News | Jun 06, 2024 | Anne Keener
Manik Arora Wins the Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, Greater Philadelphia!
We are proud to announce that Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has named Manik Arora, PE, President & CEO of Arora Engineers, LLC (Arora), an Entrepreneur of the Year® 2024 Greater Philadelphia Award winner! Entrepreneur Of The Year is the preeminent competitive awards program for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. Reflecting on this award, Manik Arora, PE, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reiterated his dedication to driving positive change through engineering innovation, sustainability, philanthropy, and diversity. Manik stated, “First of all, this is a TEAM SPORT, and I couldn’t be prouder of our firm. I am honored to be named an Entrepreneur of the Year® Award winner and congratulate my fellow awardees for their incredible contributions to our local economy. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Arora team. We remain committed to rethinking infrastructure, driving sustainability and technological innovation, and making a meaningful impact on the global communities we serve.”
The Entrepreneur of the Year program, founded in 1986, has honored thousands of visionary leaders across the United States and nearly 60 countries worldwide. This year’s Greater Philadelphia selection panel, comprised of esteemed CEOs, former Entrepreneur of the Year winners, and finance executives, recognized Manik for his exceptional contributions to the engineering industry and beyond. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program spotlights bold leaders who redefine industries, innovate markets, and profoundly impact society. For nearly four decades, this distinguished program has celebrated visionary entrepreneurs whose daring initiatives and transformative endeavors shape the landscape of our global economy.
Under Manik’s leadership, Arora has emerged as an industry-leading, minority-owned infrastructure engineering firm, providing multidisciplinary design, construction services, facilities management, and asset management solutions for impactful projects worldwide. Over the past decade, Arora has experienced remarkable growth, with revenue soaring by 1100%, and the establishment of four subsidiary companies, expanding its reach and impact across industries and the world.
Manik’s leadership transcends business achievements, encompassing a deep commitment to philanthropy and diversity. He has driven numerous initiatives aimed at supporting charitable causes, notably Arora’s annual charity golf fundraiser for the Liberty USO Center at Philadelphia International Airport. Since 2008, Arora has consistently raised an average of $100k annually for the local USO. He also leads the company’s support of organizations like March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, and UNICEF. Manik’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in Arora’s workforce, with over 50% of staff identifying as minority, female, and other, and 70% of executive leadership comprising non-white or female members.
In addition to his philanthropic endeavors, Manik has been instrumental in driving technological innovation within the engineering industry. He established Arora Technology Group (ATG) to harness data for more efficient operations, leading to the development of Arora ATLAS®, an enterprise-level suite of mobile products revolutionizing asset management for clients across sectors.
Manik’s commitment to engineering excellence has earned Arora national recognition, including rankings on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing firms and Engineering News-Record’s 2023 Top 500 Design Firms list, and Building Design + Construction’s Top 75 Engineering firms and list, ranking #6 in Building Design+Construction’s Top 65 Airport Facility Engineering Firms for 2023. Manik’s leadership has been lauded by esteemed organizations such as the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Society of Indo-American Engineers & Architects Philadelphia Chapter and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia.
Manik will now be eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 National Awards. The National Award winners, including the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in June 2025. Manik’s selection underscores Arora Engineers’ commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, positioning the company as a leader in the engineering industry and beyond.