Story by Heather DiPrato. Yardley Photos by Michele Freiling Photography
Back in college, Minesh Pathak would never have imagined he would be running the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce. “It is a large organization with an important mission. Our goal is to advance free enterprise,” Minesh explains. “Also, to provide leadership that enhances the economic climate of the local business community.” Minesh says he feels honored to have been entrusted with the position.
Minesh studied finance at Holy Family College and grew up in Philadelphia. His wife, Rupali, grew up in New Jersey and is now an elementary school teacher in the Pennsbury School District. “We actually met on an Indian dating site,” laughs Rupali. “We dated for a year and a half, and were married in July of 2013 at Rasoi III, an Indian Banquet Hall and catering facility based in South Brunswick, NJ.”
Family is the most important thing to Minesh and Rupali. “Family is not just an important thing, it is everything,” says Minesh. The couple has two adorable little girls, Shriya (5) and Aanya (3). Both girls are big fans of Frozen! “When Alexa is not playing the Frozen soundtrack on repeat, Shyra and Aanya love to explore books,” says Rupali. “They also like to sing and dance and have enjoyed taking dance classes at a nearby studio.” The Pathak children are quite artistic. “The girls are very much into arts and crafts and love to create new masterpieces daily,” Minesh tells us. “We are excited that Shriya will be attending kindergarten in the Fall. Aanya will continue to explore the world around her by attending a local childcare facility.”
When the weather is nice, the family goes for walks after dinner. During the pandemic, those walks helped them stay connected with their neighbors. “We live in a small subdivision of about 40 homes,” says Minesh. “Evening walks are such an important way for us to bond with our girls, and over the past year, to see our neighbors out walking added a sense of community and normalcy during a stressful time in the world. We are so excited to see the girls have impromptu play time with other families again,” he tells us.
The family enjoys cheering on their favorite sports teams. “I’ve been a sports fan since a young age and follow all the Philadelphia teams,” says Minesh, “Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and the Flyers are all favorites of mine. But Rupali, as a native of New Jersey, follows the New York sport teams, which can make for an interesting family dynamic,” he jokes. “Football season can get pretty exciting in our household!”
During the holiday season, the family has some favorite traditions. “The girls look forward to Christmas every year,” says Rupali. “At the start of the season, we put up the Christmas tree, watch Home Alone 1 or 2, and order pizza. It’s always a good time!”
The Pathaks have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rio who they love to spoil. “I wanted a dog since I was a child,” Minesh shares. “When Rupali and I purchased our home, we decided to get our pup. We can’t imagine our lives without Rio!”
Due to Rupali’s career as an educator, most of the Pathak family vacations take place in the summer. “We enjoy travelling to destinations where we can all relax with our feet in the sand,” Minesh explains. “Our two favorite trips so far have been to Hawaii for our honeymoon and St. Lucia. After Covid-19 ends, we plan to visit a new destination in the Caribbean and we hope this opportunity comes very soon!”
In his role as the Executive Director of the Lower Bucks Chamber, Minesh works to help local businesses make connections within the community, and with one another. “The Chamber consists of over 1,000 members representing small, medium, and large businesses in Lower Bucks and its surrounding communities,” he tells us. “There are more than 6,000 active individuals who represent those member businesses. It is a large group, and it is a great way for businesses to meet one another.”
As we emerge from the pandemic, businesses have an opportunity to set themselves apart and find new ways to engage within their communities. The Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce is one important way businesses can connect with their peers, share ideas, and take advantage of the excellent resources provided by the Chamber. “Minesh leads by example,” says his colleague, Jude Martin-Cianfano. “He is someone you can look up to and be proud to follow. He guides his team by motivating and inspiring us to accomplish what we need to for our Chamber members.” Rebecca Kelly, Community Relations Manager for Capital Health concurs. “I’ve worked with Minesh as a member of LBCC’s Board, and he is supportive of all of the Chamber members. He is awesome!”
The Lower Bucks Chamber has recently focused on finding new ways to bring the community together with their members, and is excited to be hosting a safe and fun community event. “On Saturday, June 19, the LBCCC Home Show and Pet Expo will be held from 10 AM until 3 PM,” Minesh says. “It will be at the Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne in the parking lot of the former Boscov’s. This promises to be a fun and family friendly expo with food trucks and plenty of parking. I hope to see our friends and neighbors from the community coming out to support local businesses!”
As hectic as the past year has been, the Pathak family is grateful to see things returning to a bit more normalcy, with schools reopening and businesses returning to pre-pandemic activity. As an important leader within the business community, Minesh values his colleagues and all of the LBCCC members. “The job is challenging at times,” Minesh shares, “but I have never regretted accepting the position.” He enjoys meeting new people and learning about their businesses. “I think it’s great being part of the business community. Being involved is its own reward!”
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