business by the U.S. and Canadian governments; and (c) a vast array of professional skills, expertise and experience in a multi ­ tude of disciplines within the Zarthusti community. herefore, as a community, we should now consider riding on the crest of the entrepreneuri ­ al wave and create Zarthusti enter ­ prises. Families in North America can contribute between $1,000 to $10,000 towards core capital in return for proportionate equity hold ­ ing. This initial capital together with government funding, will serve as the seed to create continuing growth and earning power as a legacy for our future generations. [Entrepreneurship Assistance Agencies. Continued from page 52 J located throughout the U.S. They provide basic management, market ­ ing and technical assistance for minority entrepreneurs, and help in commercializing new technologies. They also help minority firms to secure government and private pro ­ curement contracts, locate financing from banks, and other private and government agencies, and develop financial packages for submission to lenders. The centers do charge a nominal fee, but in some cases, it can be waived. To qualify for assistance, the firms can be either potential or established operations, and they do not have to meet a specific size or dollar volume. The centers also provide valuable assistance in securing information regarding procurement opportunities. They have access to a variety of data bases like The Commerce Business Daily, The Defense Marketing Ser ­ vice, F, W. Dodge Construction Information Service, etc. n addition to these center related data systems, MBDA itself main ­ tains a computerized registry, the Automated Business Enterprise Locator System (ABELS) that helps firms to market their products and services. Registry is free of charge, but the firms have to certify that the company is at least 51% owned and controlled by a minority person. MBDA has established a MEGA Center in Chicago, with the next one planned for Los Angeles. It provides expanded services in areas of high- growth enterprises such as hi-tech- nology, advanced electronics information systems and internation ­ al trade, and assistance with capital development, construction and bond ­ ing, franchise development and inte ­ grated business information. I advanced The bottom line, however, in any venture is always equity capital for business expansion. MBDA’s Finan ­ cial Capital Initiative is designed to work with private and public sector financial institutions to increase minority-owned business access to conventional sources of capital. Another source — the MBDA Bond ­ ing Initiative — seeks to increase minority business access to the con- vehtional sources of surety bonding required for major construction pro ­ jects. he other government agency that does not cater specifically to minorities, but might prove to be useful is the Small Business Administration (SBA). Zoroastri ­ ans from Iran who would not qualify for MBDA assistance because they are not considered a minority under Affirmative Action guidelines, should pay particular attention to the services provided by this agency. Minority businesses, hoiy^ever, can apply to SBA for 8(a) certification that enables these firms to get prefer ­ ential treatment in bidding for gov ­ ernment contracts. The SBA is a good supplementary source of help on another score: they have a group of consultants called SCORE (Service Core Retired Exec ­ utives) who provide help in such areas as writing a business plan, ways to secure financing, etc. Also, the SBA advertises a particularly useful service: seminars on relevant topics such as ways to incorporate your business. A general reference source is Small Business Source Book, Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1992. Information on MBDA is available on the World Wide Web server on the Internet at httpt/Z’www.gov/resource/ MBDA_info.html. Information on the SBA is at: http://www.shaonline. sha.gov. 55 Parsiana January 1996 IIMMIGRATION OPTIONS FOR ENTREPRENEURS cannot be used to secure any of the indeb ­ tedness. The new commercial enterprise must also create full-time employment for at least 10 US workers and the foreign inves ­ tor must manage the business on a day-to- day basis or through policy formation. To deter fraudulent applications, the law pro ­ vides that a green card will be issued conditionally for a two-year period. The conditionality will be removed after two years if the investor has satisfied the guidelines. An investor attempting to qualify under Zarthusti entrepreneurs desirous of become viable in one year and will be able this category may establish a new com- setting up a business in the US will to support the individual in an executive, mercial enterprise in one of four ways: be surprised to learn that there are managerial or specialized knowledge a) The creation of an original business, several ways to remain in the country on capacity. Such evidence may be in the