From India to Hampton Roads, Chesapeake entrepreneur continues to make his mark

Manan Shah immigrated to the U.S. from India in search of the American dream — and he found it in Hampton Roads.

Now established with a portfolio of stores and hotels and hundreds of employees, the entrepreneur’s journey began more than 7,500 miles away in Western India.

“I’m so so blessed where I’m at now; it’s a blessing of God,” the Chesapeake resident said.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 2002 from Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, India, Shah packed up his life and headed west to pursue his master’s degree at the New York Institute of Technology.

Six months into his studies, Shah was greeted by a recruiter on the subway who convinced him to join the U.S. Air Force as a supply analyst. The military brought him to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton and after four years of active duty, he realized his true calling of business ownership.

“I started my own business with a small gas station and convenience store,” Shah said. “And then it’s just rolled on.”

In 2007, he joined Virginia Beach-based Plaza Group, which started in 1989. As managing principal, Shah currently owns and operates 14 hotels, two convenience stores, seven Tropical Smoothies, and two Edible Arrangements throughout Hampton Roads and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Most recently in July, he founded Pashm Global, a hotel management and land development company that he leads as CEO in Virginia Beach.

Business is in his genes, he said. Both businesses’ portfolios continue to grow primarily in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Together they employ about 290 people.

“Hampton Roads has lots of opportunities, and geographically, this is a very nice location to start up your own business,” he said.

Eager to learn as much as he could to perfect his business goals, Shah achieved a master’s certificate in hospitality management from Cornell University in 2018.

Faced with ups and downs throughout the years, Shah said the pandemic hit the tourism and hospitality industry hard. While government assistance helped and business is picking back up, Shah said finding good employees has been a struggle.

“You have to be a great leader and a great team leader to convey the positive message to your team and have them motivated,” he said.

When it comes to his own motivation, Shah said he is driven to help others. He’s made a mark in his adopted homeland and community.

Since 2004, he has been involved with the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads in Chesapeake where he serves as a board member and secretary. A member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization and Young Presidents’ Organization, he is also an ambassador for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association in Washington, D.C., and vice president of the Virginia Asian American Store Owners Association.

He stepped up during the pandemic, facilitating a vaccination drive in partnership with Hague Pharmacy in March. In just a few weeks, the clinic provided more than 9,200 people with COVID-19 vaccines. He was also instrumental in helping to raise $185,000 to help with COVID relief in India.

Whether contributing funds, time or energy, the civic leader is always ready to make a difference. In memory of his father who died in April, Shah started the Kirit Shah Temple Premier League and raised more than $70,000 in a cricket tournament, he said.

For two years, he has been the chair of sponsorship and advertising for Norfolk’s annual Taste of India, one of the largest Asian Indian festivals in Virginia. Canceled in 2020 and 2021, Shah said festival leaders are looking forward to bringing the large-scale event back next year.

Pratik Kothari, CEO of TechArk, met Shah more than 10 years ago through their mutual involvement in the Indian community.

“We got to know each other personally and also realized that we were very much aligned on our professional outlooks, including entrepreneurship,” Kothari said.

Seeing him as a wonderful asset to Hampton Roads, Kothari said Shah’s hard work, strategic thinking and planning, calculated risk-taking and — above all — leading with integrity are his friend’s strongest virtues.

“In a relatively short period of time, he has grown his multiple businesses while continuing to learn with passion,” Kothari said. “In my opinion, he is one of the most successful entrepreneurs I have known. The main reason I say this is because he has earned respect alongside achieving financial success.”

Jason P. Magruder, an insurance adviser with Morgan Marrow Co., said Shah, 40, is one of the most impressive young entrepreneurs he’s ever met and he has the highest respect for him.

“I truthfully feel Manan would give up his time for anybody, primarily especially for a good cause,” Magruder said. “He just makes time for everybody and that’s what I think is most remarkable about him.”

Despite the long hours spent working and helping the community, the family man puts wife Payal and their children, Aanya, 14, and Sharvil, 8, front and center to everything he does so they, too, can live out their American dreams.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com