History of Shri Thanedar in Timeline

Shri Thanedar is an American businessman and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 13th congressional district since 2023. A Democrat, he previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives (2021-2023). Thanedar also ran for Governor of Michigan in the 2018 Democratic primary. His background encompasses both entrepreneurial ventures and political service.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

February 22, 1955: Shri Thanedar's Birth

On February 22, 1955, Shri Thanedar was born. He is an American businessman, author, and politician.

Others born on this day/year

1979: Arrival in the U.S.

In 1979, Shri Thanedar came to the U.S. to pursue a PhD at the University of Akron.

1982: Completes PhD

In 1982, Shri Thanedar completed his PhD at the University of Akron.

1984: Researcher at Petrolite Corp

In 1984, Shri Thanedar began working as a researcher at Petrolite Corp after completing post-doctoral work at the University of Michigan.

1984: Started at Petrolite in St. Louis

In 1984, Shri Thanedar started working at Petrolite in St. Louis.

1984: Marriage to Shamal

In 1984, Thanedar married his first wife, Shamal, a neurologist.

1988: U.S. Citizenship

In 1988, Shri Thanedar became a U.S. citizen.

1988: Birth of son Neil

In 1988, Thanedar's son Neil was born.

1990: Job at Chemir/Polytech Laboratories

In 1990, Shri Thanedar began working nights and weekends at Chemir/Polytech Laboratories for $15/hour to learn the business.

1991: Purchase of Chemir

In 1991, Shri Thanedar took out a loan to buy Chemir for $75,000. The business had sales of $150,000 in its first year with three employees.

1992: Birth of son Samir

In 1992, Thanedar's son Samir was born.

1996: Death of Shamal

In 1996, Thanedar's first wife, Shamal, died from suicide.

1999: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

In 1999, Shri Thanedar was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Midwest Region (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska).

1999: Marriage to Shashi

In 1999, Thanedar married his current wife, Shashi.

2003: Acquisition of Azopharma

In 2003, Azopharma was acquired and experienced rapid growth, increasing from $1 million in revenue.

2004: Publication of ही 'श्री' ची इच्छा!

In 2004, Thanedar published his autobiography in Marathi, titled ही 'श्री' ची इच्छा! (Transliteration: Hī Śrī Cī Icchā; English: This is Shri's Wish).

2005: Chemir's Revenue Growth

By 2005, Chemir's revenues had grown to $16 million, employing 160 people, including 40 PhD chemists.

2007: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

In 2007, Shri Thanedar was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Midwest Region (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska).

2007: Offer to sell Azopharma

In 2007, Shri Thanedar was offered $132 million to sell Azopharma.

2008: Azopharma's Growth and Thanedar's Mansion

By 2008, Azopharma's revenue had grown to $55 million, and Thanedar's group of companies employed 500 people. Thanedar also built a mansion in Ladue, Missouri with an in-home theater.

2008: Publication of The Blue Suitcase

In 2008, Thanedar self-published his memoirs in English, titled The Blue Suitcase: Tragedy and Triumph in an Immigrant's Life.

The Blue Suitcase: Tragedy and Triumph in an Immigrant's Life

Check it on Amazon

2010: Azopharma Closure and Abandonment Allegations

During the 2007–10 recession in the United States, Azopharma's revenue fell by 70%, triggering bankruptcy proceedings by Bank of America. Azopharma closed and its assets were sold for $2 million. In 2010, a USA Today article claimed laboratory animals were abandoned at one of Azopharma's research facilities AniClin after the company was placed in receivership. Thanedar denied these allegations.

2010: Launch of Avomeen Analytical Services

In 2010, Shri Thanedar briefly retired, then came out of retirement to launch Avomeen Analytical Services, a chemical testing laboratory, with his son Neil.

2010: Allegations of Animal Abandonment

In 2010, during his 2018 campaign, Thanedar faced allegations that laboratory animals were abandoned at one of his former research facilities after Bank of America placed that business into receivership, which he denied.

