In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, New York State Senator Pete Harckham honored three residents of the 40th Senate District—Srinivasan Ramaswamy, Katelyn Tai, and Chandu Visweswariah—for their exceptional contributions to technological innovation, civic leadership, arts education, and climate advocacy.
“One of the Hudson Valley’s greatest strengths is its diversity, and it’s important that we take time to recognize and celebrate it,” said Harckham. “The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has made profound contributions to the history, economy, and culture of both the Hudson Valley and our nation. These honorees exemplify the talent, leadership, and community spirit that continue to strengthen our region.”
The commemorative ceremony took place on Saturday, May 23, at the Croton Free Library in Croton-on-Hudson, where Harckham presented official New York State Senate proclamations to the honorees before an audience of family members and friends. Croton Mayor Brian Pugh joined the Senator and delivered introductory remarks congratulating the honorees. The ceremony aired live on Facebook; click here to see a video of the event.
Ramaswamy immigrated to the United States from India to pursue graduate studies in computer science and business administration before embarking on a career spanning more than two decades in consulting, technology, and professional services.
Over the course of his career, Ramaswamy has advised international businesses and helped drive innovation at major technology companies including IBM and Oracle. He is the co-founder and CEO of Bambucluster, a technology advisory and professional services firm, and also serves as a strategic advisor with GLG, a global consulting company based in New York City.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ramaswamy has long been committed to civic engagement and community advocacy. He first became involved in public service through the International Community Council of Cleveland, a grassroots organization dedicated to fostering collaboration among diverse communities. Since becoming a United States citizen in 2004 and relocating to Westchester County, he has remained an active community organizer and advocate for Asian American civic participation. A resident of Cortlandt Manor for the past 18 years, he continues to work to strengthen civic engagement across the region.
“I want to thank Senator Harckham for this recognition,” said Ramaswamy. “I also wanted to speak about an organization I am a part of, the Westchester Asian American Democrats, which is an advocacy organization driving increased civic participation from the Asian American community in the area. I see many Asian American faces in the crowd and I encourage you to look us up and get involved in participating more in our voting processes and making sure voices like ours are heard.”
Tai discovered early in life that she wanted to share the joy of music and inspire the next generation of musicians. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Music Education degree from SUNY Potsdam, she began her career with the Mahopac Central School District.
Tai taught orchestra at Mahopac Middle School for four years before becoming Orchestra Director at Mahopac High School, where she also teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory.
Guided by the belief that music is essential to students’ personal and academic development, Tai has worked tirelessly to make music education more accessible to students from all backgrounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she adapted her teaching methods to ensure students could continue to experience the benefits of music instruction while learning remotely. This past year, she launched an initiative bringing together middle school and high school string musicians for a collaborative day of learning and mentorship designed to build confidence and strengthen connections among young performers.
Through her dedication in the classroom, Tai has created a welcoming environment where students are encouraged to express themselves, develop confidence and discipline, and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized today as part of AAPI Heritage Month,” said Tai. “I have made it my mission to create a welcoming and inclusive space where students can feel seen, valued, and empowered through music. I strive to create concert programs that expose students to a wide range of cultural traditions while using diverse teaching strategies to help every student connect and succeed. My goal is not simply to create the next generation of professional musicians but rather to help students understand how music shapes culture, brings communities together and reflects the world around us. Music has the power to foster empathy, understanding and connection, and I am happy I can play a small role for students to help them understand that.”
Visweswariah began his career as a technology researcher at IBM after earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate in computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
During his nearly 30-year career at IBM, Visweswariah conducted groundbreaking work in advanced semiconductor design and helped drive innovation in global energy technologies. In 2013, he was named an IBM Fellow, the company’s highest technical honor, in recognition of his pioneering work in chip design automation.
Following his tenure at IBM, Visweswariah became a successful entrepreneur, founding the renewable energy software company Utopus Insights in Valhalla. The company was later acquired by Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines. In addition to his entrepreneurial success, he has made extensive contributions to academia and innovation, authoring 167 publications and earning 125 patents.
A longtime climate advocate, Visweswariah co-founded Communities United to Reduce Emissions 100% (CURE100), a coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through advocacy and education. A resident of Croton-on-Hudson since 1993, he also serves as a leader of Croton100, a volunteer-driven local initiative working to advance net-zero emissions in the community.
“This is such a great honor, my thanks to Senator Harckham for this recognition,” said Visweswariah. “I moved to Westchester in 1989, and it started off as my home-away-from-home, and then before I realized it, it became home. It’s a community that has given me a lot. They say a person goes through three phases in life, learning, earning and returning. Working at IBM was a time of great learning for me, working with so many brilliant scientists. It was followed by a time of earning as an entrepreneur in the renewable energy sector. The third phase is the returning phase and I am very pleased that my wife Patti and I have been able to give back to the community through work supporting education, seniors, and, most importantly, environmental issues.”
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrated annually each May since 1991, honors the enduring contributions of AAPI individuals and communities to the history, culture, and progress of the United States.
