Robert Egger
Robert Egger is lifelong “power of food” champion, and the originator of the Community Kitchen movement. He founded the DC Central Kitchen, the Campus Kitchen Project, and the L.A. Kitchen, and is a Founding Board Member of The World Central Kitchen with Jose Andres, Collectively, these organizations have produced over 150 million meals and helped thousands of individuals attain
foodservice jobs. He was also the founding Chair of the Washington, DC Mayor’s Commission on Nutrition, and Street Sense (Washington’s homeless newspaper).
On the national stage, Robert was the Co-Convener of the first Nonprofit Congress and the Founder of CFoward, which advocated for the recognition of the economic role that nonprofits play in every community. A constant innovator, open-source advocate and thought leader, he wrote, “Begging for Change”, which won the Alliance for Nonprofit Management’s McAdams Prize in 2004 for its advancement of the nonprofit sector. Robert is an international speaker, who has received dozens of awards over the years for his ideas and work, including being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington Restaurant Association, being named a Point of Light by President H.W. Bush, an Oprah Angel, and the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year. He was also the only direct service provider to appear on the Nonprofit Times list of the Most Powerful & Influential Nonprofit Leaders from 2006-2009. And finally, Robert is a 15-gallon blood donor with the American Red Cross.
Ash Kalra
Ash Kalra was elected to represent the 27th Assembly District for the State of California in November 2016. Assembly District 27 represents nearly fifty percent of San José, including Downtown and East San José, Evergreen, and portions of South San José. Prior to being elected to State Assembly, Kalra served as the City of San Jose’s District 2 Councilmember for 8 years, representing South San Jose, and before worked as an attorney for the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office representing indigent clients in Drug Treatment Court for 11 years.
Kalra has served many roles on various committees and boards, including his role as Chair in 2013 for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, his role as Chair in 2014 for the Valley Transportation Authority, as well as serving on the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan Liaison Group, and Sacred Heart Community Service Board. Ash is currently serving on the Housing Trust of Silicon Valley Board and HomeFirst Advisory Council. Now in State Assembly, he is Chair of the Aging and Long-term Care Committee, and sits on the Judiciary, Education, Labor and Employment, and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committees. Assemblymember Kalra is the first Indian-American to be elected to both San Jose City Council, and the California State Legislature in history
Janikke Klem
Janikke Klem, SVP Nonprofit and Community Relations Officer at Heritage Bank of Commerce
Janikke Klem, a Silicon Valley native, leverages her extensive network to drive social impact and serve clients as part of Heritage Bank of Commerce, which proudly supports over 800 nonprofit organizations across the Bay Area. Passionate about philanthropy and community engagement, she has dedicated her career to fostering collaboration and meaningful impact. Klem also serves as the Director of Leadership San Jose and holds leadership roles on multiple boards, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Rotary Club of San Jose Foundation, Tower Foundation at San Jose State University, and as Board President of the SJSU Alumni Association.
Mahesh Nihalani
A graduate in Public Administration & Economics,with more than 40 years of Marketing,Business Development and Senior Management Experience across 4 continents.
Passionate about Social work,hospitality and care for Seniors,he has been very active in Educational,Civic ,Cultural and Social organizations and consistently strives to contribute to community development ranging from Community Service in bridging cultural gaps to working with the city governances in helping formulate plans,which impact the local community .
Professional Affiliations :
- Leadership Cupertino.
- Block Leader.
- Former Chair, Cupertino Housing Commission.
- Former Chair, Cupertino Asian American Business Council.
- Former Member, Cupertino General Plan Task Force.
- Former Board Member, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
- Former Vice President, Advisory council Cupertino Senior Center.
- Advisory Board…OSF, California Cricket Academy.
- Former Board Member,Rotary Club of Cupertino.
Awards :
- The City CREST ( Cupertino recognizes extra steps taken) Award in 2004
- The AABC 2004 Community bridge award,
- The County Asian-American Hero Awards 2004 for his vision and leadership.
- The Cupertino Citizen of the year Award in 2007.
- The Rotarian of the Year Award in 2009.
- The ( International Association of Human Values)- International Distinguished Citizen of the year Award 2009
- The IACF Diversity Leadership Award 2011
Special Achievements :
- Initiated and organize the annual Diwali Festival of Lights (in its 15th year running),
- Mahatma Gandhi Day,
- Children’s Annual Art Fair,
- Yogathon,
- Youth Empowerment Seminar for Bay Area high schools,
- Rotary Polio Plus concert to benefit eradication of polio in India
- Indian cultural participation for the grand opening of De Anza College Center for Performing Arts,
- the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Cupertino senior center in 2005.
- the California Cricket Academy to coach cricket to children between the ages of 5 and 16.
- Consistently assisted in fundraising for West Valley Community Services, FUHSD, CUSD, CEEF, the Library Foundation, CCA, OSF, Rotary, Cupertino Veterans Memorial, and South Asia Heart Center,Maitri, Jeena, Narika, Pratham,Ekal Vidyalya,Sankra Eye Foundation,.
Ami Shah
Ami Shah CPA, MST, ACA
Ami Shah is a seasoned expert with over two decades of dedicated experience in the field of Public Accounting, specializing in Tax Planning. Since 2006, she has been at the forefront of the industry, saving her clients over $100 million through a combination of innovative and highly effective tax strategies.
As a dedicated tax professional, Ami’s primary goal is to assist clients in navigating the complex world of taxation with ease and confidence. She helps maximize and optimize tax situations, ensuring that every client benefits from the most favorable outcomes. Her approach is client-centric, focusing on building strong, lasting relationships through transparent communication, personalized service, and unwavering commitment to clients’ financial well-being
Ami’s expertise extends beyond traditional tax planning. Her ability to bring charitable strategies not only provides exceptional value in tax savings but also brings the immeasurable joy of giving. By seamlessly integrating philanthropy into her clients’ financial plans, Ami creates opportunities for both financial growth and the enrichment of lives through meaningful contributions to the society.