Purnima Voria is the Founder and CEO of the National US India Chamber of Commerce (NUICC), an organization formed to build bilateral trade between United States and India through business relationships. An international business advocate, Voria is an International business owner, freelancer, educator, motivational speaker, and a U.S.­India expert.

Nationally, Voria has been appointed by Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Department of Commerce to serve as an Advisor to the Obama Administration on the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprises for a two year term to shape future policies and programs that will set the foundation for the growth of $100 million companies across all industries that are owned and operated by U.S. minorities.

Voria has also served on President George W. Bush’s 2005 Presidential Commission and was a member of his 2006 Presiden­tial Business Club, providing valuable business policy and trade expertise. That same year, she was awarded a Congressional Medal of Distinction for her outstanding leadership in business and her contributions to the United States economy. In 2005, the Wall Street Journal honored Voria as a Businesswoman of the Year.

Data from the Department of Commerce reveal that minority-owned firms are an engine of job growth and are more likely to export than non-minority-owned firms. These firms account for $1 trillion in gross receipts and employ almost six million Americans. To bolster the economic impact of minority entrepreneurs across the county, the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE) was established in April 2010.

Commerce Secretary John Bryson hosted the fifth meeting of the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise today at the Commerce Department. The Council, co-chaired by Mark Hoplamazian, CEO of Hyatt Hotel Corporation, and Janice Savin-Williams, co-founder and principal, Williams Capital Group, includes CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and scholarly research experts.

“It’s clear that minority communities and minority-owned businesses were hit hard in the recession. However, in the last 22 months, 3.2 million jobs were created. Also, credit is flowing again to a certain degree,” Bryson said today. “But with your help, we can foster an environment where minority entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders can do what they do best–create jobs.”

Bryson called on the NACMBE members to help develop policies that are centered around the Department of Commerce’s key priorities which include manufacturing, the National Export Initiative (NEI), and more investment in the United States. Bryson also discussed the importance of the administration’s new initiatives, BusinessUSA and SelectUSA, which will help entrepreneurs become global leaders and successfully compete for consumers outside U.S. borders.

Since its creation, NACMBE has focused on key issues such as developing a new definition of minority business enterprise, creating an ongoing forum to support the growth and expansion of minority business owners, and ways to foster strategic alliances between minority business enterprises and other businesses leading to accelerated growth and export expansion. The council expects to release its report on policy issues affecting the growth of minority-owned firms and offer recommendations by midsummer.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced the appointment of 25 individuals to serve on the newly established National Advisory Council for Minority Business Enterprises. The advisory council, led by the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), is the first council focused on promoting the minority business community since the early 1970s.

The new council will provide advice and recommendations to Locke and the administration on a broad range of policy issues affecting the minority business community as part of the Obama administration’s focus on creating new jobs and strengthening the U.S. economy. Recent Census data show that the number of minority-owned firms is growing at a significant rate, yet the gap in revenue between minority-owned and non-minority-owned firms is substantial. Disparities in access to capital have also been recently documented in a report commissioned by MBDA.

“A strong and vibrant minority business community is absolutely essential to the growth of the U.S. economy,” Locke said. “I look forward to working with the advisory council to identify new and innovative ways the public and private sector can help spur growth among minority-owned firms so they can expand their operations and hire more people.”

Advisory council appointees represent a broad range of industries including technology, energy, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, construction and consulting, and vary from small businesses to multinational corporations. The council’s first meeting will take place in early 2011.

In addition to appointing council members, Locke has asked Mark Hoplamazian to serve as chair and Janice Savin-Williams to serve as vice chair of the council.

The full list of appointed members to the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprises includes:

1. Purnima Voria, Founder and CEO, National U.S. India Chamber of Commerce
2. Jean Baderschneider, Vice President, Procurement, Exxon Mobil
3. Gregory Case, President and CEO, Aon Corporation
4. Lamae Allen-DeJongh, Partner, Accenture
5. John Harris II, President, Raytheon Technical Services Company
6. Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Global Hyatt Corporation
7. Paul Hsu, Chairman of the Board, HSU Enterprise Group, LLC
8. Anthony Jimenez, President and CEO, MicroTech
9. Ash Luthra, President and CEO, LSL Industries, Inc.
10. Jose Mas, CEO, MasTec, Inc.
11. Chris Melvin, Chairman and Founder, Melvin & Company
12. Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
13. Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
14. Elizabeth Plaza, President and CEO, Pharma-Bio Serv., Inc.
15. Richard Rizzo, Vice Chairman, Perini Building Company
16. Roy Roberts, President and CEO, Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc.
17. Ed Sanchez, Chairman and CEO, Lopez Foods, Inc.
18. Janice Savin-Williams, Co-founder and Senior Principal, Williams Capital Group, LP
19. Michael Schell, Executive Vice President, Alcoa
20. David Segura, CEO, Vision IT, Inc.
21. Jim Sinegal, CEO, Costco
22. Donald Thompson, President and COO, McDonald’s
23. Chiling Tong, CEO, International Leadership Foundation
24. William Von Hoene, EVP, Exelon
25. Frank White, President and CEO, Advanced Concepts

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Denver-based National US India Chamber of Commerce (NUICC) to promote economic relations with the United States, the UNI reported. DS Rawat, Secretary General, Assocham and Purnima Voria, Founder and CEO of NUICC signed the agreement.

