Day 57 of Mentor on Road, USA

“Do one thing at a time, and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.”
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 57 of Mentor on Road, USA started with a beautiful morning in St. Louis. 

We started driving on 4 June, 2017 from Boston and passed through states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. Driven 12,470 kilometers / 7,688 miles till now and will drive 15,450 kilometers / 9602 miles in total. 

We have two events scheduled for today, one with the start-ups and the other one with small and medium businesses in St. Louis. 

The economy of metro St. Louis relies on service, manufacturing, trade, transportation of goods, and tourism. Its metro area is home to major corporations, including: 

• Anheuser-Busch 
• Express Scripts
• Centene 
• Boeing Defense 
• Emerson 
• Energizer 
• Panera 
• Enterprise
• Peabody Energy
• Ameren
• Ralcorp 
• Scottrade 
• Edward Jones

This city has also become known for its growing medical, pharmaceutical and research presence. St. Louis has 2 professional sports teams: the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. The city is commonly identified with the 630-foot (192 m) tall Gateway Arch in Downtown St. Louis.

St. Louis is a center of medicine and biotechnology. The Washington University School of Medicine is affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the fifth-largest hospital in the world.

According to St. Louis's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city, as of June 30, 2016 are:

• Washington University 
• BJC Health Care 
• St. Louis University 
• City of St. Louis 
• Defense Finance and Accounting Service 
• Wells Fargo (A. G. Edwards) 
• St. Louis Board of Education 
• US Postal Service 
• State of Missouri 

Mentor on Road headed towards its first event with the Start-ups in St. Louis, arranged by T-REX, where we shared our views on the start-up ecosystem being built in India and how American start-ups can participate in it. Mentor on Road came across several great start-ups. We would soon start working with them and connect agricultural technology start-ups to India with the centres of excellence.
                                 

After this, Mentor on Road headed towards its second event with small and medium businesses of St Louis organised by Unites States Commercial Services (USCS) St. Louis and World Trade Centre, St. Louis.

From customized research to business training and accessible resources, the World Trade Center St. Louis supports the organizations’ efforts to capitalize on globalization. The Center offers services and programs to help companies become more competitive and strategic in their international growth plans.

Members of the World Trade Center St. Louis can access:

• Trade education 
• Market intelligence reports 
• Networking and making connections 
• Customized research services 
• Referrals and sales contacts

It was an interesting discussion where we talked about the cultural differences of doing business between both the nations, India and the USA.

Mentor on Road also shared about the changes taking places in New India 3.0 and how the same can be beneficial for the American companies. Talked about the six steps of exporting in India, Quick Market Research (QMR) approach to Indian market and also shared about the details of Indian businesses in brief.

The session was then followed by a Q&A session. We were glad to answer all their queries successfully. We would soon connect them to the Indian businesses.
                                     

Looking forward to a productive day tomorrow.

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)

Day 56 of Mentor on Road, USA

“In a day, when you don't come across any problems - you can be sure that you are travelling in a wrong path” 
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 56 of Mentor on Road, USA started with an excellent and enthusiastic interaction organized by United States Commercial Services (USCS) Kansas city and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Kansas office. We talked about the various opportunities present in New India 3.0 and their long term benefits for the American companies.

On interacting, Mentor on Road came to know that a lot of American companies in Kansas are already doing business with India and many were interested to get started, after our presentation.

  

The event was followed by an interesting Q&A session. Most of the questions raised by the audience related to the speed of getting things done and closing the deal in India. We were glad to be able to answer all their queries successfully. 

After which, Mentor on Road had one to one meetings about trade and investment in India with several American companies present in the event. We were glad to meet companies that are doing so well by contributing to the society through their unique products and services. We will soon connect them to the Indian companies along with Federal and State level government departments.                             

The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC) is a recognized economic development leader. With a mission to attract and retain businesses domestically and internationally, the EDC serves as a resource and advocate to cultivate the competitiveness of business locating or expanding to the City of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Serving as a liaison between City departments, businesses and the development community, the EDC provides financial and informational assistance, workforce resources, customized research services and more to ensure the City’s strategic economic development and quality job choice for our residents. 

The EDC also works closely with commercial developers, business owners, real estate brokers and site selectors to navigate the legislative process related to development and incentives.

The EDC also works with state and local partners and through their seven affiliated statutory redevelopment agencies to provide resources for public investment programs, credits, loans and grants to new businesses, small businesses and expanding companies.

Mentor on Road is on its way to its next destination, St. Louis. 

St. Louis  is an independent city and major U.S. port in the state of Missouri, built along the western bank of the Mississippi River, on the border with Illinois. The city had an estimated 2016 population of 311,404, and is the cultural and economic center of the Greater St. Louis area (home to 2,916,447 people), making it the largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the 19th-largest in the United States.

