<![CDATA[India Journal - Interviews]]>

<![CDATA[India Journal - Interviews]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:25:48 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Khanna Vision Institute In Growth Mode]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2017 01:01:20 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/khanna-vision-institute-in-growth-mode

BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
LOS ANGELES, CA - Dr Rajesh Khanna is ranked among one of the top laser eye surgery surgeons in the US. Not only can he fix eyes, he is also a prolific writer and has authored a number of books, developed Apps and has been featured on the cover of magazines like ‘Life After 50.’ He founded the Khanna Institute of Lasik...

and Refractive Surgery or Khanna Vision institute in 2003. In an interview with IJ, explaining the scenario he said at the time there were many low cost assembly line corporate lasik eye surgery centers and a few overpriced ones. There was an urgent need for a patient oriented affordable lasik eye center, an institute where the focus would be on the patient and methods to overcome their fears and hesitations. Time he said has proven him correct as the center has grown whereas many corporate centers have left town. He now has two clinics in Westlake Village and Beverley Hills.
Asked why he chose ophthalmology as a specialty over others he opined that though allmedicine is very fascinating, no branch is as colorful as ophthalmology. The colored iris can range from blue, green to brown. The natural lens can be colorless and when cataracts develop becomes white yellow, red or even like an Xmas tree. Dr Khanna is known for Advanced Refractive surgery like all laser Lasik. He has popularized PIE, a term coined by him which is short for Presbyopic Implant in Eye. Presbyopia is an almost universal condition of weakening eye muscles and firmer lens. This amazing invention based on nanotechnology has revolutionized vision improvement. It almost reverses eyes to a youthful stage. Patients who have lost the ability to see computers, smart phones and read can once again do so. The unaided eye sees at middle distances so one can work on laptops and answer their smart phones. Reading newspaper and magazines is also possible. “Many patients think this is a miracle. So I decided to tile my book the ‘Miracle of Pi in Eye.’
But Pi In Eye is not the only treatment he offers. 2016 brought in new technologies for improvement of vision. New FDA approved options for people who want to decrease dependency on glasses and contacts. Most people may be able to even get rid of their glasses forever. There are others too like Raindrop, Symfony, I Design and Smile Lasik Eye Surgery.
Raindrop is another aid to help people suffering with presbyopia. A flap like lasik is created with femtosecond laser. A raindrop implanted and the flap put back. Raindrop is a plastic segment which increases corneal thickness and refracting power. It can stay there for the rest of the patients life, or if dissatisfied it can be removed.
I Design is a precision controlled advanced method of wafering lasik eye surgery. A computer measures exact treatment needed and transfers data to the latest generation of laser. The laser recognizes the eye and precisely tracks and delivers the treatment.
Smile Lasik Eye Surgery is the next generation of laser vision correction. This all laser procedure does not even create a flap. It fashions a disc within the cornea This piece of it decreases the chance of dry eyes. It removes tissue from the weaker part of the cornea so theoretically does not affect the strength of the cornea like in lasik eye surgery.
Patients who are not fluent in English can feel at home here as the doctor speaks Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi and Tamil!
With all these surgeries under his belt, it is no surprise that Dr Khanna has treated a number of celebrities. Asked to name a few, he is hesitant not wanting to break the confidentiality code he says,“ As physicians we have to be careful about revealing names of patients. But I can reveal a few who already have made you tube videos thanking me. Hercules or Brenda Song from the Social Network, Corbin Bleu from High School musical. About his books he figures over 8,000 have read ‘Miracle of Pi in Eye’ making it his most popular. In the pipeline is his next ‘ Better Vision At Any Age’ “It will explore how we see and will delve into natural, pharmaceutical and surgical methods to enhance vision at various ages,” he explains. As for future plans, his aim is to spread quality care throughout California and beyond and to take the concept to upcoming countries like India.