It capped a two-day visit of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton for the second annual meeting of Indo-US strategic partnership dialogue to take joint policy steps for lowering trade barriers and expanding economic and investment ties, the report said.

“Both chambers have decided to exchange information on general economic status, trade policies and legislative changes to strengthen trade, technological and industrial cooperation between India and the United States,” said Rawat.

Speaking on the occasion, Voria said Assocham and NUICC will assist each other in organising business delegations and facilitating business contacts. “They will also exchange information about international fairs, exhibitions and trade promotion events to be held in their respective countries and assist their members in participating in such events,” Voria said.

The chambers will also unite their efforts for development of tourism between the two countries, according to the MoU. The current volume of bilateral trade is $ 50 billion, added the report.

Glenn Jones — a businessman, inventor, founder, humanitarian, visionary, author, distance-learning pioneer, poet and Navy veteran — received the Mizel Museum’s 2012 Community Enrichment Award at a dinner held at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. The event was a record-setter. Says museum co-founder Larry Mizel: “This once a year community dinner raised $1.6 million, the funds necessary to operate the Mizel Museum, the CELL (the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab) and to work toward building out the stewardship of Babi Yar Park.”

Andrew Romanoff, Melissa Caplan, and Purnima Voria.

Photo by Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post

We are pleased to invite you to our Mother’s Day Campaign briefing to coincide with the release of the 2012 Mother’s Day report.

This year’s report looks at how factors such as unemployment and underemployment, pay inequality, caregiving, age and gender discrimination, and education, training, and technology are impacting women age 40 and older. The report highlights existing programs that produce real results and offer innovative solutions and policy-driven recommendations to expand economic diversity and accelerate our nation’s productivity.

We are pleased to be collaborating with a number of leading organizations in the areas of labor, aging, and women’s issues, who have contributed the latest data and analysis on employment trends. Among our contributors are Mujeres Latinas en Action, National US India Chamber Commerce, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Wider Opportunities for Women, Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, and Easter Seals.

2012 Mother’s Day Briefing
Thursday, May 10, 2012
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Sewall-Belmont House & Museum
144 Constitution Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Click here for a map and directions.

Moderator:
Lisa Stark
ABC News

Confirmed speakers to date:
Carolyn Colvin
Deputy Commissioner
U.S. Social Security Administration

Purnima Voria
Founder and CEO
National U.S. India Chamber of Commerce

Maya Rockeymoore
President and CEO
Global Policy Solutions

Page Harrington
Executive Director
Sewall-Belmont House & Museum

Other invited speakers include:
Senior White House Staff
Department of Labor

Click here to contact NUICC for more information.

Contributing organizations
Altarum Institute, American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Psychological Association (APA), Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, Byte Back, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Easter Seals, Empowered Women International (EWI), Experience Works, Global Policy Solutions, Gray Panthers, Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), Mujeres Latinas En Acción, National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW), National Council on Aging (NCOA), National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF), National US India Chamber of Commerce (NUICC), Sewall-Belmont House, Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), and Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)

NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell moderates a panel with local business leaders to
talk about the role that education plays in job creation and job readiness.

States and India through business relationships. NUICC is recognized as one of the top international business organizations where members meet with visionary business and government leaders from the United States, India and other countries, become actively involved with the larger business community, and learn how to help their companies better compete in the new, dynamic global economy with the enhanced growth of U.S.-India trade relations. The membership of NUICC spans across a wide spectrum of industries, with direct membership strength of over 9,200 people worldwide.

An international business advocate, Ms. Voria is an International business owner, educator, motivational speaker and a U.S.-India expert, and mother of three very successful daughters. She is also a business consultant to small and large U.S. corporations and industry trade associations and helps businesses market and source their products and services in India; qualifies local partners; provides a road map for businesses that are entering the Indian marketplace; provides legal, taxation and regulatory help; and offers in-company training workshops. Ms. Voria participates in many local, national and international activities.

Nationally, Ms. Voria is appointed by Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Department of Commerce to serve as an Advisor to the Obama Administration on the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprises for a two year term to shape future policies and programs that will set the foundation for the growth of $100 million companies across all industries that are owned and operated by U.S. minorities.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Larry Mizel, founder of The CELL, warmly greets Purnima Voria, founder/CEO of the National US INDIA Chamber of Commerce.

