Supplier of black granite for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Manahar R. “Manu” Shah earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1968. Following graduation, Shah joined Ohio Brass as a senior engineer. In 1973, he moved to International Trucks, where he served as a senior project engineer until 1982. During this time, Shah relocated his family from India to the U.S. In 1981, while running a family business from his home's basement, he successfully bid for the contract to supply black granite for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Despite risking his life savings on this project, it proved to be a turning point, leading to establishment of M S International, Inc. The pioneering company has since flourished into a global leader in flooring, wall and countertop surfaces, with more than $2.5 billion in revenue and over 3,000 U.S. employees. Ernst & Young honored Shah with an Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007. Purdue presented him with an Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award in 2018 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2021. Today, the Shah Family Global Innovation Lab in the Purdue College of Engineering bears his name.