]]><![CDATA[An Affair to Remember]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 18:35:22 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/an-affair-to-remember

By NIMMI RAGHUNATHAN
The place will seduce you with its earthy ambience, peak your senses with its flavors and finally lull you with its fine service. Effortlessly, it would seem, this newcomer in the Indian food scene, has stolen the limelight. But as everyone knows, effortlessness comes only with buttressing of detail and endlessly practiced skill.

At Spice Affair they have worked at it and the results shine through. The restaurant is in a spot very familiar to the Indian-American community having been home to a string of Indian restaurants and, its banquet hall is equally known with just about every notable VIP from ambassadors to film stars having stopped by here to meet with members of the community. While the starry clientele continues, the familiarity ends there. For a start is the look of the place. On the restaurant’s canvas of cinnamon brown, threads of muted saffron and yellow turmeric, evocative of rich spices, make a splash. But the richness is subtle and tantalizing in a way that the food itself is.
No heavy handed use of masalas here, instead the spices are used to perk up California cuisine. So the food is low in saturated fats and lays an emphasis on locally sourced fresh ingredients that include a range of lean meats, seafood and of course vegetables.
The spices are also used to innovate by using non-traditional spices in traditional Mughlai fare. And how! The simple phulka becomes a taco. Asparagus mates with goat cheese to morph into a tikki. Prunes and almonds transmute into a unique kofta.
But of course, each meal begins with a drink. And spices add verve here too. If it is alcohol you are looking for, the in-house mixologist has come up with some -oh so cool- ideas to serve at the spectacular agate topped bar. Ginger, cilantro, cloves, cardamom, coconut, cucumber splash around for some exotic cocktails but the signature, dubbed the Golden Elixir, is a hit and made with 12 ingredients that hints of flowers and saffron. If your libation veers toward the non-alcoholic, there is the simple pineapple that has been roasted, mashed and liquefied that goes down the throat sweet, tart and smoky all at once. A smoother option is coconut water that mixes happily with honey.
Co-owner Sonia Batra urges that a few starters be tried. So dainty sized papdi, arrives with a robust duck and date topping. Then fellow diners and lovers of seafood swoon over the South Indian influenced black pepper shrimp dunked in coconut and pepper sauce. Marinated artichoke hearts that look suspiciously like chunks of tandoori chicken are easy to devour with the accompanying yogurt. The crackling chickpea and caramelized walnut kebab is every vegetarian’s must do.
With your taste buds satiated and the eyes pleased with the presentation of the food, there is little urgency the stomach feels for a main course. But saliva kicks in again, when the biryani is brought tableside. You know it really has been cooked dum style, as the pot is cracked open and steam fragrant with mint gushes out.
After this you are sure nothing that is served can be wrong. You run through the spectacularly flavorful ginger okra and the saag without pause. Then there is butter chicken and tandoori sea bass. All cooked traditionally, without fuss but only with an eye on lightness in fats and spices and you are hooked.
Batra is pleased that her customers seem satisfied. She agrees she is not new to the feeling. Along with husband Dr.Puneet Chandak she also runs another fine dining restaurant in NorCal which draws good reviews. She credits Anupam Bhatia, the main man behind the food, and CEO of Spice Affair for their early success. She recalls how she and her husband would often stop by at the little restaurant Bhatia had worked at several years ago. The duo observed not only his hospitality toward them but his food choice memory of every customer who came in. That attention to client preferences and nuances, is what set them apart, when the three decided to come together to open Broadway Masala in Redwood City, says Batra.
A trained therapist and a county employee, neither Batra nor her physician husband had any exposure to the food industry prior to this venture. But when her mentor and uncle Dr.Avtar Singh, who had funded her graduate school, passed away leaving a tidy sum to her, the couple decided to invest in the business.
Batra describes the trio as “open minded.” They will, she says, do what it takes to suite the customer’s palate. She cited a recent instance when the adjoining Spice Ballroom hosted an event where the dal was spiced more heavily to suit Indian tastes and a menu was drawn to reflect their proclivities. To keep ahead of the game, Batra says Bhatia travels to India ever so often sniffing out trends and recipes to work with. Another thing that they do is to bring in star chefs from India, once every six months to consult with and train the kitchen to produce specific dishes. The ballroom, Batra speaks of, has a full service bar and has been nicely done over with lovely chandeliers and can accommodate between 200-250 guests. Batra emphasizes the customizable menu, the provision for a dance floor and screens for presentations. In the short time, since Spice Affair has opened, the hall has seen various events both personal and high profile public ones. Intrigued? Act then. Go suffuse yourself in an affair you will remember.
Spice Affair, 50 N La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 120 Beverly Hills, (310) 400-6800 email: info@spice-affair.com

