About Us

IACCT is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the South Asian community in Central Texas. Our mission is to educate, engage, and empower our community through various programs and services. From cultural events to educational workshops, we strive to create a space where individuals can come together to learn, grow, and celebrate their heritage. We believe that by coming together, we can create a stronger and more connected community. Join us in our mission and become a part of the IACCT family today!

IACCT OFFICERS

President / Board Member

Shweta Padmanabha

Shweta Padmanabha is a total Austinite but Indian at heart! She does IT Consulting with companies like Nike, Microsoft, CVS, and JAMF. An Entrepreneur and business-savvy person with a flair for Fashion & modeling. She loves serving in the local community, helping grassroots organizations, organizing mutual aid projects, and being a part of several nonprofit organizations to uplift the local communities. She continues to serve as one of the Board of Directors at IACCT and likes to volunteer in civic engagements, voter registration, and create political awareness. She lives with her 2 beautiful kids and a cat and loves cooking, music, dancing, and reading during her free time.

Vice President / Board Member

Pramod Patil

Pramod Patil is a passionate leader serving on the board of multiple nonprofits and community-based organizations.

Pramod is one of the core members of the Austin Pune Sister Cities International (APSCI) team and a founding member of the Diversity Band, which promotes diversity, education, and multiculturalism through music.

In the past, Pramod served as a commissioner on the City of Austin's Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission community Advisory board (CAB) member for Austin PBS, KLRU-TV

Pramod Patil is a proud member of Leadership Austin 2016.

Treasurer / Board Member

Jyotsna Paul

My name is Jyotsna Paul, and I am an Independent Life and Health Insurance Agent; I hold the Treasurer position on the IACCT board. I have worked with IACT in different capacities since 2009.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in science and have worked as an Independent Life and Health Insurance Agent for the last 15 years. I have worked as a Financial Professional for several small businesses for the last 30 years.

I am very passionate about serving the community. IACCT’s motto to Engage, Educate, and Empower the community is very close to my heart. Working with IACCT is very motivating and fulfilling.

Board Member

Upasana Das Sarma

Upasana Das Sarma is a behavior therapist specializing in working with patients with special needs. She relocated from New Mexico to Austin in 2016. Upasana expresses gratitude for the chance to contribute to IACCT and serve as a representative for the Asian communities in Texas.

Board Member

Parimal M. Rohit

Parimal M. Rohit has nearly two decades of experience in journalism and covers Austin, Houston and San Antonio for CoStar News. Prior to joining CoStar, he was the commercial real estate reporter at the Austin Business Journal and the editor of The Log, covering Southern California's and Northern Mexico's maritime and environmental spaces. Throughout his career, Rohit has also covered the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Bollywood and California politics. A Los Angeles native, Rohit has earned several fellowships, including one through the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism and one through the RK Mellon Foundation and the Society of Environmental Journalists. He has won 11 reporting awards from the San Diego Press Club, including best environmental reporting and best essay/commentary. His hobbies include photography, hiking, travel and filmmaking.

Board Member

Dr. Meenal McNary

Dr. Meenal McNary was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and earned a degree in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University in 2002. She then went on to the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School, where she earned her D.D.S. degree in 2006. She was commissioned as a Captain and served in the United States Army from 2006 to 2015. During her time, she lived in Hawaii, Georgia, and deployed to the Sinai, Egypt, and Iraq. Dr. McNary completed her endodontic training at the US Army Graduate Dental Education Program at Fort Gordon, GA, in 2012. After her training, she served as the director of the Endodontics Program at the Fort Hood, TX, US Army Residency Training Program for three years. Dr. McNary was honorably discharged and now lives in Round Rock with her husband, Craig, and their three children.

Board Member

Pooja Sethi

Pooja Sethi is an Attorney and serves as the Chief of Staff to State Representative Vikki Goodwin. In her spare time, she serves on the Community Board of PBS, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, the Regional Committee of the Austin Community College, and the Board of the Austin Artists Project. Her vision for IACCT is to increase voter participation in the South Asian community, increase civic engagement, and hear the concerns of the community. She has a history of working in the community when she started South Asian Austin Moms in 2012 and was the head of the nonprofit for seven years. She also has civic engagement as a City of Austin Commissioner on the Asian American Quality of Life Commission and was on the policy committee for the Greater Austin Ascian Chamber of Commerce. Pooja loves spending time with her son and husband, watching law shows on Netflix, seeing her friends for a quick laugh, and connecting with others.

