Happy Diwali from all of us at Vertech! To everyone celebrating the festival of lights on November 8, we wish you and your families a season full of joy, health, and prosperity.
Our Pune team celebrated Diwali last weekend, and what a night it was. Between the music, the food, a few surprise guests from across the ocean, and some well-earned recognition, the evening had a little bit of everything. It also marked the start of a new chapter for the Pune office, with a change in leadership that we're excited to share.
Last year, 25 people gathered for the Pune team's Diwali party. This year, 55 filled the room. As Sudeep Somwanshi put it in his welcome, a few years ago the whole team could have celebrated around one table. Now they need a bigger room, "and I'm not complaining."
The evening was packed with festive energy. A photo booth kept the cameras busy, great music and dancing kept the floor full, and the food was every bit as delicious as a Diwali celebration demands. The surprise hit of the night? A tattoo station featuring the Vertech logo. We can't confirm how many engineers are still proudly sporting theirs, but we have our suspicions.
As HR Generalist Aparna Shevatkar described it, this was about more than a party. It was about celebrating people, creating memories, and building stronger connections across teams.
Not everyone could make the trip, so a few leaders sent their wishes from the States.
CEO Titus Crabb sent his greetings, reflecting on Diwali's message of light, hope, and new beginnings. He thanked the team for its growing role across Vertech and offered a special thank you to the families in the room for their support at home.
Paul also shared a few milestones that come with the office's next stage of growth. Sagar Javale joined as Pune's first Automation Manager, bringing more leadership close to the work and clearer career paths for the team. The office is also expanding its space, making room for the people and ideas still to come. As Paul put it, that's a lot like Diwali itself: making space, welcoming new faces, and lighting the way for what's next.
Between the festivities, the team paused to honor colleagues who went above and beyond this year. Congratulations to our award winners!
Rhishikesh strengthened the India office's network infrastructure, putting in extended support through the firewall, server, and Cisco switch implementation. The result is a secure, stable, high-performing network that benefits the whole organization.
Keshav is the teammate everyone counts on. He mentors new team members, shares knowledge freely, and supports colleagues whenever they need it, making a positive impact on both team success and culture.
Pratesh drove innovation by creating standard templates and project standards that improve efficiency across Energy projects. His technical expertise and problem-solving have helped teams work smarter and deliver successful outcomes.
Abhishek delivered complex commissioning projects, mentored new team members, and showed rapid growth on solar projects. His problem-solving skills have made a real impact on both project success and team development.
As Sudeep told the room, the team didn't just get bigger this year, it got better, with work that "has beaten expectations again and again." He also gave a special thank you to Aparna, who joined as HR and hit the ground running through a year of rapid growth, and to Sagar, who takes care of his team like they're his own.
This Diwali also marked a leadership transition for the Pune office. Asheesh Maharana is stepping in as Managing Director of India, and Sudeep Somwanshi, who founded the office and led it through its first two years, is returning to the United States to continue with Vertech as Commissioning & Support Manager.
Building something new is never easy. Titus thanked Sudeep for the sacrifice and tremendous effort it took to establish and grow the India office. Paul noted that the culture of the office "carries your fingerprints." Thank you, Sudeep, for laying the foundation everything else stands on.
Sudeep made the handoff official during the evening: "I'm handing over the baton to you, and I can't think of anyone I'd trust more with it." Welcome, Asheesh! We're excited to see the energy and vision you bring to the team's next chapter.
At its heart, the night was about the Vertech family enjoying each other's company. Sudeep closed his remarks with simple advice: eat well, enjoy the music, and sit next to someone you don't usually work with. Judging by the full tables and the packed dance floor, everyone took that advice to heart.
A huge thank you to Aparna and everyone who helped make the evening so memorable, and to all who attended. To everyone celebrating this weekend, may the year ahead bring you light in everything you do.
Happy Diwali!