]]><![CDATA[Curry King and India Organic & Natural Open]]>Wed, 07 Oct 2015 22:21:58 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/curry-king-and-india-organic-natural-open

BY A STAFF REPORTER
LOS ANGELES/ GLENDALE- India Organic & Natural opened its first store in Glendale on Sept 19. Shortly thereafter Curry King had a grand opening in Atwater Village on Sept 26. The Jawa family is on the roll with Kumar Jawa and his son Raj Jawa expanding the scope of their business venturing into new segments.

Curry King is a non-vegetarian Indian restaurant with a casual-formal flair."The identity of this restaurant is something we struggled with for a while; I think there was some desire to stick with the traditional vegetarian Indian cuisine but we wanted to bring our food and our style to a bevy of customers with a wide array of tastes," co-owner Raj Jawa told India Journal. Congressional hopeful Raji Rab officially inaugurated the restaurant with the traditional cutting of the ribbon. The diverse group of guests were then treated to Curry King's delicious buffet lunch spread.
The origin of the name, according to Kumar Jawa, owner and day-to-day manager of the restaurant, came from a very nostalgic place. "The name originated from one of my childhood friends who created and sold a delicious sauce called Curry King. It has kind of stuck with me since then." Jawa said he seeks to bring back the smells and tastes of India, the sensations and flavors he grew up with. Earlier on Sept 19, the Jawas, in keeping with the recent organic and health-conscious trend, opened the first of several future locations of India Organic & Natural located at the corner of one of Glendale’s busiest intersections on Colorado Street and Fisher Street.
India Organic & Natural is an ayurvedic herb and spice store specializing in organic and naturally grown products from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Russia and China. The store aims to serve clientele who are the working professionals who do not cook very often but look for healthy and flavorful options when they do. This store is the first of ten stores that Raj Jawa, is looking to open within the next year. Future locations will be sought out based on areas where there is already a value for healthier and organic lifestyles – cities like Pasadena, Irvine, Hollywood and Santa Monica/Culver City are all on the list.
India Organic & Natural is located at 1340 E. Colorado St. in Glendale (Tel: 818-839-5780).
Curry King is located at 2830 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles. Phone: 323-982-7267 or visit www.curryla.com.

]]><![CDATA[Paratha Grill Opens in ‘Little India’]]>Thu, 10 Sep 2015 18:03:57 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/paratha-grill-opens-in-little-india

BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
ARTESIA, CA – The newest restaurant on the block , Paratha Grill, opened on Sept 1 in ‘Little India’ on Pioneer Blvd here. The grand opening was attended by almost 200 guests including California Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, Artesia Council members and members of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, friends and family.

All guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch and got a taste of the fare the restaurant offers. Owned by Gurpal Singh it is managed by his brother-in-law Surinder Singh, both veterans of the food industry. Gurpal Singh owns a number of The Flame Broiler franchise stores, one in Artesia and two in the Valley and is working on acquiring a fourth. Surinder Singh has over two decades of experience starting off with his own restaurant in Culver City ‘India Feast’ 14 years ago. He then relocated to Carson City, Nevada and set up ‘India Feast’ to cater to the Indian-American community there. Now he is back in Southern California all set to make Paratha Grill a great success and to offer Indian food lovers a range of delectable and authentic Punjabi favorites with his special take on them. Speaking to India Journal Gurpal Singh said while Americans had embraced other ethnic dining experiences, Indian food has not been recognized on a larger scale. He said their aim was to bring fresh and authentic Indian food to food lovers packed with flavor and taste. This is why Paratha Grill was born. At Paratha Grill food is prepared right in front of you when you order it. He was confident that what they offer would satisfy those who are tired of the same old fare available in other restaurants and their range of paratha and curry bowl combinations, along with tandoori specials would be different and there would always be something new to try .“ Whether you crave spicy, mild, or tangy, we have something that will make you want to come back for more,” he added.
As the name suggests, the focus is on parathas with 12 different varieties to offer. There are non-veg and veg parathas too. Some of these are chicken kheema, chilli, spinach, paneer, gobi, alloo, onion. The parathas are served in a combo, to make it a complete meal. So the paratha you choose, comes with a veg or non-veg dish and sides like pickle, raita. Veg choices include saag, chole, paneer masala, dal tarka among others while non- veg choices include chiken tikka, chicken korma, chicken kadhai etc.For kids there’s a special – peanut butter- jelly paratha.
The menu does not end with parathas. A variety of kulchas – like Amritsari and Peshawari- along with appetizers and House specials, complete the menu. House specials include Makki Roti/ saag, Kadhi- chawal, goat biryani among others.
Asked why he chose to open a restaurant in ‘Little India’ which is already packed with eateries, and how he would beat the competition, Gurpal Singh said he was counting on the good location of the restaurant. Paratha Grill occupies the premises of what used to be ‘Little India Grill.’ Close to the main road, it has good visibility. Also the city of Artesia is planning on soon implementing it plan to create a downtown promenade which he says will attract a lot more visitors to the area and prove to be a fillip to the business. Paratha Grill is located at 18383 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, Ca -90701. Phone: 562-924-7569 or visit www.parathagrill.com.

]]><![CDATA[Sona Chaandi Celebrates 35th Anniversary]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2015 01:22:01 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/sona-chaandi-celebrates-35th-anniversary

By A STAFF REPORTER
ARTESIA,CA-Sona Chaandi Fashion, Jewelry & Threading Boutique celebrated its 35th anniversary by inviting more than 200 guests to a dinner party at Julio’s Pizza Restaurant here. Amongst the guests who attended to congratulate owner Mala Malani were Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, State Senator Tony Mendoza and...

State Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, as well as the mayor and councilmembers from the respective cities of Cerritos and Artesia.
Sanchez congratulated Malani, for showing that being a woman is no deterrent to being successful in business, and Garcia agreed that Malani should be landed not only for her success as a businesswoman, but also as “someone who is always ready to support her community whenever asked.” Mendoza expressed his pride in Malani’s many accomplishments and wished her much success for the next 35 years.
The evening was also filled with several Indian dance performances as well as a mini-fashion show, and was capped by Malani thanking the guests, her staff and her family for supporting her through all these years.
Malani holds several distinctions in Artesia. Not only was she the first woman to open a successful business on Pioneer Boulevard’s’Little India’, 35 years ago, she was the first Indian to be crowned Miss Artesia, back in 1979. She designs all the clothes and jewelry for her stores, and her creations are manufactured at a facility in India where she employs more than 100 people.
With the help of then Assemblyman Mendoza, AB 265 was passed that made it legal to practice threading in California. Malani was presented with the 2007 Woman of the Year in Business award by Mendoza, and has been an ABC Advisory Board member as well as being an active community member, occasionally attending and speaking at both Artesia and Cerritos council meetings.
On the other side, Malani, a mother of two, and a grandmother of three, is a certified fitness instructor at the local L.A. Fitness. She enjoys volunteering her fitness services to seniors by training them for free at rehabilitation hospitals. “I’m not ready to slow down yet,” said Malani. “There’s still too much that I want to do with my life.”