The question of how to confront Iran’s nuclear ambitions amounts to the “most vexing challenge” U.S. Sen. Mark Udall said he’s faced in all his years in Congress at a panel discussion on national security Wednesday night at the Denver Art Museum.

Amid fresh tension over reports Iran had blocked international inspectors from a nuclear facility, Udall cautioned against a rising drumbeat to attack the country, warning that brute force hasn’t always yielded the intended results in the troubled, complicated region.

“Were we to attack Iran,” Udall told the standing-room-only crowd, “the narrative would be, ‘This is the very reason that we need to have a bomb in Iran — if we had a bomb, we wouldn’t have been attacked.’ I don’t know how we thread that needle. We keep all options on the table.”

Those options include continuing “to drive wedges in the leadership” of a country he termed “a military dictatorship with a patina of religiosity,” while working to delay a confrontation until young Iranians — with “tremendous affection for the United States” — can have more influence in the country.

Udall said he was hopeful but wary about what he called a “very complicated and dangerous situation.”

The panel, convened by Udall, examined threats around the globe, including the looming danger of cyber-warfare conducted “in a land of fading borders,” in the wording of Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the country’s second-highest ranking military official.

Joining Udall and Winnefeld for the nearly two-hour discussion were Ambassador Christopher Hill, dean of DU’s School of International Studies and a past ambassador to Iraq and South Korea; and Kenneth Wainstein, the Homeland Security advisor to President Bush and a former assistant attorney general for National Security. The panel discussion was sponsored by the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab.

Udall sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, including the former’s Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

Elaborating what might be called the Udall Doctrine, the Democrat advocated for a “tough but smart” approach to national security, one that deploys American political values and economic might along with its military might. He warned against a rush to “sacrifice liberty for security” and concluded: “No threat can be effectively contained by eroding the right to speak openly or by limiting constitutional protections.”

Going forward, he said, the United States should maintain the world’s most powerful military “but never again have a policy of shoot first, ask questions later,” a reference to the Iraq invasion and shifting objectives in Afghanistan.

Pointing to another festering hotspot in the region, Udall acknowledged that the U.S. military could easily topple the Syrian regime but said the nation shouldn’t risk arming that country’s opposition “without knowing who they are.”

Wainstein agreed that the question of throwing in with the Syrian opposition was muddled by the possibility that al Qaeda forces could be moving in from neighboring Iraq, attempting to co-opt the attempt to overthrow Syria’s rulers.

“Killing bin Laden was the biggest blow to al Qaida,” he said, but then argued that the Arab Spring could be having a comparable effect on the extremists. The last year’s uprisings across the Middle East have “left al Qaeda behind” and have amounted to “a total repudiation of al Qaeda.”

Udall suggested several measures to help bring about the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, which he said “would be a benefit to the region and to the world,” in no small part because it would strip Iran of a key ally and further isolate that rogue nation. Among the steps Udall suggested were to encourage the work of the Arab League, “jawbone” Russia toward more constructive engagement, encourage Turks to broaden its aid to refugees, and funnel humanitarian aid to the region.

Taking a look at other troubled spots on the globe, Hill noted that Pakistan is “one angry mob away from a loose nuke.” Winnefeld concurred, calling America’s relationship with its ally Pakistan “one of those classic love-hate relationships.” The Pakistanis, he added, “are partners, but they’re very difficult partners.”

Turning to the potential for cyber-attacks, waged stealthily across computer networks, Wainstein acknowledged that the U.S. isn’t fully prepared.

“Everything we do relies on cyber, and we have some very determined adversaries out there,” he said, adding that the country lags “a few years behind” where it needs to be.

Winnefeld warned that it’s a whole new ballgame when it comes to defending against “attacks (that) can occur at the speed of light” on a battlefield that isn’t clearly defined. It can be maddeningly difficult, he said, to determine if “someone snorkeling around” amounts to recreational hacking, espionage or a full-blown attack.

Udall said Congress was preparing to tackle the question of cyber-security.

“Stay tuned for that debate in the next couple weeks,” he said, adding that the discussion could mimic a recent dust-up over digital copyright issues that swept through Congress last month.

Following the forum, Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, who observed the discussion, told The Colorado Statesman he thought it had been a good airing of critical concerns.

“It was sobering to hear about the dangerous threats that are out there in the world today,” he said, “but on the other hand, it’s good to know that we in this country are taking big steps, and we’re learning fast.” We were kind of caught unprepared on 9/11, but at the same time, we’ve been learning fast. We have a ways to go — especially cyber-security. And of course, we have to watch some of the troubled spots in the world: Pakistan, Afghanistan, that area, Syria, North Korea, and Iran, maybe most of all. It was a good forum to air some of these issues, and I think everyone learned a lot.”

The Colorado Statesman – March 2, 2012, Vol. 113, No. 9