he Sikh American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) organized its 7th Annual Gala on October 13, 2018. With over 400 accomplished Sikh-American business members and professionals, the event was standing room only at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. Every year, the SACC Annual Gala brings together top-notch speakers from the Sikh-American community who reflect on their personal and professional milestones to inspire and motivate others to succeed. To embody this year’s theme –Breaking Barriers– the SACC brought together an impressive lineup of speakers:
Gurbir Grewal, Attorney General, New Jersey
Jaideep Bajaj, Chairman, ZS Associates
Ravi Bhalla, Mayor, Hoboken
Ravi Singh, CEO, Khalsa Aid International
The Hon’ble Gurbir S. Grewal said:
“In every position that I have held in the past and even as Attorney General now, I have attempted to promote understanding and acceptance through my service to show everyone through my work that Sikhs are a part of the fabric of this country (and) that we are doing our part to keep all of us in this country safe.”
Ravi Bhalla, Mayor, Hoboken, said:
“Organizations like SACC have a growing importance where businesses can come together to find meaningful value into their existence and join hands to positively affect people’s lives. It is great to see this platform nourishing the aspiring youth with innovative ideas from the role models in the community.”
Speaking at the event, Ravi Singh, CEO of Khalsa Aid International, stressed on the importance of Sikhs uniting for humanity and passed on his message on faith, hope and Sewa. He said,
“Open your doors and open your heart to those who need you today, without judging them about their faith, race or color.”
Jaideep Bajaj, Chairman, ZS Associates shared his secret sauce for success:
“The word ‘Sikh’ means willing to learn and we have to continue to reinvest in ourselves and learn all the time and that’s going to be a key driver of your success.”
Sunny Kaila, President, SACC, said:
“We are proud of the achievements of the already established Sikh-American Community in the United States. The Gala is not just a showcase of these triumphs but also a realization of the fact that the road to success is filled with obstacles. The speakers this year are an epitome of the resilience and hard work that one has to do before tasting success. With that, I also announce the date for next year Gala on September 21st, 2019.”