]]><![CDATA[Singhal Dental Opens Third Office in Corona]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2015 22:58:45 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/singhal-dental-opens-third-office-in-corona

BY A STAFF REPORTER
CORONA, CA - The Singhal Family of Southern California, celebrated the open house of their third dental office here on July 19. In attendance were family, friends, staff, past, present and future and patients. Harry Sidhu, Ex- Mayor of Anaheim was present to perform the ribbon cutting ceremony. The celebration included a...

traditional Hindu prayer ceremony in the morning followed by lunch, tour of the high tech facility and entertainment for the kids. In addition was a raffle with a Grand Prize of 42” LG TV. Dr. Tarsem L Singhal first started to practice Dentistry in Southern California in 1977 after migrating from India. Dr. Singhal has also been the past president of the Indian Dental Association of Southern California. He practiced dentistry for more than 30 years in Hacienda Heights and Long Beach for 19 years. However he currently practices in Corona and Chino. His son Sachin K. Singhal graduated from UOP School of Dentistry in 1998. After joining his father’s practice in Hacienda Heights, they opened another location in Chino Hills in 2002. Sachin married Neeru in 1999 in India, who also happens to be a dentist. Neeru received her California dental license in 2002. The Singhal Family offers an array of services, from general and cosmetic dentistry to Invisalign, Implants and Laser Dentistry, they are known for their gentle dental care.
The new office is located at 4264 Green River Road, Suite 102, Corona. Phone: 951-340-0200

]]><![CDATA[Vinita’s Beauty Opens in Torrance]]>Thu, 21 May 2015 19:49:15 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/vinitas-beauty-opens-in-torrance

BY A STAFF REPORTER
TORRANCE, CA - Vinita’s Beauty & Threading Studio had a grand opening for its newest store in Torrance on May 15 and 16. This marked the opening of their 9th location in the Southland. Hundreds of people came in during the two day grand opening to try the services. at the attractive salon which is peacock...

colored and themed. The ambience is cozy with comfortable couches in the waiting area and a beautifully lit fountain and hand-crafted glass logo. Free eyebrow threading was offered on both days and to add to the festive mood, snacks and beverages were served to all you came in . The salon is located on Artesia Blvd near the 405 Freeway in the same complex as Starbucks and Carls Jr. Within almost a mile of the salon are the cities of Gardena, Redondo Beach, Lawndale, Hermosa Beach and Hawthorne. So, serving the clients from all these cities According to Vinita Vineet, after whom the salons are named, the Torrance location ``provides a respite to the Indian and Pakistani community who were looking for a quality salon with amazing ambience and reasonable prices.’’ The Torrance location does the entire array of services including threading, waxing, facials, hair color, haircuts, styling and make-up. Currently it is offering great promotions 50% off for all threading, waxing and facial services.
The hair and make-up artists have worked at international level competitions. All the staff has multiple years of experience with correct set of skills. Most importantly, the staff is extremely friendly which makes for an overall unforgettable and pleasant experience. The salon is the brainchild of Vinita and Vinod Vineet. Vinita is a cosmetologist for US and India.
Vinita takes care of the operations and HR while husband Vinod is in charge of finance and accounts. Son Vibhor is the head of marketing, advertising and business expansion.
Vinita’s started its first location in Cerritos in 2001. The business grew and made great strides over the years. Today apart from the Torrance location it has a presence in Beverly Hills, Cerritos, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Tustin and Westwood. The salon is located at 3943 Artesia Blvd., Torrance, CA 90504, Ph: 310-371-0100

]]><![CDATA[Swad of India Royal Banquet Hall Opens in Upland]]>Thu, 23 Apr 2015 05:10:55 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/swad-of-india-royal-banquet-hall-opens-in-upland

BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
UPLAND, CA – Swad of India is the latest in the slew of Indian restaurants opening in the Greater Los Angeles areas in cities were the Indian cuisine is relatively a novelty. Overshadowing the restaurant however is the the banquet facility called Royal Banquet Hall which the owners claim is the biggest capacity wise...

