Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient Monte Ahuja
ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT MONTE AHUJA
Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to Mr. Monte Ahuja of Hunting Valley, OH as an Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient.
The prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor award is presented annually to "remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives," and "who have distinguished themselves as citizens of the United States, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage." Monte Ahuja was selected to receive this honor in 2001.
Mr. Ahuja is a distinguished American who immigrated to the United States from India in 1969. He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in India and pursued his graduate education at Ohio State University where he received his masters degree in mechanical engineering. He moved to Cleveland, OH in 1972 and received his masters in business administration at Cleveland State University in 1975 while working full time.
While pursuing his MBA, Mr. Ahuja began to dream about creating a global parts distribution network solely dedicated to providing transmission rebuilders the highest quality products and services. He pursued his dream by undertaking considerable research and hard work developing his idea, and he established Transtar Industries, Inc. in 1975.
Over the past 28 years, Transtar Industries has grown from a two-person, one-location operation to a company with over 25 locations nationwide and over 500 dedicated employees that services the automotive transmission aftermarket in over 60 countries.
Transtar Industries, Inc. is headquartered in Cleveland, OH and distributes the world's largest and most comprehensive line of automotive transmission replacement parts and kits. The company's products are the result of proactive product research and development. Transtar also has outstanding business systems. Its sales forecasting system is state-of-the art and its level of customer service consistently exceeds 95 percent. All of Transtar's distribution centers are electronically linked, which makes it possible for Transtar to ship virtually every order the same day.
Mr. Ahuja has provided outstanding leadership at Transtar Industries and he has received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Arthur Anderson 2000 Leadership Award, the Inside Business NEO Success Award and the Association of Corporate Growth Deal Makers Award.
As Governor of Ohio, I was proud to recognize Mr. Ahuja on two occasions as recipient of the "E" Award for Excellence in Export.
In 2002, Mr. Ahuja was chosen the World Trade Center Cleveland International Executive of the Year.
Monte Ahuja is also extremely involved in the community and he demonstrates generously his philosophy of contributing to the community that has given him so much.
He has a passion for education which is demonstrated by his years of commitment to his alma mater where he began to envision and create his company. At Cleveland State University, he has served as director of the Cleveland State University Foundation and he has established the Ahuja Endowed Scholarship Fund in business administration and engineering.
He also established the Distinguished Scholar in Comparative Indian and Western Philosophywhich is so important today as we strive to appreciate the richness of this country's cultural diversity.
I was so impressed with Monte's devotion to education that when I was governor of Ohio I appointed him to Cleveland State's Board of Trustees in 1991. From 1992 to 1998, he served with distinction as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
He also served as chairman of the Cleveland State University Task Force, part of a statewide project I initiated as governor of Ohio, the "Ohio Task Force for Managing Future Higher Education in the State of Ohio" to challenge the universities to conduct private sector management audits to work harder and smarter and do more with less. Under Monte Ahuja's leadership, Cleveland State University's audit was one of the best in the State and saved the University $8.5 million a year.
Monte Ahuja's commitment to education is relentless and he has dedicated himself to the advancement of quality education at Cleveland State and in Ohio.
He is the embodiment of the achievements that a quality education can help facilitate. In 1990, Mr. Ahuja was named one of Cleveland State University's 25 most distinguished alumni. In 1999, he received Harvard University Business School's Dively Award and that same year his alma mater recognized him again by naming the Business School building at Cleveland State University Monte Ahuja Hall.
Mr. Ahuja has served on the boards of many civic, business and philanthropic organizations, including the Greater Cleveland Roundtable, The National Conference, World Trade Center Advisory Council, and Ohio Export Promotion and Trade Council.
Currently, Mr. Ahuja serves on the boards of the Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Growth Association, United Way, WVIZ/PBS, Enterprise Development, Inc., and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs.
In addition to his significant contributions to the community, Monte has a wonderful sense of family. He is a loving husband to Usha, his wife of 30 years, a tremendous father to his two daughters and a caring son.
Monte Ahuja is a remarkable American and someone I am privileged to call friend. He has the highest integrity in both his personal and professional life and he has made many outstanding contributions to the Asian Indian community, to his local community in Cleveland, OH and to American society.
I am proud to recognize my friend Monte Ahuja and congratulate him on this wonderful honor.