Hitesh Patel Email: Hitesh@naira-us.org

Hitesh Patel was born in Mazabuka, Zambia, and raised in England.

Completed High School and College in London, moved to Colorado, USA in 1985.

Started family business in the service sector and currently a Principle and Officer in various companies in the Hospitality Sector. Also has current holdings in the Manufacturing sector and other Real Estate Development, with key financial, legal and administrative responsibilities.

More recently, Hitesh Patel was also the Director of the Southwest Region of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) from 2009/2010.

He is the Co-founder and Co- Chairman of the National Asian Indian Republican Association (NAIRA) which is one of the fastest growing Indian Republican organization.

JulieMarie Shepherd Email: Juliemarie@naira-us.org

JulieMarie Shepherd serves as the Director of Membership for NAIRA.

Currently, JulieMarie is pursuing her Ph.D in Political Science at the University of Colorado. Her research background includes work on Colorado voting and elections, state budgeting process, minority politics, political participation and education policy. JulieMarie holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Political Science. She also teaches part time as an instructor in the Political Science Department at CU.

JulieMarie is passionate about education policy here in Colorado. She was elected to the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education and also served on the Colorado Commission on Higher Education Advisory Committee. JulieMarie is very active in other areas of the community. She volunteers with the 4-H program and is a volunteer puppy raiser with Guide Dogs for the Blind. In her free time, JulieMarie enjoys photography, traveling and spending time with her dogs and family.

Tom Bearden Email: Tom@naira-us.org

Tom Bearden became active in Republican politics in 1988 by volunteering for the Jack Kemp for President campaign as a Graduate Student at the Univ. of Denver.

He worked on a series of political campaigns throughout the 1990's while living in Arapahoe County, CO.

In 1996, he moved to New Mexico where he was elected as Vice Chairman followed by Chairman of his County Republican Party.

In the historic 2000 election, he managed the Republican campaign office in Carlsbad, NM and worked hard for the entire Republican ticket.

After returning to Colorado in 2001, he met the leaders of a new organization, NAIRA, and immediately became involved. In 2004, he graduated from the first class of the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) along with NAIRA leaders Nosh Tarachand and Hitesh Patel.

He has served as Political Director of NAIRA since 2005. Tom is an engineer by profession and resides in Greeley, CO.