in Southern California, able to comfortably accommodate around 1000 guests. With over 13,000 square feet, two fully stocked bars and a large dance floor, it has become an attractive destination for all kinds of occasions not only for locals but those from other cities as well. Narinder Dhillon, Saab Singh Bhullar and Baldev Singh have partnered together to launch the venture.
Dhillon’s experience in the food industry goes back 13years when he purchased his first Farmer’s Boy. Today he and his wife own and operate two of these. As Dhillon explained the three partners came up with the idea of the banquet hall for the lack of a sizeable state- of- the- art banquet facility for the Indian-American community in the Southland. Their aim was to fill in this gap and thus Royal Banquet Hall was open in October 2014. Since then it has grown and become the preferred destination for many celebrations. Soon after it opened it hosted a huge New Year’s eve bash followed by one for Valentine’s Day. Another upcoming event is a Fashion Show and Jewelry Showcase by Parthaa Design Studio on May 3.
The USP of the banquet facility includes ample parking with 500 parking spots, excellent sound system, star DJ, bartenders, waiters, in-house decorators and more. The 13,000 sq ft hall can be partitioned into two so that two parties can he held simultaneously. Catering can be in-house or guests can bring in their own caterers. In-house catering by the Swad of India chef Binod Poudel includes Indian, Indian fusion, Himalayan, Chinese, Mexican, Italian. With 25 years of experience, the chef can churn out a wide range to suit many tastes, including pure vegetarian fare.
Apart from the Indian-American community the banquet facility is becoming popular with the mainstream . Business at the restaurant, which opened after the banquet hall, is picking up. With a focus on Punjabi and Mughlai cuisine it serves a lunch buffet 7 days a week. At $9.99 this includes three non-veg items like chicken, lamb, goat, fish; five vegetarian items, two appetizers and two desserts. The a la carte dinner favorites include lamb sheek kabab, chicken tikka, achari chicken, satay paneer with peanut sauce , Swad tandoori platter and many more. According to chef Binod, the focus is on healthy eating which makes him very conscious of the salt and fat content. The secret to good cooking is ‘freshness’ of all the ingredients and the combination of spices, he explains. Manager Radhakrishna Gautam adds that efficiency of service, politeness and helpfulness of the restaurant staff goes a long way in attracting guests and keeping them coming again and again. Swad of India and the Royal Banquet Hall are located at 1410 W. 7th Street, Upland, CA -91786. Phone: 909-946-7923

]]><![CDATA[Ajay Parikh Completes 30 Years With NYL]]>Wed, 04 Mar 2015 22:20:36 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/ajay-parikh-completes-30-years-with-nyl

BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
ARTESIA, CA - Ajay Parikh launched his career with New York Life in 1984.Looking back over the last 30 years he is satisfied with all he has achieved. Reacting to this milestone, Parikh says, “I am honored to have the trust and friendship of my clients for these many years.“ Parikh has close to $1 billion dollars...

