Harshad Shah, Hamilton Plastics

Harshad Shah is a native of India who moved to Dalton, Georgia in 1982 to work in research and development for a plastics firm. Throughout his travels, one thing stayed with him, a desire to work for himself. The entrepreneurial fire was burning inside him.

In 1984 he bought a testing lab in Michigan and relocated it to Chattanooga. He soon got into manufacturing and his entrepreneurial vision has become the successful Hamilton Plastics. Shah cites the affordable utilities, cost of real estate, outgoing freight rates and the labor pool as keys to his decision to grow his business in Chattanooga. "I compared Chattanooga to Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Phoenix," he says. "I saw this was the place to make it successful."

Shah employees 100 people at his facility in Chattanooga’s Riverport Industrial Park. He said his company prospers because of the long-term employees who have grown with Hamilton Plastics. People want a fair opportunity to succeed and they want a good work environment and Hamilton Plastics has been able to offer both those things to its workforce, Shah said. "The labor force is very friendly – faithful -- and very trainable."

Once those who come to Chattanooga realize how beautiful it is with the mountains, the river and all of the outdoor activities and that they can pursue their dreams here, this becomes home. "And there is no comparison to the cost of living in Atlanta," Shah said. He also cited how he has more of a voice in a smaller metropolitan area like Chattanooga.

Shah’s success with Hamilton Plastics has allowed him to venture out to other businesses. He now owns seven hotels in Chattanooga and is building the All Suites Business Suites adjacent to the expanded Chattanooga Convention Center in downtown Chattanooga. Shah is as proud of his adopted home as Chattanooga is of him. "This is home," he said.