March 31, 2011: Sale of Chemir

On March 31, 2011, Chemir was sold for $23 million. The sale, combined with other assets, covered Thanedar's debt to Bank of America.

2015: Avomeen on INC 5000 List

In 2015, Avomeen was named to the INC 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies, ranking #673.

November 2016: Sale of majority stake in Avomeen

In November 2016, Thanedar sold the majority stake in Avomeen Holdings LLC.

2016: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

In 2016, Shri Thanedar was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Midwest Region (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska).

2016: Sale of Avomeen Stake

In 2016, Thanedar sold a majority stake in Avomeen to High Street Capital and shared $1.5 million of the proceeds with his 50 employees. Avomeen was also named to the INC 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies, ranking #1365.

April 5, 2017: Fundraising for Gubernatorial Campaign

On April 5, 2017, Shri Thanedar submitted paperwork to raise funds for a potential gubernatorial campaign in Michigan.

November 2017: Lawsuit Filed Against Thanedar

In November 2017, a buyer of Avomeen Holdings LLC filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, alleging that Thanedar made "fraudulent and misleading representations" of his company's finances to sell the majority stake in November 2016.

2017: Thanedar's Political Affiliations Questioned

In 2017, questions arose about Thanedar's Democratic credentials, given that he had not held elective office before. Campaign finance records showed that he made 18 donations to Democratic campaigns and one to a Republican campaign before running for office.

February 2018: Gubernatorial Campaign Super Bowl Ad

In February 2018, after running a statewide Super Bowl ad, Thanedar quickly became the best-known Democratic candidate for governor.

2018: Media Investigation of Thanedar's History

As Thanedar's campaign gained public traction in early 2018, reporters at The Intercept and HuffPost began investigating Thanedar's history.

2018: Michigan Gubernatorial Election

In 2018, Shri Thanedar entered politics by running in the Michigan gubernatorial election as a Democrat.

2018: Candidacy for Governor of Michigan

In 2018, Shri Thanedar was a candidate in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan.

August 2019: Run for state representative

In August 2019, Thanedar submitted paperwork to run for state representative in Michigan's 3rd district.

August 2019: Dismissal of Lawsuit

In August 2019, U.S. District Judge Gershwin A. Drain dismissed the lawsuit against Thanedar, citing a notice that Thanedar and Avomeen Holdings LLC had reached an agreement to resolve the matter out of court.

August 4, 2020: Won Democratic Primary

On August 4, 2020, Thanedar won the Democratic primary for the state representative seat in Michigan's 3rd district.

November 3, 2020: Elected to State House

On November 3, 2020, Thanedar was elected to the state house.

January 1, 2021: Assumed Office

On January 1, 2021, Thanedar assumed office in the state house.

2021: Michigan House of Representatives

In 2021, Shri Thanedar became a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, serving until 2023.

2022: Election to Michigan's 13th Congressional District

In 2022, Thanedar gave up his state house seat and moved to the Palmer Woods neighborhood to run for Michigan's 13th congressional district. He won the open primary and defeated Republican nominee Martell Bivings in the general election.

September 2023: Formal Launch of the Dharma Caucus

In September 2023, Thanedar formally launched the Dharma Caucus, stating bipartisan support and 27 lawmakers joining as members from across 4 faiths. South Asian advocacy groups voiced concern on the lack of input from the broader South Asian community.

October 11, 2023: Renounced DSA Membership

On October 11, 2023, the Detroit Free Press reported that Thanedar had "renounced his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), saying it hasn't adequately denounced Hamas for its 'brutal terrorist attacks' on Israel last weekend." This came after the Detroit DSA had already moved to expel Thanedar after he escorted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2023: U.S. Representative

In 2023, Shri Thanedar began serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 13th congressional district.

2023: AIPAC Trip to Israel

In 2023, Thanedar traveled to Israel on an AIPAC affiliated trip. On return, he described the relationship between Israel and the United States as mutually beneficial.

2023: Vote on H.Con.Res. 21

In 2023, Thanedar was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.