  Kamini Pahujah Receives Women in Business AwardFive hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money to borrow, but Kamini and Subhash Pahujah made it look like small change when they brought Alloy Polymers with that amount, and then pushed the company’s sales up to $25 million annually. The Small Business Bureau, which gave the Pahujahs the crucial guarantee for the money 20 years ago, honored Kamini, vice-president, finance, as one of the nation’s top entrepreneurs. Kamini and 14 other businesswomen were conferred the 2004 Celebrating Women in Business Award by the SBB at a special breakfast ceremony during the recent National Small Business Week and the SBA Expo in Orlando. The award Honors women who have launched successful business ventures. “The SBA is proud to recognize the tremendous contributions women have entrepreneurs have made to our nation.” SBA Deputy Administrator Melanie R Sabelhaus said, describing them as the economic powerhouses of the 21 st century. The number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all US businesses, with women owning 10.6 million businesses, generating 3.6 trillion in sales and accounting for 55 percent of all new businesses, the SBA said. “I feel honored and humbled by this award,” Kamini said, giving her husband credit for having the vision, to see where the venture would lead, and then the tenacity to keep going. She thanked her children for their patience with her hectic schedules, and her women colleagues for their “testimonial of dedication.” She finally thanked her fellow members at the National Association of Women Business Owners “who were always there to make the right connection while providing support and encouragement to me in tough times.” With the SBA backing them, in 1982 the Pahujahs took over Alloy Polymers, a research and development facility in Waldwick, New Jersey, a unit being sold by the International Nickel Corporation. In 1993, now in Virginia, they again relied on an SBA guarantee to seek funds beyond what the banks were willing to give. It was the second infusion of capital that helped Alloy Polymers cross $10 million in sales, says Kamini. Alloy Polymers now has two plant locations and employs over 175 associates. “The firm is an innovative leader in providing specialty, value-added compounding services to the thermoplastics industry,” an SBA spokesperson said, adding that the Pahujahs truly celebrate diversity in the workplace, as evidenced by the flags in the workshop representing the nationalities of all their employees. The company is the only toll compounder with both ISO 9002 and A2LA certification. The company has also earned the Virginia Senator Quality and Productivity awards. It is the only plastics company to receive the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Safety and Health Achievement recognition Program certification for excellence in safety, health and environment. Frost & Sullivan named it the “Entrepreneurial Company of the year 2004” in the plastic and chemical segment. As vice-president for finance, Kamini not only helps secure the best financing for her company but she has also been a woman business advocate for the SBA. In 2000, she won the SBA Women in Business award for her region, given in recognition of her leadership as president of the Richmond chapter of NAWBO, where she promoted fellow women businesses and helped bring international focus to the region. Pahujah holds an MBA from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York, and a master’s degree in mathematics from Punjab University. Subhash, president and Chief Executive Officer, has a masters degree from the University in New Hampshire and an MBA from Iona College. Before taking over Alloy Polymers, Kamini worked for 12 years at AT&T in various managerial positions. She was instrumental in developing and implementing access charges, and actively participated in minority associations at AT&T. She has been involved in establishing Arya Samaj chapters in Westchester, Long Island, NY, and New Jersey, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Dharma Association of North America. —India Abroad (June 2004) |