IIT Midwest, Chicago

The goal is to create better image for IITians in the community, networking for business success and developing lasting relationships with good people of like interests. This can be accomplished through:

• A discussion of relevant topics through monthly seminars and workshops
• summer picnic
• Informal mentoring and building bridges across other entrepreneurial support organizations.
• Working in cohesion with Pan-IIT, a national group to embrace individual regional chapters and the alumni associations administered within the institutions in India.

The IIT-Midwest group is organized into different layers of volunteer workers.

• An Executive Committee that works diligently with the Pan-IIT and other IIT alumni organizations around the world is responsible for the overall execution of the activities.
• An Advisory Board of subject matter experts and industry leaders from various sectors of interest to the IIT alumni are brought in to help plan monthly seminars and workshop discussions. The initial focus is on Computers, IT, Telecom, Chemicals, Manufacturing, Power, Metallurgy, Materials Sciences, Nanotechnology and other such topics of immediate interest to members of IIT Midwest and as needed by the organizations in India.
• As momentum is gained, many of the interesting topics will be discussed in greater detail with the help of Planning Committee members, who are subject matter experts looking to gain leadership and organizational skills in an informal setting.

In the end, the goal is to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and fun at the same time.

The IIT Midwest activities are currently centered in the greater Chicago area but past participants include members from Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. As IIT Midwest continues to restructure and grow, one of the goals is to bring in all of Midwest region and develop a strong network of communication among members.

Ray Mehra, President, IIT Midwest, Chicago

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee in 1966

Master degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Ray is the CEO of R Squared, Inc., a manufacturing business with plants in Illinois, Mississippi and Mexico with the focus on acquiring and consolidating OEM component suppliers in the industrial/commercial markets.

Prior to R Squared, Ray was the president of Sunbeam Health, a 200 MM manufacturer of scales for consumer and commercial markets, which was part of the larger consumer products company. During his tenure at Sunbeam, Ray was also responsible for 4 manufacturing operations in Mexico for two years, where he led 1100 employees and all aspects of its operations to improve its contribution margin by four percent points by reducing cost, improving quality and other productivity gains.

Ray also led an $80 million manufacturer of gas range components supplying to General Electric, Maytag, Amana; grew sales 35% and profits 100% during second year; general cash flow of over 10 million; produced RONA of 30 along with three successive record years. He is now focused on acquisition and consolidation of OEM component suppliers to the industrial/commercial markets like R&R Metal Craft Inc., r-Squared Systems, and Fox Tool Manufacturing Systems.

Ray is actively involved in the IITR alumni association and also currently heads the Midwest chapter of PAN-IIT. He is also on the board of PAN-IIT, North America. He has been instrumental in successfully hosting programs for IIT Networking meetings in the greater Chicago land area on a monthly basis. Ray is an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling and spending time mentoring friends and family. He lives with his wife Joyce in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago in Illinois.