Hospitality/Tourism: NEIL AMIN

After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Amin worked in New York City for Goldman Sachs for a year, advising technology companies on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. After that, Amin came home to Shamin Hotels, the Richmond-based hospitality company founded in 1979 by his father, P.C. Amin, and his uncle, B.N. Shah.

Neil Amin served as Shamin’s chief financial officer for six years before taking over as CEO in 2008. Today, Shamin Hotels owns 70 hotels and employs 3,300 people. Shamin purchased six hotels during the past year, five of which are at Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront. Amin also cut a deal last year that avoided a foreclosure of Shamin’s flagship Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump. Additionally, Amin oversees operations at Shamin’s Assisted Living and Dementia facilities in Hopewell and Prince George.

Amin chairs Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority and serves on the state Treasury Board and the boards of Richmond Region Tourism, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, Virginia Community Development Corp., Venture Richmond, the Virginia Council on Economic Education and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

FIRST JOB: Sales associate at Circuit City

WHAT MAKES ME PASSIONATE ABOUT MY WORK: The ability to help others