in life insurance in force on his clients. He is proud to be able to touch so many lives in the community and to help ensure the future of the community. With over 2000 clients in many states across the US, he is glad to have the confidence of those he serves. Parikh has come a long way. Starting off as a pharmacist in India with a degree from LM College of Pharmacy he arrived in the US and landed a job as a pharmacy tech in New York. After moving from New York to California, he ran and owned a liquor store. When he was in need of health insurance and life insurance, he called Roy Hoffman, a New York Life agent. That’s how his career with New York Life kicked off. Beginning from scratch, he worked with many local friends and family. He then got a break working with local businesses. Over time, his efficient servicing of clients brought him many , referrals leading to further growth. Today Parikh works in over 20 states and has brought his wife Hemangi Parikh onboard as his office manager. He has also hired agents under him including his son, Nikesh Parikh. He is a district agent and likes to help new professionals who are interested in joining the insurance and investment industry. Today, most of his business comes from referrals from clients and other professionals. He has become a familiar name in the community having established himself as a reputed agent for many years.
The key factors to growth, Parikh opines, are staying in touch with clients and being educated about all the different ideas that can help clients. Today, after all these years, he still goes to learn about new products or changes in the laws. He is available to his clients at any time by forwarding his calls to his cell phone even on the weekends. His growth also derives from his clients growing in their lives and business. Parikh has expanded his business from life insurance to estate planning, business planning, retirement planning, investments, annuities, health insurance, disability insurance, long term care insurance, executive benefits, qualified plans, and financial planning as his son Nikesh has joined the practice. Nikesh has completed law school and is a Certified Financial Planner and Investment Advisor Representative. As to the reasons for his success over the last three decades, Parikh pins it down to “ selfless service and putting the client’s needs above anything else.” Service for him is paramount in his practice. He tries to return every phone call the same day, putting the needs of his client above everything else. He works according to the needs and affordability of each client. Since he works with many companies, he tries to find the best product for each situation.
His hard work has paid off. Ajay has been a Chairman’s council agent for 15 years which means he has been in New York Life’s top 1% of agents. He has qualified for Executive’s, President’s, and Chairman’s council every year of his career. He is a life Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable and has been Court of the Table. He has won the local New York Life Agent of the year many times. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He donates to many local and community based charities.
With his years of experience, Parikh has some sound advice for entrepreneurs who want to start their insurance business.First off he says, “Insurance is hard. There is an over 80% turnover rate. To be successful, there is no magic formula, but working hard and becoming educating oneself as much as possible so as to recognize an opportunity for your clients. Also, caring about your clients and showing them you know their needs is very important.” Parikh is always helping newer agents in the business.
His future plans involve continuing to work for his clients. On a personal note, he enjoys playing tennis and music.

]]><![CDATA[Ziba Launches New Concept Brow and Nail Bar ]]>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:14:57 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/interviews1/ziba-launches-new-concept-brow-and-nail-bar

BY A STAFF REPORTER
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA- Ziba Beauty launched a new concept studio in Victoria Gardens here on Feb 21- The Ziba Brows & Nail Bar. Ziba Beauty, CEO, Sumita Batra studied the industry for the past two years and looked for exceptional formulas and quality. She saw big gaps after...

looking at every iconic brand in the market, and decided that it was time to change the game and elevate the service experience currently available in the market.
Ziba Beauty has selected a brand partnership with Allesandro International; a name that has stood for unrivalled quality, exclusivity and innovation in Europe, since 1989. Batra says, “We found the Allesandro team deeply devoted to advancing the nail care industry and committed significant time and resources to product research and development.” Both brand standards are aligned: “We are never satisfied with ‘good - we always want to be better!”
Alongside, Ziba’s Brow artistry, their clients can now get a single brand experience with high quality European products. They use exclusively Allesandro products and Tweezerman tools for all their nail bar services from beginning to the end.
The infamous Brow Artistry at Ziba Beauty is now completed with a stellar finish using Sumita Cosmetics. A niche range of curated products to compliment the professional services of eye and brow artistry. Sumita Cosmetics is launching in over 21 countries through a network of distributors in the professional beauty sector in 2015. It is already a huge success in Japan and in London at Harrods.
The professional artistic team has been certified in above industry standard techniques, products and tools at the Ziba Academy. All service tools are either disposable or double sanitized in a sealed bag opened fresh in front of the client. “We have made customer safety our priority.” Batra says,” We already have your brows and your trust. Give us your hands, feet and nails and discover the best and most fascinating range of products in the world.” As the global leader in the Art of Threading, Ziba Beauty, is committed to providing a quality experience to our clients - with a focus on education, innovation, and the highest standards in sterilization and sanitization. Ziba Beauty services 1 Million clients a year out of its 14 California Studios located in mainstream malls. Ziba has been raising the bar on brow service since 1988. Alessandro International & Sumita Cosmetics are available exclusively at Ziba Beauty – by professionals for professionals. For more info. Visit: ZibaBeauty.com

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