Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Purnanand Sarma
2020
Dr. Purnanand Sarma serves as President and CEO of Immunome (NASDAQ:IMNM). He has 30+ years of experience in all aspects of pharmaceutical and biotechnology business across multiple R&D platforms, ranging from venture-backed biotechnology start-ups to large cap pharmaceutical companies...
Samir Desai
Samir A. Desai has been committed to fostering community in business,
philanthropy and culture throughout his career. After holding a series of management
and technology leadership positions with high tech startups and large corporations,
Samir went on to start, Systems Resources Corporation (SRC), a high-tech systems
company providing game changing support with upcoming technology such as
automatic identifications, GPS, Internet, and voice response for transportation, defense
and health industries.
Outside of his professional career, Samir was active with politics, cultural and
educational organizations. Notable projects include council participation in several
overseas missions, accompanying Senator John Kerry on his trade mission to India
1992, joining President Clinton to Gujarat, India in 2001, serving as Massachusetts
delegate to The White House Small Business Conference 1995, and membership on
the board of directors for several organizations such as Middlesex Community College,
Lasalle University, and Peabody Essex Museum.
Samir is proud to have served as TIE-Boston’s Founding Charter Member, Board
Member and President and continues to be committed to TIE’s mission and mentoring
entrepreneurs.
After SRC, Samir advises rising companies, invests in promising ventures, and
engages in self-funded programs of community enrichment and individual mentoring.
He is also the founder of Desai Foundation, empowering women and children through
community programs in health and livelihood in India and the United States.
Despite his professional accolades and accomplishments, Samir considers his
greatest life achievement to be the community impact made through the Desai
Foundation which currently reaches a population of over 3 million people in 8 States in
rural India and US, and his family.
For his successful involvement with business, community and philanthropy,
Samir went on to win several prestigious awards and accolades from the federal
government, business and community organizations such as EY Entrepreneur of the
Year, INC 500, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