b) The purchase of an existing business a temporary visa, and in some cases to form of a commercial lease for new offices, and its restructuring so that a new enter- obtain lawful permanent residency, or contracts and orders indicating imminent prise results. what is popularly known as the ‘green business activity. There is no minimum c) The expansion of an existing business card. ’ Two options are discussed below, investment amount. sothatitsnetworthoremployeesincreases While several proposals in Congress to . _ restrict immigration reflect the prevailing support an executive or manager position d) The purchase of a “troubled business ” anti-immigrant sentiment in the country, ‘ ........................... " ’ it is unlikely that the provisions for entre ­ preneurs will be greatly affected. Since ample marketing or sales aspects), rather the past five years , American immigration than other employees, law has become more geared toward ~ millionaire ‘yacht ’ people than desperate cutive ’ or ‘manager ’ may remain on an L- ‘boat ’ people eager to find sanctuary. _. . . Cyrus D. Mehta ¦ ... I capacity. Such evidence may be in the temporal visa, and in some cases to form of a commercial lease for new offices, ¦ contracts and orders indicating imminent business activity. There is no minimum investment amount. Small enterprises may also be able to by 40 percent. by demonstrating that the employee would which has been in existence for at least manage an essential function (for ex- The maximum period of time an ‘exe- two years and has incurred at least a 20 percent net los^ during the 24 month period prior to the filing date. - The investment amount is relaxed to $5(X),0(X) if it is in a rural ared of less than 20,000 population or in an area which has 1 visa is seven years. The maximum time for a specialize knowledge employee is experienced high unemployment, five years. After the US entity has been in business for one year, it can apply for the limited to 300 visas per year for five years from October 1993, permits investment through regional centers th^t would relax job creation requirements for employment creation visas, if the investor can demons ­ trate that investments in a regional center will indirectly create jobs through rev ­ enues generated by exports. The Immi- A recently established pilot program, The L Visa The non-immigrant L-1 visa is an attrac ­ tive option because it is easily convertible green card on behalf of its executive or to a green card. The visa is commonly manager. This option is not available to utilized by managers and executives of specialized knowledge employees, foreign companies who transfer to the foreigncompany ’sbranch,affiliate,parent Employment Creation or subsidiary in the US. It is therefore The immigration Act of 1990 created a essential to structure the US entity ac ­ cording. . _ . The L visa is granted to individuals investing) at least $1 million (or $500,000 announced six regional centers in the who will be employed by the US entity in an executive, managerial or specialized below) in a new commercial enterprise. knowledge capacity. Moreover, the This provision generated heated debate in have taken advantage of the employment individual must have worked for the Congress between those opposed to the related foreign company, in similar so-called selling of green cards and those capacities, for at least one year in the past favoring stimulating the US economy three years. I „ ", Small companies are not precluded capital from abroad, from taking advantage of this provision. It is possible for the owner or representative cash, equipment, inventory and other tan- of a foreign company to enter the US for gible property. In addition, indebtedness job creation requirements. Cyrus Mehta practices law in New York City. A graduate of Cambridge University (UK) and Co- lumbia Law School (NY), he started his own law nally or primarily liable for the debts. The firm, which has twoattorneysandfourparalegals, assets of the new commercial enterprise new investor category for foreign entre ­ preneurs investing (or in the process of gration and Naturalization Service has if investing in a targeted area, discussed country. x. In summary, very few foreign investors creation investor category because of the rigid dollar requirements and the imposi ­ tion of the two-year conditional require- through the creation of jobs financed by ment. In contrast, the L-1 visa and Immi ­ grant Manager provisions have proved to The investment may be in the form of be far more attractive because of the absence of minimum dollar amounts and the purposes of setting up a branch off ice, secured by assets owned by the foreign subsidiary or affiliate. The U.S. entity entrepreneur may also be considered capi- may then apply for the L-1 visa on behalf tai. However, the investor must be perso- of this individual. Evidence must be submitted to show that the company will in 1993. 56 Parsiana January 1996 *