Sachin Shailendra, president of Atlanta-based general contracting and construction management company SG Contracting Inc., will be the 2019 commencement speaker at Georgia Highlands College graduation ceremony on May 11 at The Forum River Center in Rome, Ga.

Nearly 1,000 students are set to receive their diplomas and to hear Shailendra’s inspiring story of entrepreneurship. A member of the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents and chair of the University System of Georgia Foundation, Shailendra is a sought-after speaker for his inspiring message about his family heritage, roots in Atlanta at Woodward Academy and Georgia Tech, and success leading his own construction company to millions of dollars in revenue before he turned 40. Shailendra was named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Forty under Forty” and Atlanta Magazine’s “New Guard” as part of the “55 Most Powerful People” issue.

“As a Georgia native, a graduate of Georgia Tech and a Georgia business owner, I get excited to speak to students about the opportunities ahead of them. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to give the commencement speech at Georgia Highlands College,” said Shailendra. “Education was a game changer for me and I know it’s a major accomplishment for many students, so I hope my message will inspire them to take the next steps in building their futures.”

At SG Contracting, Shailendra leads an experienced team that provides excellent service in general contracting and renovations by collaborating with building owners, subcontractors, architects and designers. Recent SG Contracting projects include: The Primary School Learning Center addition at Atlanta International School in Garden Hills; renovations to the historic Bobby Jones Golf Course in Buckhead; and construction of YMCA’s Headquarters in Vine City on a historic site. All three projects are linked by a desire to modernize beloved Atlanta facilities while honoring their history.

Shailendra also is a board member of several local youth development programs and nonprofit organizations, including the Georgia REACH Foundation, Atlanta Police Foundation and the Metro Atlanta YMCA.