Prior to European settlement, the area was a major regional center of Native American Mississippian culture. The city of St. Louis was founded in 1764 by French fur traders Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau, and named after Louis IX of France. In 1764, following France's defeat in the Seven Years' War, the area was ceded to Spain and retroceded back to France in 1800. In 1803, the United States acquired the territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase. 

During the 19th century, St. Louis developed as a major port on the Mississippi River. In the 1870 Census, St. Louis was ranked as the 4th-largest city in the United States. It separated from St. Louis County in 1877, becoming an independent city and limiting its own political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the Summer Olympics.

Mentor on Road has come a long way. We feel blessed to have the opportunity of meeting all the wonderful people on our journey and working on a common goal of bringing the nations, India and the USA closer. On this note, we would like to conclude by saying; one must always practice a gratitude exercise for all the things one is grateful for by the end of the day.

Looking forward to an exciting journey ahead.

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)

Day 55 of Mentor on Road, USA

“The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit, the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter, body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.”
-Swami Vivekananda

Day 55 of Mentor on Road, USA started with an event with the Indian community of Kansas city, members of Indian Association of Kansas City (IAKC). It was an intensive interaction where we discussed about the changes taking place in New India 3.0, which includes the impact of Skill India, Clean India, Start-up India and Digital India.

Mentor on Road also shared about the fact that anybody, in today’s date, can do business in India with complete ease and comfort, with the introduction of many digital platforms which is one of the major reasons behind the declining corruption practices in India.

Mentor on Road also talked about the smart village program and motivated the Indian diaspora to adopt their native village in India to convert it into a smart village where Mentor on Road will help them with diagnosing the pain points of the villagers and also help them with the financial inputs.

We were extremely glad to note that many participants agreed to our approach and came forward to adopt their villages without giving it a second thought. We would soon start working for the same and connect them to India.
                                             

Hope the journey ahead stays as productive and exciting as it has been till now. 

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours) 

Day 54 of Mentor on Road, USA

“All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.”
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 54 of Mentor on Road, USA started with a remarkable event with the Indian diaspora of the Kansas city arranged by the Indian Association of Kansas City.

The India Association of Kansas City (IAKC) is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian organization formed in 1965 with the primary purpose to serve the cultural and educational needs of the Indian Community in Greater Kansas City Area. Its objectives are to provide a common platform to all members living in the Greater Kansas City Area for pursuing their common goals and sharing their concerns while promoting joint efforts in the social, cultural and educational activities of the members.

IAKC conducts several activities through the year that foster community interaction, provide entertainment, showcase local talent, undertake community service and contribute towards building their collective image and identity. Events range from dance competitions, concerts and many more things. Some yearly events that they put on for the community and the public are: Independence Day of India, Republic Day, and New Year Ball.

IAKC is governed by an executive team with support from board of trustees who contribute their personal time and energies toward the successful creation and growth of the organization. The team has diverse professional and ethnic backgrounds. Their dedication and contribution of time and expertise have laid a strong foundation in the growth of IAKC.
                                          

It was a wonderful gathering where Mentor on Road discussed about the positive changes taking place in New India 3.0. 

Mentor on Road also presented about the smart village program and talked about the ways the audience can contribute to the village they belong to, which includes, spending some time in the village to learn about the difficulties and the pain points of the villagers and suggesting technological solutions to those problems. The crowd was glad to note that they do not need to invest anything from their side except for their time and support. 

Receiving a respectable appreciation from the crowd made us realize that no matter how far you stay, if you are a true nationalist at heart, you would always be there to take care of your homeland. 

Overall, the event was successful as four people from the crowd came forward to adopt their village. Mentor on Road is happy as well as excited to announce that till now 42 villages have been adopted from 25 different cities of USA. Hope the number keeps increasing so that we all together are able to bring a small yet impactful change in the society. 

Anticipating a productive day tomorrow.

Jai ho! (Let victory be yours)

Day 53 of Mentor on Road, USA

“Infinite patience, infinite purity, and infinite perseverance are the secret of success in a good cause.”
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 52 of Mentor on Road, USA is a drive from Omaha to Kansas city, Missouri. It’s a short drive of 3 hours.

We started driving on 4^th June from Boston and passed through states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. Driven 11,700 kilometers / 7,208 miles till now and will drive 15,450 kilometers / 9602 miles in total. We have now entered the 35^th state of the road drive – Missouri.
                                                  

Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri and the sixth largest city in the Midwest. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had an estimated population of 481,420 in 2016, making it the 37th largest city by population in the United States. It is the anchor city of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which straddles the Kansas–Missouri border.

Kansas City was founded in the 1830s as a Missouri River port at its confluence with the Kansas River coming in from the west. On June 1, 1850 the town of Kansas was incorporated; shortly after came the establishment of the Kansas Territory. Confusion between the two ensued and the name Kansas City was assigned to distinguish them soon thereafter.

The federal government is the largest employer in the Kansas City metro area. More than 146 federal agencies maintain a presence there. Kansas City is one of ten regional office cities for the US government. The Internal Revenue Service maintains a large service center in Kansas City that occupies nearly 1,400,000 square feet (130,000 m²). It is one of only two sites to process paper returns.

