PRESIDENT

Mehul Shah is the Co-Founder and Commercial Leader at LNS Research, a leading research and advisory firm for global industrial organizations.

Mehul moved to Bedford in 2016 with his wife and daughter, Ariana. As the President of SAAB, he has overall responsibility for managing its affairs and organizing events. He has a strong passion for building community. With a deep commitment to bringing people together and fostering lasting relationships, Mehul aims to create unforgettable experiences that unite and integrate the expanding SAAB family within the Bedford community. Mehul also actively participates in the Bedford community by coaching local sports teams. He is part of RSVP (Response System in Volunteer Partnership) and has been featured as a "Citizen Among Us" in the Bedford Guide.

VICE PRESIDENT

Sushma Raja is a Principal Product Manager for Microsoft, where she spearheads the ideation and development of cutting-edge cybersecurity products.

Sushma moved to Bedford in 2017 with her husband, Sanjay, and they have two boys in the Bedford school system. She serves as the Vice-President of the South Asian Association of Bedford. In this role, she works to organize community events, such as Holi and Diwali, serving a broad role across functions. Sushma is also deeply involved in the Bedford Public Schools, marking her second year on the Lane Advisory Council following a three-year tenure on the Davis Advisory Council, where she played a pivotal role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

TREASURER

Amee Mistry is Director of the MCPHS post-graduate pharmaceutical industry program, the 2nd largest postgraduate program in the country. She is also Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), within the School of Pharmacy.

Amee has been a Bedford resident since 2013 and has volunteered her time with the SAAB, the local Girl Scout troop, and the Jain Sangh of New England. Since stepping into the financial role with SAAB, she has worked to coordinate fundraising efforts, filed for non-profit status with the IRS, and worked closely with the SAAB team to bring events small and large to fruition.

SECRETARY

Dhiren Patel is the co-founder of Taurus Health, a boutique consulting firm focusing on commercializing artificial intelligence and digital health solutions in the healthcare industry, and the managing partner of Taurus Health Capital. Previously, he was the Senior Vice President of Commercial at Pack Health, which was acquired by Quest Diagnostics in February 2022.

Dhiren moved to Bedford in 2021 with his wife, Rachana, and their two children, Niam and Sia, who are enrolled in the Bedford school system. He serves as the Secretary of the South Asian Association of Bedford. In this role, he collaborates closely with the executive team on administrative responsibilities, leads the fundraising efforts, and helps organize the annual Holi and Diwali events.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Lalitha Gunturi Ranganath is General Counsel & Chief People Officer at Aras Corporation, a PE-backed global enterprise company headquartered in Andover, MA where she heads both the legal and people functions.

Since moving to Bedford in 2013 with her husband, Anil, and two sons, Nikhil and Nishanth, she has been actively engaged with the Bedford South Asian community. As a dedicated SAAB Committee Member, Lalitha has contributed to the organization's foundational documents, secured grants, and helped coordinate events like Diwali and Holi. Additionally, she is involved in the broader Bedford community through her roles with the Bedford Education Foundation, Parents Diversity Council, and her past contribution to the Bedford Citizen.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Taruna Shah is an Account Executive in the digital advertising space at Amazon. Taruna studied Kathak for 16 years and has been choreographing for over 20 years teaching dances for temple functions and cultural events. Taruna moved to Bedford in 2015 with her husband, Anish, and older daughter, Sahana (now 11 years old). After moving to Bedford, they welcomed their younger daughter Aashna (now 8 years old).

Taruna has been an active member of South Asian communities all her life as well as during her time in Bedford. Specifically, over the past 2 years with SAAB, Taruna has run the cultural program for Diwali, formed groups, choreographed multiple dances and aided in planning and execution of Holi. Taruna serves as an active Committee Member with SAAB.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Sonal Patel is the Digital Marketing and Outreach Specialist for Bedford TV. She is responsible for managing social media and digital communications for the TV station, as well as event planning, community partnerships, and fundraising.

Originally from San Diego, Sonal has a background in biology and chemistry and previously worked in biotech for several years. She and her family moved to Bedford in 2017. She has three children, two of which are in the Bedford Public School system. She is an active member of the Bedford community, volunteering at the Bedford schools, and serving on the Best PTO board. She is also the founder of Buy Nothing Bedford. As a committee member of SAAB, Sonal is involved in creating marketing materials for their events and helps manage their social media platforms.

MARKETING LEAD

Satya Behara is the Chief Marketing Officer at PrepMD, the premier provider of cardiac healthcare solutions renowned for transforming global cardiac care with state-of-the-art services and technologies.

Since making Bedford their home in 2023, Satya, along with his wife, Swetha, and son, Sriyaan, have quickly become integral members of the community. While playing a significant role in fundraising efforts, Satya leads marketing, public relations, and cultivating strong relationships with sponsors and partners. His work ensures they gain substantial value from their association with the South Asian Association of Bedford (SAAB). Satya's efforts are geared toward elevating the profile and impact of SAAB's cultural and community activities.