EXECUTIVE PROFILES :

SHANALI (SHAWN) BHAGAT
2415 West Northwest Highway, Suite 105
Dallas, Texas 75220
(214) 350-0453


 
SUMMARY:

Shanali "Shawan" Bhagat, founder of American Fuel Distributors (AFD), is living the American dream. About three decades ago, Mr. Bhagat arrived in this country with little except his work ethic, ambitions and his family. Today, Mr. Bhagat owns one of Texas’ largest independent fuel distribution companies and is a respected leader in the North Texas business community.

Mr. Bhagat was born in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. He later lived in Pakistan and managed a supermarket and construction business for several years. He migrated to the United States in 1981, bringing his wife and a baby daughter. The family settled in Snyder, Texas. His first job was managing a small, independent motel in Snyder.

The family soon moved to the Dallas area, where Mr. Bhagat began his career as an entrepreneur and small business owner. He bought several underperforming business including dry cleaning shops, restaurants, liquoir stores, business brokers, improved their operations, and then sold them at a profit. He later owned and operated two auto-detailing carwash companies, an experience that convinced Mr. Bhagat to look for other opportunities in auto-related industries with unlimited area for marketing. He started American Fuel Distributors, L.P., in 1999.

As Mr. Bhagat business has grown, so has his involvement in community affairs. He became a U.S. citizen in 1995. He is a member of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club, and has received the Rotary Club District’s Ethics Award two highest individual awards. In 2005, he received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the boards of the Texas Petroleum and Convenience Store Association, the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the North Texas Commission, SMU Associate Board, DFW International Community Alliance and the Pakistan Society of North Texas.

Mr. Bhagat and his wife, Nafisa, have three grown children and one granddaughter.