Board Member

Ashutosh Shyam

Ashutosh Shyam (PhD) is a financial consultant and notary with a profound passion for social service, inherited from his parents. He takes pride in his role as a member of IACCT, where he actively serves as the voice for all Asian communities in Texas.

Board Member

Raghu Shivaram

Raghu Shivaram, Co-Founder & CEO at Spritz, an integrated marketing agency focused on Branding, Marketing, and Software Solutions, is a seasoned cross-border entrepreneur, startup investor, and philanthropist. With over 15 years of non-profit experience, he has played pivotal roles on prestigious boards, including the San Francisco-Bangalore Sister Cities, Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA), and Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, driving impactful initiatives and shaping community-driven organizations in the USA and India.

His dynamic leadership is evident through key roles in TiE Silicon Valley as a Charter Member, and currently serving as Vice President at AKKA. Over the years, Raghu has also worked closely with the Consular General community in San Francisco and participated as a member in various cross-border delegations involving the governments of Karnataka and San Francisco, and, more recently, Austin. He was also an invitee for the “Digital India” exclusive dinner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in San Jose, CA, and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas hosted in Bangalore in 2016.

As a visionary IACCT Board Member, Raghu focuses on strengthening the IACCT's digital presence, strategic planning, and fostering ties within the Indian community in Central Texas.

Board Member

Sherine Thomas

Sherine Thomas serves as a reference attorney to pro se family law litigants and also advises on various litigation and trial matters. Sherine gained her extensive legal knowledge and trial experience at the Travis County Attorney’s Office. She continually rose through the ranks while representing the people of Travis County in some of the most consequential legal battles to protect the environment, marriage equality, public health and more.

Sherine served as the first woman and minority to serve as Executive County Attorney. As the County’s top litigator, Sherine had matters at every level of state and federal trial and appellate courts, and even the Supreme Court of Texas.

Her commitment to the legal profession is embodied by her dedication to organizations forwarding the development of civil and effective lawyers. Sherine serves on the Board for the Travis County Women’s Lawyer Association and co-chairs the Mentorship Committee. She is also on the Executive Board for the Calvert Inn of Court as President-elect, serves on the Editorial Board for The Bencher, and was appointed to serve on the State Bar of Texas District 9 Grievance Committee. She is a founding member and current Chair for the South Asian Bar Association Austin. In addition, Sherine was the chair and is credited with the creation of the Women Empowering Leadership in the Law Summit – known as the W.E.L.L. Summitt.

Sherine's dedication to her community goes beyond her legal career. Her leadership record includes service on Boards of various non-profits addressing affordable housing, gender issues, and reproductive rights. Sherine's dedication to her community goes beyond her legal career. Her leadership record includes service as a Board Member for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, and as a former President on the Board of Directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity. She is a Founding Member of the Indian Coalition of Texas (IACT), now known as IACCT. Sherine continues her service as a current IACCT Board Member. Sherine is also a former Board Member for the Indian Community Center.

As an Indian immigrant, Sherine embodies the American Dream and with her unwavering dedication to public service, an unrivaled and barrier-breaking legal career, and a deep commitment to her community, she is embarking on the next phase of her career - running for District Judge in Travis County, Texas.

Board Member

MJ Charmani

MJ Charmani is a Director at Accenture, a global consulting company, and Founder/Chair of the non-profit organization iStart Valley, a powerhouse of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He led several Diversity Resource groups working with his current and past affiliations. MJ's endeavors have consistently bridged communities and organizations with his role at Diversity Resource Groups. MJ's collaboration with the White House Initiative for Asian Americans (WHIAANAPI) further underscores his commitment to championing equitable opportunities. In 2012, MJ's relentless pursuit of public and private partnership-based initiatives earned him the prestigious recognition from President Barack Obama as a Champion for Change at the White House, a testament to his impact on fostering in two major areas: regional economic development promoting diversity and inclusion. MJ Charmani believes that diversity and inclusion are not just ideals but pathways to greatness, enriching the world with boundless dimensions of innovation and understanding.