Page 72 - 914INC Q2 - 2016

Wunderkinds2016
Shawn Nagpal, 27 President, Nagpal Restaurant Group
As president of the Nagpal Restaurant Group, Shawn Nagpal owns contem- porary Indian restaurant: Coriander Modern Indian, which has locations in Larchmont and White Plains. What makes his places unique? Not only does he use the freshest local ingredients, he incorporates a variety of cooking techniques that reflect the ethnic diversity of the communities he serves. “You can’t stand out unless you’re different,” says Nagpal, who was born in Punjab, India. Nagpal’s family emigrated to the United States when he was a baby, settling in New Rochelle, the city Nagpal still calls home. Between the two restaurants, the entrepreneur saw revenue increase more than 30 percent in 2015, and expects to double revenue this year. But he insists, it’s not about the money. “I love the business, and I love the food,” he says. “I love the concepts and love the people.” Also a motivational speaker, Nagpal has been in- vited twice to the Forbes Under 30 Summit and has been a speaker at events that include Growthcon, World Domination Summit, and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin. —JM
Sarai Bartels, 27 Art Director, Thompson & Bender
Flashback to the early 2000s: Most young students were just learning how to use the Internet, while middle-schooler Sarai Bartels was coding her own websites. Now, some 15 years later, Bartels is the art director and manager of the creative department at Westchester’s powerhouse public-relations agency, Thompson & Bender. “Because we’re a small agency, we all have to wear a lot of hats,” says Bartels of her typical day, which can include creating websites using computer- programming languages she taught herself, designing brochures and advertisements for local organizations, and working closely with designers, photographers, and videographers on a wide range of projects. Bartels has helped the agency launch more than 20 websites for some of the county’s biggest establishments and brought previously outsourced web development in-house, helping to increase total revenue for Thompson & Bender. Some of her creative projects include the “Generation Yonkers” campaign, Iona Preparatory School and Pace University brochures, and web design for the Archdiocese of New York. “By striving for a caliber of creative excellence that I’ve set for myself, I am constantly pushing myself to become a better designer and to continue learning,” Bartels says.—GV
70 914INC. Q2 2016