After living in India for years, I traveled to America at the youthful age of 14. I attended public high school in Newark, New Jersey. After high school, I attended the State College of New Jersey majoring in electrical engineering. After I received my bachelors’ degree in electrical engineering, I found a job as an engineer. Then in 1980 I purchased a small twenty room motel which I eventually in 1988 changed into an Econo Lodge. Then I built the first Econo Lodge in New Jersey in 1982. A couple years later I received my Masters in Business Administration. After I worked my way into the hotel industry I quickly began to buy more and more properties. Choice Hotels were primarily the hotels I purchased. I have bought properties such as Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada Inn, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Knights Inn, Clarion Suites, Red Roof Inn, Motel 6 and Four Points Sheraton. I have also bought an independent motel, La Mirage. I am also in the midst of building five new hotels including Comfort Suites and Holiday Inn. Throughout my life I’ve been actively involved in a variety of social events ranging from organizing holiday festivals to alumni conferences. I have been involved with other hospitality organizations such as AAHOA. Mahendra shows great interest in his community as well as those that surround him, displayed through his involvement in many committees. I currently live in Princeton New Jersey with my wife, brother, sister-in-law, and four children along with our family dog