The IRS has approximately 2,700 full-time employees in Kansas City, growing to 4,000 during tax season. The General Services Administration has more than 800 employees. Most are at the Bannister Federal Complex in South Kansas City. The Bannister Complex is also home to the Kansas City Plant, which is a National Nuclear Security Administration facility operated by Honeywell. 

Honeywell employs nearly 2,700 at the Kansas City Plant, which produces and assembles 85% of the non-nuclear components of the United States nuclear bomb arsenal. The Social Security Administration has more than 1,700 employees in the Kansas City area, with more than 1,200 at its downtown Mid-America Program Service Center (MAMPSC).

Numerous agriculture companies operate out of the city. Dairy Farmers of America, the largest dairy co-op in the United States is here. Kansas City Board of Trade is the principal trading exchange for hard red winter wheat, the principal ingredient of bread. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and The National Association of Basketball Coaches are based in Kansas City.

The business community is serviced by two major business magazines, the Kansas City Business Journal (published weekly) and Ingram's Magazine (published monthly), as well as other publications, including a local society journal, the Independent (published weekly).

Missouri is the only state to have two of the 12 Federal Reserve Bank headquarters (the second is in St. Louis). Kansas City's effort to get the bank was helped by former mayor James A. Reed, who as senator, broke a tie to pass the Federal Reserve Act.

Three international law firms, Lathrop & Gage, Stinson Leonard Street, and Shook, Hardy & Bacon are based in the city.

The top ten principal employers of Kansas city are as follows:

• Public School System 
• Federal Government 
• State/County/City Government 
• Cerner Corporation 
• HCA Midwest Health System 
• Saint Luke's Health System 
• Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics 
• Sprint Corporation 
• The University of Kansas Hospital 
• Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Kansas City is often abbreviated as KC (abbreviations often refer to the metropolitan area). It is officially nicknamed the "City of Fountains". The fountains at Kauffman Stadium, commissioned by original Kansas City Royals owner Ewing Kauffman, are the largest privately funded fountains in the world. The city has more boulevards than any other city except Paris and has been called "Paris of the Plains".

Soccer's popularity, at both professional and youth levels, as well as Children's Mercy Park's popularity as a home stadium for the U.S. Men's National Team has to the appellation as the "Soccer Capital of America". The city is sometimes referred to as the "Heart of America", as it is near both the population center of the United States and the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.

Looking forward to an eventful day tomorrow.

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)

Day 52 of Mentor on Road, USA

“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.”
- Swami Vivekananda

Day 52 of Mentor on Road, USA started with an event with the Omaha business community organised at business school of University of Nebraska, Omaha. We would like to thank United States Commercial Service (USCS), Greater Omaha Chamber and Nebraska Economic Development Council for putting up a well organised show.

One thing we have learnt and witnessed on our journey is, the reason behind the competitive economy of the USA is the good connect between academia and industry.

Consul General of India presented about the positive and practical aspects of India, followed by my presentation on opportunities for American companies in New India. Good questions were raised to which we successfully answered. The session was then led by a dynamic panel discussion by 6 leading American businesses and professionals.

Seth Isenberg from USCS Select USA then presented on USCS support activities and on Select USA.

After which, Mentor on Road met some good companies dealing in products/services like compost plastic bottles during one to one meetings. We will soon connect them to India.

Greater Omaha Chamber is dedicated to ensuring that Omaha is a vibrant place to do business, work and live. They accomplish this by:

• Advocating for a strong business climate and member businesses 
• Creating opportunities for business connections and member visibility 
• Pursuing investment and jobs for the region 
• Strengthening leaders and the community 
• Enhancing the region’s brand and image

Since 1967, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has been focused on growing and diversifying the state’s economic base, bringing new dollars, new businesses, and new people into the state. Their functions include:

• Supporting communities with development efforts 
• Assisting with starting, retaining, and expanding businesses 
• Promoting the state for business locations and expansions

After this, Mentor on Road headed towards the second event of the day which was with a group of highly passionate, driven and motivated women entrepreneurs of Omaha, organized by Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center. Several intellectual questions were raised about India. We would soon be conducting a live session with women owned businesses in India and the USA in October this year. 

                                               

Mentor on Road concluded the day in Omaha on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi at the Hindu temple on Omaha with members of Indian association of Nebraska where we presented about the smart village adoption program and the New India 3.0. We were glad to note that several villages were adopted on the spot by the members. We would soon start working for the same.

The Indian community in Omaha is highly placed in the society. They are well respected and nationalists by heart. They were all very keen in giving it back and working for their country, India, in whichever way possible. Witnessing this, we truly felt proud to be in Omaha.

                                                

                                 

Mentor on Road would like to end by saying, always wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction. Hope the journey stays as wonderful as it has been till now. 

Jai ho! (Let victory be yours)